Music of the Night

Author's Note: For the Mistletoe in May slash exchange. Written mostly at midnight on a school night when my teeth were hurting too much for me to sleep (damn retainer!! Just because I haven't worn the thing for a month....)

The challenge was, and I quote, "fun with Nathaniel", and the requested pairing was Nathaniel/Asher. But.... no BDSM, non-con, or humor?! How the hell am I going to do this?!?

You'll see. *Smiles* I took some liberties with Asher's character and how he spends his free time, since we really just don't know much about him, for all he's a main character. Set roughly between NiC and CS, though it could vary a little. No real spoilers at all.

And BIG thank you's to Rach, for the final idea. Or at least part of it.

I don't own Anita Blake or any associated hot guys. Damn. However, Sei and a few other minor OCs are mine.

Vocab for the French illiterate:

Bonsoir: Good evening
mon chat grand: literally 'my big male cat'
qu'est-ce qu'il?: What is it?
fleur-de-lys: A lily, the national symbol of France
ma chatton belle: 'my beautiful kitten', but in the feminine form
cheri: beloved

~~~

Asher was startled when his cell phone rang, having completely forgotten the damn thing was sitting on his dresser. Anita had insisted everyone in the pard get them, claiming that one of her submissives had been kidnapped just one time too many. A few select wolves and some of Jean-Claude's kiss were given phones as well, including Asher. He'd dropped the thing onto the top of his dresser to mix with his hair brushes and ties and had promptly forgotten it.

With a feeling of dread, the French vampire put down the novel he'd been working his way through and got up, walking over to sort through the utter mess on top of his dresser before finding the phone. Then he just held it and stared at it for a moment. Who would be calling? If it were Anita, it was very likely an emergency...

Asher hit the right button on the fourth try and held it to his ear, hoping he hadn't intentionally cut off whoever was on the other end. "Bonsoir?"

"Asher?" the voice was unfamiliar. "This is Micah."

Asher had met the Nimir-Raj, but only on a few occasions, and usually in the presence of Anita. "What's wrong, mon chat grand?"

There was a pause, and Micah sounded startled. "What? No, nothing's wrong. Sorry, I called Jean-Claude but he's at Guilty Pleasures tonight and said you weren't near any phone but your cell."

"Oui," Asher was in his room in the Circus, Jean had given him the night off, barring emergencies. "What did you need?"

"Actually, a favor."

Asher blinked. He and Micah didn't know each other very well at all, Anita was the only common denominator. "Oui? Qu'est-ce qu'il?"

There was another pause as Micah seemingly worked through the French and thought of a sensible answer. "Nathaniel wants to start taking Anita on dates like Jean-Claude and I do, fancy dinners and such, but he doesn't know how."

Asher blinked. He had assumed the favor would involve Anita, not her pomme de sang. "How can I help?"

There was another pause. Finally, Micah said, "Nathaniel is very attracted to you, Asher. As his Nimir-raj, I was hoping you might take him out on a date or two to show him how it should be done."

It was Asher's turn to fall silent, as he actually pulled the phone away from his ear and blinked at it as though Micah could see his surprise and confusion. He put the phone back to his ear. "How do you mean?" he asked carefully.

"Dinner, maybe a movie, something fancy and romantic."

Asher licked his lips. To be truthful, he was very attracted to the wereleopard too, but it was more on a sexual level. He wasn't sure he could romance the auburn-haired man while hiding his own feelings, but he could try.

Micah spoke into his continued silence. "Actually, I was hoping you could do something else at the same time."

"Oui?"

"Between Gabriel and everything else, Nathaniel has such low self esteem. Anita doesn't have time to be overly mushy, and it's not in her personality anyway, and I love Nathaniel more like a son. Could you possibly show him how beautiful he is, and I don't mean just as a sex object."

Asher smiled just slightly. "You don't know what you are asking, Nimir-raj."

"You have permission to seduce Nathaniel." Micah said flatly, surprising Asher. "But not with chains and the lure of pain. Show him how it's supposed to be. Can you do that?"

Asher's expression softened, remembering a shy raven-haired girl who'd once been much like Nathaniel was now, and what she had grown into. "Oui, mon chat, that I can do."

Anita watched as Nathaniel hurried through the house, his hair flying behind him and Cherry chasing him with a comb, trying to get him to slow down in his search for his shoes long enough for her to finish. Wrinkling her brow, the necromancer looked over at Micah, who was lounging beside her on the couch. "Where's Nathaniel going, he's not dressed for a club and tonight's his night off."

Micah gave her a crooked smile and tapped his nose. "That's my secret."

Anita's frown deepened. "Micah-"

He just smiled at her. "I'm his Nimir-raj, and I know where he's going and that he'll be perfectly safe. Isn't that enough for you?"

"No! I'm his Nimir-ra, I should know!"

