Beauty and the Phantom: a Beauty and the Beast/Phantom of the Opera crossover

All I Ask Of You

Chapter 7

-The Next Morning-
Erik cringed as pain crept throughout his body. Everything hurt, but he was happy that he did it for Belle. He cared about her and didn't want anything to happen to her. He felt Belle gripping his hand at his side so he glanced over at her to see that she was asleep with her head on the edge of the bed.

"She never left." Evangeline said softly, approaching the two with a cup of coffee for each of them.

"I can see that." He smiled, being careful not to wake her.

"She fixed your mask as well. A hit you took cracked it, cutting you under your eye. She somehow was able to put it back together."

"She saw the scars, I assume?"
Evangeline nodded. "I didn't want her to see them like this. I wanted to show her."

"I don't believe she cares, Master Erik. She sees you for who you are. That's why she stayed. She obviously cares a lot about you." She carefully removed the IV from his arm and he flexed it.
"Master Erik, I believe you care for her very much, as well." She smiled, leaving him alone. He looked back at Belle, who was just starting to wake up.

"Good morning." She said, softly. Her green eyes reflected exhaustion and fatigue, but she tried hard to hide it.

"Hey. You stayed?"

"Of c-course. You g-got b-beat up f-for me. I wasn't g-going t-to leave you."

"When did you finally fall asleep?"

"I d-don't know. An hour ago maybe?" She answered, accepting a cup of coffee from him.

"I haven't totally been honest with you. About my scars." He admitted.

"You d-don't have t-to..."

"No. I need to tell you what happened. Now that you've seen them." He looked at her earnestly. "I was really young. My family and I were living in Bristol. My mother taught me everything I know about music. She's the reason I love music." Belle squeezed his hand as tears began to fall from his face. "I don't know what caused it, but there was a fire. I ran outside, but when I didn't see my mother I went back in. I woke up in a hospital burn unit."

"Your mother d-didn't make it." Belle realized. Erik didn't answer.

"I was embarrassed by the scars. I hid. I've been hiding for the last 15 years. My father tried to remarry, but he didn't. He didn't want them to reject me."

"Erik, th-that's not your f-fault. He d-didn't want you t-to g-get hurt." Belle encouraged.

"You're the first one to stay. To see me for who I am."

"I c-could say th-the same for you. You were th-the first person to hear p-past my st-stutter. We're b-both d-different. If someone c-can't see p-past th-that, th-they d-don't need t-to b-be a p-part of your life. You need p-people who will love and support you r-regardless of what you look like." Belle said, handing his mask back.
"Wear it if you want. B-but I like you b-better without it."

"Thank you." Erik felt his cheeks grow warm. "Lucas will take you home so you can get some rest. You've had quite an eventful evening."

"Are you sure you'll b-be okay?"

"I'll be fine. I'll heal eventually. All that matters to me is that you're safe." Erik tried masking his pain from her, but she knew better.

"T-take it easy. I d-don't want t-to r-rescue my hero next t-time." She answered playfully.

"Don't make me have to rescue you again and I promise you won't have to." Erik chuckled. Belle kissed his forehead softly before leaving. As she left, Erik could hear her singing in the hallway.