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Chapter Text

Christine Daaé had just turned 26 one weeks ago. A bit unusual to still be single at that old of an age, clearly, but it was not like her skin was already rotting and pealing out of her face, right? Well, by the look of some of her coworkers, one would think the opposite. 

But she was the jewel of the opera, and with the lead role of Aida for the next season, she felt in her prime. Ripe and about to fall. 

''Christine, get off the floor, your costume is still not sewn on properly, you are going to mess the sequin pattern!''

They were on break after the first costume rehearsal. Being the lead, she was left at the end to take more time with her. In the meantime, she sat on the staged, surrounded by the ballet Corp. 

''If my character is a slave, why does my clothing have sequins?'' Christine was hunched over and sitting cross-legged, reading the annotations she had written on the script she had memorized before production began. 

''Don't question my artistry! Stretch your legs if you're going to sit down!'' 

Christine had on the costume she would wear at the start of the first act. A gray apron dress with a white blouse and a purple skirt underneath, a long purple veil covering her hair, a much lighter style than what she would usually wear on stage. Just as dazzled and shiny, though, courtesy of the Opera costume department. 

The soloists and the principal dancers were all standing, speaking with the costume designer and the seamstresses, because of the rawness of their art, they had many more specifications for their costumes than the actors had. 

''Could you help me with my hair, miss Daaé?'' One of the ballerinas of the junior division asked, waking on her knees to get closer to the Primadonna, one hand on the back of her collapsing hairstyle. 

Christine left the script she was reading on the ground next to her and gave an inviting smile. 

''Of course! come here, honey'' She patted the ground in front of her, being careful not to distress the costume fabric when she crossed her legs underneath her skirt to make space. 

Once the girl was comfortable, Christine pulled out the ribbon and bobby pins out of her head, gently massaging the hairspray out of her scalp and starting to divide the hair, intending to braid it. All while listening to the ongoing conversation in the background. 

''What?! She is coming back today?! Who told you?!''  

''I ran into her mother in the market this morning'' 

''And why didn’t you tell us before?!'' Sorelli exclaimed delightedly and loudly, capturing the attention of everyone present on the stage. 

''Girls! Did you hear that? Mireille is coming back from her honeymoon today!''

All the girls screeched together in delight, happy to know she was back. Mireille being the second costume designer in charge, she was closer to the ballet corps than other seamstresses. 

''There is so much I want to ask her about married life!'' Sorelli for a moment forgot to show the sophisticated Prima Ballerina image she spent years projecting, looking more like the bee queen girl Christine had known at first. 

''Why? Are you having regrets'' A ballerina on the floor laughed, maybe a little too viciously.  

''Of course not, it took me years to make Philippe take a clue, there is no way I'm letting him run away''

''No, don’t get married, Sorelli, I don’t want you to go'' A young dancer clung to the Prima ballerina’s waist. 

''What? In what year are we? Not because I'm getting married, I'm going to retire, I still have a couple of seasons left'' Sorelli said holding the apprentice with one arm, using the other to rub the girl's arm. 

''Yes, but you will make his family look bad,'' One of the seamstresses said, not looking up from the board where she was writing measurements.  

 ''Don’t be ridiculous, times change, his family is fully supportive of us'' Sorelli shook her head. 

''Jammes, you shouldn't say that to Sorelli, these times are not safe for any of you to be single '' A different and older seamstress addressed the girl. 

''Right, is it true that a woman was arrested the other day for being a spinster?'' The girl's sad expression changed to a smug smirk. 

"That was true, she was already 30 and single, so they accused her of being a spy. Listen to me, girls, you should always be focused on finding a good man’’ The middle-aged woman said, looking at the young girls with the conviction that she neither supported nor believed in the system but would do everything in her power for them not fall victims to it. 

There was a silence and all her eyes focused on a single point. Christine tried to ignore it, concentrating on tying a blue ribbon in the dancer's hair. 

''I can see everyone is looking at me, you know?'' Unsure what to do with the attention, she tried to make herself look busy by taking her head covering and gently folding it, leaving it in her lap. 

''We just care about you! I don't understand how it is that you haven't found a husband, proposals rain down on you! There must be a good match for you out there'' Sorelli exclaimed with an apologetic expression in her eyes, her fist under her chin. 

''Maybe, but I have not found it yet, I would appreciate it if all of you would stop rushing me!'' Christine said, slapping both of her hands to her knees. 

''But you're getting old'' Jammes said, still clinging to Sorelli's hip. 

Christine's brows fused together ''What?! I just turned 26, that’s not old!'' She said scandalized. 

Now, in the world of entertainment, the age at which a person can begin to consider themselves old is varied. 26 for a movie star may begin to be, only if you were a woman, of course. 26 years for a ballerina definitely began to entering the final stages of her career. 26 for a theater actress like her? her career was just beginning. What all these things that a woman could be had in common, was that the working day ended for all of them, compelling her to answer, was she 26 years too old to be a woman? 

Christine didn't feel any different than she did when she was 20.  Just more confident, more unapologetically herself. It was bizarre to her, to being punished because of it. She was perhaps not the best person to give an opinion, these were things decided unanimously by society, and she did not belong to it. Not truly.

''Okay Jammes, that was rude, leave Christine alone, if she hasn't found the right person, that's fine, we all know Christine is innocent!'' Sorelli corrected the tween, with the perfect mix of authority without being overbearing severe, knowing that would just make her defensive. 

"All right, that's enough, ballet corps to the workshop. I need all of you to take off your costumes before you get them stained with something" the costume designer clapped, already on her way out. 

They all whined at the same time, their heads dropping back, but they obeyed and followed back 

'' I hear that! now move!'' the voice of the woman said, leaving the stage ''Lead dancers and actors, we'll be back with you in a moment!’’ 

The stage felt very lifeless after they left, as its heart relied on their dancers. 

As they all dispersed, Sorelli sighed, resting her chin on Christine's shoulder. 

''Don’t worry Christine, they are still children, of course they are going to exaggerate'' Sorelli said, linking her arm with Christine's 

''How many generations of dancers have we seen? They never get any more prudent'' Christine tilted her head to talk in Sorelli’s ear, to then shake her head, a smile never leaving her lips. 

''You tell me, I always have to split myself into pieces to make sure they don’t get into trouble'' Sorelli laughed, her gaze remain on her friend for a second too long

Christine always thought that if there was one person that would ever discover her secret, it was Sorelli, as her intuition had grown up through the years with her. 

''Just... there's a lot about you that can be suspicious, you know?'' Her head tilted slightly, like trying to look through Christine 

Christine fought to keep her facade unpunished. An actress first. 

''Why did you say that?’’ She played dumb. 

''Umh, well, as women of entertainment we already have a certain reputation and history, and you have no family or references, and gosh, those private performances you sometimes do only God knows where'' Sorelli shook her head, she had never hidden her disapproval of such events. 

Christine sometimes wondered if her second career had truly, irrefutably, erased all traces of true humanity. Shouldn't her feel bad for lying so shamelessly, so constantly, to her loved ones' faces? Maybe she would have the decency to feel guilty, if not because she could never look at them in the eyes if they knew just who were they dealing with. 

''It's just work!’’  

"But it can be misunderstood" She replied and then clicked her tongue "But I think I'm exaggerating, as if someone could look at you and think that you could hurt a fly, right" She hugged her by the shoulders from behind. 

''Don’t worry about me, you have bigger things to think about, I will be fine'' 

Christine heard a couple of footsteps coming from behind her. The person was dragging their feet to avoid the sound of shoes on stage. This was an ambush. She briefly had a mental image of long needles like golden daggers stabbing flesh. 

''Boo!'' Christine turned around and jumped up, confronting the intruder, a big playful smile on her lips. 

Mireille let out a cry, ''Christine! Oh dear, nothing ever escapes you! I wanted to scare you two'' She laughed, one hand on her chest and the other in her mouth. 

''Elle! You came back'' Sorelli shouted, throwing herself into her arms. 

"As if you could surprise me.'' Christine laughed, being pulled into the hug. 

What a contrast to her dark daydreams. 

''It feels so good to be back! I missed both of you so much'' Mireille said, taking a step back, still joined to her friends by the hands. 

''So did we, just look at you, you look beautiful!'' Christine said happily.

And it was not an empty compliment, Christine thought that Mireille looked radiant, just so fulfilled, and happy. 

"Just like you" Mireille replied lovingly, leaving a touch on Christine's nose. 

Unbeknownst to her, Mireille was thinking the exact same thing about Christine. Funny how two very different lives can have such a similar effect, but as always, the grass is always greener on the other side. 

''Ready to go back to work? This vacation thing is not for me, the only thing I want right now is to hold a needle” She said, almost vibrating from all the contained energy that had not gone anywhere during her honeymoon. 

''Nah-ah, first I want you to tell me everything!'' Sorelli interrupted, playfully pushing Christine out of the way with her hips to get Mireille's full attention. 

"Feel free to leave details out, Elle." Christine laughed, shoving Sorelli out of the way with the same intent. 

"Shh, don't listen to her! I want to know everything about married life'' She raised a finger in front of Christine's face. 

''Has she been like this since I left, Christine?'' Mireille looked at everything pleased. 

''Yeah, she hasn’t talked about anything else''

''I wanted you to have your moment, well now it's my turn!'' Sorelli smiled, happy to finally have the chance to talk about her upcoming wedding. 

''I hope it will be a really good wedding!'' Mireille teased. 

'' It will be the wedding of the century! Christine is going to sing at the service, you will make my wedding dress, it will be amazing!'' She said with stars in her eyes. 

''Of course, yes, everything will be perfect'' She smiled, there was a bit of well-meaning irony to it, but Sorelli either ignored or did not notice. 

 Many things had gone wrong at MireIlle's wedding. Like how she and her mother had just finished sewing the dress outside the church, and how Christine was sick the whole week before the event. Not to mention how Klass' ride had broken down, so the boy had ended up in the middle of nowhere for a few hours before her then fiancé had to go pick him out. It was funny now that the wedding was done and everything had worked out at the end. 

''Girls, I'm throwing a welcoming party for my new home, will you come, right? Maybe help me plan something?’’ She asked, holding both of her friends’ hands. 

''I think that’s a great idea, sure!'' Christine nodded. 

''Oh my god, yes, I'm dying to see your new house!''

''Great! I'm so excited for you to see it, I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it, I knew that this would be the house where I wanted to raise my children'' She smiled, and it was such a sweet moment that all of them would remember. 

''Aww, that's the only thing that kind of makes me want to end my career as soon as I get married'' Sorelli replied, touched. 

Oh well, maybe it wasn't so special for all of them, Sorelli would soon have that for herself too, no need to treasure this moment. 

''Don’t you have enough with the ballet corps?'' Christine joked. 

''I'm the proud mother of...'' She started counting under her breath, using her finger to help her ''28 daughters! Not counting the junior division’’  

''And I thought I would be the first to have children of the three of us!'' Mireille laughed. 

Christine smiled, it wasn't entirely sincere, but she kept smiling as her friends talked about the domesticity of their upcoming futures. She was included intro the conversation, but she had little to say about weddings and babies and marriage. 

It was not the absence of all those things in her life that stung, but the lack of choice. The fact that she was just a child when she had to make that sacrifice. That was the only way out. Any other option would have the same ending. That knowledge haunted heavily in her mind. 

Mireille and Sorelli would soon both be married women, having children, and devoting themselves to them and their husbands. Civilians with domestic and normal lives. eventually, they would leave childhood dreams and even a piece of themselves behind, and that meant Christine too. It was supposed to be bittersweet, but for Christine was like licking salt on a lemon. 

That life was not destined for her. That was fine. Because if her labor contributed even a little so that her friends could have the life they wanted, it would be worth it. 

She could make that sacrifice. 

''Michael called me today to tell me that he and Mireille had returned home, I thought they wouldn't be back for another week" A male voice spoke through the speaker 

''As if Mireille could sit still for so long, she came to see us today, it was very nice '' Christine said, holding the phone between her shoulder and her cheek, being careful not to disturb the curlers on her hair. 

She was sitting on the floor of her living room with the phone on her lap, wearing a blue cotton pijama set of shorts and a spaghetti strap top. With a full face of makeup and her cosmetics spread on the floor.

A green backless V-neck gown stretched out on her sofa; two golden daggers laid across it. 

''Are you going to Mireille's party next week?''

''She invited you?" She raised her eyebrows in concentration as she shook a bottle of nail polish before opening it. 

''Pff, of course she always liked me more than you''

''Sure Klass'' She laughed, beginning to paint her nails in quick, precise strokes. 

Christine was 16 years old when she got her current job at the opera. Klas was only 10 and attached to her hip at all time, so he had spent a lot of time inside the opera with Christine, and by extension Mireille and Sorelli 

Mireille's family had been especially good to them, taking care of Klas when Christine had to travel once both of her careers took off. Providing the stability and nuclear family structure Christine felt, she couldn't proportionate. 

"Do you have plans for today? it's Friday!'' 

“Nothing very special, and if you are going to drink alcohol tonight, please don't mix it with anything else” She said, rotating her wrist close to her mouth and blowing on her varnished nails. 

At this time, Mireille would be having dinner with her new husband and Sorelli going through hundreds of fabric samples for her wedding dress. 

''What? me? I do not drink! I swear!'' 

"Yes of course kid, you college student away from home and my supervision, I totally believe you" She tried not to let her smile be heard in her voice. 

She knew she should be more severe, but she was not worried, he had a good head on his shoulders and was top of his class. Christine trusted the boy that she had raised. 

Klas had left for college two years ago. Christine was still battling bittersweet feelings, on the one hand, finally having privacy and time to herself was a strange but welcome change, but she hadn't contemplated how much she was going to miss him. 

"Are you planning to take someone to the party?" He quickly changed the subject, the boy was smooth, Christine barely heard the nervousness in his voice. 

''Oh, not you too!?’’ She whined exasperatedly, in a tone she vaguely recognized as the one she had reprimanded Klas for using in the past. 

''What? I was just asking?'' He said confused, actually ignorant of his cousin's problems. 

 ''Let's change the subject, how are you doing in school? when do they tell you if you got the internship?” 

"Ehh, yesterday" 

''Really?! What did they tell you? '' Christine smiled, and from her excitement she ignored her still wet nails and took the phone from her shoulder to hold it with her hand, straightening her posture to listen to the good news more comfortably. 

''I got it-’’ 

''- I knew you would do it! I'm so happy for-" 

''-I'm not going to accept it, Christine'' 

Christine's smile faded, and there was a heavy silence on the line. 

''...Sorry?'' 

''I got the internship, but tomorrow I will go to the office and say that I'm not accepting’’ 

'' Do you want to kill me?! How can you not accept the internship! I didn't break my back paying for your education and trying to give you the best life possible for you to waste your chance now!" It was more of a desperate plea than any kind of grievance, and she felt an intense guilt in saying that, but she would do anything to make him change his mind. 

 ''That's why I can't do it, Chris! Everything I have done, I have done it thinking that when I was older and stronger, I would take care of you, if I take the offer, I will see you very little, I could not do that'' 

Now, Christine really didn't know how to feel. Her boy was compassionate, empathetic, and kind, she should be proud of that, but Christine had sacrificed so much so that Klas didn't have to. She was not letting that slide. 

''Klas, it was my decision to take care of you, and I want you to live your life for yourself, you don't have to take care of me, I can do that part very well by myself'' 

‘’ Turn my back on you after everything you have done for me? This is not how you raised me, I want someone to take care of you like you took care of me.’’ 

Christine sighed; this was her fault. She had done the best she could raising him. As an adult, she realized, no matter how mature she thought the tragedy and misery made her, she was a child too. Teaching him to survive rather than live. That meant sacrifice. Always staying together, and that was hard to grow away from. 

''...Why don't you meet them at the party?'' She rested her hand on her neck. 

''Wait what? you're taking someone to the party?’’ 

''It's not that I was planning it, our relationship is still very private, but if you care that much, I'll take them to the party'' She lied effortlessly, hugging her legs to her chest with the arm that wasn't holding the phone. 

"Did you really meet someone? Tell me more!'' The response was rather chill and it surprised Christine. 

 Klass had always been her shadow and trusted no one to take his place as her protector. College must have changed him in more ways than Christine thought. 

''No, I will tell you more when you call me tomorrow saying you accepted the internship'' She did not let her inner monologue bled into the conversation. Klass would finally be living for himself, and that made her so glad. 

Christine got to hear the pout on the other end of the line "Well it’s fair, this is suspicious, though" 

''The only suspicious thing is that you play so much with my blood pressure and then say that it is for my own good!'' She stood up after one look at the clock, she was running late. 

''Okay okay, got it, I'll take the job'' He gave up, and although he tried to sound defeated, Christine could hear relief in his voice. Yeah, he will never have to sacrifice another thing for her again. 

''Good boy, now, I am a little late, I have to go'' She said, starting to take her hair out of the curlers with one hand. 

''I thought you said you did not have plans for tonight?''

''Oh no, just some deep cleaning, take out the trash'' she ran her hand through her fresh curls, separating them. 

''Okay, good luck with that''

''Right, go out and have fun but be careful, okay? I love you'' 

''Love you too''

Her face was ready, and she was pinning her hair out of her face when the phone rang again. 

Identity: Christine Daaé  

She picked up, no need for introductions. 

''Do you have the location?''

''Yes, our client is eager to see you, Rose Thorn''

Aliases: Rose Thorn  

She smiled into the phone; her mouth painted red in a mocking gesture. 

Real Identity: Assassin  

 Another ruined dress and 4 more digits on her body count when she realized. 

The water of the sink had been running for 10 minutes, as Christine washed her daggers. Carefully putting them away on a clean, spotless white towel, after washing her face and hands. 10 minutes and the water had not stopped running red for a second 

The sound of the water had put her mind at rest, acting by instinct and so lost on her thoughts that once the tap was closed, they all came at once. 

''Oh'' She whispered, looking up, almost scared of her own reflection, of how far her gaze went but how shallow her eyes were.

The assassin turned to see the bodies strewn in the hotel room, perhaps fleeing from her reflection as well. The train of her dress, not longer emerald green but muddy brown, flying behind her. 

Christine held the clean daggers in her hands. Those that would never be. She had spent the last 14 years scrubbing away the skin. 

She guessed her problem was insignificant on the grand scale of things, getting a date in 3 days shouldn't be difficult. 

It was not as she was completely clueless about those sorts of things. Once she started touring and sharing chambers with other female singers and dancers, she realized her disinterest in men was more than about focusing in raising her cousin. 

But none of those stolen nights were meant to see the golden of daylight. nor was she because no matter how bright the lights on the stages she performed were, Christine belonged in the shadows. And in the shadows, she would stay. 

