Chapter 1
1920
(48 years After)
"Sold! For 20 franks."
Tony doesn't bother paying attention anymore. He stares at the lump covered in a tarp.
"Lot 664 then, ladies and gentlemen. Three skulls and two pistols from the ope-"
Tony looks across the room finally to find Bruce standing there. He cocks his head to the side in question. Bruce meets his eyes and smirks.
"Sold! To Miss Romanova for 30 franks."
Tony snaps his head towards the red head- well, not red anymore. It was a steel grey color now. Sitting beside her was her husband- who is still a secret he presumes. Natasha turns her gaze towards him and nods slightly.
"Lot 665 then. A music box found in the vaults of the theatre. Still in working order, if I might add. Let's show it." The auctioneer says. "Showing here."
A soft melody plays while a monkey claps cymbals together.
"Starting at 25 franks. Twenty five, thank you Vicomte."
Tony nods in return and looks back at Natasha.
"30, thank you Miss Romanova. Can I say 35? 35 to Vicomte Stark. Miss Romanova?"
Natasha shakes her head.
"Sold for 35 franks to the Vicomte Stark."
Tony gets handed the box and studies it.
"A collector's piece indeed. Every detail exactly how I saw...will you still play when all the rest of us are dead?" Tony whispers to it. Bruce walks over to Tony who is sitting in the centre of the stage. Tony looks at his grey-haired friend of so long ago as the auctioneer starts again.
"Lot 666, ladies and gentlemen. A chandelier in pieces. The folks here have fixed and furnished it to match the modern day electricity. We hope it might frighten away the ghosts of so many years past. If you please...
GENTLEMEN!"
The lump Tony was looking at earlier is uncovered and the chandelier starts to rise up. As it rises, the lights start to flicker on. Tony gets pulled back into the past as he sees the images of the dancers and of Loki and Thor taking up the stage and of Natasha, Clint, and Bruce dancing around him. But most of all he sees Steve taking the stage in his Don Juan costume dancing and singing with Bucky- or as he is also known as
The Phantom of the Opera.
1871
(2 year Before)
It was raining slightly outside when Tony Stark walked up with madame Hill, Monsieur Fury and Monsieur Coulson. As they walked up the steps that lead up to the Opera Populaire, the rehearsal to the new opera could be heard.
"What in the hell is that god awful sound?" Fury asks Hill.
"Your lead tenor for five seasons now. That is Loki Odinson. His brother, Thor is the lead baritone." Hill said as she walked up onto the stage.
"Please stand to one side, Monsieur." Hill said as she lead them around the ballet dancers. Tony noticed the blond haired dancer very quickly. He lifted and twirled the red headed dancer with ease and lifted the other two males and the rest of the women the same way. Tony could not say he was not impressed by that. Tony tuned out what Hill, Fury and Coulson were talking about to watch the blond man. His muscles rippled underneath the green tights he was wearing. He was shirtless and was sweating. Tony's heart lurched. God damn he was hot.
"-an aria in act 3. Monsieur Loki, when you are ready." The director said. Tony didn't hear his name.
The piano starts playing in a slow pace and then Loki is singing.
"Think of me
Think of me fondly
When we've said
Goo-ood bye!"
The whole chorus winces at the note.
"Remember me
Every so often
Promise me you-"
A back drop falls and lands on Loki as the whole group of actors and dancers scream.
"He's here, the Phantom of the Opera!" The red head woman said as she ran towards the blond tony saw earlier and the other blonde with shorter hair.
"Everyone, please! Calm down!" Fury says.
"These things do happen." Coulson says to Loki, who had just managed to get out from under the backdrop.
"These things do happen?" Loki says to Coulson. "For the past four years 'These things do happen' and have you stopped them from happening? No. And you!" Loki points directly at Tony. "You are as bad as him! Unless you can stop these things from happening, this thing does not happen!" Loki walks out, Thor following after him.
"Amateurs." Thor says as he leaves the room.
"Is there an understudy for Loki's part?" Tony asks the chorus.
"There is no understudy for Loki!" The directer says. He sighs in defeat. "We are going to have to cancel."
"But we just got Vicomte Stark to be our patron!" Hill says.
