#i know i call erik a meow meow sometimes but the meow meow in that sentence is derogatory

[redlikerozez]

Feathers and Bullets (02) written by RedLikeRozez

Chapter 2

CONTENT WARNINGS for chapter 2: mentions of torture, mentions of almost throwing up

Approx word count: 3.5k

(Masterlist)

Wolfwood woke up to the feeling of a sandpaper tongue on his earlobe. Kuro had this weird habit of licking them in the morning, but sometimes he’d get a little too into it and then start biting him out of nowhere. Wolfwood groaned and shooed him away from his ear, shielding it with a cupped hand. He rolled over to look at the alarm clock he hadn’t bothered to set the night before. It was almost eleven in the morning. Kuro meowed at him and started for the door, but it was closed. He started scratching at the carpet from underneath the door.

“Hey, knock it off,” he said, sitting up.

He got up to open the door, briefly wondering why he had closed it in the first place. Kuro raced out and dashed into the kitchen.

Wolfwood chucked. “What a little weirdo.”

He yawned loudly and went to check his phone. He forgot to charge it in his exhaustion last night and realized it was on less than 20% battery life.

“Goddammit…”

He reached down on the floor for his charger plug and plugged it in. He had several unread text messages. One was from the hospital. His boss hoped everything was alright and to let him know when he’d be back.

The others were all from Livio.

Heyyyy you cash that check yet?

How’d it go with the girl?

Nico? You sleeping?

You fuckin dog! You’re still going????

Let me know if she has a cute sibling ;)))

Wolfwood rolled his eyes and texted back: knock it off

Instantly, the message was read. Livio started typing.

Sheesh only playing bro.

But real talk, you got a job tonight. Call me for the deetz when you can walk xoxo

Wolfwood sighed and put his phone face down on the nightstand. The check from last night was next to his phone. He needed to cash it today. He got up again and went into the living room of his apartment before being surprised that there was someone sleeping on his couch. Memories flooded back to him of what actually happened last night.

“Oh shit,” he whispered.

“You’re awake. Good morning,” Eriks said, sitting up. He began folding the blanket that was placed over him the night before.

“You’re sitting?” Wolfwood noticed he didn’t wince in pain. “You should probably lay back down-”

“I’ll be ok,” he said, finding his feet, holding the blanket in hand. “I wanted to say thank you before I left.”

“Before you left?”

“It’s not safe for you if I stay here for very long.”

“I can take care of myself-”

Eriks turned around to face him, clutching the blanket. Wolfwood nearly choked on his saliva for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, he realized that the man’s wings were nowhere to be seen. Second, his bruised eye looked almost a week old this morning. Not to mention the other bruises that spattered his torso. And thirdly, he had seen this man’s face before. But it was different from what he knew, somehow. He hadn’t noticed it in the dim light yesterday, but now that the sun was shining through the windows, it was increasingly clear that he knew that face. That was his boss’s face. Not the hospital boss, the other boss. The big bad one. But this man had more saturation than his boss. He was tanner, had yellower hair and more vibrant blue eyes. And he knew his boss didn’t have wings or a prosthetic arm, at least as far as he knew.

“What’s wrong?” Eriks asked, seeing Wolfwood’s strange expression linger.

“You… You’re…” He struggled to find words. “Your bruises. And scrapes.”

“I heal pretty quickly,” Eriks shrugged off, handing over the blanket.

Wolfwood took it hesitantly. “And your wings…”

“I couldn’t retract them yesterday cuz of how much pain I was in,” he explained, grabbing his coat from the dining table. “Thanks for the painkillers. They really helped me get a good night's sleep.” He threw it over his shoulders and zipped it up so that he was no longer shirtless. Eriks reached back behind him and pulled the hood up over his head. “Thank you for everything, Wolfwood.”

“Yeah, no problem.”

“Really. I don’t know if I woulda made it in that alleyway if you hadn’t come along,” he said, walking closer. He smiled at Wolfwood and put a hand on his shoulder. “Stay safe.”