Micah's expression sobered and he sat up to lean closer to Anita. "Please, I'm asking you not to ask again. Nathaniel has a blind date tonight, but I know who it's with. I set Nathaniel up, and I trust his date. Tomorrow I'll tell you, but not tonight."

Anita stared at him stubbornly for another minute, then sighed and flopped back, crossing her arms under her breasts and pouting like a child. "Fine."

Micah hid a smile. Anita amused him so much when she was like this, but it wouldn't do to let her know that. "Thank you." He gave her a soft kiss, and she relaxed.

They were interrupted when the doorbell rang. Nathaniel squeaked from somewhere upstairs. "Micaaah! I'm not ready yet!!!"

Micah chuckled and heaved himself up off the couch to go answer the door. "I've got it!" he called back. "Take your time!" He opened the door, smiling at the nervous-looking wererat standing in the doorway. He trusted Asher, yes, but both of them wanted to be sure Nathaniel was extra safe, especially if Asher got... distracted. Anita would blow a gasket if anything even remotely threatening happened to Nathaniel. So, by consequence and with Asher's agreement, Micah had called up Rafael and borrowed one of his rats to drive Asher's limo for the night and play tactful bodyguard in the process. Amused by the entire scheme, Rafael had suggested a fairly discreet young rat, a bodyguard who relied less on big shoulders and brute strength, and more on moving fast and being unseen. He still looked nervous in a chauffer's suit and cap, though. He was holding a card and a bouquet of yellow roses.

Micah nodded slightly to him. "I'm Micah, Nathaniel's Nimir-raj. He'll be down in a minute."

The rat tipped his head, the discreet public greeting for an alpha. He couldn't be more than twenty-five, and he was Asian, which added to the illusion of demure harmlessness, but he stood like someone trained in multiple martial arts and knew how to use them all. "You can call me Sei, sir. Rafael sends his greetings and well wishes."

Micah raised an eyebrow at the phrasing. Both of them were keeping their voices low, as Anita was hovering in the doorway from the living room to the entry hall and scowling. "The rats are welcome here, and I wish life and happiness to Rafael in return. Sei isn't your name?"

The young rat looked pleased. "No sir, my name is Shirowari, but I've found that Sei is easier for Americans to pronounce."

"Makes sense." Micah nodded. "You know what to do tonight?"

"Yes sir, my king briefed me thoroughly. Do you have anything to add?"

Micah shook his head. "Just keep an eye out on my leopard and I'll be very happy. You don't need to worry about Asher, though," he amended, thinking back to his earlier conversation with the vampire. "Unless Nathaniel really starts screaming for help."

Sei grinned, but nodded seriously. "Yes sir."

Nathaniel came clattering down the stairs, and Sei slid easily back into the persona of innocent human chauffer. Micah watched closely, but even he was impressed. It was akin to what Anita said her friend Edward could do. Nodding slightly to the rat, Micah turned to face Nathaniel.

The leopard was dressed for a nice evening in town, as per Micah's instructions. Dark slacks fit snuggly around his hips and dancer's thighs, flaring out a little below the knee to cover most of the calf high black boots. His hair was pulled back in a long tail, high enough that it just brushed the backs of his knees. His shirt was a light grey button up, with ironically enough a darker grey fleur-de-lys pattern.

Micah had told Nathaniel that he'd met someone on coalition business and thought that he and Nathaniel would get along very well, so he'd arranged a blind date. Nathaniel enjoyed the attentions of other men as well as women, no matter what Anita chose to think, and was excited about going on a date that his Nimir-raj approved of, even if it met keeping the sex of the other participant a secret from his Nimir-ra. Micah was bi himself, with actually a slight preference for men before he'd met Anita, but now of course he respected Anita's unvoiced squimishes and pretended to be perfectly straight (though he couldn't help sneaking long looks at Jean-Claude's ass at times, the vampire was damn good looking).

Sei smiled at Nathaniel and spoke loud enough for Anita to hear so she wouldn't keep craning her neck trying to hear what he and Micah were saying. "Hello, I'm Sei. I've been hired to be your driver tonight and take you to where your date is waiting." He handed Nathaniel the card and roses, and the leopard beamed. He didn't seem to suspect the man in front of him was a lycanthrope. Then again, maybe he did know and just didn't want to "out" him, even among friends. It was hard to tell, with Nathaniel.

"Thank you!"

Micah hid a smile. "I'll put those in water for you, Nate."

The submissive cat beamed, handing the sweet-smelling flowers over to his Nimir-raj. "Should I open the card now?"

Sei smiled and shook his head. "I was told to have you open it in the limo. Shall we go?" Nathaniel nodded, and Sei ushered him out the door. The rat tipped his hat to Micah and Anita, then pulled the door firmly shut.

