7 Things Eponine Loves About Combeferre
1. His faith. Only trusting words fall from the lips of Combeferre. He believes in everything. God, humans, and that good will always prevail. He not only believes in change, but he remembers to prepare for it.
And best of all, he believes in Eponine. When he tells her this she walks away, refusing to believe it. Eponine knows she has a twisted soul. That she's done wrong and has been wronged too many times to have any compassion left. She's too broken; no good can come of her. But Combeferre argues that she is still virtuous and that she is brilliant. He thinks she can also do great things. Nobody has ever made her feel that she was born for a reason. But Combeferre sees purpose in everyone, even fuck-ups like Eponine.
2. She doesn't say anything… but he makes her believe too.
3. Light is the best way to describe him, her life can only be described as cold and dark before she was introduced her to the Amis. Enjolras may be the radiant one, but she thinks it is only because Combeferre shares his fire with the rest. He illuminates their minds with remarkable words and philosophy. Then warms their hearts with kindness and embraces. And when he grins at her, she swears that it feels like sunlight kissing her face.
4. He gives Eponine books. And he's always sure to put in little post-it notes at the beginning saying that he hopes she will enjoy the book, and then at the end to explain why he thought of giving her that story. The ones with plucky, curious heroines always seem to remind him of her. She likes that.
5. Once she walked into the Café Musain and saw him teaching Gavroche how to play chess. He let the kid win and then bought him a celebratory muffin. That's the day she figured out she was totally screwed.
6. He has this way of running his fingers over her wrists. And her hips. And the base of her neck. He's just got this way of paying attention to the smallest details. The freckles on her shoulder fascinate him. A scar on her knee enthralls him. So of course when they make love, he's the most attentive lover in the world. He takes his time exploring her body, making mental maps of her curves and blemishes. And then he becomes the world's most gentle conqueror.
7. When Eponine panics and feels things are too good to be true (in her experience, they always are), he holds her and whispers "I love you. I'm here" into her ears until all her thoughts of running away have subdued. He promises not to leave her alone, ever. For the first time in her life, she believes it.