“What’re you gonna do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you gonna go back after those guys that beat you half to death?” he asked, stomach burning for an answer.

“If they keep hurting people, someone has to do something,” he responded with a pained smile.

“Why does it have to be you?”

“Who else is stupid enough to try to spread some more love and peace in the world?”

“You’ll be killed… or worse...”

Don’t go… he wanted to say.

Eriks didn’t respond and he walked over to the balcony and opened the sliding glass door. He started climbing over the balcony railing.

“Whoa, whoa! What do you think you’re doing?!” Wolfwood grabbed his arm, stopping him from falling.

“Take care, Wolfwood,” Eriks said, smiling back at him. 

Wings began to sprout from the man’s shoulder blades and it pushed Wolfwood back. He lost grip of the man’s arm as he leaped off the balcony and disappeared behind another building.

Wolfwood felt winded. It was a heavenly sight, watching him take flight like that. Like he had been swept up in a typhoon and spit back out. Like he needed to throw up.

Like he really needed to throw up.

The thought of something bad happening to such a genuinely good guy literally almost made him sick. And the thought that it was something he was partially responsible for, if what he thought was true turned out to be real. He ran to the bathroom and stayed there for a while, retching over the toilet, but nothing ever came up.

Kuro appeared in the door and made a small noise to get Wolfwood’s attention.

“Hey,” he said, wiping the sweat off his brow. He laid down on the bathroom floor and Kuro titled his head, curious. “What have I gotten myself into, little guy?”

He scratched Kuro’s head and the cat purred deeper into his touch, rubbing his cheeks back and forth along his hand. 

“Let’s get you something to eat.”

Wolfwood picked himself up off the bathroom floor and followed the excited black cat into the kitchen. He got out another tin of pâté and put it in his dish. His eyes drifted to the dried blood that had seeped its way into staining the wooden dining table.

Well I guess I know what else I’m doing with that check once it’s cashed… he thought.

Wolfwood began to get ready for the day, showering quickly and brushing his teeth. He got dressed preferring his usual black clothes to the baby blue scrubs he had worn all day yesterday. Making sure to grab his halfway charged phone and the check that he stashed in his jacket pocket, he grabbed his keys and wallet and took off into the city. There was a faint trail of blood in the elevator that he made sure to scrape off with a fingernail, also a couple bloody feathers leading into the building from the dumpster. He made sure to pick them all up and stash them away into his garbage bag that he had accidentally never put inside the dumpster. He hoisted the bag over the edge and wiped his hands off.

There. No trace Eriks was ever here. The only thing he had left to do to get rid of all the evidence was replace his table. Then there’d really be no trace.

Going around to the front of the building, he found himself looking to the sky for any trace of where the winged man had flown, but there was nothing on the horizon except the usual cityscape. He pulled out a cigarette from his jacket pocket and lit it up. God, he really needed a smoke. After taking a couple drags to settle his nerves, he set off into the city.

His first stop was the bank. It was a couple blocks away. Sure there were closer branches, but his family had connections in the bank so that they wouldn’t ask too many questions about large sums of money being deposited by somewhat shady members of society. Once he reached the branch, he got into the line for the tellers and finally opened up the envelope to see just how much money Livio thought was talking about.

$6,000 made out to Nicholas D. Wolfwood.

Shit, he thought. And this is just for last week? The boss really is happy with my work.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He was making decent money before, but last week he had worked with over 5 people, which was ridiculously high considering he usually had a couple big jobs a month. He couldn’t say for certain whether or not he liked what he did for the family. But he knew he was good at it. And if it kept the lights on and the roof over his and Kuro’s head so that he could keep his day job comfortably, he wasn’t too concerned about liking what he did in the shadows to make ends meet. He tried to leave morals out of it. It was just a job for money.

He wouldn’t have ever gotten into it if Livio hadn’t accidentally pulled him in. Fresh out of nursing school and drowning in debt, Livio tipped him off to a “harmless side gig” for someone with medical experience. It started off as just another glorified nursing gig to help the various members of the family who had gotten roughed up a little more than they’d bargained for. But the boss saw some other potential in him. 