Micah braced himself. Sure enough, it wasn't long before Anita pounced on him. "That driver was a shifter! What have you gotten Nathaniel into?!"

Mentally, Micah sighed and got ready for a long night of appeasing his love.

Down the long driveway, Sei opened the back door of the long white limo and bowed Nathaniel in, making the leopard blush. "Th-thank you!"

Sei grinned at him and winked. "Just don't eat the driver, cat," he teased before shutting the door and walking around to the driver's side. He left the shaded window between driver and passenger open, and Nathaniel leaned his arms against the sill, peeking forward into the driver's seat.

"I wouldn't eat you," he promised. "I prefer rabbit to rat."

Sei grinned again and stuck his tongue out at Nathaniel in the rear view mirror as he pulled out of the driveway. "Open your note, kitten."

Nate's eyes brightened as he remembered, and he bounced back into his seat to tear the envelope open.

'My dear cat,

I hope my hired help has not offended or teased you. If he has, I am truly sorry. He came so highly recommended. I'm sure you are wondering as to my identity, but it must stay secret for now, my dear. You shall see soon. Please do not worry for your safety, your Nimir-raj and Nimir-ra both know and trust me, though Anita may not know my identity either.

For now, simply follow Sei's instructions and I will see you soon.'

Nathaniel had to try very hard to keep the silly grin off his face. It was so terribly romantic. He wondered for a moment if his date was someone he knew too, since Micah and Anita both did. He leaned forward to poke through the window again. "The note says you have instructions."

"Yep." Sei's eyes flicked up to him in the rear view mirror and he smiled. "Dinner will be a little late tonight, we're hitting the show first."

"That's alright, I ate earlier." Something occurred to Nathaniel and he blinked. "Hey, Sei... Are you my date?"

Sei blinked at him in the mirror, then laughed. "Oh no, heck no, I'm just the hired help. You won't be meeting your date until later, though, but no worries, everything's planned. If you'll look in the oversized glove box to your left, you should find a cloak, top hat, and mask. Put the cloak on, and there should be a band around the inside of the hat for the mask to fit into. After the show there's a masquerade ball, where you'll meet your date."

Nathaniel's heart fluttered in excitement. He had the idea that when Sei said 'show', he didn't mean a movie or a strip club. "What are we going to go see?"

Sei flashed him another grin. "You'll see. And no worries, I have your costume in a bag, Micah was kind enough to provide my employer with your measurements."

Nathaniel blushed slightly. "Do I get to know what the costume is?"

"Nope." Sei was definitely enjoying this. "Aha, we're here." He pulled over to the side of the street and got out. Nathaniel couldn't see anything through the tinted windows, the silk of the cloak making soft sounds as it slid over his shoulders. The inside lining matched his shirt nearly perfectly, and Nathaniel had to thank God it wasn't red silk. True red clashed with his hair horribly.

Then Sei pulled open his door, reaching in to give him a hand out. The wererat had shed his hat, and had a large duffle bag over one shoulder. Nathaniel took his hand and let himself be pulled from the limo. He gasped.

The two lycanthropes were standing outside of St. Louis's grandest and oldest theatre. All around them, the city's wealthiest citizens climbed the steps to the grand glass doors. Nathaniel's jaw dropped. He never thought he'd ever be able to get in the lobby, let alone be treated like an honored guest here!

Behind him, Sei was handing over the keys to the limo to a parking valet, regaling them with what would happen if the paint was so much as scratched. Nathaniel wasn't listening. Finished, Sei stepped up beside him and grinned, his own top hat set neatly on his head. "Coming?"

Nathaniel snapped out of his trance. "Y-yeah, I'm coming!"

Sei led the way up the white marble steps and through the glass and brass doors, into a lobby lined in thick carpet and oak furnishings. Nathaniel was agape, and Sei had to cover his mouth to hide a smile. Ladies swept by them in elegant evening gowns, men in full-tailed tuxedos. Nathaniel turned bright red, he felt horribly underdressed.

Gently, Sei led him to a heavy desk set near a plush grand staircase. The stairs led to a pair of gilded gold doors, which in turn led down into the theatre. "Fujita, party of three. Our third will be along shortly." Sei told the man behind the desk.

The manager's eyes brightened. "Ah yes, you're the ones who've rented out box five. Brave of you. In actuality, a letter was just delivered for me to give to you." He handed Sei a crisp white envelope with Nathaniel's name scripted on it, along with two tickets. "Shall I keep the third?"

"Yes, he'll come for it. Thank you." Bowing slightly, Sei turned and tucked a hand under Nathaniel's arm to lead the still gaping boy away and up the stairs. There was a wide landing at the top, and Sei turned, leading the way to a smaller, more closed in but no less plush set of stairs that presumably led up to the more expensive balconies and private boxes.

"Sei!" Nathaniel whispered fiercely once they were in the more private confines of the stairs. "What are we doing here?! I stick out like a sore thumb. I don't belong here at all!"

