Multifandom Oneshots

A Mask, My First (Phantom Oneshot)

(A/N: So I am a huge theater nerd, and thought I'd occasionally add some musical fandoms to this.)

"Is this what you wanted to see?!" the Phantom growled angrily at the girl sprawled on the floor, watching him. He barely glanced at her face as he tried to cover his own, the mask he'd been wearing having fallen to the floor when she'd pulled it from him. He turned away from her, falling to his knees. All of the fury went out of him at once, and was replaced by defeat. He was tired of this, this face he was trapped behind, this monster.

"What's your name?"

He turned slightly, confused. "What?"

"You must have one. A name, I mean," she said softly, standing and taking a few steps toward him. "And I can't just continue to call you Angel, knowing that you're a man."

He was silent for a moment, studying her through his fingers. She was watching him, not as you would watch a wounded animal, as he was expecting, but as if she really was going to come closer, and comfort him. But she never would...would she? She couldn't...could she?

He answered slowly. "Erik. My name is Erik."

It had been so long since he'd said it aloud.

"Erik." The name sounded nice on her tongue. She smiled a little, then bent and picked up the mask. He flinched, as if to take it from her, but she held up her hand and he stopped, watching, curious and...well, if he was honest, nervous.

She knelt beside him, and offered him the mask. He stared at it.

"If this will make you feel better," she said quietly, "then have it back, and wear it. But just so you know..." She touched his hand, and pulled it gently from his face.

He was too shocked to react other than to stare at her. She smiled again, fully this time.

"Erik, your face, your scars..." Her hand reached toward him, toward his face, and he pulled away harshly. She sighed and dropped it. "They don't scare me. Not at all."

He managed to take the mask shakily then, but instead of putting it back on, he simply studied it. The candlelight played against its contours in a way that made it seem more sinister than a simple white mask should be.

"I've worn this for so long," he muttered, "hidden, in shadows, for all of my life, because of this...thing, this face. I've spent so long in the dark."

Taking his hand she began to sing softly.

"No more talk of darkness

Forget these wide eyed fears

I'm here, nothing can harm you.

My words will warm and calm you."

Taking his hand, she stood, still singing.

"Let me be your freedom.

Let daylight dry your tears.

I'm here, with you, beside you

To guard you and to guide you."

He stood, meeting her, and started to sing as well.

"Say you'll love me every waking moment.

Turn my head with talk of summertime.

Say you need me with you now and always,

Promise me that all you say is true.

That's all I ask of you."

She smiled, and it was like sunshine, pulling him closer to her. Her hand came up again, and this time he managed to stay still, and not to flinch, though his eyes closed. He shuddered as she touched the scarred skin of his face, the broken places and misshapen bones. But she never flinched.

For the first time, in a very long time, he half smiled through the tear tracks on his cheeks.