Nothing could grow up there, not love, not a family. The blood of four men covering her confirmed it.

That's when she found herself with an only option left. She should be grateful it was the thing she was best at. 

 lie.

''Good afternoon, is Mireille here today? I placed a pickup order for this Monday'' Christine said reaching the counter, her smile painted the same red she had worn at her last work.

Even knowing the probable unfortunate fate that her new dress would have, she was still excited to go pick it up. the ephemerality made things exciting, and the dresses that Mireille's family tailor shop made were to die for. 

The customer next to her, a very tall, dark-haired South Asian woman, jumped up a bit, and Christine felt a little bad. Making noise when walking wasn't in her nature, but she could not help it.

''Here I am, Christine'' Mireille, she turned around the counter, reaching out to take Christine's hands '' You're coming for your new dress, right? Klass called me, and he told me everything, you have to bring the dress and your new date to the party'' Her shoulders went up, showing her enthusiasm, squeezing her old friend's hands.

Dammit! Christine had forgotten that she had raised Klass in the manners of the opera, which meant, with a great love of rumors and gossip. It was safe to say, everyone knew now. 

Christine was speechless for a second. She was so screw. If she didn't bring a date, she was really going to make a fool out of herself with everyone she knew, she was going to look like a liar and a loser, and that was the best case scenario, worst case she would end up arrested. 

Christine smiled through the chaos of her mind. 

''Of course, I'm excited about it! you are going to love them''

Mireille gave a whoop of joy and gave her a quick hug ''Let me pack your dress real quick, I'm so excited to see you wearing it on Saturday, so many dresses we've made for you, and I don't think I've ever seen you wear one!'' she laughed, and you know Mireille had never been the sharpest person, so she didn't saw anything fishy in that. 

It was one of the cases where it was better not to say anything, so Christine just nodded, watching her friend leave. 

The client kept looking at her out of the corner of her eye. What a noisy thinker. There was a strange well around her. A strange energy that caught Christine's attention. 

''Do you need something? I see you keep looking at me'' Christine asked, looking at her. 

The woman turned. The first thing Christine noticed was that she was gorgeous, the second, the facial prosthesis in the middle of her face. 

''You are Christine Daaé, right? I am so sorry, I am huge admired of yours,'' She said, a warm smile on her refined mauve lips. 

The heavy air around her vanished, leaving behind a trained, courteous, almost angelic smile on her angular face of pale, sharp features. She had deep brown eyes and thin soft arched brows, a long straight nose and round heavy upper lips. A bony, thin and very long frame, with long elegant, limbs, strong shoulders and a small chest.

The stranger wore a pale gray swing coat dress, a white turtleneck underneath it, stockings, and tall flat baby blue boots. Her hair was long and straight, held back by a white headband. She was not wearing any jewelry and her makeup was bright and subtle. Stylish, yet almost impersonal, like she had just stepped out of a catalog page. 

Her face was divided by a line running from the middle of her forehead, through part of her septum and nose flap, spreading to the apple of her cheek and down her cheekbone, made with a matte skin - like material, and very convincing. Christine wouldn't have noticed if she'd been a foot further. 

''Oh yes, that would be me''  She said, looking down, as she felt her cheeks color 

After almost 8 years as an actress, she still couldn't stop getting shy when someone recognized her. 

''Of course, it's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Erika Carrière, I recently moved to the city'' The woman introduced herself by extending her gloved hand. 

Christine relaxed, smiling and accepting her greeting, her hand felt cold, even though the glove. 

''It is a pleasure to meet you, miss Carrière'' She said and as she looked at her, her thoughts began to fly 

Christine didn’t felt a ring under the glove, and she seemed to be much older than her, maybe they were in a similar situation, it was worth asking. 

''The pleasure is mine, miss Daaé'' The not longer a stranger praised her, with that smile that Christine couldn't help but think, didn't quite belong on her face.

The sound of breaking glass caught their attention and the woman next to her closed her eyes, growling softly, wanting the earth to swallow her.

''Oh no'' She whispered as if she just remembered something important. 

''Mrs. Carrière, can you come here?'' Helene, Mireille's mother, she said severely 

Erika nodded, not saying anything, going to the back of the store. 

''Oh hello, Christine! I have not seen you since the wedding, how are you? Is that boy of yours doing well in school?'' The woman got closer, happy to see her. 

''He just got an internship! at the foreign ministry, he is doing great'' The singer smiled, her chest filled with pride.  

''Glad, to hear it, I need to take care of something, I will be right back'' She smiled back, and got away. 

''Christine, come sign the receipt, so we can check out'' Mireille returned to the counter, beckoning for her to follow.

The register was in the back, right next to whatever problem Helene had with Erika. 

Drama loved Christine as much as she did back.

Chapter Text

Things were very sour for Phantom. 

Enrolling the children in school was easy. A fake birth certificate for each one was all that was needed, but now that both kids had passed their entrance exam, the next step was the mandatory interview where both parents had to attend. 

So, Erika had 14 days and 6 hours to provide the death certificate of her nonexistent first husband (Done, and indistinguishable from a real one, thanks, Nadir) and her second marriage certificate to secure their place in the interview. 

This woman, Christine Daaé, an opera singer with whom Erika had already established a connection, claiming to be her fan when in reality she had never seen her perform. 

She looked simple enough. No one would think this woman was a consumed artist. She was wearing a black, yellow, and orange granny square carding, with a burnt orange pinafore dress and a black turtleneck underneath, and healed ankle length black boots. Her hair was a noticeably light blonde and straight, but the presence of some waving at the back of her neck said it was not her natural hair texture. 

The fact that Christine had a flourishing career in entertainment might mean more attention than Phantom would like. But she was an opera singer, the people who would know would be smaller, and even her career might be a good excuse to divorce by the time the mission is over. 

God, being in her head was exhausting. It hadn't even been a month, and this was already one of the most challenging missions of her career. 

''They broke a vase, I'm not even sure how they got to it,'' The shop owner explained, standing in front of the shards of broken glass on the floor. 

''Did you do that, children?'' She asked, turning to look at them. 

Both children were stiff with their heads down in a pose of attention. Gustave perfectly holding the position while Charlotte was clearly having trouble. Erika wondered in which of all their previous homes they had picked up that habit and how she was going to correct them. Her role was of a loving mother, she could not have her children taking military positions. 

''It was my fault, mis-mother,'' Gustave said, moving ahead of her sister, covering her out of the way. 

4 previous homes, 2 orphanages, Phantom knew the children couldn't have had an easy life, but Lottie seemed to be able to bounce back from whatever abuse she may have received. Gustave seemed to have more scars, and Phantom wondered how many of them he had received protecting his sister. 

Erika ignored the children for a second, scanning the cupboard. How could Gustave have knocked over the vase? The furniture had its dust layer intact, so he had not climb to get it, it was properly secured to the wall, so he could not had knocked it over. Every kind of sewing ruler or object of assistance was put away, at least he had done with his mind, Erika could not understand how he had done it. 

Christine was there, observing everything, looking mortified by the presence of her children. While Gustave stared at the ground waiting for punishment, and Lottie who in a few seconds went from being nervous to be absolute terrified –her gaze locked on Christine, weirdly, almost like reading her-, to be open-mouthed with her eyes full of stars as if she just discovered the eighth wonder of the world. 

Erika really couldn't understand these kids. 

"We'll pay for the vase, I must apologize for the inconvenience," She turned away, speaking in her best imitation of what the reaction of a proper, patient, and loving mother would be, "We'll talk about this later, kids." 

Phantom thought it was an appropriate time to leave and turned to see Christine with the intention of saying goodbye. Choosing a wife in place of a husband, not to say a famous one, was too risky, even if she was a suitable candidate for a mother, but the spy was not sure about her career path. It was more respectable these days, but the conservative views of Eden may still carry the old stigma about performers, it was better to find another person for her cover.

''This is really your folt, mommy'' Lottie suddenly said, speaking rapidly, interrupting her mother’s thought train. 

''You mean to say 'fault' and why do you say that?'' Erika replied, a little more exasperated than a model mother would be. 

''We are out of control,'' The child extended her chubby arms into the air, her little face full of concentration ''need other parental... fi-figo-figure, yes! That'' She took a pause in the last world, frowning, but nodded very proud of herself after she managed to pronounce it correctly. 

''Where did that come from?'' Erika was very confused, her thin eyebrows closed together and her eyes moving to the sides. 

Charlotte's use of vocabulary was remarkable. Her use of complicate words and her lack of grammar, as well as how often, more than it was developmentally appropriate, she would mispronounce words, made her speech really stand out. Due to her age, Erika would think that she was just mimicking sounds, but in the majority of cases, she really knew what she was talking about. 

"Aren't you here with your partner?" Christine approached, intrigued by the charismatic little girl. 

''Oh no, my husband passed away two years ago, it's just me and my children, which apparently isn't enough, thanks Lottie'' Erika replied, feeling exhausted, yet the lie slipped easily past her tongue. 

''You are welcome, mommy'' The child whispered, holding both of her fists close to her mouth to hide her smile, happy with the entertainment playing live in front of her. 

''You say you just moved? It must have been very stressful for all of you'' Christine approached ‘’Why aren’t we going to have lunch, everyone? There is a good place near here, there is a children's area too'' She invited, a sympathetic look at who she thought was just an everyday, regular mother struggling. 

There was Phantom’s opportunity on a silver platter, but was it really the best option? She was not in position to choose, but choosing the first option available out of desperation had never been the- 

''Opps'' Lottie collided with a table, causing a cup full of liquid to dance off the edge. 

''Got it!'' Christine caught the cup in midair, a quick, skillful nimble move, but little it did to stabilize Erika’s blood pressure. 

Actually, never mind. 

"...You know what, that sounds amazing, I would love to" And that was the first thing she told her that wasn't a lie. 

Christine quickly realized that Erika was knowledgeable and rational, with a dry sense of humor that she seemed to be holding back. Serious and reserved but noble in character and found herself enjoying her company. 

She was a surgical resident, that being her main reason to move her family over, starting medical school shortly before giving birth to her first child, but it not her first college career, studying art and music before that. 

She gave her the impression of being in control of everything, except her own children.  

''What did you say the names of your children were? I thought I heard that the girl was Lottie, right?'' Christine asked, blowing her hot apple cider, she would prefer to ask the children themselves, but they had jump in the jungle gym at the dinner as soon as they went through the door.  

''That’s correct, Charlotte and Gustave'' Erika answered, stirring her black coffee, she had taken her gloves off, and for a second, Christine had the silly thought she was wearing fitted white gloves underneath as how pure white her hands were. 

They were waiting after ordering their food, Erika giving looks every few seconds to check on the kids, what an attentive mother. 

This time, Christine looked back with her, quickly spotting the kids, and how could she not.  

Christine thought both kids were adorable, even if they looked nothing, and she really meant it, nothing like their mother. Not that she would even think of saying that out loud. 

She could already tell Lottie was a handful, quickly becoming the leader of the playground. The image was comical as the child had just ended her toddle years, 4 years at most. She had this straight thin blonde hair that would likely darker to be light brown or a dirty blonde, and big, incredibly expressive greyish blue eyes. She had such an expressive little face, all her emotions and thoughts were transparent. 

Gustave was clearly his sister's shadow, and Christine felt fondness, being reminded of Klas when he was little. This kid was more serious, but that seemed to be taken after his mother's reserved character, as he did not seem shy at all. Probably the one to look more like his mother, as told by the dark eyes and features that, even covered by baby fat, Christine could tell would be sharp and defined as an adult. He had the most beautiful honey-colored curls. Being the son of a single working mother, he likely took responsibly of his sister to help her.

Christine smiled, feeling nostalgic, ties of affection threading through her chest. 

''What's the matter?''

''That was my father's name, and Lottie was a nursery rhyme I liked when I was a child, what a coincidence'' She said softly, a fond smile in her face.

And she would think someone had shouted the little girl's name, as soon as Christine said her name, she looked up for the top of the jungle gym, waving at her, the sleeve of her oversize dress falling to her shoulder. 

Now that she was paying attention to it, the kids looked poorly dressed compared to their mother. Christine didn't judge, the clothes were clean and little kids always messed themselves up and grew out of their clothes way too quick, their better clothes probably still packed away in their new home. 

Christine smiled and waved back, only turning over when the kids started playing again.  

 "Why those names?" She asked once her back hit the chair. 

"Gustave because of his paternal grandfather, and I always liked the name Charlotte" Erika answered casually, well, it sounded reasonable "do you like children, miss?" She asked, taking a sip of her coffee. 

“Of course, I raised my cousin after our parents died and at the opera, I am always taking care of the younger dancers, I love children’’ 

"You can keep mine," She muttered under her breath. 

Christine laughed, other ears hadn't been able to hear it and Erika didn't expect her to have heard it, as her cheeks reddened. 

''I mean to say, they are my children and-''

''I get it,'' Christine cut her short ''Raising kids is not the easiest thing in the world, I know how hard it is to move and start a new job with kids, it’s really hard for everyone involved''

That was a way to put it, decided not to talk about the guilt and fear that plague her mind to this day, nor the everyday regret of having done things different. Parenthood was painfully complex,  

''I really don’t know what I'm doing'' Erika confessed in a whisper, ashamed but extremely relieved of saying that out loud. 

''That doesn't really get any better, honestly'' The singer shook her head, a calming smile on her lips.

''Not the most relieving answer, but I appreciate your honesty, I suppose'' Erika raised her eyebrow.

''No, no, everything is going to be fine, you talk to your children with respect and care, and listen to them, you are doing it amazing, I promise'' Christine quickly corrected herself ''That's like half of the job, the other being, make sure they don't accidentally kill themselves, that part does get easier with age, at least''

''You think?''

''Totally! Don’t worry, days are long but years are so short, my cousin is a college student now, even if I was not the person he needed every time, he still calls almost every day, so I did not know what I was doing also, but it was not too bad of a job I think, he tuned out pretty well, I'm proud of him'' She smiled, trying to reassure her with her gaze. 

''...That’s really nice to hear thank you'' Erika nodded after a moment of silence, a shy genuine smile on her face ''Why do you put that face?'' She giggled, seeing the blonde cringed at her own thoughts. 

Christine scratched her jaw, biting her bottom lip ''I don’t know, I just turned 26, and I'm trying really had to convince myself I'm not old, but I definitely don't feel like it when talking about the child I raise going to college''

''26 is not old at all'' Erika shook her head. 

Christine had not asked, but she could estimate Erika was in her mid-30s, so older than her. But had her children to prove she was not a spy, not a husband, but with her status as a doctor, she would raise very little suspicion, it must be nice to feel that safe. 

''I guess no, but with all those... arrests, I'm getting scared, you know'' She looked down the table. 

Christine was not the unstoppable force that could get anything she set her mind to through sheer brute force and ingenuity, Thorn Rose was, but she had also nothing to lose. 

''I understand, those are valid concerns'' Was all the older women said. 

And Christine liked the change. She had already tons of people worried about it for her, it felt nice to just brush the matter aside for now.  

Their food arrived at that moment; Erika decided to let the kids play a little longer while their food got colder and less harsh on their soft palates. 

Christine stared at her pasta, taking a few bites, burning her tongue before daring to talk. 

''...So, do you like parties?'' Christine asked, still not looking up. 

Erika's attention had drifted away in that meantime, looking at the children playing. 

''A party? It hasn't been an activity of choice for me in years." She looked at her, shaking her head. 

''If she told you about something embarrassing and stupid that I did, would you laugh?'' Christine said, slouching over the table in shame. 

''I have an incredible self-control'' She answered, taking a sip of water. 

''I told my cousin and my co-workers that I would take a date to my friend's party on Saturday'' She covered her face, looking through her finger. 

''The problem is?'' Erika said, pretending she was not seeing where this was going. 

''I actually don't have a date to take'' 

Erika laughed, excusing herself behind the glass of water on her lips. 

''Hey, did you say you wouldn’t laugh?!'' She slapped her hands away from her face. 

''Excuse me? I never promised anything, miss'' Erika continued laughing, ''It seems that you got into a big problem, right?'' This smile was different, it fit her better, bolder and more mischievous, the corners of her eyes crinkled, and her teeth peeked out. 

Her teeth were not in the best condition. Worn and yellowish. Something that Christine did not expect after hearing about her extensive education and seeing how finely dressed she was. 

"That's right, I don't know what to do" 

"Okay, you know I laugh because I'm in a similar situation, we could help each other" And again there was that rehearsed and strange smile, how odd. 

''Would you pretend to be my girlfriend for the party?'' Christine put both hands on the table, waiting for her answer.

''Only if you do something for me too'' She hunched over the table over the table to match her position.

Christine tilted her head to the side. ''Sounds fair''

''There is nothing more important to me than my children receive a good education, nothing more matters'' Erika started ''Nothing but the best school for them, but they have very strict guidelines to enter. We don’t fit all of them, that’s where I need your help''

Oh, that was a way more significant deal than Christine's, whose problem suddenly sounded very silly. 

''Yeah, of course, how can I help you?''  

''Would you pretend to be my wife for the admission interview at my children's school?''

It sounded illegal and difficult, kinda like she was getting the short end of the stick, but Christine felt moved by Erika’s dedication to her children. She wanted to help them –and stop the police from arresting her, that was a plus.-

''Done'' Christine extended her hand to close the deal, Erika took it immediately. 

And although the thought that the other's hand was too callous and full of scar tissue came to them at the same time, it was soon buried in satisfaction of their personal gain.

Chapter Text

Phantom was the most distinguished spy in the entire organization. The best, the card up in LAZARO'S sleeve. She never missed, and she always hit her target. That had granted her a specific status and privilege that she constantly abused of; being able to complain. 

''GIRY!'' A shout could be heard in the hallway. 

The woman in question groaned. 

''A child?! A CHILD? In a week?! Are you insane? It takes more than a week to make a child! and I don’t even have the right equipment for that!'' Phantom screamed without giving more context, breaking into her handle’s office. 

She was still wearing her disguise for her last mission as a state secretary. Wearing a black pencil skirt, a white blouse, and burgundy stockings. Her hair was down and messy after being pulled out of a wig, and her facial prosthesis perfectly concealed in her face, no lines to highlight about. 

''Good morning, Phantom, I see you found out about your next mission, for being an eyes-only file, you are being awfully loud about it'' Her voice was casual, as she sat on her desk, her gaze down on the papers she was reviewing. 

''This mission is too sensible for an eyes-only file, why didn’t you cite me personally?'' Phantom anxiously touched the latex portion of her face. 