Sei smiled at him. "So why do you think your date chose to bring you here? He wanted to give you something special, Nathaniel-san, just sit back and enjoy it."

Nathaniel blushed again, but nodded resignedly. "What are we here to see?"

Sei grinned, eyes sparkling. "How up are you on French novels?"

"What?" Nathaniel gave him an odd look. The Japanese wererat just chuckled and opened the door to their box, bowing Nathaniel in.

The leopard stepped in to find a private box, about five feet by ten feet. The walls were rich dark wood, the carpet a heavy, blood red plush that would have made Jean-Claude mad with envy. At the front, decorative half-moon pillars "held up" the ceiling. Two armchairs upholstered in embroidered velvet were positioned by the three foot half-wall at the front of the tiny balcony.

Nathaniel's jaw dropped. "Th-this is too much!" He turned around to make for the door, and Sei caught him by the arm.

"Relax. It's not like you're paying for it. I told you, your date wanted to do something special for you. Here, come sit down and read your note."

Nathaniel stuttered in protest, but obeyed. Sei plopped him down into the chair closer to the stage and handed him the envelope the manager had given him. Nathaniel took deep breaths to calm himself, but this was a very ingrained reaction. He'd been on the streets most of his life, for pity's sake, he didn't belong here!

Absently he noted that the handwriting on this note was the same as the last one, and smelled the same too. An odd musk that was slightly familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. He blushed as he read the note, smiling slightly.

'You look beautiful tonight, little kitten. Yes, I can see you. You and Sei have just stepped out of the limousine, I'm standing at one of the upper windows as I write this. You look wonderful, so much more elegant than the pompous men and over-painted ladies that make up the rest of this stinking crowd. You are truly beautiful, inside and out.

I do regret that I will not be joining you for the show itself, something has come up. But I will see you at the celebratory ball afterward, and at dinner, I promise. Have you managed to get Sei to tell you yet what you're here to see? I believe you will enjoy it, romantic as you are. Tonight is the opening performance, that is the reason for the gala afterward. You know Jean-Claude, I believe, and Rafael the wererat king? Both of them are in attendance tonight as well, I trust they can keep you entertained if my arrival is later than I expect.

Relax, please, and enjoy the show. I must go now and deliver this to the manager before Sei picks up your tickets. Enjoy, my beautiful kitten, and I will see you later.'

Nathaniel blushed bright red, smiling softly. Now he just wanted to know more than ever who his date was! He glanced up at Sei, and the wererat's small grin let him know that he'd read over Nathaniel's shoulder, but gave nothing away. "So, what are we here to see?"

With a movement too quick for even lycanthrope eyes to follow, Sei reached into his jacket and with a flourish presented Nathaniel with a playbill. Then he stepped back, taking up a position just behind Nathaniel's right shoulder, between the two chairs. Easily still within speaking distance, but definitely a body guard's stance. Nathaniel blushed again, thinking that his date cared enough to hire a driver that doubled as a body guard. Or maybe that was Micah's doing. Either way, he was flattered.

He looked down at the program in his hands, and he blinked. The Phantom of the Opera. That explained a lot. He'd never seen the movie or read the book himself, and he didn't know the story, but Cherry was always gushing about how good the music was. She'd be green with envy when she found out Nathaniel had gotten to see it.

Nathaniel smiled, flipping through the pages of the playbill. No one he recognized, until he got to the contributors and patrons page. He had to laugh when he saw Jean-Claude and Asher's names right at the top of the list. It didn't surprise him, Phantom was set in Paris after all, and they were old enough to have been alive, or rather not, when it had supposedly happened. He wondered idly if they knew if any of the story had been based in fact, or if it was all fiction.

He didn't have much time to speculate, as soon the lights dimmed and the curtain rose. Nathaniel leaned forward, at ease with Sei's guarding presence at his back. Soon he was lost in the tale of love and horror under the Paris Opera House.

But toward the end of the first act, he started to hear an echo. It puzzled him, as a soft voice sang the lyrics to Music of the Night along with the Phantom on stage.

"Night time sharpens
Heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses
Helpless to resist the notes I write
For I compose the music of the night."

Nathaniel half-turned to Sei, thinking he might be singing along, but the wererat just raised a quizzical eyebrow at him. "Something wrong?" he asked softly.

Nathaniel shook his head, turning back to the performance. His ears must be playing tricks on him, lycanthrope hearing detecting the slight echo of the music off the back wall of the theatre, or something.

"Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendors
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Hearing is believing, music is deceiving,
Hard as lightning, soft as candlelight
Dare you trust the music of the night?"

It sounded like the voice was hovering just over his shoulder, though, and the voice was different than the actor's. It was deeper, more flowing, put a little more lilt and darkness into the words. Nathaniel couldn't help but shiver. They were in box 5, after all, the box that the Phantom liked to haunt in the story.

