Erik leaned his head against his hand. At the moment he was on the runway watching from above as Fleurette walked steadily onto the stage. Even from his vantage point he could see she was nervous. As far as coping with nerves went, she wasn't doing a bad job. Most people would be a wreck having to perform the solo they had been practising nonstop for about a week in front of their teacher, friends and a few stagehands.
But that was probably where Fleurette differentiated from most people. She walked onto the stage with a smile and took up position as if she had been put in these circumstances many times before. Erik had full confidence in Fleurette that she would perform this solo to the best of her ability and then some. He meant what he had said; making this piece stay as a duet just seemed wrong. But then this thought could have cropped up because his judgement would have been clouded by his relationship with the redhead on the stage.
Madame Giry gave the stage one solid and clear sounding tap. This indicated to Fleurette that she could commence dancing. And dance she did. Erik rested his head away from his hand and watched her glide across the stage. Admittedly he had seen her perform, or rehearse, this piece but he had only spied on it when Fleurette had only just started rehearsing it. In other words, seeing it now in its full completion, albeit without the music, was interesting. Erik could now see the effects the private rehearsals had had on Fleurette. She was already a good dancer, but there seemed to more precision to some moves she followed through with.
There was however one thing which bothered Erik ever so slightly. Despite handling the nerves and performing brilliantly in this dress rehearsal, there was a pained expression lingering on her face. It was ever so slight, but slight enough for him to notice it.
"There she is, mama!" A young voice exclaimed, Erik frowned and watched a small child appear running towards the stage.
Fleurette seemed equally puzzled. Sure, he couldn't see her face or expression but her body language gave off a confused vibe. The surrounding people who were busy watching Fleurette dance seemed to snap back to reality and look towards the small smiling child, who was barely the same height as the stage. Her large eyes peered over the top and seemed fixed on Fleurette.
Crouching down, Fleurette was careful not to lean, or step, on her dress. "Little Josephine, I had a feeling you would come here, I just didn't know it would be today."
"I tried to stop her," a woman appeared and gently pulled the child back. Erik assumed it was the child's mother.
Fleurette shook her head gently, "It is fine." Erik smiled, mainly because Giry had given the two intruders a stern look as if trying to tell them to leave just by giving them one look. When she had spoke, she had glanced at the older woman. "You are well?" Fleurette looked at the child, who nodded so quickly Erik was surprised her head didn't somehow manage to pop off from her neck. "Come up," Fleurette waved a hand casually at the stairs, Josephine didn't need to get told twice.
"Fleurette," Giry approached the two.
"Yes?"
"Do not be long." She looked around worriedly. More importantly she looked up at where he was currently standing.
Erik couldn't help but roll his eyes. When it came to rehearsing he was usually quite strict, no part of him really wanted to stop Fleurette from seeing the little child. The same little child which she had previously saved from drowning. If he did stop her, Erik was rather sure he'd suffer a long winded complaint from said redhead, or she would ignore him. Both possible options didn't sit to well with him.
"You look pretty," Josephine had picked up some of Fleurette's long skirt in her hands and was stroking the soft looking material.
"I like your dress better." Fleurette leaned down. "Blue is my favourite colour, along with green." Fleurette took the child's hands from her skirt and looked at her sleeve. "You are wearing a blue and green dress and I am rather envious, Josephine." This caused a huge grin to spread onto the young girls face, her mother merely shook her head and sat down in a chair.
It appeared like neither had any intention of leaving. Erik did ponder now whether to intervene or not. He didn't honestly want two random people loitering around his opera house, distracting Fleurette from doing perhaps the one dance which will forever be the strongest memory to her.
"I want to be a dancer."
"Oh?" Fleurette nodded her head and walked to the centre of the stage, Josephine willingly followed after her. "Don't tell anyone, but I didn't want to be a ballet dancer." Fleurette whispered to the young girl.
"Why not? You get to wear such pretty dresses."
"It's not just about the dresses," Fleurette said while standing straight backed with both her feet turned out. "Copy me," Fleurette pointed down at her feet, Josephine jumped and quickly copied her. "If you want to become a dancer, you must learn these very important five positions." Fleurette explained, Josephine nodded and yet again Erik was completely surprised her head was still attached with the force she had used for a simple action of nodding. "Each and every ballet move begins and ends in them. This is first position."