A couple weeks after Wolfwood got his day job at July Memorial, he was called in by the boss for a new opportunity. Wolfwood was a little hesitant at first, but he was promised it would only be an observation. He wouldn’t have to participate if he didn’t want to.

The boss led him into a room with a man tied to a chair. His white button up shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Before the man was a small metal tray with different kinds of blades on it. He wasn’t called Millions Knives for nothing, after all. He quickly began the interrogation, pretending that Wolfwood wasn’t even in the room. He was ruthless and evil, the way he worked the man. But he wouldn’t budge.

Suddenly Wolfwood found his voice leaking out of his mouth against his will. “If you go in just above the eye, but below the orbital bone,” he breathed, “you’ll get him screaming.”

“Show me,” Knives said, passing him a blade.

Wolfwood froze up for a second, hesitating before taking the knife.

“Only if you want too,” he was reminded.

But Knives’ smile made him feel like it really wasn’t up to him. He took the cold blade out of Knives’ similarly freezing hand and approached the man. Knives stepped back and leaned against the wall, eagerly looking on with his intense, steely blue eyes and hand on his chin.

The man looked up at Wolfwood. Both were not quite sure what to make of the other. But as he placed the sharp end of the blade right above his eye socket, the man swallowed hard and a bead of sweat appeared on his brow.

Wolfwood looked to Knives for reassurance. Knives nodded back. 

“Make him sing for me,” he cooed. “Punish him.”

As he pressed the blade further, the man’s low growls of pain quickly turned into wailing and begging for him to stop.

Knives took Wolfwood under his wing after that, promoting him to what he liked to call “Intelligence Extraction Specialist.” But no one called him that. Mostly they just called him The Punisher. Knives showed him the general ropes of torture, but Wolfwood quickly took his own spin on the subject. Knives was less interested in torture and extracting information than he was in just straight up killing people. But with Wolfwood’s medical knowledge, he knew he’d be doing wonderful things for the family. He knew just where he could hurt people the most while causing the least amount of damage possible. But sometimes, it did escalate to the more brutal methods that Knives was particularly fond of, if he was up against a particularly tight-lipped person. Knives eventually set Wolfwood up with his own personal playground of sorts, furnished with any equipment he could ever think of needing for his line of work, usually it was called his office. He was paid handsomely based on the information he was able to extract from his clients. So much so that he was almost done paying off his student loans from nursing school.

Once he had finally reached the front of the line for the bank tellers, he signed the back of the check and passed it under the glass window. The teller gave him a knowing look and nodded. He thanked the man and left.

Wolfwood took out his cellphone and pressed his brother’s number to dial.

“HEY YOU!” Livio screamed into the phone.

“Whoa, there,” Wolfwood said, pressing the volume button down a little.

“You sure were up late, it seems,” he said, hinting very obnoxiously.

“Yeah, so?”

“Well, does she have a name? Will I be meeting her soon? Does she have a cute sister or brother or cousin or something you could introduce me to?”

“Eriks is his name,” Wolfwood said. “And I don’t think his brother would like you very much… But it’s not like that. I was just helping him out. As a friend.”

Livio was silent for the first time in a long time.

“Shit, Nico, I didn’t know you swung that way,” he said, enthusiastic as ever. “Sorry for assuming, I guess.”

“You’ve got the wrong idea-” 

He stopped himself. Why was he even entertaining this, anyway? He wasn’t gay, at least he didn’t think he was. Certainly not for a patient. And he didn’t sleep with Eriks. This was stupid. 

“What about the job?” he redirected. “You said I had a new job tonight?”

“Yeah,” Livio said, switching to a more serious tone. Well, as serious as he could get. “Some guy on my team tried to desert the family. They found him like three cities over trying to catch another bus. He hasn’t said a word since. Boss wants to know why he left, who he’s told, the usual stuff.”