He heard the voice off and on through the rest of the first act, softly echoing some of the Phantom's lines, though not all. Far from being scared, Nathaniel was intrigued. Was there really a ghost here?

At intermission he turned around to face Sei, eyes bright. "Can you hear him too?"

The wererat raised an eyebrow again. "Hear who?"

"The ghost! There really is one, I can hear him."

"Hm." Sei blinked at him slowly. "Would you like something to drink?"

Nathaniel flushed, then sighed. "Sure, I need to go to the bathroom, too."

Sei nodded. "I'll get the drinks. What would you like?"

"Water's fine." Nathaniel grinned in relief. Sei wasn't going to try and follow him into the bathroom like Merle and some of Anita's wererat body guards were wont to do. Sei must have read his face because he laughed.

"You go hit the toilet, I'll meet you back here. Try not to get killed though, about six people will want my head if you do. I didn't know Rafael-sama was going to be here, I need to go find him, just to let him know I'm around. Then I'll be back."

Nathaniel nodded and climbed to his feet, leaving his cloak flung over the back of his chair. They left the box together, then turned in opposite directions as Nathaniel headed for the upper level's bathrooms and Sei went downstairs to find his alpha and the theatre's bar.

The leopard made it back to the box first, and shut the door behind him, instantly on alert. Someone had been in here. Creeping forward, he peeked over the top of his chair, then blinked.

His cloak had been neatly folded, with his top hat sitting neatly on top. A letter had been stuck into the band.

Moving the cloak and hat to the still-empty other chair, he sat down and turned the letter over in his hands before opening it. It was the same handwriting as before. He smiled slightly as he read it.

'My beautiful kitten, are you enjoying the show? The Phantom of the Opera is one of my very favorite stories. Very romantic, no? Sad in the end, but I do not want to ruin that for you, so for now I'll offer no further comment.

Have you figured out who I am yet, beautiful leopard? Yes, Sei knows perfectly well my name and face, but I doubt you will get any answers from him. He's been trained very well to resist harsher questioners than you. Never fear, I promise you will see me at the masquerade ball - if you can find me! Soon, my patient kitten, very soon. For now, I shall leave you with a small snippet from one of my favorite songs. I believe you have just become acquainted with it.

'Close your eyes for your eyes will only tell the truth
And the truth isn't what you want to see.
In the dark it is easy to pretend
That the truth is what it ought to be.'

Have you figured out the truth, kitten? For now, good-bye!'

Nathaniel let out a rather giddy sigh, sitting back in his seat and tucking the third note into his pocket with the other two.

"Am I being courted by a ghost?" he whispered softly.

He paid rapt attention during the second act, Sei standing stoically behind him. Nathaniel still heard the ghost, heard him whispering. It seemed to be coming from just beside his left shoulder, but there was nothing there except the fake support column.

But now the ghost wasn't just repeating the Phantom's lines a step behind him, he was actually responding. "Fools!" he whispered, as the Phantom killed Piangi outside of everyone's sight but the audience's. "Humans never learn."

The voice was husky, deep, utterly sensual and it even had a hint of a French accent. Nathaniel shivered, vowing to go home and ask Cherry if he could borrow her copy of the book. Damn, but the ghost's voice alone was beginning to give him a hard on! The voice sounded vaguely familiar to him, but he chalked it up to the accent. Jean-Claude and Asher both spoke that way, but this voice was far to deep to be either of theirs. Besides, if he leaned over a little, Nathaniel could see Jean-Claude across the theatre in one of the other private boxes, and Asher's radiant blond hair beside him.

Funny, though, that his date hadn't mentioned Asher being here in his second note, when he'd mentioned Jean-Claude and Rafael. Odd.

Nathaniel shrugged and put it out of his mind. The public still didn't know a whole lot about Asher, he preferred to stay in the shadows and let Jean-Claude be the public's vamp. He probably just didn't know who the blond with the Master of the City was. Idly, Nathaniel wondered if the two vampires were here on a date, and whether or not he should tell Anita. Then he giggled. No, definitely not.

He shook off his thoughts, then, and put his mind back on the play. The climax was approaching quickly as the Phantom kidnapped Christine, whisking her away to his underground layer as Raoul and a mob of angry performers gave chase. Nathaniel found himself leaning forward on the edge of his seat.

When the end finally came, and the Phantom let Christine go so she could be with her lover, Nathaniel was surprised to realize there were tears on his cheeks.

"Don't cry, mon ami," the ghost's voice whispered in his ear. "Not all life has happy endings."

"Are you really the Phantom?" Nathaniel couldn't help but whisper. "Erik?"

"No." The voice was warm with a smile. "But we are not so different, he and I. We were friends once."

