Erik woke up to water being splashed on his face.

"Sorry, I was meant to hand it to you, but my hand seemed to have slipped." Nadir teased, Erik simply looking at him unamused. "You were quiet last night." He said as he handed a fresh glass of water to his friend.

"I had a good sleep." Erik croaked as he took a sip of water. "I think it may have been the wine." The two laughed. "Thank you." Erik sincerely whispered before taking another sip.

"You're welcome any time Erik, even if it's just convenient for work. I'll always have a room here for you." Erik looked at the pendulum clock that hung beside his bed.

"Oh no,"

"What?"

"I'm late for work!" Erik sprung out of bed and began to get dressed in the suit borrowed from his friend, Nadir laughing to himself as the man ran through the flat, tidying himself up.

"Bye! Thank you!" he called out before slamming the front door.

"Have a good day!" Nadir mocking called out to an empty room. "Strange man." He laughed.

Erik rushed into the small office, stopping mid step when he found it empty, the exception being Gustave, who was downing water like it was wine.

"They all reported a headache, some even had their taps turned on at the back." Gustave laughed as he raised the glass to his mouth with a shaky hand.

"Why are you here Monsieur? If I'm not mistaken that party was to bid you farewell and good luck in your retirement."

"Retirement is just a fancy way of saying I'm too sick to pick up the pen." Gustave grumbled.

"I admire your dedication to the field." Erik said with amazement. "You remind me of an old fr-... acquaintance ..." He said.

"Then I don't need to hear anymore." Gustave comforted. "So, what did you think of my daughters?" He changed topics.

"They're very lovely sir... I mean, kind-spirited and most certainly take after their father..." Gustave cut him off with a strong laugh.

"They are fine young girls indeed! Only 19 but their minds older."

"Indeed." Erik said, becoming rather uncomfortable with the conversation.

"Erik I'm not going to lie to you," Gustave said with all the seriousness the world can hold. "I'm dying. You know it, my girls know it, I think at this point the entire world knows it."

"Excuse me, Monsieur..."

"I want to know I'm leaving my girls with men they can count on to take care of them, I want to know I'm leaving you with a sense of belonging as well."

"Excuse me Monsieur!" Erik's voice cracked, as though he was about to cry.

"I'm sorry if that opened an old wound, I shall silence myself before I lose you to my words." Erik simply stayed silent. "Your time here is going to be waisted, go home and rest your head."

"Surely you could use a hand..."

"My work ended yesterday, I'm just saying my goodbyes." He smiled. Erik felt his gut sink to his feet, and an overwhelming sense of dread and fear enveloped him.

"Then perhaps I can help you say goodbye?" He muttered, leaving Gustave with a tearful smile.

"Champaign?"

"Water." Erik scolded. Gustave laughed as he poured a second glass for Erik.

______

The old man cracked jokes, trying to get Erik to smile. Though it was in vein, as he had come to realised if Erik was in no mood for smiling, then any chance of him doing so vanishes. He quickly cut himself off from laughter, changing the tone of the conversation as quickly as the door shutting an unwanted guest out.

"Katherine would not stop talking about you this morning." Gustave watched Erik's expression carefully, noticing the young man's lips slightly curl upward before dropping back down. 'Bingo' the old man smiled to himself.

"I doubt it was good things." Erik said in deep thought.

"Hardly, though she never called you a name." Gustave chuckled. "She always puts a name to the people she hates, some of them far from what you'd expect to leave a lady's mouth." Gustave laughed harder.

"That's a comforting thought." Erik joked solemnly.

"What happened last night?" the tone shifted once more.

"Not too much," Erik swirled the last few sips of his water around in the glass. "We danced, she asked about me..."

"About the mask?" Gustave interjected.

"Yes."

"How did you respond?"

"Distastefully." Erik admitted. "I tried to apologise..."

"She forgave you, just too embarrassed to admit it." Gustave sighed before beginning to cough again.

"I think it's time to go home." Erik muttered. Gustave nodded through coughs.

"C-could you help me?" He wheezed. "The girls... they went out today..." Erik didn't reply with words. Instead, he stood up and gathered their belongings up before helping his old boss out the door.

______

"Are you feeling any better?" Erik asked as he placed a fresh handkerchief on the small tea table next to Gustave.

"Yes, thank you. I apologise for this."

"Don't mention it." Erik said uncomfortably. "I-I should let you rest. I'm intruding." He mutterd as he left for the door before Gustave could say anything else.

"Strange man." Gustave grumbled before falling into a deep slumber.

______

"I believe we have everything." Katherine said as she fumbled through her purse looking for the house keys. "Where did I put the bloody things!" she grumbled.

"Watch out." Brenda said in vain. Katherine walked headfirst into an ongoing man who was walking faster than most.

"Oh, excuse me Monsieur!" Katherine said as she looked up to find Erik. "YOU!" She said with a hint of disbelief. Erik simply bowed in an apology before walking off in silence. Katherine shook her head in bewilderment.

"Alright then, jerk." she muttered. Brenda simply shrugged her shoulders as they continued to walk.

"I still think you're in love with him." She teased.

"You wish." Katherine chuckled, before subconsciously turning back to see where the man was walking to. Brenda simply hummed sarcastically at her sister's statement. "Shut up." Katherine said quietly.