“Where are they keeping him?”

“In the ice box.”

“Ok, I’ll be there tonight, then,” he said. “Will you have someone transfer him to my office?”

“You got it, bro,” Livio replied. “Oh yeah, you cash that check yet?”

“Yeah, just got done at the bank. That’s crazy numbers, man. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Boss really appreciates the work you do, Nico.”

“Yeah…” he said, a little disappointed in himself. “I gotta go. Thanks for the info, though. Talk later?”

“Have fun with Eriks-”

Wolfwood hung up the phone before he could hear the rest of his nonsense. He doubted he’d ever see him again. At least in their earlier context. Now, he was worried about seeing him in his office eventually, if he really was Knives’ brother, and Knives really did want to kill him.

Upon thinking more about potentially never seen Eriks again, he couldn’t help but feel a little sad. The adrenaline rush of just being near him last night was intoxicating. He wanted to know more about him, about what he did, and why. He also wanted to really give it to whoever beat him within an inch of his life, even if it was his own family.

He picked up some lunch on the way back from the bank and brought it back to his apartment. He took his laptop out, paid his rent, and began shopping for a replacement table. After a brief interlude of Kuro walking over his laptop keyboard, he settled down on his favorite blanket in the armchair across from the couch. Wolfwood finally found a suitable table and placed the online order. He thought about all the fun he’d have hauling a big box up in the elevator.

Wolfwood found himself pacing his apartment, trying to pass the time. He’d occasionally go out onto his balcony for a smoke break, but he felt antsy for some reason. Even the smokes weren’t kicking his anxiety. It didn’t help that Kuro had finished his nap and was currently in his bolting around the house mode. He tried distracting the cat and himself with a couple toys, but neither of them were too interested in play.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. He got out his phone and texted his brother.

Hey is the guy in my office yet? I’m thinking about coming in early.

Livio’s face appeared on his screen. He swiped to answer the call.

“Hey, sorry, I’m driving out to a job right now, couldn’t text,” he explained. “I don’t think he’s come in yet, but you’d have to ask Bluesummers to know for sure.”

“Oh, ok,” Wolfwood said. “I can wait for him there, then.”

“Anything the matter?”

“What?”

“You usually try to spend as little time at the office as possible. It’s not like you to come in early.”

“I called out of work at the hospital today cuz of the late night. I’m not used to the free time and it’s kickin’ my ass,” he admitted.

“Makes sense.”

“Ok, well I’ll see you when I see you, I guess.”

“Bye.”

They both hung up. Wolfwood grabbed his keys again and began heading for the garage in the basement of the apartment building. He straddled his motorcycle, put the keys in the ignition and started off to the warehouse towards his office. He kept finding himself looking up in the sky as he drove, hoping to catch a glimpse of a winged man in the distance, but he had no such luck this time. 

The warehouse was on the other side of the city, in the more industrial sector. It was an old, dilapidated meat packing warehouse that was no longer used. Knives owned most of the land on the block so he could have operations running in the city but just far enough out of it where no one would hear the screaming.

Wolfwood pulled in around the back and stepped inside. His heavy boots echoed through the warehouse as he walked around, trying to find someone.

“Nicholas?” a voice rang out.

He spun around and saw Millions Knives had stepped out of his study to see who had come inside.

“Oh hey,” he said, waving awkwardly.

“You’re here early.”

“Yeah I had nothing better to do so I thought I’d swing by.”

“Legato should be here in an hour or so with our deserter,” Knives said. “I trust you’ll give him my warmest regards?”

“Of course.”

Knives smiled at him and started back towards his study. Wolfwood could only think of just how much he and Eriks looked alike, but how different each of their smiles were. Eriks’ was warm and had this underlying pain behind his eyes, but Knives’ smiles were cold and calculating, like at every single moment he was thinking about all the ways he could kill whoever he was talking to.

“Oh, I wanted to say thank you,” Wolfwood added, “for the generous check.”