Nate's eyes widened. This was crazy, talking to a ghost who claimed to know a fictional character. The ghost laughed softly. "Ah, at last you doubt. Very well, I'll leave you be. But I thank you very much for your company. It has been a pleasure, my little kitten."

Nathaniel felt a shock go through him, and he looked around wildly, but there was no one but Sei. "Wait, don't go..." Had the ghost written those notes somehow? Was the ghost his date? But then how had Micah met him? And Sei?

Mind in a whirl, Nathaniel let Sei take his arm and guide him back from the balcony. There was a small, curtained off alcove that Nathaniel hadn't noticed before. Gently, Sei pushed him inside and shut the curtain, then began handing him things. "Here, change into your costume."

"Are you sure my date's going to be at the masquerade?" Nathaniel asked as he slid into the tight, spandex and silk trousers. Well, tight to the knee, then they flared in wide, pleated bells over his feet. They were an orange-gold color, one that had always looked good on him because it set his hair on fire.

"Yes." Sei chuckled, handing him the shirt next. It was long sleeved but too short in the chest, showing about three inches of midriff before the waist of his pants. It was the same material, and color. A collar of beads and sequins winked in the light. "He'll be there, I promise. In the flesh."

Nathaniel bit his lip, wondering if that was good or bad. He slipped on the soft soled, ballet-type slippers. The next item was a belt made of dozens of round, glittering gold coins. It was a little loose and sat cock-eyed on his hips, winking in the light and jingling slightly. There was a matching set of bracelets too. "I look like a gypsy," he muttered to himself. "Or a reject from Cirque du Soleil."

A suspiciously muffled short of laughter told him Sei had heard. "Believe me cat, it's better than mine. Come on out."

Nathaniel pulled the curtain aside, and burst out laughing. Poor Sei. He had to have full freedom of movement if he was going to be a proper body guard, but he also needed enough clothing to conceal his weapons. Deep brown eyes pouted behind a bright green mask covered in feathers and sequins. His costume looked like some bizarre meeting of the Little Mermaid and Swamp Thing. The material was loose for easy access to his knives, but it was sheer and filmy, only the multiple layers giving him any decency. The codpiece didn't look particularly comfortable either.

"I think I have to agree with you." Sei grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Rejects from Cirque du Soleil."

Nathaniel leaned against the wall, laughing helplessly. "Where's your glasses?"

"Don't need 'em. I'm a lycanthrope, remember? Perfect vision. I wear them out of habit, and because to unknowing people they make me look more harmless. Now put on your mask and let's go, we're already running late."

Nathaniel grinned at him, and Sei grinned back to show no hard feelings. Then he retrieved the golden mask that covered him from forehead to nose and slipped it on. "Our clothes..."

"Can be left here. The box is rented until dawn, no one will disturb them before we have the chance to come back."

Nathaniel nodded, and the two left to go downstairs to the big ballroom under the theatre. It was crowded with costumed people already. Nathaniel got many admiring comments ranging from his hair to his costume. He blushed behind the mask. He was used to such attention, of course, because he was a stripper. But it just seemed so different here, rubbing elbows with high society when no one knew who or what he was. It was really very flattering.

Shorter than Nathaniel by a hair, Sei wasn't having much fun trying to keep close to his charge in the press of the crowd. Finally he growled, grabbed Nathaniel by his glittering belt, and hauled him to the edge of the room. Nate grinned, going along with it. They broke into the clear space beside the wall, and both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Having fun, Sei, Nathaniel?"

Both lycanthropes turned to find a dark-haired man dressed in a Jack Sparrow-like pirate's outfit, mask over his eyes. He pulled it up enough to wink at them and reveal himself as the one and only Rat King. They'd been in contact quite a bit over the past few weeks as Micah and Rafael worked together to set up the Fuzzy Coalition. Nathaniel and Anita had both been surprised to find out that not only was Rafael a very successful pediatrician, he was also still in the closet. Somehow he managed to make it work, unlike Richard's bumbling and disastrous attempts.

Sei bowed to his alpha, and Rafael smiled at him fondly. Nathaniel stood hesitantly, not sure what to do, until Rafael gave him a small bow himself. Nathaniel's jaw dropped and he scrambled to bow in return. Rafael just laughed and waved him upright. "Stop, stop! I only asked a question!"

Nathaniel blushed, glad now that the mask hid most of it. "Of course. The play was wonderful."

"Isn't it? I love the story. So sad, but romantic." Rafael sighted something over their shoulders and grinned, eyes twinkling behind his mask. "I'll leave you for now. Sei, I'll see you tomorrow." The junior wererat saluted, and Rafael grinned before moving off into the crowd.

Nathaniel blinked. "What-" He didn't get to say any more as a red rose presented itself in front of him. He blanched and turned around, finding himself face-to-chest with Jean-Claude. He squeaked and backpedaled, and the vampire smiled.

