Darling. (Erik/Phantom x Reader)

Twenty-Six.

Dormitory of the Opera Populaire.

***

"I have half the mind to tell your father about this myself!" Helena exclaimed, placing her tea down into its saucer with shock and confusion, "I mean, what happened to your propriety? A little kiss here and there... whatever... but on his lap?"

Y/N blushed as she shamefully held her teacup, "I was caught up in the moment!"

"Well, thank god Erik has more sense..." Helena shook her head, "You must be more careful. You are a young woman on the verge of a magnificent career and you cannot let pregnancy — or, heaven forbid, rumor — ruin your path forward. Not to mention, you could jeopardize Erik's life."

"How so?"

"Charles and I would kill him, your father would cover up the crime," Helena stated, sipping her tea in perfect English manner.

"Well, nice to know you all have a plan..." Y/N remarked, "I'm just so overcome by him... he has really captivated me in such a way... I need him to meet my father..."

"Your father will have several questions — like why is he wearing a mask? Why do you spend so much time with him alone? Does he have a stable income source? Will he keep you in France forever? Is the issue with his face genetic and therefore something that can be inherited to his grandchildren?"

"Grandchildren? Don't speak of such things," Y/N scolded. She had never wanted children, knowing her career was far too valuable for her in the present. Perhaps when she was older, and her career began to wane, she would consider it... but at that point, she may be too old.

"I don't care if you have children or not, but your father does. An heir to the throne... so to speak."

Y/N sipped her tea anxiously. She hated this topic.

"Is Erik still comfortable meeting him?"

"I don't think he was ever comfortable with the idea, but he is still agreeing to it. I just think it is so far outside his realm... he rarely even leaves the opera house, or speaks to anyone outside his circle, and I am asking him to meet my family and come out with me to dinner in the city. It's crazy."

"Well, love is sacrifice," Helena spoke, "If he wants a future with you, he has to make these concessions. He has to do the things needed to become part of your life."

"Yes, but then what do I do to fit into his life?"

"Darling, his life is the basement of an opera house. You live in that opera house. You are as integrated as can be."

***

"Think of me, think of me waking -- silent and resigned! Imagine me," She sang, methodically and as captivatingly as ever, "Trying to hard to push you from my mind! Recall those days, look back on all those times -- think of the things we'll never do," She looked up at audience, "There will never be a day when I don't think of you!"

She ran off stage, as per usual, but this time was greeted by two hands pulling her behind the curtain. She almost yelped, but was quieted by a gentle hand on her face and Erik's bright eyes in the darkness of the fabric maze.

"Erik? Are you okay?"

"Your father is coming tomorrow... what should I do? I have been racking my brains for the proper means of navigating this and have come up with nothing—" Erik blurted, taking faster than she had ever heard him, "I mean, do I even meet him tomorrow? When do I receive him? What should I do?"

"First, you should take a deep breath," Y/N smiled, placing a hand on his chest, "My father is coming before the performance to see me in my chambers. You should arrive then, and offer him a seat in your opera box. It'd be nice if you watched my performance with him and Charles."

"But... no one sits in my opera box..."

"So won't it be extra special?" Y/N mused, "Plus, then you can both have something to speak about after the show."

Erik nodded, the anxiety still clear on his face, but Y/N heard her next queue.

"I have to go!" She whisper-yelled, escaping the curtain and rushing back to the stage — just in time for her duet with Carlotta.

***

"Gentle!" Y/N yelled as Helena absentmindedly scrubbed makeup remover against her face.

"Sorry, my dear!" Helena exclaimed, softening her grip, "I am just a bit distracted."

"By what?"

"Oh, you know..." Helena dismissed, turning around to provide Y/N with a nightgown.

Y/N accepted it, "Is this about Charles? Helena, go for it!"

"What?! This has nothing to do with him!" She insisted, waving a makeup cloth in the air, "He is practically your brother and I am practically your sister and that means he is off-limits."

Y/N rolled her eyes, "You clearly like him, darling! I think he likes you as well—"

"Really?!" Helena exclaimed, dropping the cloth all together, "Y/N, do I have your permission to seduce him?"

"Absolutely not," Y/N said, pulling the night gown on, "But you can flirt with him and see if he asks you to dinner."

Helena nodded, picking up the cloth and putting away her supplies as she began humming an unfamiliar tune.

***

Y/N sang softly to herself, working through her hair with a delicate brush, until she heard a gentle tapping against her mirror.

"Come in!" Y/N answers, turning around in time to watch the mirror slide and a familiar phantom come out.

"It is always a pleasure to hear you sing," He greeted, bowing his head slightly.

"It is always a pleasure to be heard," She replied with a smile, "How can I help you?"

"Carriere and I have decided on the next production, I wanted to offer you french lessons... you will need them."

Y/N heart (and face) dropped. "French?"

Erik nodded.

"Erik, I am terrible at French. I could perform more proficiently in Latin — or, or Italian, or Russian, even!" She explained, nervous, "How do you expect me to get the prima donna role when I am auditioning against native speakers?"

"With practice."

Y/N's anxious look prevailed, and Erik walked to her, kneeling down to place a gentle hand on her arm, seated in her lap.

"We will practice your singing French until your accent sounds impeccable... and, we will practice your acting, as it is a comedy."

"A French comedy?! Erik, I told you I had two weaknesses!"

"Which Carriere and I agreed needed to be worked out," He explained, gently, "You will triumph over the auditions and then the production, and no longer have any weaknesses."

Y/N sighed.