"Uh-huh," Josephine urged her to continue.
Erik was surprised that the child was hooked on this already, he honestly didn't know young children's attention span could be grasped onto so quickly and held down long enough for them not to make loads of noise.
Fleurette shuffled and parted her feet, "Second position." Josephine swiftly followed. Fleurette moved her feet again so one was in front of the other, and the one foot which was in the front was touching the middle of the back foot. "Third position," Fleurette smiled and watched Josephine quickly try and get her feet into position. Putting her front foot forward, Fleurette looked towards Josephine again. "Fourth position and finally, fifth position." Fleurette's feet moved so the toes of each foot reached the heel of the other. Josephine struggled slightly with fifth position, and after much pouting she got there eventually. "Well done, you've just had your first ballet lesson." Fleurette smiled, Josephine clapped her hands together and jumped on the spot.
"Can't I learn more?"
"You can, perhaps another time?" Fleurette smiled and crouched down to her level. "Are you serious about becoming a dancer?"
"Uh-huh!"
"I believe you," Fleurette nodded slowly and looked towards the small group which had watched their quick little lesson. They were the same group which were entranced by her rehearsing just moments ago.
"Josephine, we should go. I believe Fleurette has work to do." The woman stood up slowly from her seat. Her daughter shot her a disapproving look before looking at the redhead in front of her.
Fleurette smiled lightly, "We'll see each other again. Especially if you are to become a dancer." Watching the young girl shoot her one last grin and run off of the stage, it wasn't until they had disappeared through the door and out of her sight that she stood up and brushed herself down. Turning on her heels several times, Fleurette rubbed a hand thoughtfully against her forehead before taking up her starting position again.
"You are going from the beginning?"
"I cannot continue from where I left off, can I?" Fleurette answered back to Giry, Erik smiled and nodded. The only thing which popped into Erik's mind at that time was; that told her.
——
"You did not want to be a dancer, so what did you want to be?" Erik questioned, "Dancing seems so natural to you I cannot imagine you doing anything else." Fleurette stood on pointe tottering slowly forward to where he was walking down the last few steps from the runway stairs. Slowly he appeared in the wings and looked at her.
Fleurette smiled and lifted an arm up from her side to wag a finger at him. "Has someone been eavesdropping again?"
"Well, Fleurette if you will talk about such things in the presence of a small child and need I mention; while in my home. Then yes is the answer to your question."
"It's only natural because I've had lessons forced on me since I was six."
"What did you want to be?"
"Erik, do you ever have dreams or...aspirations?" Fleurette slowly turned while still on pointe and tottered slowly back to the centre of the stage. When he didn't answer, Fleurette looked over her shoulder at him and effortlessly got down from pointe and stood flat footed again. Taking his silence as a possible no, Fleurette rolled her eyes. "You see I wanted to travel. I wanted to see the world and not settle down somewhere. Nothing would make me happier than to travel. I've never been out of the city," she smiled a little bitterly and looked at him. "It isn't a job, it isn't a hobby. It's just a dream which I've not followed through with." Fleurette shook her head and looked at him. "Women, in this time and age, do not have jobs really."
Erik slowly nodded and looked at Fleurette when she appeared in front of him holding her hands out. "Do you still want to travel?" Erik's voice spoke in an indifferent tone.
Fleurette looked thoughtfully up at the ceiling and slowly shook her head. "Not so much."
"Why?"
"I don't really want to leave."
"Because?"
Fleurette smiled and lowered her hands slowly, only he caught them and held onto them lightly. "You are being most inquisitive this evening, Erik." Fleurette paused, "It's usually the other way around when it comes to question asking!" She laughed lightly and let out a slow sigh. "I've settled down."
"Even after you said you didn't want to settle somewhere." Erik smirked, he suffered a half arsed glare from Fleurette.
Fleurette rolled her eyes and wriggled her hands free from his grasp. Erik lowered his arms and looked at her. Shaking her head slowly, Fleurette took a step forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, although she had to go on pointe to do so. "You ask why, and for a reason." Fleurette said quietly. "You are the reason." Fleurette leaned her head against his and absentmindedly took to running her fingers through his dark hair.
As much as Erik hated to admit to things, he quite liked the feel of her fingers running gently and slowly through his hair. Shutting his eyes and then opening them slightly he frowned. "Then I am holding you back from doing something you so wish to do." Erik stated, Fleurette laughed quietly and moved away from him.