"That was supposed to be a secret!" Fury says.
"Steven Rogers could do it, sir." The red head says and pushes- oh god- the sweaty blond Tony was staring at earlier.
"A chorus boy?" The director- Pierce! Thats his name- says.
"He has been taking lessons from a great teacher!" The shorter blond says as he shoves Steve towards the piano.
"What's his name?" Pierce asks.
"I-I-I don't know, Monsieur." Steve says and his voice! Tony thinks he is in love.
"Hmm..." Pierce says.
"Let's give him a try, Alexander." Fury says.
"Alright. From the beginning of the aria then, Monsieur." The piano starts again and Steve's voice starts out soft until he gets comfortable enough to project loudly by the second verse. His voice was perfect. It sounded like honey- so sweet and smooth. And suddenly it was the performance and Steve was dressed in white and Tony was in his box watching and listening.
By the end of the opera, Tony was in tears. But he will never admit it. He stands and heads toward the dressing rooms.
"Monsieur Rogers?" Tony asks as he knocks on the door.
"Come in!"
Tony opens the door and hands Steve the roses he grabbed from Coulson on the way there.
"You were magnificent out there." Tony says in amazement.
"Oh, thank you." Steve says bashfully.
"I need to take you to dinner. Hopefully thats not too forward of me-"
"Monsieur Vicomte, I would love to but the Angel of Music is very strict. I'm afraid I have to decline-"
"Nonsense! It will be fine! One night, Steve! Have fun for once!" Tony grabs one of Steve's hands. "I will get my hat and we will leave. Two minutes and I'll be back." Tony hurries out the door as Steve shouts of protest follow him.
"He doesn't like it when I go out with strangers..." Steve shuts the door and sighs. The candles in the room go out as The Voice fills the room with sweet baritone sounds.
"Insolent boy, this slave of fashion!
Basking in your glory!
Ignorant fool!
This brave young suitor
Sharing in my triumph!"
"Angel, please forgive me for him! I couldn't stop him!" Steve rambles. "Oh, he'll be back any second now. I don't want you to be mad at me and I don't want to go-"
"Look at your face in the mirror.
I am there inside!" Steve's angel says.
Steve looks towards the mirror and sees two grey blue eyes staring at him. Steve quickly goes to him and sees the hand that pokes through the mirror. The door handle wobbles as Tony's voice flows through the doors.
"Hold my hand, love." His Angel says. Steve grabs the hand and is pulled through.
Steve gasps as he realises his angel is really..."Phantom?"
"That's what they call me up there." The Phantom leads Steve down stairs that never seem to end. They reach a lake and the Phantom helps Steve into a small boat. "You, Steve, can call me James. Or Bucky. They used to call me Bucky before..."
Steve can see the shiny metal of Bucky's arm underneath his suit and cape. Steve can't believe it. Whe they reach the other side of the lake, Bucky says, "Welcome to the Night Time." Bucky says.
Steve looks around at all the candles lining the walls and takes everything in. There are statues everywhere and a grand organ right in the centre.
"Steve? Love? Are you alright?" Bucky asks as Steve trips over his feet. Bucky catches him and they stare at each other a long while. Bucky stands Steve up carefully and moves away from him, his cape covering his metallic left arm.
"Steve..." Bucky says softly. Steve's face twists into sadness.
"Can you sing a song for me, Angel?" Steve asks.
Bucky takes a breath and grabs Steve's hands.
"Nighttime
Sharpens,
heightens each sensation.
Darkness
Stirs
And wakes imagination..."
Bucky leads Steve around his lair as he sings.
"Floating
Falling
Sweet intoxication
Touch me," Bucky takes Steve's hand and presses it to his cheek.
"Trust me.
Savour each sensation!" Bucky kisses Steve's palm before he continues singing. Steve stares at him in adoration and follows him like a child would. Once Bucky stops in front of a curtain, Steve looks at him for the first time since he came down into The Phantom's lair. Bucky had long dark brown hair tied into a pony tail. His eyes were a mysterious grey blue and his whole suit and cape were black. He had his left arm hidden well but Steve knew that it was not his real one.
