Protect Her, At All Costs. (Phantom of the Opera AU)

In Love

"Damn."

"What is it?"

Christine looked up from her book and found three small tears in Erik's pant leg.

"What happened?"

"Ayesha happened." He said glaring at the kitten clinging to his leg.

Christine giggled and picked the small creature up. She set Ayesha on the couch next to her and looked at Erik's pants.

"Do you have a sewing kit?" She asked.

"I think so. You can go into my room and look for one." He said.

"Am I going to find something you don't want me to see?" Christine smirked.

"I have nothing to hide." Erik smirked back.

"I'll be right back, then." She said.

Christine walked up the stairs to Erik's room and opened the door. It was a beautiful room, definitely more 'Erik'. It was dark. The walls were a deep crimson and there was a large black bed. The sheets were the same deep crimson as the walls. There was a black chandelier from the ceiling. Christine glanced around the room and walked into the closet first. That's where she kept her sewing kit. She flicked on the light and found at least twenty of the exact same black suit. She laughed.

What a large variety of clothing, she thought to herself. Her eyes scanned the shelf along the top of the closet. Her eyes caught a small box.

That's probably it.

She reached up and took it from its place. She opened it and found old newspaper clippings. Curiosity got the best of her and she started to read through them.

'Monster or Man?' 'Deformed Boy Kills Ringmaster and Escapes Camp.' 'The Man in the Mask. Who is He?'

Christine saw pictures of a small boy with a lasso in his hands. His back was covered in whip marks and he had the same deformities as Erik. It was Erik.

"Christine?" A voice asked from behind.

She jumped and spun around with the box still in hand. Erik stood in front of her.

"Did you find the sewing kit?" He asked.

"Oh, uh no I didn't." She looked down at the pictures in hand. "Take off your shirt."

"What?" Erik laughed.

Christine's expression didn't change. "Take off your shirt."

"Why?" He realized she wasn't joking.

Erik looked at the newspaper clippings in her hands and sighed.

"Maybe I do have some things to hide." He said.

She was still looking at him with pity on her face.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

Christine nodded.

Erik hesitantly took off his jacket and untucked his dress shirt. Button after button was released and he pulled off his shirt. Christine walked around so she could see his back. She gasped at the scars that covered his torso.

"Do they still hurt?" She asked, touching one of them.

"No."

Her fingers trailed the scars and she studied them closely.

"How did this happen?" She asked.

"It's a long story." He said.

"Uh, am I interrupting something?" Nadir asked as he stood in the doorway.