''Because if you were going to throw a tantrum, I rather it be outside my office''

Phantom dropped dramatically into the chair, arms crossed and rocking on the back legs of the chair. 

''One of these days your reflexes are going to fail, and you are going to fall face first to the ground''

''Of course not'' She rose with such lightness and grace that the chair maintained its tilted position in the air, falling back without a counterweight, before the woman kneed it back to its original position. 

''Brat'' Was all the older women answered. 

''Did you choose the child already?''

''Actually, I was hoping you would do it''

Phantom grew thoughtful, leaning over to rest her crossed arms on the back of the chair. 

''We believe that it is better that you go and choose him yourself, to create an attachment, your mission is to pretend to always had been mother and child, it has to be convincing.’’ 

''Has to be a boy?''

''Cholet has two sons, one with his first wife and one with his current wife, Carlotta, we encourage you to get a boy''

'"Giry, do I look like someone who has a single maternal bone in the whole body?'' Phantom asked quietly, tossing her hands, trying to hide her insecurity. 

"The human body has 206 bones, that's one bone for everything a person can be, so I do think so." 

Phantom bit the inside of her cheek. She couldn't see it. Not a child finding comfort resting on her bony lap, or resting their head on her sharp ribs. She couldn't imagine any reaction besides the shiver a child would have when feeling her ice-cold hand on warm, soft cheeks. 

"Fine, I will take the mission" 

''I wasn't asking if you wanted to-''

''-Yes! I know you did not! ''

''Just go to an orphanage, find a suitable child, one who is smart and capable, and enroll him in the academy and turn him into a top student like Cholet's son, hopefully you can get mended in Cholet social circle to know what is he after and stop him,''

''And I can't believe you are asking me to share a roof with a man, a husband? You know I despise honey traps'' Phantom whined again, annoyed and unimpressed. 

''Just look for a name that can go under yours on a marriage certificate, the way things are going I can’t get picky with you''

So, a civilian, the spy shortage must have been worse than she thought. If no one would be assigned with her on such a high caliber mission. Trusting that judgment, she didn't ask for confirmation. 

''Understood," She said, a sense of finality in her words. 

A single look at her boss's face reminded her that she was not within her rights to choose that, how much she wanted to go sulk elsewhere was irrelevant. 

''Agent, are you curious about your new identity for the mission?''

"Not really, the one you assigned me is fine" She slightly frowned, surprised by the question. 

The woman removed her glasses from her face before getting up from her chair, standing in front of her. 

''This mission is critical, agent, if there is another war it will not stop it, but it can buy us a couple more years of peace'' 

''And that's all we can ask for.'' Phantom finished for her, her gaze going down for a moment, tapping the toe of her shoe on the floor. 

''The espionage crisis is becoming serious, and this is a long-term mission, the possibility of reporting and arrest is very high, we cannot risk it happening and disturbing the mission, if Cholet finds out that you are after him and rushes’’ 

''It could end  badly, I understand, he will not discover me, there will be no reason for them to suspect'' She straightened, leaving the chair aside. 

"But I want to take precautions" 

"I don't need precautions, not me" 

''Have you not heard that you should not work with children or animals? This mission does not only depend on you!'' The older woman was exasperated, hitting the shoulder of her former apprentice with a folder ''That is why I give you back what we made you give up so many years ago'' 

''What are you talking about?''  

''Your name'' 

Phantom's expression dropped, and she pressed her lips together tightly, her hands twisting behind her back. 

''You can't be serious'' She shook her head. 

''If they were to arrest you and search your records, we can send you with a new identity, but nothing would be as good as your birth identity, there are records and alibis, and it can save you if something happens'' 

''I want an example'' 

''There are records that you served on the battlefield, if anyone sees any of your injuries or questions your abilities'' 

"Erika Carrière, then, profession? " She interrupted her, and the name didn't seem to stir any spark of recognition, just one more of a thousand faces. 

But from the look on Madame Giry's face, she didn't expect to hear her say that name out loud so soon, looking as if she had said the name of a dead person. That was true in a way. 

"Surgeon intern, you just graduated from medical school and are looking for a good education and a quiet place for your child to grow up after the tragic death of your husband, can you do it?" She wasn't asking about the mission, Phantom would fulfill the mission, there was no doubt in that. 

''That name means no more than any other you've given me, I'll manage'' 

''Alright, good luck agent, we count on you'' 

"Permission to withdraw? 

''Permission granted, agent'' 

Phantom, -now Erika, and an alias never felt less hers- left the room in dead silence, leaving her handler with a bad feeling behind. 

The orphanage was deficient, and the conditions deplorable, but the lack of paperwork and the ease with which it could be disposed of would be necessary to make this mission run as smoothly as possible. 

Phantom knew that Gustave was the right boy for the mission after a couple of minutes with him. He did not give the image she was looking for, his potential hidden behind a blue shirt too big and with missing buttons, his pants too short, and his shoes too worn. 

But he was polite. With good posture, and quite smart. Being the only one his age to already know how to read and write. He wasn't loud or talkative, and didn't seem to have high needs. That was useful. He didn't look much like her, but that was fine, she could always blame that on a paternal resemblance that no one would ever have a way to check. 

"I think this child is a good fit for my family, when will it be possible to take him home?'' Erika scratched her cheekbone, specifically the line that now divided her face. 

It was suffocating enough to have to cover her face with latex and wax for her missions. This time it was different because it had to look like a prosthesis. She couldn't justify being born with an extensive birth defect only to reappear 15 years later without it. 

''What about now, we have your data to do the paperwork later'' 

Erika didn't know what to say. So soon? She wasn't ready to take a child home, her expression remained unpunished. 

"I'll let my lawyer take care of it then" Was what she managed to answer. 

She wouldn't be caught dead saying that, but she was scared, and it didn't help that this was so sudden. Her entire world was going to change from one day to the next, and she didn't even know this kid. -… oh 

She turned to see the boy, whose face was a mirror of the same emotions that she could never express. 

''…Is that okay with you?'' More awkwardly than she thought capable, she crouched down, to be on the same level as him. 

This damned dress. Her new wardrobe was filled with soft fabrics -but thick ones, the image of stabbing a child in the eye with her hipbone hadn't left her mind, so padding fabrics to fill out her bony frame- and pastel colors. Day dresses, shoes with no added height and her hair down in hopes of softening her features. 

''No'' he shook his head, tensing. 

Apparently, Erika's attempt to appear more approachable had failed miserably. In the tense look and the beginnings of tears, Phantom noticed anger in Gustave's gaze. Great, this kid hated her. That wasn't very offensive. She wouldn't want to be in her care either. 

''Is there anything I can do to make you okay with that?'' She asked out of her element. 

''I'm not going anywhere without my sister'' He answered, looking straight into her eyes, and what eyes, oh, this boy was brave, tougher than many grown men. 

''Those are the eyes of a soldier.'' A memory washed over Erika's senses, but she swallowed the feeling, and continued. 

''A sister'' She repeated, ''Would you mind telling me where this sister is?'' She asked the director of the orphanage. 

There was a spark of annoyance, but he obeyed and left the room. 

''Lottie is here!'' A childish voice said, entering the room, tripping on her Mary Jane’s shoes. 

''Where did you come from?''

''I was waitin out there'' The little girl replied, her blonde hair pulled back in a high, badly done ponytail, and wearing a curtain-like floral design dress, it was dusty like the rest of the place, and her knees were full of dirt. 

Oh god, this little girl was tiny. Was it normal for a child with that vocabulary to be so small? She was basically a baby. Shouldn't this child have a pacifier in her mouth and be crying, like babies were supposed to. 

''Four! I have four!'' The girl exclaimed, frowning, kicking the floor, clearly saying that she was not a baby. 

How she realized what Erika was thinking, that was a mystery. 

''Right.'' Erika nodded. 

Now, this be an advantage, if she enrolled two children in the school, more chance that one of them would make it as an Imperial scholar. As well as it could make Gustave adjust faster, and two children could be good for her alibi. Much closer to the nuclear family image she was looking for. 

And, Phantom was a cold-hearted bastard, but not even she could separate them. The way she saw it, it was all pluses. 

That if this girl was intelligent enough for the entrance exam—what kind of school tested kindergarteners? —and for the academy standards. 

''I'm Lottie! I'm very in-teligemnt, I can count very high, like a thousand! Or more, right, Gustave?''

The boy looked at her sister, thinking very hard in her direction, wide-eyed and shook his head slightly, from the way Lottie nodded several times in the span of a few seconds, the silent interaction felt like a full conversation. 

''I'm sure I can, but not all at once!'' She nodded, turning to see Erika. 

 Erika nodded, really not sure how high a four-year-old should count. 

''I can do the entire alphabet too, and with-out the song!'' Lottie exclaimed afterwards, in the same tone that one would say would fly straight into the sun. 

''No, we can’t say the alphabet without the song!'' Gustave quickly stopped her by grabbing her shoulders. 

Well, making them say the alphabet -without the song, what a sin- would really be useless, her decision was made. 

''Charlotte, would you agree that I adopt both of you?'' Erika asked. 

''This is gonna be so eks-citing'' The girl shouted as if she had just won the lottery.  

The child smiled, staring at her new mother, her mind was very chaotic and very loud, but she was very pretty, and a spy! She was good, spies were meant to be, as long as they kept her and Gustave's abilities a secret, they were safe this time, the little mind reader knew. 

Well, Phantom thought, at least she was going to cooperate, and she turned to look at Gustave out of the corner of her eye, expecting to see the same collaboration as his sister. 

''If Lottie wants to, then it’s fine'' He agreed, trying to look indifferent, but then he audibly sighed in relief. 

They were going to stay together, nothing else mattered. Lottie had chosen this woman. Gustave did not know what she saw in her mind to be so convinced, and if she was wrong, it was fine. He had learned to use his power to protect them, to open locks his hand could not reach, to move furniture to barricade the door, he had used his mind to escape once, he could do it again. 

Phantom had the temptation of laughing at the absurdity of the situation. Well, that had been a perfectly mediocre start, it was fine, she had worked with less.  

Did I make the right decision? None of them seem particularly smart or outstanding, could I go back and change them? Erika debated in the privacy of her mind. 

''NO, DON’T GET ME BACK, I WAS A GOOD SHOPPING'' Lottie cried, again. 

Erika was judged by strangers, again. 

''No, No! Stop crying, child, where did that come from? I'm not leaving you, I promise'' Erika bowed to the floor, her damn skirt getting in her way. 

The child must felt sorry for her new mother’s despair, as she stopped sobbing, looking at Erika, waiting to be comforted. 

''Promise you won’t sell me?'' She asked between hiccups, a thread of snot falling from her nose. 

''If you behave well, no'' Erika responded by putting a handkerchief on the girl’s nose so that she could blow, regretting her choice of words the next second, seeing the panic settle again on the girl's face. 

She went back to see her brother. 

''She's just kidding, Lottie,'' The boy said, and that seemed to do the trick to calm her down. 

''Gustave, come hold my hand'' Erika asked after securing Lottie's hand. 

''NO'' Was his only response, running a couple of feet away. 

Oh god, that word. No! no! no! Gustave didn't seem to be able to say anything else. He was driving her crazy. She clenched her fists trying to calm down- 

Forgetting that she was holding Lottie's hand. She cried, again. 

''You look terrible''

''Wow, where's your trophy?'' Erika rolled her eyes, taking hold of Nadir's office chair and dangling her legs over the armrests for no particular reason except that she knew it annoyed him. 

But he wasn't lying. Erika's posture was well set, making every out-of-place detail in her clothing stick out like a sore thumb. She had hair sticking up over her head, wrinkles on her coat, plus snot and blood stains on her sleeves -a bloody nose from Gustave where the boy refused to sit still. She had the children in her care for a total of two days, the two days more exhausting of her life.

''Where did you leave the children?'' Her informant asked. 

Nadir Khan, Phantom's informant of 15 years, and one of the agency's best document forgers. During the day he was the director of the public library as a cover, his office also serving as the headquarters for Phantom operations. 

''Taking care of the apartment'' She replied, frowning after Nadir's voice interrupted her moment of peace, God, she had forgotten what silence sounded like. 

''Did you leave a six and a four-year-old alone?'' Nadir, rightfully shocked, asked. 

Erika furrowed her eyebrows, ''When you say it like that it sounds worse than it’s'' 

''I have no idea why Giry thought giving you this mission was a good idea, I didn't trust you with yourself, nor to think of two innocent creatures''

''Yes, well, if we are going to sit here and try to untangle Madame Giry's mind, we will be here for a long time'' She complained, tossing her hands in defeat ''Have you started with what I asked you to do?''

''New shoes of all kinds for both? Not yet, do you have any ideas for middle names? that would help hide them even more'' 

''Oh god, it is enough to have two humans in my charge, do not add the responsibility of naming them, take charge Daroga'' Erika rested her fist on her temple. 

''Why did you adopt the girl too? The mission only required one child, what's with that?'' He walked over, sitting on the desk 

Erika sighed, lowering her legs from the armrest of the chair ''I know I'm a cold-hearted bastard, but they are siblings, not even I would have dared to separate them, and at the time, it seemed like a good idea! I mean, two kids, double the chance of one of them excelling academically! Right?''

''I guess you didn’t think it would be double the responsibilities?''

''Of course I did, I'm not an idiot, Daroga'' Erika responded, raising her head from the chair ''They are only two years apart, I didn't think their needs would vary so much in such a small window of time, and Charlotte especially has certain behaviors that we need to work on before school starts'' 

''If they pass the exam'' Nadir took out an envelope carefully kept in her coat ''you owe me a big one after this, getting the answers to both test took days'' 

''Of course they will, they are my children after all'' Erika took the envelope and put it in her pocket. 

''What does your four-year-old need to work on, she is four, not a lot she can do''

''Well, she's not fully potty trained,'' Erika confessed with a monotonous expression, sinking into her chair. 

Nadir stared at her, stunned. 

''What?'' 

''You changing diapers?''

''It's not that serious, there are worse things than cleaning urine, and did you know that diapers are disposable now? Long live the future!'' She made a toast with a pencil holder. 

''Is it normal for a child her age?'' 

''According to the nine different parenting guides I read yesterday, no, but I'm not too worried, she shows all the signs of being ready to leave the diaper, and do not use it while she is awake, I just don't think anyone cared about making that transition with her, and you know what? Right now, I have more important things to take care of, so we'll leave that for later.''

''There is something else with her that requires your immediate concern''

''She still uses a sippy cup, but only at night, she won’t sleep, and she speaks in the third person, that is the one that worries me, we have to work on it, so she stops before school starts''

''She is four! You still spoke in the third person, being much older than that.''

Erika snorted, not believing Nadir would bring that up "it was a trauma response!" 

''Well...'' Nadir interrupted, taking another envelope out of his coat. 

''What?'' Erika, said, using the armrest to sit straight on the chain, suddenly concerned. 

''Well, I did what the agency asked me to do and delete all records of them, which was incredibly easy because there are hardly any,'' He explained, placing the piece of paper in her hand. 

Erika opened the envelope, surprisingly empty for containing the entire lives of two people. 

''There are only records from the last year, I was unable to find their original surname, neither I couldn’t find out if they are actually related''

The records were sparse, rushed and of little formality or reliability, there were a couple of photos, Lottie was crying in all of them, and Gustave looking like he wanted to explode the photographer’s head with his eyes, not the kind of baby photos she would keep in her wallet.

No mentions of any bio parents.

''What about all these names?''

The first name of both was written numerous times, always with a different last name following them, in some instances they shared it, in others it was different. 

''They have been adopted four times each. The orphanage where did you get them? The second they’ve been’’ 

''What? Why would someone return them?'' Erika frowned distressed, an almost childlike, guideless wish on her gaze for her friend to have an answer. 

They were just children. They drove Phantom crazy, and she had never felt so tired of doing so little, but you were supposed to be prepared for that when deciding to become a parent. She didn't understand what kind of behavior both of them had exhibited for this to happen. 

Or maybe, she did. And it was easy, you weren't the child of these families. You did not belong to this people. Being dumped like garbage at the slightest expression of dignity wasn't uncommon. Even now that the war was over, and they couldn't tell you that even the pigs were more deserving of the hard rock jerky and rotten potato skins than yo-- 

''Erika! Are you here?'' Nadir put a hand still in front of her face, at a prudent distance and without touching her. 

Phantom had not heard his voice say that name in 15 years and did not like how easily the name came to his tongue. She wondered if he had ever stopped thinking of her as Erika. She stopped breathing, who cared, she could hold her breath for almost half an hour if she had to, who- 

''Phantom!''

She came out of the trance. Feeling a ringing vibration in her ears, and looked at her friend, almost outraged that he had raised his voice. 

''There is no need to call me by my fake name when we are alone, Daroga'' Phantom focused her gaze, a blank expression on her face. 

''Of course'' Nadir agreed, decrepit old liar, he never agreed with her. 

"Right," Phantom replied, feeling her heart begin to calm down, straightening up in her chair, leaving the past behind. 

She fixed her gaze on a picture of Gustave. Something about the way his hair was cut caught her eye. He was growing a bald head, a common treatment for lice, perhaps. 

''This is taking a toll on you, isn't it?'' the older man asked. 

Erika looked up, her eyes giving a certain affirmative quality, not that anyone besides Daroga, who was familiar with her mannerisms and expressions, could notice. 

"Remember what you said earlier, that you were a cold-hearted bastard?" He got up, going to a mini refrigerator that he had in his office, taking out a bottle of water. 

"Are you going to try to deny it?" She smiled, snorting softly. 

''Oh no, you are.'' He raised her eyebrows, pointing his finger at her, before handing her the bottle of water. 

Erika laughed, nodding, checking the seal on the bottle out of habit. 

''The point is, that implies that you have a heart, and that implies the ability to create an attachment'' 

She huffed, lowering the bottle from her mouth ''Don’t act delusional''

''They are children! There is a certain evolutionary mission for you to get attached to them, the chubby cheeks, the big eyes, the giant heads! I just remind you that this is a mission and that pair of yours will have to return to the orphanage when you are done'' He sounded sad by the end of his speech,

Hopefully, the mission would end soon, and they would not remember the sadness of their early years. 

Erika nodded, tapping the cap to the neck of the bottle. 

''Lottie... cries all day, every day, and Gustave, every time he speaks to me is to tell me no, I'm not enjoying this at all, there's no soil for any bond to flourish, it's not a possibility and if it were, what we do here is too important and too dangerous, it would only endanger them, I'm not that selfish to prevent them from living normal lives in the future,''

She did not love those children. She wouldn't do this if she did. 