“Livio got it to you?”

“Yeah, cashed it earlier today. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re the best in the business, Punisher. No one makes them squeal like you do,” Knives lauded. “Your skills are an invaluable asset to the family. I figured it was only fair to generously compensate you for all the work you did last week.”

“I do what I can to help out,” he said, not really used to all the praise. He shifted his weight over to his other foot. “Oh, yeah. Livio said he was out on a job? What’s he up to these days?”

“He’s been keeping tabs on a new player on the scene who's been disrupting our normal operations,” Knives said. “Very meddlesome.”

“A new player?”

“Some vigilante type in over his head, I’m sure. Livio’s team nearly killed the guy last night, but he managed to escape,” he continued. Wolfwood almost stopped breathing. “He had a gun but he refused to shoot any of our men. Only managed to pistol whip a few before being overtaken.”

“Probably some punk kid who doesn’t know what they’re doing,” Wolfwood tried to brush off.

“This ‘kid’ nearly brought our distribution to a standstill the other day,” Knives said coldly. “He’s too dangerous to be left alone. That’s why Livio’s on the case.”

“What do we know about the guy?”

“Not much. Just that he wears a red coat and refuses to shoot anyone.”

Fuck.

“Actually, that’s what I’m hoping you can find out for us,” Knives said. “The deserter, Nebraska, who’s coming in later… He was part of Livio’s team sent to take him down. Maybe he knows something.”

“I’ll let you know if I find out anything,” he said, trying to force a believable smile.

“I can always count on you, Punisher,” Knives said, walking away.

(Masterlist)

Cross-posted on tumblr and AO3

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[professorxsmokesweed]

I tell myself even mickey mouse won't stoop to equating a holocaust survivor with the Nazis to make leftists evil but then I remember Wanda and 😬

even xmfc kinda did that like not directly but the way they handled the tail end of the erik vs shaw fight made some 2012 bitches feel brave enough to start talking on how erik has become whats he despises most aka an evil supremacist comparable to the actual fucking. nazi character. which. i understand the movie needed conflict between erik and charles! but i think it shouldve been handled in a better way than to subtly imply erik’s radical leftist beliefs are too close to what an actual fucking nazi also thinks for comfort! they stray away from that kinda. as the movies go on, and fortunately as time went on people also developed enough critical thinking to not go that route,

but wanda💀 wanda mcu. shes proof that the worst case scenario is possible for erik like they really had the gall to erase both her jewish and romani heritage and have her be a hydra member, and they are going to continue to just act like wanda in hydra was just a fun little quirk based on that stupid fucking “we were going to change the world” scene in wandavison.

but erik is not a hero character as much as we all see him as one he is unfortunately an antagonist so it’s going. to be worse. theres no way it cant be worse i don’t even know how to handle it i do not trust any mcu writer like even good ones will be chained by the mouse and therefore not allowed to give erik enough depth to seem like he’s anything besides (at best) a tragic villain

[x-avantgarde-x]

POTO cat au.

I really wanted to do a POTO cat au… I hope it hasn’t been done yet.

Erik:

Sphynx: Erik is a Sphynx of bright gold eyes with many scars. He’s also missing a piece of his right ear from his previous years at the streets.

Rescued boy: he used to be a stray cat when you found him. He was really thin, ill and in need of a bath. You found him a night while meeting with your friends, none of them wanted to take with them «a ugly cat, left in an alley» so you did it, probably the best decision you’ve ever made.

PTSD from past abuse: shortly after rescuing him you realized that he had been abused in the past. Not just some of his scars, which couldn’ t have been done by other cats, showed it but that he was incredibly scared of you and of any contact you attempted to make. It took you some time and a lot of patience to get him to trust you but since then neither of you too could stand being parted away.

Good boy? Best boy!: Erik is not just a good boy, he is your best boy in the whole world! He may be really curious even a little mischevious some times but he is usually a very well behaved cat, who needs little maintenance (if you keep in mind the high maintenance that sphynx cats need Erik seems to require none.) He becomes possessive quite quickly around other males, keep this in mind.