"You are silly, Erik!" Fleurette exclaimed lightly, he narrowed his eyes not taking too kindly to being called silly. "You are not holding me back. You are the reason why I have settled down here, you are also the reason why I do not wish to leave." Fleurette explained and looked slowly down at the stage floor. "I don't want to leave you or this place. I don't care for travelling if I will always have your company." Fleurette smiled and unwrapped her arms from around his neck and standing with them simply draped over his shoulders.
Erik leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. Fleurette shut her eyes and smiled lightly. "I wouldn't want you to leave either." This just caused her to seemingly smile more. "You better go get out of your costume before Giry complains at you to do so." Erik stated, Fleurette opened her eyes and slowly looked at him. "Yes, I shall be here when you get back. Well, I will be if you are quick. I don't really like waiting for people."
"Since when were you impatient?"
"Since now?" Erik answered, Fleurette rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Go on," he nodded to the set of stairs opposite to them which lead up to the dancer's quarters. Fleurette still didn't seem to wholly believe him, or his words of still being around once she had got changed.
——
Fleurette sat happily wrapped up in the spare blankets with a book in her hands. No, it wasn't the book which she had innocently taunted Erik with. Lowering the book, she looked over to where he was sitting at his desk. Tilting her head to the side she shut the book and slowly stood up. Shifting the blankets so they were better wrapped around herself, she walked quietly over to where he sat.
Erik was so engrossed in whatever it was he was writing he didn't notice her leaning over his shoulder reading the music until she leaned her chin against his shoulder. Instead of jumping like he did the first time Fleurette had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, Erik stiffened, lowered his pen and looked at her. She smiled widely at him and lowered her eyes back to the sheet music in front of them on the desk. Fleurette nodded slowly, this seemed to be her approval.
"Can I help you with something?" Erik questioned simply. Fleurette nodded slowly as an answer. "What is it?" Erik turned slightly and looked up at her, Fleurette didn't answer but instead wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held tightly onto him. "Are you all right?" Erik asked confusedly, for the remainder of the evening Fleurette had been her usual self. Although right now she seemed to have taken a slight vow of silence again. As far as Erik knew, there wasn't anything bothering her except; "Your nerves are kicking in, aren't they?"
"Perhaps." Fleurette opened her eyes and looked at him. "But then again..."
"Yes?"
"Maybe I just want to hold you, ever thought of that, hm?" She answered while smiling lightly at him. Erik's eyes widened a fraction, which caused her to smile more. Obviously that answer or thought hadn't crossed his mind.
Turning in his chair and reaching up slowly, Erik managed to wrap his arms around the woman in front of him. Only he wasn't expecting Fleurette to sit down in his lap. Erik looked around even more confused, but ended up leaning his head on top of hers. Fleurette sat comfortable wrapped up in a blanket in Erik's arms, so much so that her eyelids slowly fell and she was almost asleep. "I hate to bring this up while you are clearly already suffering from nerves." Erik said, his voice pulled Fleurette back to reality. Rubbing her eyes slowly she leaned her head away from his shoulder and looked at him. "But are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Opening nights are always the most stressful."
"Did you just quote your sister?" Erik smiled.
"Perhaps," Fleurette laughed and nodded slowly. Looking down at her lap she slowly nodded, although the action was a little unsure. "Yes, I am as ready as I could ever be. I have done all the rehearsing I can do. All that is left for me to do is to go on that stage tomorrow night and do the best performance I can possibly do."
"Spoken with such determination there."
"Oh, yes," Fleurette smiled. "I'm very determined, although a little scared admittedly."
"You will be fine." Erik reassured and tucked some of her hair behind her ears. Fleurette smiled and settled back down and leaned against his shoulder. Erik managed to pick up his pen and continue writing, although it was a little tricky to do so.
He lowered his pen though when Fleurette fidgeted and sat up again. "I'm going to go sleep. I suppose I need as much rest as possible for tomorrow." Erik merely nodded slowly confirming her words, one of the last things Erik expected was for Fleurette to quickly kiss him and then stand up and walk lightly towards the bed. "Goodnight, Erik." Fleurette grinned and jumped around to look at him, she laughed lightly at his slightly bemused expression. Shaking her head she turned back around and went to settle down for the night.
——
Reedited: 19/Jan/2022