"...Music of the Ni-ight!" Bucky pulls away the curtain to reveal a wax figure of Steve in an all white suite. Bucky had a ring in a box sitting next to it. Steve was overwhelmed and fainted into his Angel's arms. The Phantom caught Steve and carried him to the swan bed he had and laid his student down there. The Phantom pulled the covers over Steve and brushed a stray hair from his forehead.
"Help me," He sang. "Make the Music of the...Ni---ight!"
"Where is he?!" Tony shouts as he barges into Fury's office the next day.
"Where the hell is who?" Fury asks.
"Steve! I have looked everywhere for him. He is no where!" Tony drops into a chair as the door opens to reveal the red haired ballerina and her blond companion.
"Ah! Madame Romanova and Monsieur Barton! Welcome! This is our new patron, the Vicomte Stark. Stark say hello." Fury glares at Tony.
"Yes, hello. Now, where is Stev-"
"Where is he?!" Loki screams as he enters the room with Thor at his heels.
"Where is who?" Coulson asks as he walks in and closes the door.
"The vicomte! He wrote me a letter!" Loki throws the letter at Tony.
"Did you write this?" Fury asks.
"Of course not! I received a note from you saying that the 'Angel of Music' was taking care of Steve!" Tony said, pointing directly at Fury.
"And did you send it?" Coulson asks Fury.
"Oh hell no!" Fury retorts.
"I have a note, Nick." Madame Romanova says.
"Let me see it." Everyone says at once. Natasha hands it to Fury.
"Thank you, Natasha." Fury opens the note and says, "'It seems to me that everyone has gotten their notes. Good. Monsieur Rogers is safe and sound in his bed chamber now. He was with me through the night and needs his rest. He will preform tonight and you will pay me what is due. 20,000 franks a month was what I was paid before you arrived. It is what I expect now every month. Further more, i expect Steve to play the count in the new opera opening soon. Loki shall play the role of the page boy- we all know that it is the perfect role for him. If you cannot follow these instructions, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.
Your obedient servant,
O.G.'"
"Can you believe this?! This is an outrage!!" Loki turns and starts towards the door.
"Loki! Wait!" Fury says. "Please, Loki, you can't even think for one second we would listen to this O.G. Fellow, could you?"
Loki contemplates what Fury said.
"Monsieur, I find it unwise-" Natasha starts.
"Shh! I find it unwise that you try to meddle with something thats not ballet, head dancer." Fury spits back.
Natasha stays quiet as Coulson and Fury persuade Loki to play the Count in the new opera. Tony leaves to find Steve.
It was in the middle of the second act when Steve heard his voice. He knew that Bucky would be angry with everyone at the opera, but he didn't know how angry until Bucky shouted that Loki was singing to bring down the chandelier.
"Loki..." Steve starts.
"Your part is silent, little toad!" Loki says as he walks towards the stage left entrance.
"A toad, monsieur? I believe it is you who are the toad." The Phantom's voice echoed throughout the theatre.
Everyone starts to whisper in hushed tones throughout the theatre.
"Mistro! Let us start this song again." Loki rushes to his position and the others on stage follow. Steve is still staring up at the chandelier. He wouldn't do it...would he?
"-way with this pretence!" Loki sings. Steve snaps out if it to realise he already stripped away the skirt he wore. Loki gives him a tired look.
They move across the stage to sit on the sofa.
"Po-or fool she makes me laugh, ha-a ha! Ha ha- huuuuugh!" Loki brings a hand to his throat. Steve stares at him. He's never croaked before. They continue- Loki being cautious about his voice but he keeps croaking.
"Tho-or!!!" Loki screams as he rushes off the stage. Fury and Coulson rush onto the stage as the close the curtain.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats." Fury announces. "We will continue our show with Steven Rogers as the count!"
"In the meantime," Coulson flips through the program. "We will give you the ballet from act 3 of tonights opera."
Fury leaves the stage and Coulson stands in the middle waiting for the ballet dancers to be set. They take too long so Coulson says, "The ballet...the BALLET!" And when the curtain opens the dancers run unto him as he hurries off the stage.
During the ballet, the rope leader, Pietro, was running from the Phantom around the catwalks.