Our boy is a little music lover: whenever you are listening to music at your radio Erik will start purring and swinging his tail at its rhythm, sometimes he while even meow following the lyrics. If you play an instrument such as the piano Erik will always snuggles at your lap while you play, sometimes he will even try to play it himself!

He is your night in shiny armor: Erik is just completely loyal and loves you with his whole heart. He will protect you from anything and will always be by your side quite literally. You saved his life and have been the only one to show him love and affection, let him return you the favor

Christine:

White ragdoll: Christine is a little blue-eyed lady with the softest and whitest fur you have ever seen! She arrived three years after you rescued Erik as a present from your family for being accepted at college. That little and loud snowball quickly became the small queen of your house, both you and Erik love her deeply.

Purr, purr, and purr again: Why?!?!? does?!?!? she?!?!? purr?!?!? so?!?!? much?!?!? She is just a super happy and affectionate girl, like *you walk into your flat after classes* «Oh! Mamma, you’re already here!?!?!» she shoves against your legs and starts purring. *you start cooking dinner*  «Oh, you’re cooking? It must be delicious!» Christine sits next to your hand WHICH IS HOLDING THE KNIFE and starts purring like mad. *you are sitting at your desk studying* «My mamma is such a hard-working woman!» snuggles against one of your arms and starts purring.

This girl absolutely adores Erik: It’s not just that since the day Christine arrived Erik has been super affectionate and protective with her and has made sure to keep her safe, but that she also adores him and loves to spend time with him and to be next to him.

Do not ever doubt that this furry lady has a queen like bed: what???? She IS your queen, she deserves to be treated like one.

Raoul:

Orange tabby: a friend of yours’ cat had had a whole litter of purebred kittens and she gifted you this boy two months after he was born. He is a month younger than Christine. Even though sometimes it seems like Christine doesn’t know which one to choose, if Erik or him, that hasn’t stopped your little tiger from trying to win your queen’s heart. Raoul didn´t have to try so hard to win your love, he managed to steal your heart as soon as he looked at you with those big eyes.

A little adventurous: Raoul is a little gentleman… As long as you don’t let him go out to the urbanization’s gardens, in that case… *gets inside the shrubberies and starts digging like a dog* «Is there anything hidden here???» *starts scratching and attacking the plants* «Yeah! Surrender you, evil plant!!! You will never be able to defeat me!!» Once you even found him hunting some poor birds.

He doesn’t get along with Erik: Even though he and Christine seem to adore each other your boys can’t even stand being in the same room, let alone spending time together. They will start hissing and threatening with harming each other. Raoul better doesn’t even think of coming next to you when you and Erik are spending time together which tends to be most of the time. Erik has it pretty clear, if these assholes believes that he can come here, win your love and take you away from him first he will have to defeat him! And Erik is quite ready to die for your love (this got better as years passed by.)

The Daroga:

Persian cat: before being your cat Daroga was your aunty’s beloved boy. When she had to move to another country due to her job you decided to keep him. Daroga was already an old cat, if you add that to the fact that he knew you since you were a kid made it easy for him to move to your house.

The calmest boy: the Daroga is, without discussion, the most peaceful one from your cats. He just lies down in some comfortable place (his favorite spot is the sofa at the living room) and stays there without causing any trouble.

He keeps everyone in their place: *pulls Erik away from the plug* «No, Erik! That’s dangerous, don’t touch it!!!» *sees Christine fall into the toilet and runs goes to pick her up* «Christine, you could have harmed yourself!!! Be careful.» *catches Raoul about to jump from the window to get a bird* «Don’t you even think about it!!!» jumps to close the window just on time for Raoul not to kill himself.

Always warns you when Erik and Raoul are about to start fighting: some time ago he would have stopped them himself, but after that time he got a scratch on his face he decided that it was for the best if from now on he just called you.