''You seem convinced, I know better than trying to convince you of something, you stubborn mule'' 

''Senile curmudgeon '' Phantom attacked back, standing up from the chair ''I'm leaving'' She crumpled the empty bottle in her hands and threw it in the trash. 

''Are you going to pay me?''

''Nope, I blew up the budget they gave me for the first month of the mission, children are awfully expensive, see you later'' She said, leaving the room, closing the door behind her. 

Nadir shook his head, ''Tsk, spies''

Erika returned home a little later than she planned, having gone out for groceries. After learning that half of Charlotte's diet consisted of apples and peanut butter, and that Gustave would rather starve than eat anything, so here was Erika buying the most basic plan and bland food staple with the hope this child would eat somethi - 

Her train of thought went disjointed off the rails as she closed the apartment door and was greeted by a gun to her face, and a crowbar ready to dig in her skull the moment she dared to take a step before. With confidence, she took that step. 

Hell broke loose after that, and what greater honor than to be the satanic divinity to do so. 

She ripped the crowbar out of the henchmen's hand to neutralize the gun out of her face. Two hits to the base of their necks and both were out. She found a third one waiting for her, hidden in the kitchen, and put him down with a chair of the dining room to the back. 

She dropped the broken chain, and started going aimlessly for the apartment. 

''Gustave? Lottie?! Where are you?!'' She screamed, kicking every door open. 

Neither of her children were in the apartment. 

Everything fell into place when she noticed her equipment had been tampered with, and it came from inside, someone had bang and burnt the mission, no other than the children could do it. 

It seemed that God had spit on her dinner once again. She was going to die before telling Nadir he was right, though. 

Phantom -Erika- learned a crucial lesson that day. Never leave the children alone, noted down, and store her spy equipment more carefully, and that child-proofing the apartment was a must, an- in general she learned many things that day. 

''So, Charlotte-''

''Lottie!'' The child replied from her arms. 

In a decision that Erika could not decide to classify as too stupid or too sentimental, she had kept the children. Logically, she excused herself by saying that the mission was already too advanced and that there was no time to start over, but she just could not do it. She wasn't going to wonder why yet. 

So, here she was, walking aimlessly with Lottie on one arm and Gustave holding her hand.

They seemed clueless about the fact they had been kidnapped, or at least showed not emotional scaring by it. 

''So, Lottie, how did you know the password for the music box?'' She finally questioned her, that being the doubt in her mind since she noticed how their location was leaked. 

''Which music box?'' She blinked. 

''The clandestine radio that I don’t know how you managed to decipher the padlock and only God knows how you were able to send our coordinates''

Char-Lottie grew restless in her arm. 

''The device in the briefcase, Lottie, how did you open it?''

The girl just stared at her. Her eyes being the biggest mystery Erika had encountered, and smiled. Being the most naivete and complacent smile she had ever seen. All just giving the image to the most clueless and innocent little girl, and she just shrugged. Erika knew that would be the best answer she was going to get. 

''Okay, my little musician, you are safe for now'' She let it go in peace, to which the girl giggled. 

Gustave had been quiet ever since they left the cellar and had been staring at her. He looked so different, angelic without that angry line between his eyebrows all the time. It was the first time there was no anger in his eyes, and that was when Erika realized how unusual it was for a child to hold such powerful resentment for so long. 

''Something you want to say, Gustave?''

''Did you come back for us?'' He definitely wasn't expecting that. 

And honestly, Phantom didn't either. 

''...Yeah, you are my children, of course I was going to come back for you'' She said, and guessed that she was not being particularly good at giving comfort because it sounded like a confession. 

But for children who had been living on scraps of affection, well, it was enough for them. 

''…Okay'' The boy's voice was small, and he didn't trust her yet, but it was progress. 

''Mommy? When are we going to Lottie's home?’’ 

Oh right, the currently compromised and wrecked location. 

''That's a terrible idea, dear, really bad, let's never talk about this again,'' Erika replied, trying to avoid any further questions, ''but I've got it covered.'' 

''Where are we going?'' Gustave asked, giving Erika's sleeve a tug to get her attention. 

''You will see when we get there'' Erika said, looking down to see him, he was a cute boy now that he did not look at her as if she had run over his puppy. 

She slowed down, they were close, she could see the house now. 

''We're here!'' Lottie exclaimed, headbutting her mother, pointing at a specific house. 

That snapped Erika out of her thoughts ''Yes, that's right, how did you know that?''

''That's a tea-rible idea, mommy, bad bad, don't talk about this again,'' She said in a startling imitation of her tone and mannerisms. 

''How clever'' 

They were in a quiet area of the city, mostly populated by the elderly and couples with young children, very little suspicious, perfect for this profession. 

''Can I ring the bell?'' Gustave asked once they were all standing on the porch of the unknown house. 

''Go ahead.'' Erika nodded, letting the boy's hand go and using it to distribute Lottie's weight on her arms. 

Hesitantly, the boy rang the bell, and the door opened seconds later, a man, a stranger to everyone except the mother of the family, answered. 

''What happened to you?'' He dropped his arms to his sides, astounded at her appearance. 

''Hey, Nadir!'' Erika responded, happy to be a nuisance. 

Erika was even more ruined than during her visit to the library. Her hair was now in a ponytail, at some point she had discarded her previous outfit and was wearing gray flared pants and a heavy trench coat on top. Black to avoid stains, but little could be done to cover the potent smell of gunpowder and blood on her. 

''Long story, the location is compromised, can we stay with you for a day or two?'' She asked unashamedly, pulling both children in front of her, making her plea more convincing. 

Nadir laughed before giving a tired sigh, ''Am I going to regret this?''

''Definitely, but there is no way you are going to leave me on the street with two children, don't you?''

''Welcome the three of you, I'll call the handler to let her know you're here'' The man opened the door, letting them in. 

''Shoes off, kids'' Erika said, pressing the toe of her shoe into the heel of the other to remove it, needing to use her free hand to remove the remaining shoe, wiggling her toes to loosen the shoe was not an option with that foot. 

''Did you repaint? The yellow looks good'' Erika commented, leaving her shoes in the designated place near the entrance. 

''Hello, I'm Lottie!'' The girl stretched her arm as far as she could from her mother's arms to say hello. 

''Welcome doll, nice to meet you, and you must be Gustave, right?'' He took her small hand, then addressed the boy. 

Gustave hid behind Erika's leg and took his sister by her ankle. 

''It is here where I realize that they are not yours because they are both sweethearts'' 

Gustave smiled, coming out of his shell a bit. 

''Now we don’t have a house, you won’t make Lottie study?'' The child asked, her gaze fixed on her feet as her mother took off her shoes. 

''I'm sure your mother will make you study as soon as you find a new place to live'' Nadir said, taking the shoes from Erika's hands and placing them himself. 

''Actually...” Erika mumbled, lowering Lottie to the floor, who immediately went running around the living room, probably looking for the most breakable thing she could find. 

''Erika...'' 

''Dar-Nadir, I am dead, dead, you have to help me with this'' She begged, taking advantage of her newly won freedom to beg with both hands. 

He snorted softly, but smiled "Fine, they just need to memorize the answers, and we’ll be in, piece of cake''

It sounded easy enough, if anything with her circus and her two monkeys could be easy. 

Operation Grasshopper Phase 1 Completed. 

Chapter Text

''Is she dead?'' Gustave frowned, staring at the figure on the sofa. 

It was well past midday, but his fake mother was ...sleeping? He hoped, fully dressed on the sofa, perhaps had she fainted? 

''No, she is dreaming'' Lottie whispered, standing next to him, lurking over her mother, staring with her eyes wide open, like one of those haunted looking blank—faced China dolls. 

She was desperately trying to peek at her dreams, but they slipped thought the reach of her power, like dirt would do. The speak was too far and the pictures barely being, they were abs-astrac… she had just heard it on her mother’s mind! They were weird looking, she left it on that 

''Should we poke her with a stick?'' Gustave wondered, unsure of his sister's reasoning. 

''Uhm'' Lottie shrugged, content to leave the weight of the decision on her brother. 

They both stayed there, staring at the rare sight of their sleeping guardian. Their heads slightly tilted. Uhm, so she actually slept sometimes, none of them had questioned their reasoning that she simply did not did such thing. 

The doorbell rang, both kids turned their heads at the sound. 

''I'm going!'' Lottie jumped, running to the door, stumping with her little legs. 

''Who it’s?'' Gustave asked, getting ready to run after her, almost without noticing it. 

''it’s just the mailman!'' Lottie knew before opening the door. 

Gustave trusted in her sister’s power with his life. So he stood still. His gaze never abandoned her, refusing to breathe until Lottie was with him again. The memory of the dark cellar and the smell of gunpowder still fresh on his mind, but Lottie was so sure the spy was going back for them. It was always her faith that kept him together.  

''A letter, how ex-iting'' The girl said under her breath, marveled ''Can you read it?'' She handed the envelope to her brother.. 

Gustave found himself beaten by the weight on his shoulders, glazing at his guardian ''I think she should do it''

Lottie had been right that time. Lottie had always been right about her, but Gustave did not trust her yet, maybe he will never do it. 

''We shod wake her?''

''She could get mad, I don't think it's a good idea'' He shook his head, looking at the address of the letter ''But it’s from the school, I think it's important''  

Lottie shrugged, "I'm waking her up then." 

Gustave had no time to protest. 

''Mommy?...mommy!'' Lottie muttered, shaking her mother's shoulder. 

Erika’s back arched, and she gave a terrible gasp, which startled Lottie and made her back up. She bolted up from the couch, getting on her feet. Her limbs tense and her eyes now ice. She was ready. Ready to do something neither of them could understand. 

It took her a second, a spare second, to realize where she was. To notice that she was in the living room of her apartment, her two adopted children looking at her. They were scared, and they were right to be. 

Her heart was beating uncontrollably inside her chest, and she stopped breathing, trying to deal with the sudden stress in which her body was. 

Her stress and her guilt manifested in sudden anger. 

They had no idea what could have happened. 

''What's wrong with you?! Come here!'' Phantom said abruptly, bowing to take each of the children by the wrist, ''Never, never do that again!'' She shouted, out of her mind. 

''What did we did?!'' Gustave said, pulling back, taking the desperation of a caged animal, a reflection of her that Erika felt lost looking at. 

Lottie screamed, and Phantom snapped out of it, the bony wrists suddenly becoming molten glass. 

She let both children go, who fell to the floor on their bottoms, Gustave grabbed Lottie close to him in a heartbeat, instinctively. 

One second. It had taken her a second to realize she was here. Phantom wasn't Lazaro's best agent for nothing. One second was plenty of time, and her children, her children, were so small, so fragile. She was sick just thinking about it. 

''Never, ever! wake mommy when she is asleep, it is dangerous'' Erika explained, leaning down to sit on the floor, and tried, tried to control her anger, but the attempt came out crude. 

"But why?" Lottie asked, defiant, intrigued. 

"Lottie. be quiet," Gustave hissed through his teeth. 

''Sometimes when she sleeps, she sees bad…'' She pursed her lips, trying to find a description that encompasses the horrors, but they were just children. ''…things, really ugly things and she could…''

She wasn't going to say it. She couldn't look at those faces and say it. Even the most sugar-coated version was brutal. There was no mother in the planet who had thoughts about her children like Erika had instinctively planned to do. 

She was not a mother, she was a monster.  

''…Why did you wake me up?'' She changed the subject, running her hand through her hair. 

''You have a letter'' Lottie said from her brother's strong and eager grip, holding the letter for her to take it, she just stared at her mother, her eyes looking through her, with what Erika didn't know if it was understanding or silent grudge. 

The more time Lottie spent with her, the more reckless she became. Soon, Erika thought, she wouldn't be afraid of anyone or anything. A dangerous quality she thought little of, considering it different from Gustave's convictions, because being brave and fearless were different things, and only one of them guaranteed survival. 

Erika wiped the cold swear from her face, careful not to disturb the prosthetic, all in one heavy breath, having trouble filling her lungs, and reached out to take the letter, ignoring Gustave's grip tightening around his sister. 

She carelessly opened the envelope, and crumpled the paper between her hands as she read, the content of that letter only increased her anxiety. 

''For God's sake!'' She slammed the letter on the table, resting her elbow on the table and digging her fingernail harder than necessary into her scalp. 

Gustave jumped slightly at the display of character, Lottie just stared, and it was her gaze that filled her with shame and picked her apart. 

What did she know? What knowledge gave those eyes the right to dissect her and bring her to her knees like no one had ever done before? Who truly was this little girl, and where had she came from? 

''You can go to your room'' Erika said, closing her eyes on a heavy sigh, ''Now!'' She snapped her eyes open, speaking urgently, pointing to the children's door. 

Gustave got up, helping his sister to get back on her feet, and dragged her by the arm. She was like a doll in his arms, suddenly petrified, looking at Erika with this silent, desperate pled, too big for that tiny of a being, cementing the loathing and disgust Phantom felt for herself. 

She was not her mother, but Erika found herself wanting to hold her until the void closed and her permanently broken heart healed. 

Phantom fled from Lottie's eyes and took refuge in the letter, but that did little for her anxiety, for it reminded her that somehow this had just become a crisis situation. 

She got up from the floor, going to the phone quickly, and dialing the number out of sheer inertia. She waited impatiently, wishing he would answer, so she wouldn't have to be alone with her thoughts for a second longer. 

''Hello?'' 

''Daroga, I need you to do something for me,'' Erika answered, trying to fix her hair with her free hand. 

''if you want me to take care of the children, I'm busy today, I already agreed to take care of them tomorrow’’ 

''No, I don't need you to take care of the children'' Erika exclaimed ''I just received a letter from the school, they shortened the deadline for mine and the kids' documents by a whole week, I need to be married before this Monday, or I'm screwed'’ Erika stayed, drinking just a long red coat from the rack and pulling on it, deciding she could live with the wrinkles in her dress and blouse. 

''We can't catch a break, can we?'' Nadir sighed sharply on the other line, ''What's the plan? 

"Look, people have objections to kissing on the first date, what will she say if I ask her to marry me and raise my children," Erika said skeptical, "Giry was expecting a legitimate wedding, with a true certificate, and witnesses who could support the veracity of our marriage, but that will not work''

''I agree 48 hours is not enough to convince someone to marry you'' And it was almost offensive how sure he was ''What is my role?''

An hour ago, she had a whole week to marry the girl, which was just as absurdly short, but Phantom had everything planned by the minute, and that plan was no longer viable. 

''You are going to make a false certificate, and we will give it to the school'' 

''Are you certain that's a good idea? If the girl decides that she doesn't want anything to do with you-''

''I'll make it work, you'll see'' 

Phantom hadn't become the best pretending to know, that was the first step to getting killed, but this mission had turned her intro an amateur.  

She caught her reflection in a mirror on the opposite wall. Erika hated mirrors, but Phantom hung one on every wall of the flat. They were the most basic and usually the most effective level of security to detect intruders or threats. She had learned not to register her own reflection on them, but yet, this time she did. 

Which led her to wonder, who was she? Phantom no longer knew, but she knew that she was not that woman with her face plastered in wax and grease paint, using a rotting corpse as a name and hiding her decaying flesh in pink fabric. These kids weren't hers; this house wasn't hers, and she wasn't a mother. She wanted nothing more than to rip every bit of makeup off her face until there was blood under her eyes, shoot the door open and never look back. 

Yes, there was a reason why she had learned to ignore her reflection in the mirror. 

"I'm not sure, you're not acting like yourself since the mission began, at this point, your next idea will be to kidnap her or something" Nadir's voice was what allowed Erika to break her gaze with her reflection.

"That can work," She shrugged, Phantom was no stranger to torture. 

''Spare yourself the kidnapping, but stalking can work''

Erika's bad mood was overshadowed for a moment, an insidious expression getting to her face. 

''Are you enabling me? Look at you'' a troublesome smile formed on her lips, Giry hated that smile, she always said it was a bad sign. 

''Yeah, make a wish because unless another national security issue happens, this won't either'' Nadir said, and Erika heard the sound of keys jingling. 

''Where are you going?''  

''To be your babysitter,'' he gave in, and the sound of a door opening and closing marked a pause ''Just go find the girl, tell her a sad story about how you have two years left to live, we have to speed this up, I'll start with the certificate as soon as you get back'' 

Erika turned to look at the door to the children's room, feeling the guilt weighing on her chest. 

''Alright, thank you, Daroga''

''Don't thank me, I'm using them for cheap work, for how much do you think they will help me reorganize the political section in the library?''

''Lottie does not really get what money is anyway'' Erika nodded, feeling grateful for her informant ''See you soon''

''And don’t leave the apartment until I'm there!'' 

Erika rolled her eyes and hung up the call.

She went to the children's door. There was a sign with the children's names on the door drawn with crayons, Gustave had made it and stuck it with a piece of tape. Improvised and temporary, just like their situation. 

She knocked on the door, but she didn't expect either of them to tell her to come in, so she just opened it. 

''I'm going out, Nadir will come to take care of you'' She said, letting only her head in. 

She could see the figures of both of them behind Gustave's bed, they were both lying on their stomachs. 

Lottie jumped up, breaking through her mask of dreadfulness, and smiled, and suddenly, she was an ordinary four-year-old, and Erika felt stupid and paranoid for having suspected, oh my! Suspected of Lottie, as if she were some kind of demon sent to torment her. 

''Yes! I like him, he is nice'' She said, pushing her freshly cut bangs out of the way. 

''Anyone is better than you'' Gustave whispered under his bed, with a resentment so beyond his frame that Phantom thought he had the same void as her, where he kept all that. 

Erika didn't say anything. Couldn't she just pretend? Pretend there was no ghost lurking, be what he needed, that they had a future worth working on it. 

Asking for forgiveness was a first step, promising that it would not happen again, that she would never fall asleep on the couch again, nor raise her voice to him, but Erika could not, she couldn't open up to this child in such a way, he wouldn't understand. 

So, she didn't, and just closed the door. 

Soon enough, this room would be empty and the only reminder of when their lives briefly met each other would be a residue of adhesive on the door. 

''Okay, right along the line you drew, right?'' Christine asked, hunched over so the girl next to her could see what she was doing. 

She was dressed in a similar manner to all the class, leotard, stockings and a slick bun, with a light cardigan on top to cover the light scarring on her arms. 

''Yes, miss Daaé''

A sharp crack! was heard, splitting the shank of the shoe in two and removing it in one piece, without the need to use the knife or scissors. The surrounding girls squealed, satisfied with the crisp sound, and Christine laughed delightedly. 

She was on the floor of the ballet studio, hanging out with the younger division. Christine loved going to observe the class, share her experience and, of course, help them break in their new shoes, often in front of the pain-filled eyes of their parents, that could hardly believe such a brutal process could be done to such an expensive shoe before it could be worn. 

