Christine walked out of the master bedroom, her heels clicking softly on the hardwood floor. She held her hands together, them resting gently in front of her stomach. Her thoughts teased and poked at her mind. She brushed them off, trying not to think about either nor any of them.
She approached the living room. Her gaze flickered over to Gustave who seemed to be done studying. In such a short amount of time he got a lot done.
Christine made her way over to the boy, the keys and music of the piano growing closer, stronger. The music softly filled the room. The soft notes playing and sliding off of the piano as if it was meant to be.
Gustave was sitting on the seat in front of the piano, on his knees and his other arm on the arm of the piano to keep himself up.
Christine felt a smile appear on her face as she watched the child play. The familiar tune of a certain song surrounded her.
"It sounds so beautiful... so very beautiful... is this what it's meant to be?"
Gustave sang, his voice flying off with the slow notes of the song.
"And yet somehow I can see... how these notes set free!"
The child continued, turning his gaze over to his mother, the notes still ringing off of the walls.
Christine stepped closer. She slowly kneeled down next to him, glancing up at the child. "You're beginning to play very well, Gustave. Perhaps one day you could preform at an Opera house or a theatre... Perhaps even Broadway, my dear." She said, giving him a small smile.
Gustave stopped, the room growing silent in a flash. He looked over at Christine, sitting down on the back of his legs. He rested his hands in his lap as he tilted his head to the side.
"Do you know what he was singing about, Mother?" He asked, breaking the silence. Christine blinked a few times, looking back at the piano keys, remembering the notes in her head. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you. I have not heard the song. But I'm sure it was nothing bad..." She replied reassuringly. Christine stood up, fixing her dress as he stepped back. Gustave shifted to the side, stepping off of the seat he was on. The child quickly skipped after his mother, cocking his head upwards to see her.
Christine walked into the kitchen, almost feeling like she was forgetting something. That's when it hit her. "Gustave... I need to go out to pick up a few things from the theatre. You stay here with your father, Alright?" She said, picking up her bag and turning towards the child who gave her a smile and a nod.
Christine made her way towards the door, quickly heading out after opening it. It shut quietly behind her and Gustave quickly ran into the living room, beginning to search for Erik.
"Father! Where are you?" The child's voice rang through the rooms, traveling softly through the doorways.
Erik adjusted the mask on his face, perking up almost immediately upon hearing Gustaves voice. He creaked the bathroom door open, stepping out and heading towards the living room. He refused to really even look at his reflection. He couldn't even recognize himself whenever he had the mask and wig on.
Erik stepped out into the living room, adjusting his vest by gently pulling it down a little bit. "What is it, Gustave?" He asked, causing the child turn on his heel to face towards Erik. Gustave quickly walked over to him, smiling up at his father.
"Mother had to pick up a few things from the theatre. I was wondering if we could... Well... what's the word... just talk, perhaps?" Gustave asked. Erik stepped pass the boy, Gustave following next to him like a lost duckling. "Well, yes. But what about?" Erik asked, sitting on the couch as gustave quickly sat next to him.
"I was wondering if you could maybe take me backstage of the theatre one day? I would love to meet the dancers and maybe play with the smaller children there. I will not mess up your work nor Madame Giry's work." Gustave asked, resting his hands in his lap again. Erik thought for a moment, his eyes flickering to the side a few times. "Yes I could take you again. Though we would have to wait until after the show since this week is going to be very busy. A lot of preparation I do not want you to get lost in." Erik said, keeping his own hands together and placing them gently on his own lap. It was as if the two had the same way of thinking or same behavior. Of course Gustave wasn't Bi-Polar nor did he have anger issues and all of that but he did have the same thought process.
Gustave happily jumped up a bit, smiling like a dork. "Alright! Thank you, father." Gustave said, his smile growing wider.
"You are welcome, Gustave." The phantom replied. "Now what is this song your mother was telling me about a few days ago?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. Gustave perked up and nodded. "Ah! Yes! Right!" The child hopped off of the couch, quickly scurrying towards the piano. He hopped up on the seat, sitting so that he could be leveled enough to play.
"I don't have much done but what I do have I feel I could finish..." Gustave said, aiming his fingers above the notes. He pressed them down, beginning to have the notes almost fly through the air. His fingers trailing onto each key slowly. The soft tune playing throughout the apartment.
Erik listened to them as they flew up into the air. The song playing and almost repeating in his head. Gustave stopped after the main part, sitting on the back of his legs. "That is all I have now... do you like it?" Gustave asked, a bit nervous.
Erik gave Gustave a soft smile as he gave a nod. "If you did happen to finish it you probably could have this played in a theater... an opera house... everywhere, my boy." He said, standing up and walking over next to Gustave.
"You have great talent." The phantom added.
Gustave felt a wave of happiness flow through him. He looked back at the piano and sat up, placing his fingers over another set of keys. He played another tune, very familiar to both of them. "What were you playing when you sang this?" Gustave asked, the notes filling through Erik's memories. Erik's smile slowly faded as he continued to listen to the song.
"You see things the way I do... I was trying to understand." Erik replied, putting his hands together before beginning to fidget with the ring on his right hand. "I was trying to see if you'd see me as I wish you did. Who I really was... I had figured out you were not De Chagny's... It was... more of a test... to see what you'd do, what you'd say." The phantom continued, the same scream playing over and over in his head. The fear and terror in the boys eyes... the disgusted reaction. Erik inhaled sharply as he tried to stay calm.
"Though now I know you do not see me as a monster... as a... devils child...." He said, his voice almost breaking after the last two words. Gustave turned to look at Erik, looking at the mask.
""I think it's beautiful... so strange yet beautiful..."
Gustave sang as he looked at the bone white mask on Erik's face. Gustave stood up on the seat, reaching close to Erik's height. Of course not as tall but... close enough to make easy eye contact.
"Mother always told me how she thought your deformity was like a work of art. Father do not be disgusted by your face. I feel lucky to have you as my parent. Your looks do not matter to either of us. Mother will still love you and I will still see you as my father." Gustave said, keeping his eyes on the mask.
Erik turned to lock eyes with Gustave for a moment. He gave the boy a soft smile as his eyes became glassy.
"You really are like your mother, aren't you?" Erik said, softly laughing yet the laugh being almost broken.
Gustave got down from the seat, going back towards the couch. "Father?" Gustave asked, causing Erik to turn and face him. He quickly blinked a few times, trying to keep the tears back.
"Yes?" Erik said in return. "Could you tell me about the Opera house?" Gustave asked again, tilting his head a bit to the side. Erik softly snickered and walked over to him, sitting on the couch next to him.
"What would you like to know?"
"Everything."
