"You've got to be kidding me."
Grantaire's deadpan statement received no reply as Courfeyrac ignored him, smiling slightly and drying a cup that wasn't wet.
Eyes narrowing, and a familiar smirk falling into place, Grantaire inspected the new employee/roommate of his friend.
"It's because he's got a cute butt, isn't it?"
Courfeyrac looked up from the needless drying and followed his friend's stare. His new employee/roommate, otherwise known as Marius Pontmercy, was currently engrossed in cleaning up a table, rear end facing the two onlookers and swishing as he worked.
"Maybe a little," replied Courfeyrac, grinning boyishly and revealing the tiny gap in his front teeth which the girls, for some reason, seemed to love, "isn't he just adorable though?"
Grantaire watched as Marius finished his cleaning, turning towards them and began to stack chairs upon the tables. Honestly, he'd never seen anyone look so happy to be working for his friend, especially considering Marius would be living with Courfeyrac as well.
Adorable was one word for Marius; Grantaire would prefer young and naive. His face was fresh and smeared with freckles that would make a serious game of dot-to-dot; bright eyes screamed of his youth and mousy brown hair was styled accordingly with latest fashion trends, and his t-shirt was from Abercrombie & Fitch. Honestly, Grantaire was surprised he wasn't working there instead of the café.
He was one of those kids, Grantaire thought.
"Not really my type," he replied honestly.
"Right, I forgot. You're more into angry, blond activists, that are literally Greek Gods, who- may I remind you – think you're a drunken idiot." Courfeyrac raised an eyebrow at his friend. "Speaking of," he continued before Grantaire could reply, "Apollo should've been here ten minutes ago. Combeferre's text said they'd only take five minutes and it's been around fifteen."
"Surely it's not so bad? Maybe they just misjudged how long it would take them." Marius butted it, furrowing his brows and looking between his employer and stranger. Immediately afterwards he turned to Grantaire, holding out his hand to shake and introducing himself, "You must be a friend of Courfeyrac's, right? I'm Marius and we've just moved in together. Wait- no- not like that! I mean- I'm his new roomate/employee!"
Yup, Grantaire concluded as he watched the colour filling Marius's cheeks, definitely naïve. However, before he could respond, the door to the cafe abruptly burst open and the sound of two young men arguing filled the room.
"-regardless, that doesn't mean you start a fight with someone." One of them said firmly, adjusting his glasses and pulling the blond man up.
"I maintain that he started it." The blond retorted petulantly, trying in vain to push the rebelious curls from his vision. "He punched me first- all I did to 'provoke' him was tell him to be more respectful to that woman."
"I looked away for a minute to text Courf and next thing I know your nose is bleeding and you've got some random man by the collar!"
"Sorry, but can I interrupt you and the missus and suggest you perhaps save this for the bedroom?" Grantaire chose that moment to speak up, noticing Marius's complexion go whiter by the second and finding it the funniest thing he'd seen all day. And he'd watched a recoring of 'The Book of Mormon' earlier.
The blond man's head immediately snapped around to glare whilst the bespectacled one placed a hand on his shoulder, sighing and silently encouraging him to let it go.
"See? He thinks I look like a girl too." The blond continued to vocalise his frustrations, albeit less angrily and in more of a dejected fashion which, unfortunately, made it sound more like he was sulking.
"The asshole said you look like a girl?" Couferyac asked over the bespectacled man's cry of, "You don't look like a girl, Enjolras!"
The blond, now known as Enjolras, continued to huff and began to re-adjust the buttons of his shirt as a few had popped out during his scuffle. As soon as he was satisfied he turned to adress his friend with the glasses, "But it's true, Combeferre. Everyone comments on my apparent femininity and no one takes me seriously because of it," looking each of his listeners in the eye, he continued, "look at me and tell me I don't look in the least bit feminine." He concluded, spreading his arms wide and gesturing to himself.
In all honesty, he had a slight point.
Intense blue eyes stared them down, framed by long golden lashes which any woman would be jealous of. His complexion was clear and seemed to be poreless but a healthy rosy colour was visible in his cheeks. The features he had were so delicately carved that if he was still for long enough, he would be reminiscent of an ancient marble statue. Soft, light coloured curls were free to fall around his face and shoulders as they had been tugged free from his hairtie in the fight. The light fading in the window, to Gantaire's amusement, made Enjolras' hair glow and he had to bite back every Rapunzel joke that rose to his lips.
Figure wise, he wasn't frail or short but was more lean and on the taller side, however this wasn't to say he looked muscular. It was more of a hidden strength he carried off, which was rather unfortunate for those who chose to rattle him.
He had a full bottom lip and a defined cupid's bow. While there were small dimples on his face which spoke of laughter, his lips were usually downturned in an almost pouting frown.
Combining all these features, it wasn't any small feat to say that he was angelic in appearance. However, it must be remembered that angels are warriors of God himself.
The blood crusted underneath Enjolras' nose and above his lips attested to that and only served to make him appear even more so.
Enjolras let out a slightly bitter laugh of victory when his friends remained speechless.
"There really is no denying it then." He said with an air of finality.
"Enjolras," Combeferre began, "you can't simply think that because of your looks no one will take you seriously. It's what you say and do that matters."
Looking at Combeferre for a moment, Enjolras debated arguing further before nodding begrudgingly. There was no point attempting to argue with Combeferre, they'd known each other far too long for either of them to really win.
"He's right, y'know," interjected Grantaire, "we don't give a shit if you look like a Disney princess."
A collective sigh that spoke of longtime suffering fell over the group as Couferyac and Combeferre simply sat back to watch the show. Marius continued to look even whiter and more confused as Enjolras rose like a kraken from the deep to Grantaire's taunt.
"And I'm sure you'll be just as pleased to now that we don't give a shit about how much you drink, or the fact that you ask Courfeyrac to 'Irish up your coffee' at 9am- despite the fact that if he's caught selling that to you at that time he could be in serious trouble since he doesn't actually have a license to sell alcohol, especially at that time. In fact, you shouldn't even be drinking at that time, regardless."
"Terribly sorry, Your Highness. I'll be sure to refresh myself with the latest drinking and trading laws as soon as I'm sober enough." Grantaire hardly missed a beat before cracking out another joke, this one more self-depreciating than the last.
"Like that will ever happen." Enjolras scoffed, a bitter look in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Marius was still as confused as ever and looking very much like a meerkat at a tennis match as he whipped his head around the room.
Courfeyrac just grinned, used to this routine, and clapped Marius on the back. He laughed when Marius jumped.
"And just think, Marius! These are only three of my friends!"
The thought barely crossed his mind before his face paled again and he chuckled nervously. It'll be fine, he thought hopefully (read: prayed), it's not like I have any other friends, and I need this. This will be good for me, he concluded.
"Don't worry, we're the cool kids." Courfeyrac reassured him with a definitive nod.
Grantaire's laugh echoed throughout the cafe.
Yeah... So this would be my first Les Mis fanfic and I'm just gonna apologise so much for it now. There is literally no plot. I don't know whether my characterisations are correct or not, as I'm trying to update them for a modern era, so I'm sorry... There will, however, be some ships in the name of Marius/Cosette and possibly E/R if people want that seeing as I ship it like FedEx (They died holding hands...! No I'm not crying don't be silly... I just have a barricade in my eye...), so yeah let me know about that?
I'd appreciate any criticisms or suggestions or even prompts for ideas! That will really determine whether or not I continue this fic.
Thanks for reading!
- Callie