Christine smiled, putting the mutilated shank in the hands of the girls, which they held as if it were some trophy. 

''Can you help me crack the box?'' The girl asked, poking the shoe where she wanted Christine to apply pressure. 

''Of course.'' She settled the shoe between both palms before squeezing down hard, cracking the shoe under her hands. 

It was one of the most innocent ways to use her strength, and since the division usually didn't break her shoes on their own, they didn't question the way Christine could crack a shoe effortlessly when other dancers required their entire body weight. 

The group had a similar reaction, screaming for blood. 

Even with all the fuss going on, Christine could tell that she was being watched, but she wasn’t planning to give them a chance to attack, so she started to say her goodbyes, being careful It didn't look like it, no hugs or handshakes. 

She stood up, knowing that she had to act fast and make a seamless exit. 

''Oh no, don’t you dare! You always do the same!''

"Bye girls! Good luck!'' Christine said before taking off running, Sorelli behind her 

She had been avoiding the Prima ballerina for days. Klass still saw her with the eyes of a child and didn't question anything she said, Mireille was as naive as ever, but she couldn't lie to Sorelli's face. 

But it seemed she would have to. Christine could escape if she wanted to, but not without displaying a speed and agility that Christine Daaé wasn't supposed to have. 

So eventually, she let Sorelli catch up with her. 

''Okay, you won'' Christine she said, in a fake heavy breath, pretending to be exhausted 

''Of course I did’’ she exclaimed, disguising how worn-out she was. ‘’Give me a moment’’ She held her hands on her knees 

Christine stood there, fiddling with her fingers, and pressing her lips together, completely forgetting that she had to pretend to be tired too. 

''So, you have a boyfriend'' She straightened up. 

And Christine should think more before she opens her mouth. 

''A girlfriend actually''

Dammit! 

''Oh'' Sorelli's face changed, and she fell into an almost hurtful silence ''That's why you hadn't said anything, did you think something would change between us?'' 

But she had already said it. Christine had been pushing this conversation off for years now, so much so that it had reached a point where it felt so far overdue and just not worth it. 

Christine had more than one secret identity, one that she kept away from this opera. She was a different side of herself when she was away. The Christine that always had a suitor wanting to talk to her, and tons of flowers under the door, all that, ignored in exchange for a woman waiting in her dressing room. 

She couldn't have said it. Everyone had told her to give up Klass with the hope that a good family would adopt him, her secret would complicate things, so he kept quiet to protect him and every time her secret stung in her chest, she ignored it, just another sacrifice, she was fine. 

''Oh, no, of course not, Sorelli'' She pulled her into a hug ''It just happened, and I was so afraid that Klass would be taken from me, fear dried my mouth, I couldn’t say anything, even now,''

Sorelli pulled away from her, brushing blonde locks away from Christine's face ''You never stopped being that scared little girl, did you?'' She smiled comfortingly. 

''Not really'' She looked down, and her shoulders fell  ''but I'm trying, now that Klass is away at collage’’ 

''And you found someone while you were at it '' She smiled at her, but her gaze swept over her, clearly there was something strange in her story 

Christine shrugged her shoulders, "Just happened?" 

Sorelli didn't buy it, but Christine clearly didn't want to talk about it and after that vulnerable moment, Sorelli couldn't deny her anything 

"You're going to tell us about her, right? tonight when we go to decorate Mireille's house, it will just be the three of us like in the old days'' 

Christine smiled nervously ''I'm embarrassed, usually you were the ones talking, and I just listened, I wouldn't know what to say'' 

''It was time for a change!'' Sorelli took her in a hug again ''I just want to know that you're okay, you've always hidden things, I've always known it and I respect it, so give me this, a little peace of mind'' She whispered in her ear.

Christine didn't know what to say, and the desire to want to be like her made her eyes sting. Honest, no secrets. 

"I will tell you everything about her, I promise that when you see her it will be as if you had known her for years" She pulled out the hug, in a fierce promise. 

She shouldn't have said that, really, but when she was being so loved, what other option did she have. 

Sorelli kissed her cheek, and they parted their ways, leaving Christine alone with her thoughts. 

She didn't know Erika, she knew that she was beautiful, that she was smart, and a dedicated mother, but that wasn't enough to calm Sorelli’s intuition, Christine didn't know where she lived, what hospital she worked at. 

But that didn't mean she couldn't find out. 

''I can't believe I'm doing this'' She pinched her nose. 

Well, it was time to stalk that beautiful 'girlfriend' of hers and find out more about her to talk about it with her friends. 

Finding Erika had been easy, she had left her apartment in a hurry, alone, a little over an hour ago under Christine's gaze.

And even if not a word was spoken, Christine felt that she had learned quite a lot about her. 

Erika was just walking around, with those pretty, strange brown eyes of hers, those that seemed to be able to see miles away, looking for someone or something, Christine had seen her get on two different cable cars, and it was a familiar route, the same cable cars she used to go to work or back to her apartment. 

Even if her behavior was puzzling at best and just weird at worst, Christine was the one following her, so she didn’t have a damn word to say about it! 

Now, they had both ended up in the center of the city, Erika becoming more and more restless, and Christine took the opportunity to start doing the shopping that Mireille had asked her to do, all in a short distance from Erika, who did not stop fuming. 

It was like being a visitor to a zoo where the lion didn't know it was in captivity. 

Christine finally approached silently, as she would if Erika was her prey, and her intentions were her dagger. She stopped for a second, to use one of the public telephones. 

''... nothing ever escapes me, Nadir! How did this happen? Time for plan B... oh come on, I can see your disapproval face from here, … and for that, first I need to find-Christine!'' Erika exclaimed, noticing her presence only at the end of the sentence. 

''Oh hi Erika, you look great'' Christine smiled, tapping the toe of one of her boots on the ground, bringing her hands together in front of her, holding a few shopping bags. 

Christine was wearing a thin black turtleneck, along with a white miniskirt and matching boots and purse, her straightened hair loose on her shoulders. 

Erika just stared at her, narrowing her gaze, a hand on the phone speaker ''... you know, I'm usually excellent at detecting when someone is looking at me, how do you do that?''

15 years of rigorous, gory and constant training, Christine was the best at what she did, and her job was so easy now. 

''Well, I did ballet for many years!'' She shrugged, fiddling with her fingers. 

Erika nodded, her fine brows furrowed at her, and oh again, what a noisy thinker. 

She went back to her up going call. 

''We'll talk later- yes, tell Lottie I will be back for dinner... yeah, pinky promise, I'll talk to you later, goodbye,''

Christine took the opportunity to look at her, 

She was wearing a square neckline peach-colored pinafore dress, over a peasant blouse, wearing brown boots and black stockings, a red coat on top, and her hair held up by a claw hair clip. 

''Alright, sounds... credible'' She nodded. 

''Are you okay? you seem agitated, are the kids okay?'' Christine got close, her arm tucked under her armpits. 

Erika sighed, loosening her hair, the day was humid, and that seemed to have an effect on her hair, giving it slightly more texture, making it fall more gracefully than it normally would on her shoulders ''They are perfect, driving me crazy, maybe, but that's how I know they're healthy'' 

''Oh, and what are you doing here?'' Christine asked, trying not to show how intrigued she was by her past behavior. 

''Oh, I was supposed to meet with the director of the hospital, but I think I missed it, oh well, never mind'' She brushed it aside, denominating it irrelevant. 

''Don’t you want to call them?'' Christine nodded vaguely at the phone. 

''It doesn’t matter anymore!'' Erika waved her hand once, ''Where were you going, Christine?'' Suddenly, she had her next to her and offered her arm to walk together 

Christine smiled, taking the offered arm, lifting her head, so she could see Erika ''Doing some shopping for a friend, if you're not busy, would you like to join me?''

''Yes, I leave the children with a friend, I'm free'' She nodded, a very satisfied smirk on her mauve lips. 

''Great.'' Christine smiled, pleased, but not for the right reasons. 

''What do we need to buy?''

''Just a few things for the party tomorrow, I have to be at Mireille's house at five'' Christine replied as they started to walk. 

''Have you been friends for a long time?''

''Yes, since we were teenagers, her family helped me a lot with Klass, I remember when he was ten, he didn't speak the language very well, and he refused to speak to me in a language other than Swedish, but Mireille and Sorelli stepped forward and taught him'' 

''That's a nice thing to do.'' Erika smiled, but she didn't say anything else. 

Christine looked to the sides, steeling herself to continue talking. 

''I didn't tell you that, did I? I'm from Sweden, I was born there'' She said, her voice lower than she wanted too. It did not feel right to make that to her. 

''I suspected it because of your last name'' Erika answered, looking at the road under her feet. 

''Your surname is French, right?'' Christine could hear a vague residue of a French accent in the way she would pronounce certain words, but unsurprisingly none on her children. 

''Yes, I was born in Paris, my mother was a ballerina in fact'' There was a hollowness that spoke of a greater lose, and Christine just knew. 

Christine gave a soft, understanding smile, squeezing Erika’s arm tightly. ''Really? that is amazing!'' 

''She was'' Erika nodded ''Where are we going now?'' 

''Oh, we need to make a quick trip to the grocery store” Christine finally relaxed, decided she would not be trying that hard anymore. 

Erika seemed like she was worth knowing anyway. 

''Lead the way, chéri''

Erika could be charming, she could be pretty damn charming. 

She could be casual about the things she liked, have a normal amount of passion, normal and generic responses to her favorite things, and move her hands a normal amount, and not hiss at the feel of the sun on her skin. 

A well-adjusted, totally normal working single mother. Christine was totally eating the act, beginning to trust her.  

Phantom had to answer Christine's questions truthfully, and that implied she had to dig some graves, going as far as to speak of her mother out loud for the first time in a decade. She had to pretend it was not a big deal, disguising it with the other half lies.  

Christine was really excited to know more about her, and it took many attempts for Erika to redirect the conversation to make her talk about herself, meaning she got to hear again, everything she already knew about Christine from the background check she had asked Nadir to do. 

She had performed in half the countries of Europe, had small roles in a couple of movies, and many offers to start in bigger roles, even if she had everything to be a big movie star, she had put it aside in favor of her love for the theater, and her duty to raise her cousin. 

She was warm, the kind of person Erika fought for every day. 

Soon, it was already five o'clock, and Erika had decided to accompany her to Mireille's house in the suburbs, 

''Wouldn't it have been faster to go by bus?'' Erika asked, throwing the shopping bags over her shoulder, walking on the sidewalk 

Christine was on her side, carrying one shopping bag and Erika's red coat hanged on the crook of her elbow, at the question, she pressed her lips together, debating whether she wanted to say what was going on her head. 

''Can I be mean for a second?'' Christine stooped walking and stood on tiptoes to whisper,  

''Of course'' Erika leaned in to whisper back 

''Look, I love my friends, and I'm so happy for them, but between you and me, they are making me sick! '' Christine said quietly, as if she were confessing the worst of sins. 

Erika gasped dramatically, "No!" The reaction escaped from her, it was something she would actually say. 

But Christine was amused and laughed ''This year all I've heard is weddings, and marriage and men, I'm fed up, and I feel bad because they are so happy, and I should be happy, but oh god, it's like discussing shades of white, we have, in fact, discussed shades of white for months now, how could I know a wedding dress could be so many shades of white?! I feel like I'm going to combust'' 

Erika just shrugged and got closer to whisper in Christine’s ear, "Well, I wouldn't complain too much, worse things are coming" 

Christine gasped ''What?''

''Babies'' She said grimly. 

Phantom wasn't even supposed to do that, she was supposed to be charming and validating, and just say exactly what Christine wanted to hear. 

But Christine seemed very entertained, so a slip would not hurt. 

''Don't get me started on that!'' Christine laughed. ''I really don’t like babies, they are very fragile, I hate holding them, I'm always afraid of hurting them.'' 

''I think the same'' Erika said, agreeing with Christine just because she had to, she had never held a baby before. 

But if holding her children was anything like that, she would agreed. 

''What about Lottie and Gus when they were babies, how were they?''

Danger zone, if she talked about her children as babies eventually Christine would want evidence, baby pictures that Erika didn't have. 

''Oh well, for me they are still babies, they are my babies after all'' A fake smile matched her lie, cementing the image of a caring, loving mother 

Christine nodded ''Of course, silly me'' She giggled, before stopping, turning around to face Erika ''Well, we're here, thanks for bringing me'' 

''It was nothing'' Erika nodded pleased, and went for the kill 

She pressed a kiss to Christine's cheek, half expecting her to shudder and be disgusted by her cold lips—and the myriad of self-deprecating thoughts reminded her why honey traps weren't her thing. 

But when she pulled back, Christine smiled at her, and kissed her back on her real cheek, and it didn't mean anything. It wasn't the first time she was kissed in a mission, and it wouldn't be the first time Erika wondered how other people could be so warm and genuine, and she could not, it made her wonder what kind of human she was. 

It hadn't had the effect Erika had hoped for, Christine had found the gesture totally platonic, but that was fine, affection can easily grow if water often enough. 

''See you tomorrow, right? Aren't you going to stand me up?'' Christine asked, trying to sound casual, but from the way her head tilted down and from the intensity of her gaze, Erika knew she was serious. 

''Of course not! See you at the train station tomorrow'' Erika assured her, handing her the shopping bags she was carrying. 

''Thank you very much for what you are doing for me, Erika, I can't thank you enough'' She said, taking the bags in her hands, smiled, and wrinkled her nose in a happy gesture 

''Don't even mention it, it was nothing'' Erika took back her coat.  

''Great because my reputation depends on this'' She laughed for the last time ''Bye, I'll call you when I get home'' She turned around, waving her hand 

''Have a good night, Christine'' Erika said, watching her go up the hall in the garden of the house. 

And just like that, she was alone. 

Erika sighed mentally, feeling her posture change as she discarded her false identity. It would be takeout for dinner tonight, not that was a novelty to her household. 

Still, of course, she noticed when a car started following her, black and with armored bulletproof windows, and quickly recognized the car emblem, modified to be as that of her agency.  

The car parked, an invitation, and Erika did not hesitate to get in. 

''I suspect this isn't just a nice gesture of driving me home, is it, Giry?'' Phantom asked, opening the rear door and jumping in. 

''Of course not, stolen fire guns cargo, delivered by ship, you need to enter and collapse the operation before the ship touches land'' Giry replied, handing her agent a detail report of the upcoming mission as Phantom put on her seatbelt. 

''I like how it sounds!'' Erika smiled, and it was genuine, she had no shame in her Handler watching her worn teeth, she was far too satisfied with the idea, revitalize and shed of her exhaustion like dead skin. 

This was her field, the thing she was best at, she could finally be herself, and everything fit intro place. 

''Okay, we need to leave now, the port is a couple of hours away and the shipment arrives tomorrow at noon'' 

Erika felt her blood leak from her body like water in a blister, as the car started to run by an unknown driver. 

''No, I can't do that, I have a date with Christine tomorrow, it’s imperative for the grasshopper operation'' Erika protested, opening the file to look at the details herself. 

''How was I supposed to know that!?'' Giry asked severely, distressed at how this could potency jeopardize Phantom’s main mission. 

Erika month opened and closed a couple of times, as she gasped to find an answer. 

''I would know if you sent me your daily reports like you were supposed to!''

''I have been a mother of two for only a couple of weeks! Give me time'' She said frenetically reading the mission report. 

''Well, at this point the shipment is on its way, and there is no one who can do it as fast as you, it is also important, if the mission was attempted by someone else, and it fails, thousands of people could-’’ 

''I'm taking the mission, I'm taking this mission and will execute it perfectly and get back in time to my compromise with Christine'' Erika swore, deciding she was finished reading and was well aware of the risks it carried, throwing the folders in the space between her and her handler. 

''and I trust you to do'' Giry said, and before her pupil could move on, she took her hand ''But be careful'' Her intense gaze forced Erika to look at her eyes. 

''I may try'' She squished her hand firmly. 

Giry did not respond, and just rubbed a few circles on the back of Erika's hand before letting her go.  

''Who is with my- the children?'' Erika asked, thoroughly ignored the raging feeling burning underneath her skin at the thought of leaving the kids. 

''We send a nanny to stay with them as long as necessary, she is already on her way''

Erika nodded, staying silent as her thoughts started to map out. So Nadir was still in her apartment. 

 ''Do we have to go now?''

''The port is hours away, what do you want to do?'' 

Phantom could do this mission, but after seeing the details, she would be running on leaned time. Extra help from her most trusted fellow agent would greatly improve her chances of getting back on time. 

''Let me make a phone call and stop at the apartment, I have a plan''

Chapter Text

''I understand Klass, don’t worry'' Christine insisted, resting against the wall, a hand holding the telephone to her ear and the other around her mockup bodice she was wearing to rehearsal, with a long off-white skirt to pair.  

She made sure Klass could recite the opera house’s phone number even in his sleep, a skill he never grew up from. 

''You don’t sound happy about it'' A hesitant voice came out of the speaker 

She could not really say anything. As, it sounder easier to expose her criminal record over the phone than to explain that she had fabricated a fake girlfriend and involved a total stranger to play the part. An act supposed to culminate at a party that Klass couldn't attend 

''Oh no, I know your new internship will keep you busy, it’s fine’’ She said kindly, her free hand now clutching on her chest  

''I'm coming to visit as soon as I can!''

''I'm looking forward to it!'' She smiled, ''Now be careful and be good'' 

He chucked ''I will be fine, Chris, I'm not a kid anymore''

Christine fell silent, feeling a punch of melancholia hit her in the gut. This child she had bathed and dressed, kissed after school and before bed, was no more, and did not need her anymore.

Her heart felt empty. Too shallow and young to experience such emotions, and knew the grief she felt came not only from the ending of Klass’ childhood, but from the premature loss of her own. 

''I know, honey'' She smiled, curling a bit of hair that had fallen out of her braided crown around her finger ''I need to make a call, I'm calling you back once I got home from work, okay?''

''Yeah sure, bye Chris''

''I love you too'' she joked  

''Oh, sorry, love you too!’’ 

Christine was left with the shadow of a smile on her lips. She was being silly, Klass did what kids were meant to do, grow up and find his place in the world. He needed space for that 

But now she had all this love, she did not know what to do with it. 

Now with the change of plan, she thought the wisest thing would be to update Erika about.  

As the phone rang, her gaze was drawn to the small television screen in the opera’s office. 

