A Breath Away From Where You Are
The rain had made the cobblestones slick as ice, causing Eponine to struggle to maintain her balance as she rushed through the streets of Paris. The balmy air of the rainy June night enveloped her, weighing her down, making her movements slowed as if she was moving through water. The letter that she had stuffed into her bodice felt like a knife cutting through her heart. She cursed the Lark that had captured Marius' heart. She cursed herself for having agreed to be their messenger. As preoccupied as she was with her despair, she momentarily forgot about the wet streets and her foot slipped and she felt herself plummeting toward the ground. Just as she was about to make impact, an arm flew out from the shadows and wrapped itself around her waist, pulling her close to the person who had interrupted her fall. She whipped around in the person's arms to find herself face to face with Marius' friend Enjolras.
"Eponine, are you okay," he asked worry clear on his face as he continued to grip her close to him.
"I'm fine thank you," Eponine replied, suddenly realizing how close they were standing as she tried to maneuver herself out of his arms.
He released her, but kept an arm out to steady her should she fall again as he inquired, "Where are you going? It's not very safe to be out alone so late."
"I thank you for saving me, Monsieur, but I'll be fine. I can take care of myself, now I must be on my way," Eponine interjected curtly, giving Enjolras a nod, before turning and heading down the street.
"Wait!" Enjolras called after her, jogging to catch up with her swift strides. "Let me accompany you at least" He placed a hand on her forearm, trying to slow her down.
Eponine stopped and looked at Enjolras. He was starring at her, waiting for a response. She met his eyes and something in the look he was giving her made it impossible to refuse him. She sighed, "Fine, come along."
Enjolras smiled and looked relived, which puzzled Eponine, "Thank you," he whispered. He squeezed her arm and then slipped his hand down to grasp hers.
Eponine went to jerk her hand away, but then she noticed how warm his hand felt wrapped around hers and how tenderly his thumb rubbed the back of her hand. She was so rarely shown any sign of caring that she found she could not reject his sweet gesture. She turned and led him further down the street.
When they reached Cosette's home, Eponine stopped. Enjolras looked at her questioningly. She gestured for him to wait on the street. He hesitated, but nodded, and Eponine snuck into the garden attached to the house. A couple of minutes later she made her way out and Enjolras caught a glimpse of a blond girl that walked Eponine out of the garden.
Eponine made her way back to where Enjolras stood. He took her hand again and this time she let him without a second thought. "You're too nice to him," Enjolras told her as they walked away from the house.
Eponine was startled and stammered, "What… what are you talking about?"
"Marius; you love him don't you?" Eponine blanched, but Enjolras continued before she could speak, "It's obvious Eponine. Everyone knows it, but him. You love him, yet you take notes to the object of his affection and break your own heart in the process—you're much too good for him."
Eponine felt her cheeks burning, embarrassed that her feelings were so visible to everyone else, "I know, I'm pathetic, but I just keep hanging on, hoping, wishing, he'll notice me one day," she looked down and dropped Enjolras' hand. She felt wretched and stupid for her continual hope that Marius' heart would ever be hers.
Eponine went to walk away, ashamed of herself, but Enjolras grabbed her hand and kept her near him. He placed his hand on the side of her face and tilted her head up so she was looking at him. She had tears glistening in her eyes, threatening to spill over. "I don't think you're pathetic," he whispered, rubbing a thumb on her cheek, "I think you're fiercely loyal, maybe to the point of being masochistic," he chuckled, "but you're also so very caring, in that you want him to be happy, even if it hurts you. And you're so strong. You try so hard to hide the pain I know you're feeling." Eponine blushed at Enjolras' kind words and tried to look away, but Enjolras did not allow her to. "Marius is an idiot," he breathed and suddenly he was kissing her. His lips were soft on her rough ones and his hand did not leave her cheek, but his other arm wrapped around itself her waist, pulling her close to him.
Eponine was startled at first, but like holding his hand earlier, she could not deny herself the warmth and comfort his lips and embrace afforded her. After a minute, she returned his kisses and twisted her arms around his neck and gently ran her fingers through his golden curls. She felt Enjolras maneuvering her backwards until she was pressed up against the coarse wall of the building behind her. He continued their unbroken kisses for several more minutes, before his lips left hers and began trailing their way down her neck. As he did so, Eponine let out a quiet moan, causing them both to become aware of how exposed they were kissing on the street. At the same time that Enjolras pulled slightly away, Eponine's eyes flew open and she stared at him, suddenly feeling shy.
"Come on," he said, smirking a little at Eponine's hesitant expression, "Let's reprise this at my flat—it's just around the corner," he put his arm around Eponine's waist to lead her away, but Eponine hesitated.
"What are we doing," Eponine asked warily, not pulling away from Enjolras, but not quite ready to head to his flat yet either. A couple of minutes ago she had been pining over her heartbreak that had been caused by Marius, but Enjolras' sweet kisses had already caused her to forget all about Marius and his love for Cosette. Eponine wondered why she had never noticed how handsome Enjolras was, as she started at his face that was slightly damp from the rain that continued to fall, and was shining in the moonlight.
"We were kissing," Eponine waved away Enjolras' attempt at banter and stared him down until he sighed and placed his hands on either side of her face, "I've been watching you, ever since you first came to the café with Marius. I find you to be quite," he paused, searching for the right word.
"Don't say beautiful or anything like that," Eponine whispered casting her eyes downward. "I know I'm not and you don't need to lie to me to get me into your bed."
"That's not what I was going to say! Nor is that my motivation behind my actions, I assure you. I was going to say I find you intriguing," Enjolras continued hurriedly, aghast at how badly Eponine must think of men if she thought his only motive was to get her into his bed. "The way you put up such a fierce front, yet anyone that watches you closely can see how one careless remark from Pontmercy," Eponine grimaced as Enjolras said his name, "sends you falling to pieces inside. Even now you were putting yourself in danger of physical harm, to give that girl a note from Marius. Pontmercy is blind. You deserve so much more than him and I was just hoping I to offer you some of the caring that you deserve," he trailed off as Eponine looked up and met his gaze.
There was a long pause, before Eponine said, "I don't need your pity," as she moved away from Enjolras' grasp.
He reached out again to grab Eponine's hand, "It's not pity. I find myself wanting to get to know the real Eponine—the one behind the hardened outer shell, for she seems like she'd be an amazing woman."
Eponine blushed again, not exactly believing him, but also realizing that she had never known Enjolras to be one to have inconsequential dalliances with women. If he was interested in spending time with her—and interested in caring for her, he probably had thought about it thoroughly and was not going to take no for an answer. But she still did not really believe that he thought her to be such a complex person, when she so obviously was not. Eponine pulled her hand away again, as she mumbled, "There's nothing to me except my hard exterior, I assure you Monsieur."
Enjolras stepped up close to her, gently cupped her cheek before saying, "I refuse to believe that Mademoiselle," as he softly kissed her again. He pulled away, took her hand yet again, and tugged her down the street after him, "Come on, we're going to my place."
Eponine followed behind him quietly for a while but eventually moved up next to him and took his arm. As she did, Enjolras smiled happily down at her as they made their way through the dark Paris streets.