The Daroga is actually the only male cat Erik allows to come next to you: not just that, Daroga seems to be the only male cat which’s presence doesn’t disturb Erik (he actually enjoys it a lot). You will always recall that time that your friend came to your house and brought Philippe, Raoul’s brother and her cat, with her. Erik and Daroga were peacefully cuddling together at your sofa when Philippe came close to them. The next you recall is turning around to spot a very angry Erik on top of the poor Philippe… possessive boy.

[another-chorus-girl]

“Erik House” Chapter Three

Alrighty! So yes there will be much focus on the Meriks-as its so fun to work with so many-but I’m trying to also make sure the others get attention too. So there’s a little of both in this one.

Since the night Gerik was confronted by the canonical three, he made sure to keep his distance. But this didn't seem to bother the film adapted man all that much. Talking with Mr. Y was an absolute delight.

He was ten years Gerik's senior, and also shared a devout passion for music as well. The older man told Gerik of the show he hosted on Coney Island, it sounded quite extravagant.

Naturally, the two became very tight nit companions.

Things seemed to be quite at ease and peaceful.

"AIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"

Peaceful for a short amount of time that is.

Camped outside the house Harley was exiled, despite being allowed in the house he was not being permitted a room by Erik. While attempting to get some rest, Harley's ears were met with a scuttling sound. Feeling something on his leg, he pulled back the blanket to see a fair sized rat staring back at him with beady eyes.

The lights came on in the house as he shrieked.

"Sweet musics throne! What the hell is happening?!"

"What is that noise?"

"Hand me my lasso!"

"Panaro, no!"

While the Meriks were groggily annoyed and confused, they heard a rapping on the door.

"Now gentlemen, settle down!" Crawford said, readjusting the mask on his face.

Opening the door he was met with Harley badly shaken up and babbling a mile a minute.

"My god man, slow it down. What's going on?" Crawford asked, as some of the Meriks poked their heads out, curious as to the intrusion.

"R-Rat...B-B-Big rat..." Steve stuttered.

Warlow sighed, "Great, that long haired bastard's sicked his minions on the poor man."

Crawford moved aside as a dishevelled Karimloo pushed past Harley, heading downstairs.

"I can't stay out there," Harley begged.

Crawford ran a hand through his wig, "I would love to help you, but we just don't have the room. As it is, every room on this floor is taken."

Harley's expression dropped, "First my place gets stolen from me and now this."

The older phantom blinked quizzically confused.

Turning back, his giant cape swooshing Harley disappeared down the hall.

As Crawford made to close the door an outstretched hand stopped him.

Karimloo returned, walking past with a plate of steaming pizza rolls in hand.

"I'm not getting any more sleep tonight anyway," He explained, making for the Meriks' lair converted parlour.

Harley felt he had no hope but to brave it outside, praying the giant rodent would be gone.

"Hey!" He heard a whisper.

Looking over his shoulder, he saw Gerik creeping down the stairwell, motioning for him to follow.

"What are-" He began but the metallic masked man was shushed.

"I don't want them knowing I'm down here, hurry up." Gerik whispered indicating to the Meriks shut door as the two men creeped past up to the third floor.

Once they were upstairs, Gerik led him upstairs.

"We don't have much room up here, but Jerik never uses his room," He explained.

Harley tensed up, "R-?"

"No rats. I promise, the room is bare save for the bed. I won't tell Monsieur Fantome you're up here."

Harley blinked, surprised at the movie adapted man's kindness.

"Why exactly are you doing this?" He asked.

"I understand rejection, not just the kind from brunette sopranos."

Nodding, Harley understood. "Thank you"

And thus, comradery among the outcasts was forming.

Lerik sat lurched over the organ, his hands gracefully dancing over the keys. Feeling a presence behind him, he closed the composition book from prying eyes. The masked man turning to meet Kerik's curious gaze.

"It's nice," He commented, "I only wanted a better look at the score."

It was nothing personal, but Lerik was very discreet about his music. Even Christine would not be permitted to look at it. Snatching up the book, Lerik shuffled out of the main parlour and to his chambers.