It was on the news channel reporting the arrests of three more women on espionage charges. Her mouth went dry. Spies already complicated enough the existence of her alter ego and now her real identity was on the rails too 

The phone was picked up at that moment 

''Mommy?'' a small voice asked hopefully 

''Oh, hi, miss Lottie!'' The singer said softly ''It's just Christine, sorry dear; remember me? We had lunch together last week’’  

''Yes, hi Chrissy!'' The child greeted ''Mommy is not here''

Christine nodded ''Oh, is she working? Do you know what time she gets home?'' 

The line went quiet for a few seconds 

''Hello?’' A different but just as familiar voice took charge  

''Oh hi, Gustave, it's nice to hear from you too''

''Mis-mom is in a work trip, we have a nanny’'

Christine frowned, ''I saw her yesterday and she didn’t say anything about that''

''Yeah, I say the same'' The child huffed  

''I have a meeting with your mother later tonight, did she say anything about that?''

''We didn’t see her before she was gone,''

"No one ever tell us nothing," Lottie added, sounding a little further away. 

 They sounded, used to it? It was not the right word, but the absence of their mother did not affect them at all.

"Oh, well, she promised that she would see me later, I hope so." Christine tried to leave it like that, not wanting to keep questioning the children. 

''...She usually keeps her promises,'' Gustave added after a second, reluctantly. 

"I'm sure she'll be there." Lottie took the phone, speaking confidently. 

''Well, that's two against one, we'll be fine then'' Christine smiled endeared ''I have to get back to work, it was nice talking to you two, I hope to see you in another occasion''

''Bye'' Gustave's small voice said 

''Goodbye!'' Lottie was much more enthusiastic 

''Bye, kids'' 

''Have a nice day!'' 

"You too, miss Lottie" 

''And be careful!'' Very useful advice actually 

''You too, be good''

''and-’’ 

'' Lottie, stop, you could go on like this all day,'' Gustave said, before hanging up the call. 

Christine laughed, thinking in the stale, empty apartment waiting for her.

''START THE CAR NOW! GO.'' Phantom yelled, getting into the car, and slamming the door violently. 

Nadir quickly turned the key and slammed the pedal, sending them into a loud wave of sound, clenching hard on the steering wheel, his knuckles clenching with such tension they might as well be about to break through skin. 

The night was unable to camouflage the car. The sound of the other engines roaring behind them raising the tension 

"YOU'RE NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH, YOU SHOULD GIVE ME THE FUCKING WHEEL," Erika yelled in protest, blood dripping down the damaged side of her face onto her dress shirt. 

''NO BECAUSE YOU DRIVE LIKE A GODDAMN ANIMAL,'' Nadir replied, blood trickling down his eyebrow and lips, but he was fine otherwise. 

The sound of gunshots alerted both, ending their bickering. 

Phantom gave a frustrated groan, pulling her gun from her belt. 

''Daroga, turn off the headlights and try not to go straight,'' She commanded, standing up on the seat, yanking open the car sunroof, the blood of her side spurted onto the seat. 

The wind on her mask, making her ponytail wave behind her, was what received her. The gunshots did not make her tremble, feeling safe in the dark mantle of the night. Her eyes seeing further away, even in the deepest darkness.

Her gunshots were precise, firing on tires and windshields and on the sharpest shooters- but no more than her. 

The sound of chaos, it was what brought her peace, skidding tires and shattering crystals, the sound of a target being neutralized. Soon the only bullets being fired were her own. 

Phantom almost didn't want to stop shooting, more often than not, silence was a sign of danger.

She slumped back in her seat, gasping, meeting Nadir's gaze in the rearview. 

''Good job'' Was all he said, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his face, slowing his pace. 

One couldn't really get used to this. The adrenaline and survival instinct would be just as intense every time, and the consequences of killing a man would always be the same, but like an overused drug, it would quickly lose its strength. 

"Thank you," She said, her face in a blank frown. 

''Are you alright? I had never seen you so down after a persecution'' 

Erika nodded, doing nothing to stop the flow of blood from her face. She held her weapon, rubbing circles on it with blood-soaked hands, scarlet clinging to her for dear life 

Her mind wandered away, and the image of Lottie and Gustave flashed clearly in her mind. She shuddered, thinking of her hands touching them, leaving red stains on their soft cheeks. 

Every so often, the fact that she was nothing but a well-oiled machine could still get her. That this was all she was and all she could be. 

But for now, that didn't have to be true because for the two children waiting for her at home, for the girl waiting for her at a party, she was also flesh and blood. 

Phantom would be lying if she said she wouldn't like to indulge in the lie. 

''I'll be more careful'' Erika lifted her head, turning to face Nadir, a soft look on her face. ''From now on,'' She promised. 

Nadir almost forgot he was driving, gaping at her, 

''How much blood did you lose?’' Nadir said, trying to access the first aid kit under Erika’s seat. 

''I’m fine!'' Erika said, taking out the metal box by herself, looking for bandages. 

She brought the gauze to her side and pressed firmly to stop the bleeding, hissing through her teeth. It was a small knife wound, deep but away from any major tissue. It should be fine. 

"Not that I'm not happy, but I don't understand the change of heart," Nadir said, beginning to relax enough to turn his headlights back, "There are things only you seem capable of doing." 

''That's why I'm the best," She muttered with her head down, and it sounded more like a burden than anything to be proud of. 

"Sure, you can do everything faster, more effective, with fewer resources and fewer losses, always with more risks, but no one seems to doubt that you can do it," He said, looking straight at the road. 

Erika was silent for a few seconds, thinking about all the times she had ended up broken and bloody, but always victorious. 

"Have you ever thought that I wouldn't make it?" She looked up, her eyes pulling the men to look at her. 

''I always think you're not going to make it'' Nadir turned his head, looking into her eyes for a moment. 

''The day will come when you will have to identify me by a pair of teeth and a finger, Daroga,'' She said, holding her bloody ribs, having made passes with death long ago.

''Well, I hope that's a long time from now'' He nodded, ''I could do it with just a finger though''

Erika chuckled in a toothy grin. "I'm going to try to preserve the immediate future where I'm still alive after each mission.’’ 

''15 years to drill some sense of self-preservation into your brain'' He said absently, shaking his head.

''Better late than never,'' She shrugged. 

''That's for sure,'' Nadir agreed. 

They both turned to look at the road, in a comfortable silence. 

….. Which lasted approximately 15 minutes 

"The party started two hours ago, and we still have another hour to go!" Erika complained, using one hand to hold on as they passed around a particularly sharp curve, the other holding a gauze over her bare face, covering it from view 

"We are within the city limits; I am driving as fast as I can" 

''I was supposed to meet her at the train station! 4 hours ago!''

"We know where the party is, you will see her there, and you are not in a position to be seen right now" 

"Wow, seriously" Erika rolled her eyes, unfolding the mirror attached to the car visor "Pass me another bandage" 

''It still doesn't stop bleeding?'' Nadir asked worried, handing it over to her. 

''You know the skin is different on that side'' She said, putting the new gauze on top of the soaked one.  

Both harder and smoother, with a texture resembling thin leather and incredibly brittle, meaning it was harder for wounds to close and for latex to adhere to. 

"This is not going to work" Nadir said, looking for something in the glove box ''Here''

''My mask!? This isn't going to work, she's never seen me with a mask, she's going to think I'm a freak!'' Erika exclaimed, taking the clean mask from his hand 

"It's better than your cheek sliding out of your face, just put some gauze on it to soak up the blood and let's go" 

There wasn't much else she could do. Phantom sighed, and made it work with what she had, using gauze soaked in eyelash glue and latex to try to keep the bleeding in check. 

''Ughh'' She groaned clenching and opening her blood-soaked hands, sticky as it began to dry 

She looked up in the sun visor mirror, brushing her hair with her fingers and using the blood on her hands to shape and set it, being left with a voluminous head of hair, yet just a little less untamed that it was before 

''Where's the change of clothes I gave you?'' Giving up on her hair, she turned to her informant. 

''… The what?'' Nadir asked after a pause. 

Erika was going to kill this man. She was going to kill him, and then she was going to die too because a dead man can't drive a car. 

She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment and pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. 

''...I told you to go to my room and pick up a change of clothes, you know my taste! How hard was it?’’ 

''I forgot! Gustave wanted to know where you were and Charlie kept asking if she could come, I got distracted''

''I'm drenched in my own blood, Nadir! What am I supposed to do? Don't you have any of my clothes here?''   

"I have your lipstick, questionable sourced painkillers, and your masks, but no, I just don't have any of your clothes here, you are the reason I don't let women up here and why I get nervous when the police stop me" He opened the glove box, full of Erika's stuff.

''That's not-!...'' She began, then stopped mid-sentence ''No, on second thought, that would be correct,'' She said much calmer, reaching out for the lipstick bullet before closing the glove box.

Erika grumbled, making a maneuver to get to the back seats, straight for her open makeup kit. 

It was a compact but solid suitcase, filled with different colors of grease paint and make-up basics, prosthetics, and more latex and wax, as well as a collection of wigs, and a few medical supplies, like more bandages and hydrogen peroxide. 

She took off her blazer and took off her blood-soaked shirt to then place it in a plastic bag. She put the jacket back on and closed all its buttons. 

Erika stood between the two seats, placing one hand on each headrest, using the rearview mirror to look at herself. 

 ''I'm doom, just crash us into a post, time to fake my death'' Phantom complained, sitting down in a dramatic manner, looking defeated ''Again''

''Being the last person you'd be seen with would mean being the prime suspect, so I'm going to have to refuse." Nadir said casually, used to her theatrical tricks 

''I resemble myself! This whole ensemble, it's me!'' She pointed to the mirror, as the reflection was a different person she was about to beat up in a bar. 

The black blazer did wonders for hiding the blood stains. Fitting closely to her figure, doing nothing to conceal the sickly lanky thinness of her body. The low neckline leaving the white, painfully looking sharp angles of her collarbone visible. 

Not to mention, the crown on the rotting corpse of the king, her blue mask placed carefully on her face.  

Phantom was still covered in her own blood, but no amount of cleaning up would ease her distorted appearance. 

"Do I look like a mother of two right now, Nadir? do I look like a doctor, a widow?"She wondered. 

"Yes, and you murdered him yourself." Nadir laughed, clearly finding amusement in her misery. 

"I despise you," Erika grumbled, soaking gauze in hydrogen peroxide to clean the blood from her chest. 

Nadir laughed, "You have 30 minutes to get ready." 

Erika mocked him in the back as she kept cleaning her neck, Nadir just laughed harder. 

Was this what a broken heart was? Relationships came and went for Christine. Affairs that died long before the bedsheets went cold.

No, Erika was different, disappointing. She held her breath for so long just to see what was going to happen, and now she had to let go with nothing else to defeat to sink in 

''I'm really sorry your girlfriend couldn't make it, Christine,'' Mireille said, carrying a stack of dirty dishes into the kitchen. 

''At least she could have called about it,'' Sorelli said, tossing red plastic cups into a garbage bag. 

''I'm saying exactly the same thing,'' Christine expressed, standing on a chair, removing the decorations from the ceiling. ''See, this is why I prefer to be single, too much work.'' 

"I agree" They both answered, too quickly for two soon married women 

Christine laughed, and her friends joined in, and it was so much easier to hide that she was having the worst time of her life. 

Tomorrow would be a terrible day, having a terrible night also wouldn't make it any better. 

Erika meant nothing to her. That didn't mean her heart didn't beat twice as fast when the doorbell rang. 

''Who will it be?'' Mireille wrinkled her nose 

''I'm going'' She jumped down from the chair, her movements too smooth and fearless. 

"Remember, making them beg makes them wrap themselves around your finger." Sorelli smiled. 

She briefly thought about saying that they couldn't really confirm that it was Erika, but that wouldn't help her case. 

Her heart skipping a beat didn't either. 

Erika was there, hunched over, her shoulders to the front in an attempt to hide her height and the width of her shoulders. 

Her brown eyes looked at her as if she had been staring through the door at Christine all this time, crowned by a blue mask on one side of her face, 

Christine had called her beautiful before, but she had been mistaken.

Erika was gorgeous.

She was wearing a black two-piece suit, cinched over her slender ribs. The black contrasting directly to the clear skin of her exposed clavicle, and the sleeves a little short to fit her long limbs, emphasizing her long white hands and delicate wrists. 

Her features were covered, stern, and sharp. She had something new, and sincere in her face, something exposed, but not quite, and Christine wondered what was behind her mask. 

She was darkness, fierceness, and power. There was something hypnotic and ethereal about her, fragile and tangible, that she had been desperately hiding. 

Christine would not allow herself to forget again. 

''Hello,'' The taller woman stared at her, studying her reaction. 

And Christine felt her own smile radiate light. 

''Hello'' She smiled, whatever anger she had disappearing without the need for explanations 

"I'm so sorry I'm late," Erika murmured, running a hesitant hand through her hair, which looked rather wild, in big tousled waves. 

''I talked to Lottie and Gus earlier, they told me you were working'' 

''Did you talk to them? That couldn't be very exact information.’' She smiled fondly. 

Christine laughed "Not quite, but it's okay" She said before becoming serious "The party is over Erika" 

''And I stood you up'' She affirmed ''My apologies'' A breeze slid through her hair 

Something was wrong.

There were certain scents that Christine could see so clearly the moment they reached her senses. She could feel the blood trickling through her fingers as Erika's hand entwined between hers. 

She smelled of death; blood and hydrogen peroxide. How many times had she not returned home with that same aroma? 

Christine thought for a moment that she had gone crazy. Erika didn't seem to be in any kind of pain. 

''Are you okay? you look a little pale'' She said, letting go of the door to take a step towards her. 

''it's just the light, the sun was doing me a favor,'' She whispered, leaning down to whisper into Christine's ear. 

"You look very handsome tonight," Christine said without thinking.

Erika’s eyes grew big, and her hand took place to stroke the edges of her mask. 

Christine's sincerity tore her to shreds, her certainty that her response was an objective reflection of reality and not a courtesy 

She gasped, not knowing what to say. 

''Oh hello! Sorry to interrupt the moment! ’’ Someone filled the silence for her ''I just wanted to welcome you, I am Mireille, the owner of the house'' She extended her hand 

"Good evening, Erika Carrière" the taller woman nodded, hesitating a bit "I'm sorry, my hands are naturally cold" 

''Oh, it’s okay,'' she shook her hand, but she couldn’t hide the shiver that ran through her. 

''Yes, sometimes I do that to get my kids out of bed, they hate it,'' She said, her lips moving up and down indecisive of which smile she should wear. 

Christine frowned briefly, wondering what had happened to the sharp, well-adjusted Erika who could perfectly navigate between interactions, 

''Your children?'' Sorelli joined the conversation 

Erika and Christine both turned to look in panic, almost blaming each other for this. 

''Oh yes, Erika has two children, a boy and a girl,'' Christine said in a small voice, Gustave and Charlotte had been a totally different matter that she hadn't wanted to unpack yet. 

''Oh, okay, this is okay, right, Elle?'' Sorelli quickly snapped out of the shock, smiling reassuringly. 

''Yes! Totally, I think it's great'' Mireille nodded.  

Christine relaxed, but Erika didn't, she seemed paler if that was possible. 

"Are you okay?" Sorelli asked. 

"Oh yeah, perfect," Erika said, and her voice grew bold and ironic, as a small waterfall of blood trickled from her mask onto her chest. 

''Oh gosh!'' Mireille who was the least used to blood of the three, gasped ''Come inside, that’s a lot of blood’’ 

"Are you okay, what happened?" Christine asked worriedly, not knowing what to do with her hands. 

''I'm fine, could you give me a couple of napkins?'' Erika asked, resigned that this was the direction her night would go ''Thank you'' 

''Let me help you,'' Christine whispered, helping her clean her neck,  

''Maybe if you take off the mask it will help'' Mireille suggested 

Erika just stared at her, her eyes cold and furious, she hadn't liked that suggestion at all. 

''We'll go to the hospital,'' Christine said, trying to get out of the situation. 

''I'll ask Michael to take you,'' Mireille said, ready to go out and look for her husband. 

''That won't be necessary'' Erika said, tense, ''My ride is still parked''  

"I'll go with you," Christine said, handing into the bloody napkins in her hand. 

Erika looked at her. Christine would give anything to get a glimpse into her mind, 

''If you insist'' She turned her back, and left 

Christine looked at her friends, and said nothing, withdrawing with a nod and a promise to explain later. 

When she came out, Erika was standing in the garden, a few meters from a car that Christine didn't recognize, arms folded, looking at nothing.

Christine closed the door behind her, and something seized her to turn and look at the door, walking into the night was like walking into a different world.

As she walked onto a stage, she wondered what role she would play tonight.

"Are you okay?" She asked with her arms crossed, frowning, " Is something else hurting you?'' 

''I'm fine, it looks much worse than it is'' They both looked at the blood sliding down her face without further thought. 

"How did you get hurt like that?" Christine asked, and she should pretend to be scandalized and scared, but didn’t have the will.

''An assault, these things happen all the time on the road, it slowed me down" She shook her head "I apologize for being late and for making you look bad with your friends, certainly that couldn't be it a good first impression'' 

''You don't have to apologize now, I think you're going to need stitches, we should go to the hospital,'' Christine said, judging by the amount of blood, trying to pull Erika by the arm. 

Erika resisted, and turned to look at the house, standing proudly in a nice neighborhood in the suburbs, a warm light from within, a solemn and resigned look. 

''Have you ever stopped to wonder how it can be so...easy?'' Erika wondered, her pretty eyes looking almost black. Her skin was glowing under the moon and the blue tint of her mask, projecting a shadow over her cheeks, her dark hair fading with the night 

Christine stared at her, and she knew it by the look on her face, by the depth of her eyes, not hollow, or meaningless, just too vast to fill. 

''...yes'' She replied in a shaky whisper ''All the time'' 

"Is it midnight already?" Erika asked, opening the car door for Christine. 

''Always midnight, isn't?'' She said, her head tilted. 

Erika smiled, her real smile, the one that showed her teeth and made the corners of her eyes crinkle. 

The mutual understanding was clear as the most crystalline water, and as fragile as their image would be in its reflection if any of them dared to touch it. 

They both knew too much about destroying fragile things to try. 

Once Christine was inside, Erika opened the door and got into the co-driver seat, 

"How did that go?" Nadir asked, resting his elbow on the rolled-down window. 

"I don't even like you that much" Erika answering without looking at him, sulking 

''Isn't she lovely?'' He turned to see Christine, unbothered at Erika's fit ''Nadir Khan, nice to finally meet you'' 

"Christine Daaé, a pleasure" She smiled shaking the outstretched hand, then frowned "You are hurt too" 

"Yes, actually, the trip was for my work, she just came to help" Nadir smiled. 

