There is no meeting today. Even though Enjolras had set up for one they all get a text saying they'll do it tomorrow rather and that is followed by an excuse that is obviously not the real reason behind the rescheduling. Grantaire is staring at his mobile with a suspicious expression and a beer bottle clenched in his hand. He has arrived early to get some homework done at the café before the meeting started and had gotten the text after arriving. He put down the bottle, gathered his things and went to Enjolras' flat. They had been going out for a couple of weeks and he knew Enjolras didn't have anything on his agenda today. He had even told Grantaire they could hang out after the meeting since he was free. The door to Enjolras flat was locked and Grantaire contemplated using his own key, the one Enjolras had trusted him with, but settled for just knocking.
It took longer than necessary for Enjolras to open and when he did Grantaire almost rubbed his eyes to make sure he was awake. Enjolras always looked clean and proper, but today he looked anything but that. His curls were matted to his forehead and sticking up like he'd just woken up in other places. His eyes held none of the usual fire and looked sunken, exhausted, upset. He was wearing a green shirt that Grantaire recognised as his own and boxers, no socks or trousers. He looked sick in fact.
"Grantaire."
His voice sounded strained and a little broken. Grantaire just entered the flat, shutting the door behind him and dragging Enjolras by the hand into his bedroom. The curtains were drawn in front of the window and the bed had obviously just been in use. A bucket stood beside it, a glass of water on the nightstand and soft classical music was playing from an ipod docking next to the glass. Grantaire sat down near the headboard and pulled Enjolras down on the bed, putting his head in his lap and starting to run his fingers through Enjolras' lifeless curls. Enjolras looked up at him and his eyes were blanker than usual.
"You can do it, Enjolras, you know that, I know that, we all know that."
Grantaire had encountered this side of Enjolras a while back, or rather he had come by his flat to find Combeferre holding Enjolras to his chest while the blonde whispered his worst fears into Combeferre's shirt. Enjolras was the strongest person Grantaire knew and he knew fully well how awful Enjolras' father had been. Enjolras was usually almost apathetic when it came to a lot of things and seemed like he was carved in marble, but Grantaire knew how exhausted Enjolras could get after thinking too much too fast. He knew Enjolras feared he would never achieve anything, that everything he stood for and fought for would fail and he would have caused harm to come to his friends in vain. He also knew of Enjolras' self consciousness when it came to his appearance, he knew about the many hurtful comments he had gotten from people at school, on the street, as well as from his own father.
The tension in Enjolras shoulders and body relaxed a little when Grantaire started braiding and un-braiding his hair. He repeated the words back at Grantaire and closed his eyes. Grantaire didn't leave Enjolras' side that day and he stayed next to him during the night and the morning after. Enjolras was prone to episodes like this after exams, especially bad protests and phone calls from his father. Grantaire was always there to help him through it, and the action was always returned when Grantaire was the one having a bad day.