Work Text:
Christine sat nervously in her chair as she brushed her thick blonde locks. Her throat was tired from all her singing that night, preparing herself for the upcoming opera play the following day. Normally, she would be excited since her maestro would call her through the mirror, saying to her his praise. However, Erik for some unknown reason decided to avoid Christine, showing his affection only through material gifts and notes.
The girl was used to such behavior, but having her Maestro like that for 2 months, considering how eager he was to see her before, was indeed suspicious. Why was he avoiding her? Sure, Erik was a busy man when he was deep in his work, but even then he managed to talk with her once or twice a month.
She sighed. On her dresser lay a letter. Unfortunately, it was not from Erik. It was an invitation from Raoul for a dinner. The man was too kind. Even though she refused him, explaining that she had another man in her heart, this childhood sweetheart did his best to cheer her up. Seeing Christine sad from the lack of communication between her “mysterious love” and her made Raoul as worried as the primadonna itself. So, he asked her to go out after the opera play training, giving Christine some time to relax and think about other things than her man.
Oh, sweet caring Raoul...
If there was one thing that Erik did not have, it was a good look. Christine loved her Maestro, his caring soul, and beautiful inner beauty… Although, it would be a lie if she would say that Raoul did not look too handsome to look at. His wide shoulders, fluffy blonde waves, baby blue eyes, and carefully groomed mustache made any woman melt at their sight. He was a walking definition of a Prince Charming, yet too charming to win Christine's heart. Only friendship remained between them, but it was more than obvious that Erik took it sometimes too personally.
Not once Christine thought of Erik as a jealous person but seeing how he acted around her when Raoul was in the Opera Populairé said it all.
Maybe it was why he avoided Christine for those 2 months.
She had to ask.
“I hope he is okay,” Christine said as she made sure to lock the door, slowly walking towards the hidden mirror entrance. She knew that her changing room was the only way to Erik's lair without risking getting trapped, although her maestro was dedicated to keeping her away from entering the lair on her own. “ It's far too long and dangerous for my delicate flower to walk down such a journey .” He always said.
Nonsense.
She had to see Erik. Two months of waiting was too much.
With a soft click sound, the mirror moved away, revealing the secret passage behind it. Christine stared into that cold darkness for a good moment, hesitating a bit till she shook her head. “No, no, no.” She said firmly, “You are a brave woman, and if your man is avoiding you then you need to be the one who makes the move.”
Grabbing her gas lamp, she finally stepped inside and before anyone could blink, the girl was already heading down the stairs…
*****
The path to Erik's lair was long, but not as terrible as Christine expected. She was led by Erik to that house thousands of times, knowing the way by heart. So, it was no wonder that after 30 mins of walking, she finally found herself in the foyer of his house. The place was filled with music, Christine assuming that Erik had to be in his music room, composing so deeply that he did not hear her on the boat nor stepping inside his home.
“Erik?” She called, stepping inside the music room when she heard no reply, only music. And there, she spotted him - her beloved Angel of Music.
The man was sitting at his pipe organs, playing wildly with his back on her. Even though Christine could not see his face, she stated that he looked healthy and well. It was one of the biggest worries she had from his disappearance. Why was he avoiding her then?
She slowly sneaked behind him, watching as he made such a great masterpiece with those skillful fingers of his. Maybe it was a desire of having him nearby or simply the fact she wanted to tease him for his disappearance, but as she watched him, her hands suddenly touched his mask.
“Guess who?”
She giggled when she saw the man shiver under her touch, her hands making him unable to see her. His body stopped playing, almost jumping up from the seat in shock.
“C-Christine?!” he shuttered, not believing his ears. Only one woman had such a divine voice, so there was no doubt it was somebody else. But it was not only the unexpected touch that made him so surprised.
“So this is why you avoided me for so long? To make a new opera?” Christine giggled as she looked over his shoulders. “Seriously, Erik, why did you keep it so hush-hush? I was worried about why you were so-”
She did not finish her sentence, freezing at the spot as she moved her hands away and met face-to-face with the man in front of her.
Erik looked nothing like the last time she had seen him. It was no magical change that would give Erik a normal-looking face, but there was something that made him look so odd and … it was hard to describe. What was so odd about him?
Christine examined his face once more. Same mask for the upper part of his face, same beautiful golden eyes, same raven hair…
Oh, oh….OH.
Oh, my-
Christine's yes finally locked on the source of Erik's unusual look - a dark pencil mustache standing out like a black sheep on his face. It was nicely groomed and grown out, styled to outshine any other mustache. Yet, no matter how thick or thin it was, it could not hide Erik's blushing face.
And oh God, he blushed as red as a tomato.
“W-wow,” Christine choked on her words, not sure if she should be surprised or laughing. It was so weird! Handsome…but weird! “Erik, have you seriously got yourself a mustache?”
“I…” He took a deep breath, trying to make an argument but lost the battle, all frustrated admitting, “Yes! Oh, yes, I've tried to grow out a mustache, okay? Great! I wanted to show you my hard work tomorrow after the premiere of my new opera as a surprise, but it's all ruined now!” Erik's reaction made Christine finally lose it and laugh. She giggled and laughed, not able to stop.
“What? Is it so bad? Tell me, Christine,” He asked but the girl could not stop laughing. “No, no… hahaha! It's- It's- hahaha…. It looks great.”
“That doesn't convince me at all.” The man said all grumpy, standing up. If she thought he looked so bad, it was better if he shaved all that hard work of his as soon as possible.
“Nooo!” Christine, finally catching her breath, hugged Erik from behind, stopping him from leaving the music room. “Sorry, you just caught me off-guard.” She apologized, adding, “You look good. It's just, I had no idea you were avoiding me for that . I was worried about you and… I missed you .” Those last words ended up as a whisper, making Erik stop and look into Christine's eyes with as much love as he could ever feel for the woman.