''Oh, I came to help you '' Erika rolled her eyes, her arms crossed 

"I think she needs stitches; we should go to the hospital" Christine said 

Nadir became serious, turning to see Erika, who sighed. 

''The bleeding won't stop,'' She said, looking at Nadir, displeased and defeated.

it wasn't something she could handle by herself, but she needed to keep the girl close. 

''Alright, let's go then''

Christine walked into the sterile room, arms crossed, and her bag slung over her shoulder, not quite sure her presence would be appreciated. 

''Hello'' she greeted shyly.

Erika was lying on the hospital gurney, eyes closed. Her head was tilted to the side, her mask against the sheets. Her usually gloomy features looked so delicate like that. Lavender eyelids, and parted lips, the soft skin on her cheek and relaxed jaw. Her hair was loose around her head, almost floating away, made her look angelic.

And Christine found herself staring until Nadir's voice snapped her out of her trance.

''Miss Daaé'' He acknowledged her presence.

He was sitting at Erika's side, reading a magazine and holding a paper cup full of water and a straw in his other hand. His mannerisms were careful and gentle, but he seemed almost uninterested in the situation, perhaps used to it. 

''Is she asleep?'' Christine asked, not knowing whether to blame her irregular breathing on the medication. 

"I was just snoozing," Erika replied, opening her eyes, slowly turning her head to look at Christine.

As Phantom had suspected, this had been a terrible experience. She was able to maintain some dignity during the procedure by covering most of her face with her hand. 

She had kept the wound on her side hidden, meaning they could leave in a few hours. 

Erika got up to sit slowly, dizzy and nauseous from all the drugs and anesthesia, excessive considering how high her pain threshold was. She wasn't having a good time. 

''You'd think that would stop her, right, I wish it was that easy,'' Nadir said, extending the paper cup towards the woman for her to drink.

Erika drank through the straw, feeling her lips and mouth come to life, and nodded her thanks once she was done. 

They looked at each other for a second, Erika's eyes in a silent plead, and the man nodded understanding

"Well, I'll go to the cafeteria, any requests?" 

''No,'' ''Not now, thank you very much'' Both women responded. 

''I'm bringing you something anyway,'' The man said, tossing the empty cup into the trash. 

"I'm not eating!" Erika protested, looking as if the mere thought made her gag. 

''We'll see!'' He said, slapping out the door, magazine under his arm. 

''You two are very good friends, aren't you?'' Christine asked, feeling more comfortable once she was left alone with the woman's already familiar presence. 

Erika had insisted that Nadir had to be present while she was stitched up.

''We're just co-workers,'' She assured through her teeth. 

''Why would you say that'' Christine smiled, taking the seat previously taken by Nadir ''I think he likes you'' 

''Uh, I can be a little too much sometimes,'' Erika replied, closing her eyes, trying to keep her stomach contents where they belonged-

''Well, I don't think he minds.'' Christine shrugged. ''I don't think he would have been a bad choice to be the fake father of your children.'' She smiled. 

Erika nodded, ''Not at all, but a lie that size would be hard to follow when we are as involved as he and I are.''

''I see'' Christine said, her eyes looking at the floor. 

She'd probably see Erika a couple more times, enough to secure her kids' place in school and to fake a convincing breakup, and that would be it. 

They didn't have much in common. There was nothing more different than a doctor and an opera singer. It was a fragile line. Erika had bigger priorities. It would break, and she would leave, and that was fine, 

''Well, now you're better, I think I should go, so you can rest.'' Christine got up from the chair doubtfully, her eyes fixed on the older woman. 

Erika's eyes widened at her, startled. Looking at her as if she had forgotten her lines. Her eyes turning just a little colder. 

''Yes, of course, it's already late, I'll ask Nadir to drive you home'' Erika said ''Thank you for everything Christine, have a good night'' 

''You too, call me when you can, okay? Goodbye Erika'' she said taking steps back, since it was hard for her to take her eyes off her 

She turned around, headed for the door 

''Christine'' 

there she was, and Christine felt Erika had waited for her cue to say her line. The thing felt rehearsed 

Even so, Christine turned around quickly ''Yes?'' What was that hope in her voice? 

But Erika was there again, forgetting her line, looking at her without knowing what to say. A slight pout in her pale lips now that her lipstick had faded, and the loss of blood had stood out. 

The loud sound of the hospital speaker talking called the attention of both.

''Code silver, please remain calm and close all doors, patients will be evacuated as soon as it is safe'' 

''That doesn't mean...'' Christine began to say as the voice kept talking. 

''Active shooter'' Erika finished for her, getting up from the stretcher, a new determination in her eyes. 

''Stay there, I'm going to barricade the door'' Christine came forward. 

She closed the door and used a chair to barricade the door, turning off the lights and closing the window shade. 

All this in a few seconds, and Erika was stunned at her short response time.

''Come here,'' Erika called, leading the girl to the far corner of the room. 

They both squatted on the floor in partial darkness, watching to see if any shadows peeked out from under the door. 

''Aren't you afraid?'' Erika asked, noting how calm and casual Christine was. 

''Not at all'' Christine shook her head, turning to look at the taller woman ''This should be over soon. Don't worry, I will protect you'' She smiled in a sweet attempt to reassure her.

Phantom looked away. Thinking of the car with recognizable license plates parked below. They knew she was here, and when they eventually found her, she would be next to a sweet, defenseless civilian who had no idea what she had gotten herself into. 

Christine really should be scared, and so Erika was.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Erika closed her eyes, her breath staling in her throat. The tight, sudden sensation of her lungs freezing mid-breath was almost painful; her fists tightened to match. Her bruised hands sent a wave of pain that electrified her back to life. Reddish lavender knuckles candled Christine’s head, and the singer’s fingers clung deep to her back, scared of her answer.

Christine was a ripe pomegranate in her hands, to be ripped apart piece by piece; as such, she was meant to rot, to be discarded once she was no longer useful for the mission, just as many before her.  

Phantom found pleasure in making people as haunted by her absence as she was by her darkness. In all the flowers she had lied about and claimed as her favorites, on every record she claimed was life-changing, they would think about that skin she had shed and wish she had stayed.  

"What lunacy are you saying, Christine?’’ Erika inquired, gently pulling her aside. She found her fingers entwined in Christine's soft golden locks; the once-straight hair now transformed into gentle humidity curls.

"You need help; I need protection; we can help each other," The young woman replied, sinking herself and her fingers further into Erika’s shoulders, hiding away from whatever she was looking at a fixed point in the distance. 

Erika followed her gaze to a group of police officers. One of them, sensing her intense gaze, turned to face her, sharing a quick glance before fleeing away from her stare.

"Are you thinking you could be next?'' Phantom whispered in Christine's ear.

"I know I'm next," Christine said, clinging to Erika even more tightly. "I know this is crazy."

"It certainly is!" Erika responded immediately, turning to face her.

She could feel the negative response on her tongue. But nothing was really holy, not even childhood, and even if peace was always temporary, Erika could wish so desperately for more time—for Gustave, for Charlotte, for the version of herself that no longer existed.

"I know you have your hands full with your children and your career, and this is a bonkers thing to ask, but... " Christine's blue eyes were stern, not doubting even for a second, leaving Erika to fill in the blanks for herself.

"Ask me what?" Erika insisted, looking at her with this relentless expression. 

Christine chucked, looking down, "Nothing, that was crazy, forget I said that."

''I could lose my children, Christine'' Erika said abruptly.

Christine looked up, and there was a fieriness awakened by that sentence that had triggered something deep inside her, a vulnerability to exploit. "What do you mean?’’ 

"When I got married, I was promised stability for myself and my children, but when my husband died, things changed, Christine" The lie came out easily from her lips, carefully woven with the backstory the agency had set for her.

"His family, they were one of the beneficiaries after the war; if I cannot prove I can give them a good life, they could take them away from me; I've lost enough of their lives, Christine; I can't miss anymore," Erika begged, the despair in her eyes being genuine enough for her to being able to skimp in the details and keep things vague.

"We both need protection'' Christine replied, her hands clasped and secure on her chest. ''I want to be here for my cousin, even if he's grown up, and I wish to keep working; I want to keep the life I worked so hard for'' She looked up to see the taller woman.  

The sun was beginning to rise, painting orange-pink skies, and the golden light hit her companion's brown eyes, turning them amber. 

"Ask me again," Erika said, and the sunlight didn't lift her moon spell. 

"Will you marry me?" Christine said breathlessly. 

"Yes," Erika nodded solemnly, "I will marry you’’ 

As ill-disposed her actions were, seeing Christine’s relieved smile, Erika found comfort in matching her. 

"Did you ever imagine that we would spend a Saturday like this?" Nadir leaned on the button that turned on the hand dryer in the courtroom bathroom. 

Nadir had to collect a couple of favors, but ultimately, he had managed to skip the waiting time for the marriage license so that the wedding could happen now. 

Erika was squatting under the dryer, her hair and her blazer damp after scrubbing and rinsing the dried blood on them in the bathroom sink.  

"We've done weirder things on a Saturday morning," Erika said, using the heat from the hand dryer and a round styling brush to dry and try to give volume to her hair, "Remind me of the time." 

"The judge will arrive in half an hour, if that is what you are interested in knowing." 

They three of them had been the firsts to arrive at court, and the minister had not yet arrived. So, they went their separate ways. 

''One can never run fast enough from the bureaucracy.'' Erika raised her brow, rolling the comb to the side of her head, the heat and humidity helping her leave a curl. 

"Is this your idea of a bachelorette party?" the man asked with a smile. 

Erika snorted as if that were the most ridiculous idea she'd ever heard, making Nadir laugh. 

''Not particularly'' Erika shook her head, holding the brush on the top of her head.

Christine had quickly befriended the secretaries, leaving Nadir and Erika to do whatever they deemed useful with their time. Neither of them was good at keeping their hands to themselves; therefore, they took on the difficult task of making Erika look presentable, 

''This is all happening so fast,'' she said after an anxious sigh, slowly unwrapping the hairbrush from her hair. 

"I know, have you thought about what you are going to tell the children?" 

''I was supposed to inform them?'' Erika lifted her head, using her hand to tease the roots, and stood up.

She walked closer to the mirror. All of her wounds were still warm, allowing her flesh to move with flexibility and painlessly. 

"You are getting a whole new wife; of course you have to tell them!’’ 

Erika just turned her back on him and rolled her eyes at the lecture, examining the pile of cosmetics that had been placed on the sink on top of a paper tower, 

''…Also, it's not like you can hide anything from Charlie, I don't know how she does it, but that kid sees through your soul.'' 

Erika huffed. "Don't call her that!' she said as she rubbed a foundation stick on the back of her hand to warm up the product.

''What? Charlie?'' Nadir raised his brow, seeing the strong reaction caused by the harmless nickname.

''Charlotte is a perfectly suitable name! It is elegant, it is classic’’ Erika turned a little to contradict him, her finger warming the foundation further before she started applying it on top of her old makeup.   

"Charlotte is a bit of a mouthful for a toddler, don’t you think?’’ he raised his eyebrow

"That’s why Lottie is the lesser of the two evils'' She said as she used the foundation to clean the edges of smeared eyeshadow on her under eyes.

"Okay, no nicknames." Nadir raised his arms in surrender. "I should have known you would be that kind of mother, that's why Gus does not like you."

Erika just stuck her finger at her reflection, only lowering her hand when someone gently knocked on the door.

''Miss Carrière? I just wanted to let you know that the judge is here, he'll be ready in a couple of minutes.” A secretary walked in, her smile fading as she saw Nadir. "Sir, we already received a complaint from you, can you please leave the ladies' restroom?" 

Nadir nodded, pursing his lips. "Oh right, my mistake''

The woman smiled, holding the door open for the man, but Nadir didn't move. The two stared at each other for a couple of painfully long seconds before the woman nodded with a clunky expression. 

''Thank you,'' she said awkwardly before walking out. 

Nadir swiftly turned his head, “Can you finish now, so we can get out of here?!” Nadir rushed his comrade, who was calmly applying eyeshadow with a sponge applicator.

"I required assistance! I didn't want to get married covered in blood, and I also don't know how, but Christine noticed the smell, and I didn't desire to give her any more reason to overthink my actions," Erika answered without moving away from the mirror. 

"This was not a requirement for the brideman position''

"Don't pretend that's an actual term, and how much could that presumed title be worth when you are quite literally the only option available'' she said as she lined her lip with a reddish brown pencil

"That's because I'm your only friend'' 

''I don't have that much appreciation for you, Daroga; don't be so full of yourself'' The woman replied, taking out a lipstick bullet from the pocket of her coat and concealing the paleness caused by loss of blood under a color of the same shade. 

''Is that the only chapstick you brought? I can bring you another from the glove box if you like," Nadir said, his tone softer and more sincere.

''What's wrong with how I look? Only wrong answers'' She tried to taunt him.

"Nothing, I'm used to seeing you like this, but this was not the image you wanted to give'' he pointed out, unfazed by her many teases.

The woman sighed, reminiscent of the soft colored lipstick and the many attempts to conceal her sharp angles, all of them on display right now.

"My disguise got blown up; I look like what I'm, a dyke who happens to be a spy who happens to be getting married, that the closer I can give the girl to something real''

The man snorted softly, shaking his head. "Are you ready?" 

"As much as I can be, let's get out of there'' She said, turning away from the mirror

They walked in silence to the judge's office, neither of them wanting to disturb the tangible determination in the air.

"Okay, let’s get done with this." Erika rubbed her hands together and walked toward the door. 

''Ah-ah'' Nadir said, stopping her by offering her his arm. 

It took Erika a millisecond longer than usual to understand what Nadir was doing. 

"Are you serious?" Erika questioned, dismissing him with an incredulous tone.

Homosexual marriage was still fairly new, too crude for the common perspective of the most rigid parts of society, any attempt to participate in the traditions from which she had until very recently been excluded was seen with repulsion.

‘’We live troubled lives, tell me, will we ever get another chance?’’ the man didn’t seem bothered by it, talking in a gentle tone.

"Very likely, I don't think it's the last time I need to get married for a mission." The last word was said in Morse code in rapid and exaggerated blinks. 

"Erika" Nadir looked at her with that expression that reminded her of when they were young, from being crouching in the trenches, her ears vibrating from the bullets, of the pain of the infection eating her skin away, the smell of rotting meat, and shit in her nose.

There was nothing in the world that could get in the middle of that. Nothing, no way of forgetting that this man had seen the best, the worst and the decay of her soul and stayed. Such load was so hard to carry sometimes.

Erika looked at the point where her living bride was waiting for her. For a moment, she lost control of the well where she kept her illusions and dreams, she could feel them bleed and burn in the corners of her eyes. 

"Would you do it for me?'' Erika asked, her voice sounding so young that he barely recognized her. 

“It would be an honor.” 

Erika made the same decision that spared her life at seventeen.

She took Nadir's hand.

Christine was already sitting in front of the judge's desk when she and Nadir walked in, holding hands. She was sitting sideways, talking, and laughing with the secretaries. Her hair was freshly ironed, and her makeup was touched up.

“Hello,” Erika greeted quietly, sitting next to her.

"Hey,” Christine responded with a giggle. “That was really sweet,” She said with a tender look.

“Are you laughing at us?” she said, leaning her elbow on the desk and placing her fist under her chin. “It was Nadir's idea, sentimental old man.” Erika explained, trying to look annoyed, but there was a slight curve in her lips that betrayed her.

"No." Christine smiled, shaking her head. “It was adorable.” 

Erika felt exposed under Christine's genuine gaze, and the brilliance of her smile blinded her, and she had to look away.

“Witnesses?'' Erika changed the subject when she saw the unusual number of people in the room at what was supposed to be a quick and small event.

"They let me borrow a straightener and makeup to touch up.” Christine shrugged. “We are basically friends for life now,” she explained, as if it were part of an unbreakable code of a sisterhood that Erika was not a part of.

“How kind of them,” Erika said silently. 

Christine just smiled. Her blue eyes were enhanced by brown mascara, and the apples of her cheeks were rosy and velvety. Her lips were glossy from her freshly applied satin lipstick. 

''Christine?” The older woman whispered after a moment of intense consideration.

"Umh?"She replied, tilting her head, her straight blonde locks sweeping across her freckled cheeks.

“You can still back out,” She offered in a whisper. 

Phantom knew well that the entire operation would collapse if Christine were to accept her offer, but everything was calculated; the illusion of choice would give her security, and expressing vulnerability was not dangerous if she exploited it first.

'I appreciate the consideration, but this is as much my decision as it is yours, and I can decide for myself,'' Christine said solemnly. 

This was just an exchange for the protection that the marital state provided. Christine couldn't back down.

In the darkness of her mind, Erika could admit to feeling intimidated by the strange balance of power they had created in this almost-partnership. In the long term, neither of them could take advantage of their vulnerability without dragging the other one down with them.

The wedding was quick and unceremonious. Erika signed what was asked of her and laughed mentally, thinking that buying a car at an agency was more of an event than her own marriage. Nadir was her witness, and one secretary was Christine's. 

The secretaries applauded when Christine signed the last page. Erika was grateful that they tried to make the event special for her. 

''Girls, come here, pose for the photo!'' urged one of the secretaries enthusiastically. 

Erika found herself being pushed by a group of women towards the bare wall of the office next to Christine, who had been given a bouquet of fake flowers that had previously been in a vase decorating the judge's office.

"Smile, girls!'' the girl holding the camera said, pressing the button.

In the rush, Erika couldn't switch places with Christine in time, resulting in the masked side of her face being captured in the image.

''Give me a couple of weeks to develop this roll, and I'll mail it to you!''

It was a combination of those words and Christine’s infectious giggle that made the realization that she was married sink in.

Christine had worn dozens of wedding dresses and pretended to get married hundreds of times at this point in her career, but she had never actually thought far enough to think about her own wedding.

But a reception taking place at 8 o'clock in the morning at an American-style dinner would not be on her plan, nor was the setting the many authors whose characters she had helped come to life would use for their happily ever after, she thought as she washed her hands on the bathroom sink.

As Christine returned from the bathroom and walked to their table, she heard a glimpse of Nadir and Erika's conversation.

"You should eat something. You haven't eaten in almost two days.” Nadir insisted. 

“Nadir, I swear my stomach is the size of an ant's right now, I don't believe that's physically possible.” Erika had her hand covering her mouth, looking down at a plate of scrambled eggs with unease.

''One bite so that your stomach's acid has something to melt other than itself'' Nadir insisted again. His voice was firm and gentle, not making the matter any bigger than it needed to be.

''Are you okay, Erika?'' Christine asked, sitting down.