"Please!" Pietro says as The Phantom pulls out a punjab lasso.
"You should take this up with your bosses. They didn't listen so they will have to pay, with your life. I'm sorry for this." Bucky strangles Pietro and drops him- still attached to the noose- with the ballet dancers. As the screams fill his ears, he goes in search of Steve- his one saviour- to ask forgiveness.
Steve runs up the stairs to the roof with Tony at his heels.
"Steve! Steve! You have a show to do!" Tony huffs as he tries to catch up.
"Leave me alone, monsieur!" Steve shouts as he slips through the door and locks it so Tony can't get through.
"Steve! Steve? Please! Come back inside! I'll leave you alone, but please come back inside! You are going to catch something..." Steve walks away from the door and sits on the ledge of the roof. The snow sticks in his hair and he shivers. He pulls to cape around him more and contemplates whether or not he should just jump and end this madness. He shifts and feels two hands on his shoulders. One is very cold. Steve gasps.
"Please...don't." He hears Bucky's voice close to his ear. He shivers.
"I have t-to.." Steve says. He allows himself to be pulled back off the edge and into the warmth that Bucky brings. Bucky hums into his ear.
"W-what are y-you singing?" Steve asks as he huddles closer to Bucky, pulling the cape tighter around him. Bucky wraps his cloak around Steve as he speaks.
"It's a song I wrote for you." He leans his head against Steve's.
"C-can you s-sing it for me?" Steve starts to warm up so he looks up at Bucky.
"No more talk of darkness
Forget your wide eyed fear
I'm here
With you beside you
To guard you and to guide you.."
"Say you'll share with me one low, one lifetime," Steve sings. He's heard this before. Bucky had sang it to him before, how did he not recognise it? "Sa-ay the word and I will follow yo-ou.."
They sing together and Bucky hands Steve a small box. Steve opens it to find a ring. Steve gasps.
"So sa-ay you'll share with me
One love
One lifetime
Anywhe-ere you go let me go too
Steven,
thats all I ask
of yo-ou!"
Steve reaches up a hand and drags Bucky's face to his and their lips meet and it's like fireworks. They pull away and stare at each other and lean back in to kiss more forcefully. Steve drags his hands through Bucky's hair and Bucky wraps his arms around Steve. They kiss for what seems like hours.
"STEVEN!!"
They jump apart and look towards the door. Bucky looks at Steve.
"That must be Fury. I...should go preform." Steve doesn't make a move to stand.
"Yes. Um..." Bucky stands and pulls Steve up with him. Bucky dusts Steve off and places the ring of Steve's finger.
"Go. You are going to be amazing, Steve." Bucky starts to head off to the other side of the roof.
"Bucky?" Steve asks. Bucky turns to look at him. "Will you watch?"
Bucky smiles. "Of course."
Bucky turns to leave again but Steve surprises him again when he says: "I forgive you."
Bucky turns back. "...What?"
Steve looks at the door handle. "I forgive you for killing Pietro and for threatening the managers. I understand why you did it." Steve looks at Bucky and Bucky walks towards him and kisses him. Steve smiles.
"Thank you." Bucky whispers back and he's gone. Steve opens the door and walks back to the stage with the managers and Tony right at their heels.
Steve preforms with grace and when they bow, Steve looks at box 5 and sees Bucky giving him a standing ovation and Steve almost cries. Instead, Steve touches the ring around his finger and Bucky applauds.
Tony catches Steve playing with the ring later on and he is immediately jealous.
"Bruce!" Tony yells. The organ player turns to look at Tony.
"Monsieur la Vicomte?" He asks.
"I want you to watch Steven for me. See who he is with. Who he is married to. A handsome fortune will be in your future of you do." Tony looks over Bruce. Bruce nods.
Tony didn't know what else to say to Bruce's nod of agreement besides: "Bruce, you have my friendship either way. Do you remember when we were kids-"
"And you told your dad that you would marry your dog because you thought it loved you?" Bruce smiled shyly.
"Yes!" Tony laughed. "The look on my dad's face was worth millions!"
They laugh together and do not notice the two grey eyes boring holes in their cloaks.
"Let it be war..." Bucky writes in his latest letter to Tony. "Upon you both."