Title: Torchlight and Chandeliers
By: Caster
Pairing: David/Nick
Rating: PG-13

***

"Quick, quick, this way, I saw him run down the hall!" Rick bellows, David and Greggory rushing to follow. The torches burn bright as they run, hearing the other men take various halls in what David knows is another pointless attempt to catch the Phantom. They've been hunting him for some time, but most were too afraid to pursue him for very long. He always manages to disappear. Always.

"I'll take this direction. Gregory, you go right," Rick breathlessly orders. "David, go back in case he turned around. Perhaps that's what he's been doing this whole time."

David doesn't argue. He doesn't want to hunt this man, and he certainly doesn't want to walk into any dark hallways in search for him, so he quickly returns to the empty opera stage. They've always tried to discover how it is the Phantom eludes them, and the thought of his going back by different routes was their first suspicion. There were never enough men to guard the halls and entryways until tonight, when the Phantom cut the curtain and stopped the show from going on. The men in the audience willingly agreed to help discover his location, and now the entire building was swarming.

Except for the stage itself. No one ever thinks he'd be dumb enough to stay in such in open place.

David's thoughts are disrupted by a sound, and he quickly turns, holding up his torch. There's a small flash of white mask. He knows he's in the presence of the Phantom, and his fear is minimal.

"I know you're there," David says, his voice even. "It's time to come out of the shadows, don't you think?"

He bravely strides to where the remaining curtains still hang. He yanks them back and sees the Phantom sitting in a dark corner, waiting for the searchers to leave.

"Boo," David says, holding up the torch. It's the first time he's ever seen the fabled Phantom, and he's surprised by how handsome he is, even with the mask. "I win."

The man looks up, surrounded by his black cape and opera wear. "Indeed you have. What do you plan to do about it?"

"Besides yell and fuss? Nothing, I imagine."

The Phantom rose from his position. "Do you want me caught?"

"Your mystique thrills visitors, but hampers my life. I've been in search of you many times simply because you insist on theatrics. Having you caught would give me a rest, thank you."

The Phantom grins. "Are you always so plain and boring?"

"Yes." Unapologetic. "Not that it's any concern of yours."

"No wonder you aren't wed."

"And I'm keeping it that way. Now sit back down. I don't plan on chasing you again."

He sits obediently, but grins lewdly from where he rests. "You're quite an odd man, aren't you? Don't you care to even know my name?"

"No. You've never told anyone, and I can't see why you'd tell me."

"It's Nicolas."

David blinks. Well, that was simple.

"And you're David."

David wants to ask how he knows this, but concentrates on how Nicolas is standing up again with an effortless grace that David envies. He's advancing on him, so David wards him off with the torch's flames.

"I wouldn't, if I were you," he advises. Nicolas merely smiles and takes the torch's handle from David's unresisting hand and dunks it in a bucket of water, the bucket singers used to hydrate themselves between scenes. The fire goes up in gray smoke, and it settles between them. David doesn't retreat when Nicolas steps close, lips hovering over his, and his voice is so… teasing.

"I know why it is you've never wed," he whispers, and their mouths meet slowly, hot and with tongue. David closes his eyes, because he doesn't feel as though Nick will hurt him, and he hasn't been kissed in a very long time. Nicolas' gloved hands wind around the base of David's head and pushes him closer, deepening it. It's dark and smoky, and with the loss of sight, David can almost justify this. Surprisingly, it's Nicolas who breaks away.

"You don't know what I am."

"I've lived here my entire life," David replies, but for some reason, his voice isn't clipped and their hands don't leave the other's body. "I know exactly who you are and what you do. You haven't hurt anyone. When you do, that is when I'll worry."

There's a clamor above them, and they both know the men are returning. Nicolas glances towards the doorway and then back at David, pressing his lips against the other man's before hurriedly parting and heading towards the back, to where he knew he can reach his haven in safety. David watches, impassive on the outside and buzzing on the inside as Rick and Gregory return.

"He was never here," David lies, answering before they can ask, and Rick sighs at their defeat.

Late that night, as David prepares for bed, he sees something on his pillow. It's a red rose, fresh and blooming, creating a sweet scent. He knows who left it, he knows why.

And he knows that he will see Nicolas very soon.

FIN.