“Just uneasy,” the woman responded, lowering the hand that was in her mouth to her lap with an absent look.

Nadir looked at the time on his watch for a second before speaking, "I'm going to ask if I can borrow the restaurant's phone, I'll be back."

Erika took him by the wrist when he got up. “Can you make a call to the apartment to see how the children are?" Her eyes had this serious, almost desperate look.

"I'll do it, now work on that bite." He said, squeezing her hand affectionately.

Erika nodded. And it did not go unnoticed by Christine that it was only then that she was able to take the bite she promised, chewing with a conflicted expression.

“Here,” Christine whispered, pushing the cup in front of her closer. “You prefer black coffee, right? I think I remember it from the first time we met." 

“I do, thank you.” She picked up the cup and took a sip.

"You didn't like the eggs? Do you want to order something else from the menu?'' Christine asked, biting into a strip of bacon from her own plate.

"I'm not particularly hungry, and I'm not a fan of breakfast food either.” She wrinkled her forehead in disdain. “Especially from this place with so many American influences, it's too heavy for the morning.”

Christine nodded. "I see. Are you sure you’re okay?" 

"I'm just anxious,” Erika said, sliding her hand over the exposed side of her face. “It's foolish, I know; food is so valuable, and I'm treating it like a nuisance.”

Christine understood what she meant. She remembered the aftermath of the war, the high prices, the unlabeled, dented cans, the moldy produce, and how that was a blessing. Eating now, she had that certain feeling of guilt and indulgence—an everyday act turned into gluttony.

Christine absently pressed the tea bag to the side of the cup with a spoon.

''No, I don't even think so, it's weird for me too; there was a point where I thought we would never have this much food all the time after...'' She decided not to say it, not wanting the past to disturb the present. ''It's not stupid.''

Erika nodded with a soft expression, putting the plate aside. “I'll let Nadir take care of this, I'll have a bowl of rice when I get home.”

Christine nodded, concerned that Erika hadn't eaten anything after the challenging night they had, but she didn't dare share her concerns.

 "Have you thought about what you're going to tell your friends?" Erika asked while drinking her coffee. 

''Why them first?'' She smiled, happy to change to a more pleasant topic of conversation.

"I'm the crazy woman who interrupted their party at midnight and started bleeding in the living room," She said in a dry voice that made Christine laugh. 

''I'll tell them you were tall,'' She shrugged.

''That I'm tall?'' She raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Yes,” Christine nodded without elaborating. “They will understand eventually, but there is something else that worries me.”

''Klass?'' 

Christine smiled and snorted softly upon being read so easily, ''How am I going to explain to him that I got married today? I have never introduced someone to him before. What are you going to tell your children?”

Erika shrugged, “It was necessary, Lottie is adaptable, she accepts everything as it comes, Gustave knows that change is something that happens, they will be fine, they will get over it.” 

''I know it's different when they are that little, but it does not seem fair to me'' She struggled, tormented. "Should I tell him the truth?” 

 Erika remained unpunished, even when the alarms went off in her head.

 ''I don't think it's a good idea.’’ Catastrophic, actually. Details like that are what slipped through the cracks and blew up an entire mission.

"What do you mean?" Christine leaned over the table, wanting to hear her reasoning. 

''He would not feel at peace knowing that his cousin had to marry a stranger to avoid being arrested, he could lose concentration on his studies.''

Christine was silent for a minute. “I think you're right.” 

"Let's pretend that everything is fine, let him believe that his cousin is in love and that she is going to settle down after taking care of him for so many years. Won't that be a weight off his shoulders?"

“Now I'm angry,” Christine said, frowning, resting her chin on top of her fist with a defeated expression.

 ''Did I say something that offended you?’’

Christine sighed, looking away for a moment before responding.

"'I don't like the idea of lying to him, it's been me and him since forever..." She said, gradually straightening up as she spoke.

 “Love involves sacrifice.” Erika tried to finish the sentence for her. 

Christine just smiled at her, and Erika was desperate to know the thoughts of this angelic creature in front of her. Did she agree? Was she mentally denying it? This was a living woman of flesh and blood; one that could love. What did Phantom know about love? Nothing because a corpse doesn't feel, her heart was full of ghosts.

‘’Okay, I won't tell him,” She admitted in a sigh, defeated.

"You're unhappy," Erika guessed as she drank the rest of her coffee.

 "No, sometimes life doesn't go where you want, but I'm still lucky, and if I had to marry a stranger, I'm glad it was you," She said with that bright and genuine smile of hers.

 The sincere manner in which she articulated her thoughts left Erika in awe, the absence of doubt or shame, as free from inhibition as a dove. She fled from Christine’s gaze. It was like looking directly at the sun; she couldn't bear it.

''Why is that?'' She murmured, looking at the bottom of her empty cup.

“You're tall,” She joked, shrugging.

They both laughed, the laughter moving as naturally as the sun across the sky.

“Is it this way?” Nadir asked while driving. 

"Yes, two more blocks away,” Christine responded from the back seat, leaning towards the front seat to see the road more clearly. 

 “Okay,” Nadir said, concentrating on the road. 

Christine, still leaning over the seat, looked back at the co-pilot's seat.

"She really looks tired," She commented softly, looking at Erika's sleeping figure. 

The older woman was reclining on the seat, her head hanging over her shoulder, and her masked side curled up against the seat. Her lips parted, and her hair fell softly over her face.

"Yes, it's not usual for her to crash just like that." Nadir snorted with contented affection. 

 ''You really adore her, right?''  Christine smiled, moved by the clear love that Nadir had for Erika. 

''Oh, you're wrong, she's nothing more than a brat." Nadir snorted. "You have no idea how much I do for her, and does she appreciate it? Of course not,'' He said, but there was no real bite in his words.

Christine whispered softly, “Did she move closer so you could help her with the kids?” 

Nadir took a moment to respond, ''To some extent, yes, but let me tell you, out of the three of them, she is the biggest baby.” 

 “Is it?” Christine questioned.

Until now, Erika had been so stoic and reserved. The mischievous antics and sardonic humor she displayed in front of Nadir were a reminder that, actually, she didn't know this woman at all, and now she was married to her.

"This it’s’’ Christine said, pointing to the man to stop.

Once Nadir parked the car, the woman's eyes focused on her wife, debating whether to wake her up to say goodbye, to confirm that this was real and that it had actually happened.

But she looked too comfortable, so she just got out of the car unceremoniously.

“Give her my goodbyes when she wakes up, tell her I adore her children, but to please answer the phone herself this time,” Christine joked, leaning in front of the window.

“I will gladly pass on your message,” he said, saying goodbye to the singer.

He waited for the young woman to enter the building before starting the car. Phantom's eyes opened as the engine started.

“Now what?” Nadir asked, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

“We never talk about what just happened, and we continue with our lives,” Erika responded, rubbing the inner corner of her eye.

"Cheers to that” he said half-heartedly, turning his eyes to the road,

''Aww, I forgot I was wearing makeup'' She whined, moving her stained hand away from her face.

Nadir laughed at her misery, and Erika just rolled her eyes.

“Nadir, can you stay in today?'' She asked, hoping that her lack of rudeness in response to his earlier teasing would help her chances.

“Phantom, I'm going to work after I drop you off,” He said as he drove to Erika's apartment.

''What things are you saying?!'' Erika said upset turning sideways in her seat.

"It's almost 10 in the morning, I'm late for work. That's why I asked for the phone at the restaurant, I called to notice I would be running late," the man explained simply. "Eat something and go get some sleep, you look exhausted.''

“We blew up a cargo boat, were on a car chase, and got involved in a terrorist attack-‘’

‘’-And you look like it’’

 ‘’-and you're just going to go to work like nothing happened?!'' Erika continued, dismissing his interruption.

"It's called adult responsibility; not all of us have new identities every week. I have only one reputation, and I need to maintain it," He said, looking at the road.

Erika snorted, as if it were the most ridiculous idea she had ever heard.

''Laugh all you want, but in a couple of days your medical residency is going to start, and I want to see you working by the hour like us normal folks'' 

“Shut up, Nadir,” She said hissy, leaning back on her seat with her arms crossed.

“Why do you want me to stay?” He asked her in a soft voice, ignoring the fit she was throwing.

''I can never sleep after a mission of this caliber! And if I don't sleep...'' Nadir knew well what she was talking about, there was no reason to make the morning more bitter by repeating herself.

''It's been a while since you last had hallucinations, and since you stopped using substances-‘

''-yes, but I still take painkillers for my chronic pain! And it's basically a watered-down version of that-''

''-Why are you so worried? "Did something happen?" he asked, stopping the car when the traffic lights turned red.

Now, without a distraction, Erika felt compelled to respond.

“Nothing really, I got careless and fell asleep, but Lottie woke me up, and I forgot where I was then...'' She pursed her lips, ashamed of her actions.

“Did anyone get hurt?” Nadir asked, trying to prove his point.

"Well, no...''

“Then nothing happened, just say you're sorry and move,” Se said as if everything were so easy.

'' Apologize? That won't fix the situation; yelling at a couple of kids who have already endured so much won't be improved by a mere apology.

“I know it's difficult, my father never did it for me, and he still loved me, now I understand it, but at 6 years old? That's a difficult concept. Why give the child 20 years of uncertainty?’’ He said, his words hang on the ear, lingering in Erika’s heart.

“If things go well, they might not even remember me,” Erika said, tracing the outline of her lower lip with the tip of her nail, trying to keep her hands and mind busy.

“Charlie won't, but Gustave might.”

Erika didn't say anything, narrowing her eyes and massaging her temples. They were both silent for the rest of the ride.

“Well, you won't know if you can sleep until you try,” Nadir said, parking the car outside Erika’s building.

Erika nodded, getting out of the car. “See you later, Nadir.”

“When are you calling?” Nadir asked from the seat.

“Whenever I need you next, naturally,” she replied with a cheeky smile.

“I'll be here,” Nadir promised in a huff.

“I know you will,” she smiled at him, standing still until he drove away.

All the windows were closed, and the lights were off when Erika entered the apartment. The only sound was the laughter of children from the television; the light projected softly on the opposite wall.

The babysitter was a young woman, not much older than Christine, a normal civilian with no idea about the agency. She was awake, sitting in the kitchen.

“Good morning, ma’am,” She greeted politely.

“Good morning, miss,” Erika responded, nodding her head. “Are the children awake?”

''Charlotte is, they both had trouble going to sleep last night, they seemed anxious, they didn't go to sleep until after midnight, and Charlotte woke up around 4, and there was no force that could get her back to sleep.

Giry had hired the woman only until 8 in the morning -Those damn budget cuts-. After Erika apologized for the delay, the woman left and as worried as Erika was about being left alone with the children, she sighed with relief at being alone.

After a minute, she got up and walked to the living room, where Lottie was sitting on the floor in the dark with the television on.

This was a common occurrence in their household. Lottie would fall asleep early and then wake up and stay up for hours to then fall asleep again early in the morning.

If she had to guess, she would say that Lottie liked the silence of the night, it was when it was the quietest, and she would sit with the television on low volume and enjoy the silence.

So, Lottie had become her nighttime companion. Erika had gotten used to the small noises and tiny footsteps that accompanied her during work or in moments of insomnia. They needed to work on it before Lottie started school, she couldn't keep waking up at lunch.

"Mommy!" Lottie greeted from the couch, she was wearing her pajamas, tangled in a bunch of blankets, eating apple slices.

“Hey, Lottie,” Erika greeted, not having the energy to match her enthusiasm, plopping down on the couch. “What are we looking at?”

"Sesame Street,” Lottie replied, crawling across the couch to get closer to her mother.

Erika froze, tensing up as Lottie crawled into her lap, ignoring the coldness with which she was greeted.

Oh no, Erika wasn't wearing the right top for this, the low neckline of her blazer allowed the hardness and sharp angles of her collarbone to make direct contact with the child, and it was too skimpy to keep Lottie from pocked by the sharp end of her ribs.

And as she predicted, Lottie shifted uncomfortably in her bony lap.

Erika held a sigh in her throat, well, Lottie would most likely never want to sit on her lap again, and that was fine, that would make things easier, she probably felt repulsed by her grotesque complexion and-

Lottie covered her head with her blanket like a veil and pushed a pillow onto Erika's stomach, snuggling into her.

Erika relaxed after the shock. There was something so trivial about how Lottie had fixed the situation, as if it were no big inconvenience, as if her body was not that big inconvenience that Erika always thought it as.

Erika had hated the limitations of her body her entire life, and fought against them tirelessly in order to prove her worth. That all the food and resources that had been used to keep her alive when she was unable to give anything in return had not been wasted.

“I think you're pretty! and good!’’ Lottie interrupted her thoughts, her blonde brows furrowed deeply.

''Excuse me?'' Erika asked, confused at why her child had brought that up.

The child just cupped her mother's cheek with her sticky little hand, having absolutely no concern over her mother's foundation. 

Speaking of the other half of her face, Erika didn't consider herself necessarily ugly. Her features were dark and hollow by nature, but because of how sharp and elongated her features were, they added a certain elegance and demeanor to her face. Which, in a sickly and twisted way, endowed her with a certain beauty, but not one that Erika could appreciate in herself.

“Thank you, Miss Lottie, you are pretty too” Erika responded.

Internally, she rejected the praise, not that she would ever say that in front of the child. The longer she could keep her ignorant of the burden of being aware of how she was perceived by others, the better.

“Very pretty, more than all my other mothers,” she continues, with more insistence.

Erika snorted softly, a soft smile on her lips. She wondered what Lottie would say if she saw her face. She was still young enough that the idea of her running away crying was feasible, and quite frankly, Erika's heart couldn't handle such a reaction.

''It's too loud, mommy,'' the girl complained, headbutting her mother's ribs like a kitten.

Believing she was referring to the television, she used the control to lower the volume.

“I like this clothes better,” The girl said after pulling her head out of the blankets.

“Yes, I like it better too, Nadir says my other clothes are stupid, what do you think?'' she decided to humor the child, deciding to ignore her poor  grammar.

“Christine say pink is not your color,” the girl said, yawning.

Erika laughed, “When did Christine tell you that, Lottie?

"umh... apple?" Lottie offered her a half-eaten piece of apple while chewing on the nipple of her sippy cup.

Despite her brief experience in motherhood, Erika had realized something: children were disgusting. This week, Erika cleaned more bodily fluids than she had in her entire career.

"You know what? Thank you.” Erika chewed on the wedge, too hungry to care how mushy and warm the apple was.

She plopped down on the couch, holding Lottie more confidently, deciding that it was fine, she could hold her fake daughter and watch Sesame Street for a little while.

Eventually, the girl fell asleep, as Erika tapped her hip rhythmically to rock her. She felt her chest tighten. Lottie was so small; she took up so little space in her arms. She continued to bump her hip, feeling her diaper through the fabric of her pajamas, watching her sippy cup falling from her lips.

“They haven't taken good care of you, have they?” Erika asked in a whisper, laying her head on top of her little head, the soft baby hair caressing her cheek.

She didn't follow the thought or made promises, concentrating on the warm feeling she hadn't been able to feel when she had layer after layer of fabric separating them. Charlotte was a warm and comfortable weight; like an anchor keeping her in the present.

It would be so easy, to let herself melt into the warmth and let it give relief to her tired bones, but she forced her muscles to make a painful jerk and stand up with Lottie in her arms.

Erika carried the little girl to the room she shared with her brother, opening the door gently and walking with silent steps. She laid the girl on her bed, tucking her under all the blankets she was wearing.

She looked at her for a second, wondering what it was like to sleep like that.

Watching over the little girl's bed, she felt Gustave's heavy gaze on her and turned her gaze to confront him. The boy hid his face from her at that moment, but Erika already knew that he was awake.

''Good reflexes,'' She whispered quietly, looking down at the boy's still figure.

He did not respond and did not move, his blanket covering his face and leaving his feet exposed to the elements. Erika sighed, and she approached with the intention of tucking the child in, when Gustave stopped her by pulling the blanket towards him.

“I can do it myself!” The boy protested in a bad mood, sitting on his bed.

From the red marks on his cheek and the flattened curls, Erika guessed that he hadn't been awake for long.

"It's not a big deal, kid, don't read too deep, and keep your voice down, your sister just fell asleep."

The boy fell on the bed with his arms crossed, annoyed. Now that Erika knew how beautiful this child was, she had the urge to smooth out the wrinkle on his forehead with her finger, but that couldn't be a good idea.

''Keep sleeping'' Erika said, turning to leave the room.

''I'm not sleepy anymore'' the boy protested, taking off the blankets.

''That's fine, play by yourself and don't wake up your sister'' Erika responded straightforward.

''I'm hungry,'' the boy said, as if communicating his needs were the ultimate punishment, and at the same time angry at her audacity to not be able to read his thoughts.

"I offer you two-day-old rice and half a can of tuna, will you take it?" She said in a tired sigh, opening the door.

''Yes, but take out the can fish'' the boy said, getting off his bed.

''Good boy,'' she said, closing the door softly. '

She walked with the boy in front of her, turned on the lights, while the boy went ahead to open the kitchen window and take a look at the city, ignoring her.

Gustave did no longer hated her to death, but there was a strong apathy that she couldn't get rid of, and she had just made his walls taller, leaving Erika with no idea of what to do or how to start.

Erika watched him from the kitchen island, endlessly replaying the incident from the last time she had seen him in her mind, silently drowning in guilt and repeatedly thinking about what Nadir had told her.

20 years of uncertainty

She took the rice out of the refrigerator and poured it evenly between two bowls.

''Do you want me to warm up your rice?'' Erika asked, leaving the dirty dish on the sink.

''Are you not gonna warm yours?'' The boy frowned.

''No'' she said, cracking an egg on top of her rice to Gustave's horror.

''I thought raw things were bad for you,'' Gustave remarked, a curious, skeptical expression crossing his face.

''Not always, but it's better to always ask first,'' Erika said carefully, ''and it's delicious. Seeing you don't want any tuna, would you like to try it?'' she offered.

"Are you sure it's not bad?'' Gustave questioned; his skepticism evident in the furrow of his brow.

''I'm not going to poison you, kid'' Erika promised, grabbing a pair of chopsticks to stab the yolk.

''I'm not so sure about that'' He said sassy, climbing on a chair to have a clearer look at the strange mixture his guardian was making.

''Here, help me stir it; try to make it even'' She said, giving him the chopsticks, setting a distraction for the kid ''I'm going to make a phone call, stay here,'' she said in an authoritative voice.

She silently approached the living room telephone, dialing a number whose call was immediately picked up.

‘’Operation Grasshopper Phase two is complete, the mission is officially in operation.”