Ramin Karimloo imagines and one-shots

One-Shot #21

I cuddled my knees to my chest and silently cried to myself in a dark corner of the theater. 

My shoulders shook with each sob that I released, and a part of me felt embarrassed at how loud I must have been, but I was too upset to stop the flood of tears that were streaming down my cheeks.

I wasn't sure of how much time had passed by, nor did I care, but everything came to a standstill when I noticed a shadow over me. 

I thought it was my nemesis coming to bully me further, so I curled up and muttered, "Leave me alone, Camila."

"Pardon me?"

My head snapped up at the sound of not only a male's voice, but Ramin's voice. 

I locked my watery eyes onto his as he kneeled down in front of me, fully dressed up as the Phantom. 

Usually, I would've been intimidated by him if he was acting like the character, but I saw no sign of that as he softly asked, "What happened, my dear?"

Relieved that it wasn't Camila, I suddenly leapt forward and hugged him tightly, burying my face into his shoulder. 

I thought he was going to push me away from him because of my awkward reaction, but that wasn't the case at all. 

Instead, Ramin wrapped his arms around me and stroked my back comfortingly. 

"It's alright, Avery," he said in a soothing tone. "I've got you."

I clenched my fist around his cloak and moved the fabric between my fingers, trying to distract myself from the embarrassment I was starting to feel. 

He eventually pulled back, though, and wiped my tears away with his thumbs. 

"Tell me what happened," he pressed ever so gently. "I want to help you."

His brown eyes were sincere, and I slowly opened up to him. 

"I was bullied backstage," I replied in a small voice. "Camila said some horrible things to me while I was alone and working on one of my outfits."

A flash of anger crossed over Ramin's face at my response, but he quickly calmed himself and asked, "Did she physically hurt you at all?"

I shook my head. 

"Sometimes, it only takes a few words for it to sting just as badly."

He clenched his jaw and balled his hand into a fist, clearly trying to control his emotions. 

After a moment, he muttered, "Do you know where she went?"

"No."

Ramin thought for a second, then stood up to full height and extended his hand out for me to take. 

"Come with me," he said. "I have an idea."

I hesitated and furrowed my brows. 

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to play a little trick on Camila," he smirked. "Would you care to join me?"

I swallowed nervously. 

"I-I don't really want to face her again," I stuttered. "She frightens me."

His face softened as he took my hand and got me onto my feet, leaning my exhausted body against his. 

"You won't have to," he replied. "I merely want you to watch what I can do as the Opera Ghost. Camila is intimidated by me when I'm like this, you know."

"Really?" I asked in disbelief. "She always comes across as confident and unbothered."

"Not with me, apparently," Ramin smiled. "I overheard her saying that she secretly hates me as the Phantom, and that she never wanted to face my wrath."