The Master of the City was wearing what had to be old court clothes, complete with ruffles, lace, a cape, and more ruffles. His dark hair was pulled back from his face by two clips, which also held the Phantom-like half mask in place. He presented the rose again, and this time Nathaniel took it, blushing hotly.

Jean-Claude smiled again. "Are you having a good time, mon chat?" Nathaniel nodded dumbly, and Jean-Claude continued. "Has your date not arrived?" This time Nathaniel shook his head. "Ah well, he will be here soon." He took Nathaniel's hand and raised it for a kiss, just making the poor leopard blush all the harder. The Frenchman's lips lingered over Nathaniel's knuckles, then he let the hand fall away. "I am glad you're having a good time."

Nathaniel nodded again, feeling stupid and slow, then glanced over Jean-Claude's shoulder at where Asher was hanging back, as usual. Then he had to do a double-take. The man leaning against the wall had the long golden hair, and even the blue eyes, but that was all. It was easy to see why Nathaniel had mistaken him for Asher at a distance in a darkened theatre, but this was most certainly not the blond vampire. The skin was a shade too dark, the eyes far too mischievous, the stature was just too short, and perhaps most importantly, Asher wouldn't have been caught dead in a skin tight harlequin costume. "Jason?!"

The werewolf grinned at him maddeningly. "Yep!" He waved happily. "I make a pretty good Asher, don't I?"

"It was better when you were in the suit." Jean-Claude retorted fondly, half-turning to look at his pomme de sang. "That ridiculous costume gives you away in an instant."

Jason shrugged, still grinning at the dumb-founded Nathaniel. Putting on a cheesy accent he intoned "You have no idea how deep the conspiracy runs."

Nathaniel gave him a puzzled look and was just about to retort when Jean-Claude glanced up over the suddenly still crowd and smiled. "I believe your date has arrived."

Nathaniel turned and gasped as everything came suddenly clear. Asher, the real Asher this time, was standing on the steps leading down from the main floor, a blood red cape billowing around him. He was dressed in a formal Victorian tuxedo, similar to what the Phantom had worn on stage. He even carried a polished black walking stick.

But his face...

Asher had come unmasked to a masquerade ball, where everyone would assume something other than the truth. His hair was bound back severely into the French braid fashionable in the Phantom's time, a few wisps escaping to drift across his scarred face. His pale eyes scanned the crowd until they came to rest on Nathaniel, and he smiled, holding out his hand.

The crowd had gone still and silent at his dramatic entrance, and now as one turned to see who this devastatingly handsome man was lavishing his attentions on. They parted like Moses with the Red Sea, leaving a clear isle across the room from the foot of the stairs where Asher still stood reaching to a stunned and rather overwhelmed Nathaniel.

When Asher spoke, it was in the voice of the ghost in the balcony, sweeping across Nathaniel in tones deeper than his natural voice, making his shiver all the more because he suddenly realized no vampire tricks were involved. Asher was capable of this, of course, but this was all just natural talent. What an actor!

My God, what a singer...

"Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you
Open up your mind let your fantasies un-wind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night."

Nathaniel felt himself moving forward, and suddenly he was standing there at the foot of the stairs, staring up into Asher's face. His heart was pounding in his chest, his breath quick. Asher closed his eyes, a look of savoring bliss coming across his face. He had already fed tonight, though Nathaniel didn't know on who.

Hand trembling just a little, Nathaniel reached up to cup Asher's face in his hands, gently stroking the scars. Asher opened his eyes lazily to look down at the leopard. Nathaniel's arms were already up, so it was a simple matter for Asher to wrap his around the slender stripper's waist.

Nathaniel gasped just a bit, and Asher smiled at him gently. "Would you like to dance?" The voice was still low, the French accent heavier than it usually was. Nathaniel nodded dumbly, and Asher swept him out into the middle of the floor as a waltz began to play from the band set up in the corner.

Nathaniel's face was flushed under the mask as he gazed up at Asher. "It's been you, all along, hasn't it?"

Asher smiled down at him, a loose strand of hair tickling Nathaniel's cheek. "Oui, ma chatton belle." Nathaniel knew just enough French to blush harder. "Just as Micah and Sei and Jean and Jason have known all along. I hope you do not mind that I asked them to help make this night perfect."

Nathaniel shook his head, another thought occurring to him. "Sei could hear you in the balcony, couldn't he, he was just playing along with you. How did you do that?"

Asher smiled. "You have never read the Phantom of the Opera? In the book, the Phantom haunts box five by standing inside a hollow column, just as I did tonight."

Nathaniel's face gained an 'aha' look. "That's why Jason was here to play decoy for you, so it would look like you were with Jean-Claude the entire time."

"Oui," Asher agreed, looking quite pleased with himself. "Quite a good alibi, that wolf is. Have you enjoyed yourself, Nathaniel?"

