Author Notes: Hey there! This is my first Les Miserables fic. It started off as a one shot concept, but when I sat down to write, it just kept flowing. It is set in modern day Paris, however the monarchy still is there today. If you have any questions relating to any of the history stuff (not so relevant now, but will be in later chapters...) please just shoot me a message! Anyway, thank you for reading!
Imagine a world where the fates were kind enough to give you a physical indication of whom your soul mate is; a small mark which you are born with, which, as you grow older and shape your character, transforms into a petite tattoo which is a reflection of your humanity. Your destined also bears that same mark. What do you think your mark would be? Would this make finding your one true love easier? You would think so; however that is not always the case. This mark could be anywhere on your body, visible or not depending on your attire. It could be something which you don't entirely understand yourself, therefore you could hide it if you did not wish others to see. It could lead to a case of mistaken identity, where you can see someone else's mark, partially concealed, and believe that it matches your own. This ultimately leads to that tragedy we know as unrequited love, and this is what happened to one person called Éponine Thénardier.
Éponine Thénardier was the eldest daughter of a conman and his wife. She was born with her mark on her right wrist. Under the regime of Louis-Philippe her father was able to take advantage of vulnerable people travelling to the city. He was the leader of an infamous group of criminals known as Le Patron and he oversaw much of the underworld dealings in Paris. As his trade and fortunes flourished, so did Éponine's education. Her father had her enrolled at the best school in Paris and she was an excellent student. It was here where her mark began to take the shape of a cockade of the tricolor. She was passionate about stories and history and the French language, and her feature reflected that.
This changed as she turned 12. There were outbreaks of unrest in border regions, signs of malcontent with the monarchy. While the rebellions were always quickly quashed and violence never reached Paris, the monarchy began to crack down on what it had turned a blind eye to, bringing in a notoriously efficient officer by the name of Javert. As a result Éponine's father lost money and became more desperate to maintain his lifestyle at the expense of his family. Éponine was pulled out of school and home schooled by her mother, which actually meant that she was taught how to break into other people's homes and take what she thought would please her dear papa. As she was exposed to her father's underlings for the first time her cockade began to show some wear and tear. She became hardened and cynical, like a true member of Le Patron. Then she met Montparnasse. He was a younger man, new to the Paris underworld. He was charming and crafty and dark. Éponine's father owed him more money than he would pay him; therefore he traded Éponine to Montparnasse. It was after the first time he hit her that speckles of blood appeared on the cockade.
Eventually she was able to escape to a shelter. From there she was able to make a deal with Javert to help take down Le Patron; Éponine changed her surname to Jondrette and was put up in a safe house and her siblings were put into state care. One day a student moved in across the street, a young man who caught the eye of Éponine. And this is where our story begins.