Taking a seat at the now vacant instrument, Kerik just stared down at the keys. When was the last time he played?

Kerik sighed, inspiration ran dry in his mind. Absent mindlessly humming aloud to no one in particular. But the melody perked some ears.

He paused, trying to decide whether or not he wanted to play now. Perhaps maybe his violin instead.

"Please go on," Kerik turned to see Mauer walk in. "I'm sorry. I just...well I mean it was very nice."

The man's eyes lit up at the Merik's compliment.

"Thank you, well I suppose I could sing for you if you wish." Patting the free spot beside him on the bench, Kerik beckoned him over.

As promised he sang, his voice emanating through the halls and walls of the house with a melodic call to any ear that should overhear.

Karimloo was in the middle of a composition himself when he overheard the melodies coming from downstairs. The youthful phantom recognized Mauer, but there was another voice as well. The notes almost hypnotic, even to his ears.

He was drawn out of this clouded thought when Karimloo felt a presence sit down beside him.

Panaro looked less than impressed.

"What's wrong?" Karimloo asked, his hands rested at his side.

"It's just feeling difficult with each passing day."

"What is?"

"This whole arrangement!" Panaro exclaimed suddenly.

Karimloo nodded, understanding where the other man was coming from. Sometimes he missed the solitude he too once had under the opera house. Just him and his Christine. But she left, leaving him alone in the dark.

While he missed that reserved life, being in this house brought him some comfort. Granted some of the residents could be too much for his taste. But to talk to others with the same mindset he too shared, and that same devout drive and passion for music.

"I know" He nodded. "But there's two sides to the coin."

"What do you mean?" Panaro asked confused.

"Sometimes I wonder why I bother going along with this. Not that I would have anywhere else to go. But while rambunctious as it can get around here, part of me enjoys it."

The other man nodded, "Yes. I don't feel quite as lost as I once was."

The men silently listened to the music coming from downstairs, music was certainly infectious.

"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation..." Karimloo sang, his mind clouding over with music and memories.

"Darkness stirs and wakes imagination," Panaro continued where he left off. "Silently the senses..."

"Abandon their defences."

"Your pitch is very good" Panaro commented.

"As is yours," Karimloo agreed, the man's voice teetering between baritone and tenor in a way that enticed him so. "Would you care to finish it with me?"

Panaro smiled, music putting his troubled mind in a state of ease. "I can't see myself saying no."

Downstairs Kerik sighed, "Gentlemen as entertaining as this has been I think it's my time to retire for the evening."

By this point Carpenter, Little, and Jones had joined Mauer as they too found themselves ever the more entranced. The men feeling as though they were coming out of a daze as Kerik departed. But as he turned to leave suddenly the men heard footsteps slowly come up from the door forbade by all but one.

Erik appeared as the door swung open.

"While the music is breathtaking and I hate to interupt, but I have a matter to discuss with you. Namely why I found this wandering through my home." The black masked man said as he the others heard a "MEOW".

Kerik gasped, "My little lady!"

Marching over Kerik scooped Ayesha out of Erik's arms.

"Oh my darling, I thought you were gone for good." He cooed, scratching behind her ears the Siamese purred.

"Now normally I would have barged up here and demand you remove her from the premises immediately" Erik began, noticing Kerik defensively hold the cat closer to himself. "However, I have noticed she's been keeping the real vermin out."

Erik remembered his golden eyes going wide as while he was composing he heard a mewing at his feet to see a Siamese with a dead rat presented like an offering to him. Unfortunately, even with Jerik outside, those damned rats seemed to find ways of sneaking into his home. So a mouser was not a totally bad idea in Erik's mind.

Erik's seal of approval, Kerik cuddled the cat closer heading up to his room.

"Come my dear, I'll show you your new home." He mumbled, caressing her silky fur as Ayesha mewed in delight.

"At least she'll keep the damned rats out!" Erik sighed, having to make yet another change to his ultimatum.