Nathaniel beamed up at him, catching a glance over his shoulder of Jason, sans wig now, waltzing with Jean-Claude. Fleetingly he wished he had his camera, if only to hear Anita ranting. Then he shook off the thought and turned his attention back to Asher. "It's been fantastic," he said sincerely. "The best night I've ever had. It was too much, but I had a wonderful time."

Asher smiled at him gently, stroking his cheek and hair. "No, nothing is ever too much for you, little kitten. You deserve to be dressed in the finest silks and lace, set at a king's right hand, fed nothing but golden apples and exquisite chocolates. You deserve much more than these humble things I can give you," he gestured to the outfit and the ball.

Nathaniel just flushed deeper, feeling light-headed. "Th-that's not true! I'm no one special!"

Asher smiled gently at him, looking a little sad. "Ah, now that I have heard before. Shall I teach you, as I taught her?" He didn't give Nathaniel a chance to answer before he leaned down to kiss him.

They had kissed before, Asher and Nathaniel, but this was so much different. This time, there was no ardeur crashing in around them, no need to feed Anita or anyone else. It was not a frenzied, lustful thing. This time, Asher went slowly and gently, showing Nathaniel how pleasurable and desirable he was, not just as a warm, supple body, but as a person.

During dinner in the grand theatre dining hall, they spoke of many things, none of which Nathaniel remembered later. But he did remember the feeling of acceptance, of love coming from Asher. The vampire truly cared about him, as a person, something that Nathaniel wasn't sure even Anita did.

When Asher took his hand and led him toward the stairs, Nathaniel went without any protest at all. With the curtains closed on the balcony and Sei standing guard outside the heavy oak door, Nathaniel stripped a private show for Asher in box five. Then the vampire approached him, still fully clothed himself, and drew the leopard into his arms. He held him close and whispered to him in French. Nathaniel didn't understand most of it, but it sent shivers down his spine. This was so much different than what he was used to, but it felt good, felt right. Maybe this was what it felt like to want someone just for themselves, not for money or power or feeding or anything else.

Nathaniel had looked at Cherry and Zane so many times in jealousy. They were in love; they needed nothing or no one else. If they'd been human, they wouldn't even need the pard, they'd have been married with children already, Nathaniel was sure of it. He'd always known he could never have anything even remotely like that.

Or could he?

Asher nuzzled close to his neck, but not to bite or drink, just to be. He kissed his way along Nathaniel's jaw to his lips, gently kissing them before drawing away just a little, the press of Nathaniel's erection hard against his still clothed thigh.

"Close your eyes, start a journey through a strange new world
Leave all your thoughts of the world you knew before
Close your eyes and let the music set you free
Only then can you belong to me...

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night."

Nathaniel closed his eyes, letting Asher's voice wash over him. He really did have a wonderful singing voice, and idly Nathaniel wondered what he could do to hear it more often. Asher's hands slid around his bare waist, making him shiver. "Are you sure this is what you want, mon cheri?"

Nathaniel closed his eyes, leaning against Asher's strong chest. Was it? Oh God, yes. "Yes, please Asher, please..."

"Please what, chatton belle?" Asher stroked Nathaniel's hair, soothing it away from his flushed face.

Nathaniel nearly whimpered in need. "P-please fuck me..." Didn't the vampire know how long Nathaniel had wanted him, fantasized about this moment, no Anita or ardeur or obligation in sight?

As a matter of fact, Asher did. He stepped back, sliding off his coat and letting it fall neglected to the floor. He reached for the buttons of his shirt, smiling gently. "Ah, Nathaniel, I can give you so much more."

Auburn hair spread across the blood red carpet, soon joined by silky blond as Nathaniel hugged Asher close, working his fingers through the long hair to pull it out of its braid. They fell together like autumn leaves, everything else forgotten. Sei stood stiffly at attention outside the door, silently cursing himself for taking this job and trying to ignore the obviously non-ghostly sounds coming from inside box five.

But neither Nathaniel nor Asher cared who heard, tangled together on the plush carpet.

Though he'd been fucked and taken so many times before, for the first time in his life, Nathaniel made love.

No regrets.

"You alone can make my soul take flight...
Help me make the music of the night..."

@_@ About time I finished this! Squicked in just before the deadline, phew!

This was actually harder than I thought. I actually had several other plotlines for this, all discarded, before my friend Rachel finally helped me come up with the idea of them going to see POTO. The cameos from other characters I threw in just for fun, and because I have a very hard time writing a fic without Jason. =D He just seems to crawl in on his own.

As for Sei... Let me know what you guys think of him. Seriously. He kept trying to jump up and take over this fic, and I kept having to beat him over the head to keep him down. He's already trying to worm his way into several other fics, so what do you guys think? More Japanese wererat?

I think that's all. I really hope you guys enjoyed!