“Oh, Christine,” He spoke, calmly and lovingly, petting her blonde mane. The man could not be grumpy around her for too long. Not when she gave him such puppy eyes. “I deeply apologize for making you worry about me. I simply wanted to surprise you. I…” He gulped, a bit pissed when recalling it yet not admitting it, “I've noticed how you admired that De Chagny's mustache so I thought…that maybe…maybe I should try it out too. To see why men wear mustaches lately and if it would help to cover my face and all–”
Christine blinked, putting two and two together.
Moving her gaze up, she asked. “Hold on, Erik…are you jealous of Raoul because I like his mustache?”
The man rolled his eyes, nervously laughing, “What?! O- Of course not! I have your heart and only, don't I? Why should I be jealous of that good-looking Prince Charming with a thick soft lion mane, delicate mustache, and more manly look than I could ever get in my entire life?”
“Erik…” Christine said firmly, trying to dig up the truth from the man because even the deaf could hear how bad his lies were. “So you indeed ARE jealous of him.”
She sighed, her hands still wrapped around him in a warm hug. Being so thin, Christine had no problems hugging the man with how slender figure Erik had. She understood why he was so envious of Raoul. The son of a rich noble family with a perfect look, muscular, confident, desired by women… while Erik, on the other hand, was tall, skinny, disfigured with a face of death, hated by society, and stuck in the underground for most likely his entire life. He and Raoul were like Sun and Moon.
“Oh, Erik. My dear Erik,” She whispered, giving the man a smile. Her hand found the edge of the mask, gently pushing it away to see his face more clearly. She was at this point so used to seeing his face that she did not find him disgusting or terrifying. She was scared…long time ago, but Erik's sweet and caring soul made her overcome her fear and see only what she wished for - a loving and not-disgusting man with the most gorgeous eyes in the world.
“Why be jealous of him and his appearance when you know I like you and only you? If I liked Raoul just for his look it would mean I would never give you a chance in the first place. I admire your body and soul as much as you love mine. Do not feel jealous of someone's green lawn just because you think it's prettier. Because, if I have to be honest, your lawn is and will be greener than any man's one.
“Christine,” Erik returned the hug, her soft and sweet scent killing him. His heart had no break at that point, beating fast as he saw the woman with his mask, staring at his uncovered face so lovingly that he could die here and now. He promised himself that as soon as the premier was over, Erik would search for a ring, making this woman his bride-to-be.
“Thank you for your honesty. You know how to cheer me up,” The man gave Christine a bright smile, his mustache curving at his mouth move. It was quite adorable and attractive, Christine could not deny that. “No need to thank me, maestro. After all, I only speak the truth.”
“Oh, is that so?” Then I surely have to give you a well-deserved treat at least,” Erik could no longer resist and kiss those pink luscious lips, so eager to kiss them. How wonderful it was to feel her warmth once more! Afraid to show her his face in the middle of the growing process, Erik made sure to limit their contact as much as possible, but his craving for love never died during it. And now when he got it after 2 months of kissing rehab… Oh boy …. He was literally melting at that sweet-poisoning kiss of hers, turning into a puddle of love when she kissed him back.
All of a sudden, she began to giggle.
Erik raised his eyebrows. “What's so funny?” He expected the answer but all he got was another cheerful giggle of hers. “Alright, I get it, you still think my mustache is funny, right? Come on, be honest, and tell me how hilarious I look. Go on.”
Christine shook her head. “It's not that . It's just that your mustache tickles me when you kiss me like that.” It indeed tickled a bit, that feather-like texture being unusual on her upper lip. Unusual, yet not bad. Maybe with a little bit of time, she would get used to it.
Her soft giggle with loving eyes gave Erik a sort of confidence, knowing how honest her words were. Joining the fun, he smirked even more, he used the moment to lift up the girl from the ground into a bridal style, making the girl make a soft “ Kyah ” noise. “Erik! Erik! Put me down! Hahaha! Y-you silly, caterpillar nose-thing man!”
“But you like it!” Erik argued happily, heading to his bedroom with her, humming a happy melody in his mind.
“Of course I do. I would like you with or without a mustache, as well as with either long or short hair.”
“ Ooooh ,” the man gently threw the girl into the big soft bed, following her lead right away. “Are you implying that I should grow out my hair too?” I mean I could try it, but with my bad hair it would take years to-”
Christine shushed him with a kiss. “No, I like your hair the way it is.” The eyes of hers reflected Erik, the man seeing nothing but stars around him, her delicate thin fingers moved up to pull him into a warm cuddling pose, kissing while she touched his newly grown pride. “Do you really like it?” Erik asked between each kiss, Christine nodding without hesitation. “I do. It is new and I will need to get used to it…but I do think you look more serious and charming in it. It suits you with your mask as well.”
“That sounds like you have a thing for mustaches, young lady.” Erik did not stop teasing her, his mustache digging up for more giggles from her sweet lips. “Hahaha, I don't have a thing for the mustache.” She corrected him between giggles, the room filling with the warmth of their bodies with the bed sinking under their weight. “I have a thing for you.”
Those two stared at each other the way any lover craved to be stared at. Their cheeks turned red from the cheerful laugh, eyes filled up with happiness, and lips went more eagerly for another sweet treat they asked for. Those 2 months of separation made them crave each other more than ever before, hoping that the time could get frozen so they had more time to catch up on things. And as Erik blew up the candle on the bedside table, the last warming kiss was placed on Primadonna's lips. In that darkness, two bodies wrapped around each other, their hearts connecting into one.
Erik smiled.
Maybe he would avoid shaving for some time…
*****
The End