Combeferre sighed and looked up from his book. Again there was that girl; the girl who always used to be in Marius' shadow. However Combeferre noticed she wasn't anymore. She sat apart from Marius, Cosette, Jehan, Courfeyrac and Gavroche unlike usual. She sat next to R who was talking to her as they sipped a glass of wine each. Combeferre nudged Enjolras and asked, "What is that girl's name sitting with R? You know, she used to be Marius' shadow?"
Enjolras looked up briefly and said, "Oh that's Éponine." He looked back down to his notebook and said, "Why do you want to know that?"
It occurred to Combeferre that he wasnt particularly sure so he hesitated and replied with, "Just wondered."
Enjolras smirked and replied, "If you insist."
Combeferre looked at her one more time before turning back to his book.
'huh' he thought to himself, ' Éponine. That's a nice name.'
The next morning Combeferre had got to the swimming pool later than he usually did due to him accidentally sleeping in. The pool was a little busier than his usual time, probably about 15 people were swimming in the lanes. He climbed in and started swimming just behind a skinny woman with brown hair that was secured into a tight bun. He had swum about 15 lengths behind her when she suddenly left the pool. He realised who she was, it was Éponine.
He smiled and climbed out the pool behind her.
"Éponine!" he called when she ignored him he lightly took her arm, which he noticed had an angry bruise on it.
She turned around this time and although her face softened slightly at seeing it was him she didn't exactly look comfortable.
Combeferre suddenly realised Éponine had never actually talked to him and felt rather stupid. His faced flushed and he apologised, "I'm sorry I'm Combeferre. I am in Marius' friendship group. I'm sorry I forgot we hadn't met."
She smiled but someone from the side of the pool whistled, like you would whistle to a dog. Éponine stiffened and looked slightly towards the poolside before turning back to Combeferre, "Yes Marius had mentioned you. I'm sorry Monseiur but I have to leave."
She took one last scared look back towards the direction of the wolf whistle and hurried into the women's changing rooms.
Combeferre looked towards the pool side and noticed a man staring at him. He was tall, but not in the lanky uncomfortable way Combeferre was tall; tall in the strong, pillar way; the kind of stature that looked reliable. He was wearing a brown blazer and white shirt like he was trying to look upper class. His hair was in a neat black fringe across his forehead and his jaw was set. He gave Combeferre one more frightening look before turning and leaving the poolside.
Combeferre took a deep breath and hurried into the changing rooms even though he should probably do a bit more swimming.
After he had gotten changed he was at the drinks machine when he noticed the man he had seen earlier. He was leaning against a wall which was opposite to the door for the women's changing rooms. Not soon after Éponine left the women's changing rooms looking down at her feet. The man stood up and waited for her to join him before they walked off. Combeferre followed them forgetting about his drink (something which he later regretted). He could only hear snippets of their conversation but from where he was he could hear it was the man giving her orders and her simply mumbling or replying "Yes Montparnasse."
In the end they approached an unmarked van. The man shoved Éponine into the back and climbed into the passenger side before the van drove off.
Combeferre didn't know an awful lot about love and relationships (at the age of 20 he had only managed to convince two girls he was worth a date, although both times they stayed with him for at least a year) but he knew that was not your conventional 'happy families' relationship; if it was indeed a relationship. The only person in his mind that could possibly tell him anything was R.
Although it was almost midday and Grantaire very rarely had terrible hangovers, it was unlikely he was awake or indeed, in any state for Combeferre to get that kind of information out of him. However, it was a risk he would have to take. After dumping his swimming stuff in the passenger seat he sat behind the steering wheel, took a deep breath and called R.
The phone rang 5 times before a slightly grumbly but surprisingly up beat Grantaire answered, "'Sup Ferre"
"Hello R, do you know a lot about Éponine?"
"I know quite a bit about Éponine, why?" Grantaire said smirking.
"Well I was wondering if you knew she. Um had a ... Well what I'm trying to say is well ... Is she in a relationship?" Combeferre stuttered; he immediately regretted it when he could hear the tone of R's voice in what he said next.
"Has Combeferre got a crush? Oh Courfeyrac and Feuilly will love this. I can't believe it. Combeferre has a crush on Ponine!"
"Grantaire. Shut up." Combeferre replied bluntly, "I have no romantic feelings towards Éponine. I saw her today at the swimming pool with this man and I think they might have been dating but he was treating her really badly and I was worried; that's all."
Grantaire was silent for a few seconds before replying rather solemnly, "Montparnasse?"
"That's what she called him."
"She mentioned him the other day when she was very very drunk. She started crying and she was a mess. I think that's where she get those bruises from."
"Bruises?" Combeferre asked surprised. He hadn't talked to Éponine a lot, their whole conversation history had consisted of a few sentences. He had simply thought the bruise on her arm had simply been from an accident; it didn't occur to him that it could have been an injury from her 'boyfriend'.
"She had a black eye about two weeks ago and I have noticed various bruises on her torso when I have undressed her whilst I was taking care of her when she drinks herself to oblivion. And before you say anything she is perfectly fine with me doing that. She asked if I could look after her when she was drunk and you can't sleep with a leather jacket and boots on." Grantaire replied remaining more serious than his usual cynical and joking self.
"Okay thanks R. I'll see you later," Combeferre replied hanging up.
Grantaire sighed throwing the landline on his sofa. Combeferre couldn't hear it himself but it was all too clear that he was falling in love with Éponine whether he liked it or not. Grantaire knew it would take a long time for Éponine to realise, let alone return his affections. She was very slow to trust and even slower to love. Anyway, Éponine was also not the 'I-like-books-and-learning-and-keep-the-partying-t o-minimum' type like Ferre; so he highly doubted she'd go for him. Meanwhile, whilst feeling a lot worse Combeferre drove out of the car park wondering how he would talk to Éponine in the evening.
That evening he watched Éponine as she slipped into the Musain from the rain out side. Grantaire, who was sitting near Combeferre, shouted to her a greeting. She turned around in shock but as soon as she saw R and Ferre her face lit up.
"Good evening!" she replied as she made her way to the table, enthusiastically pulling out a chair and sitting down.
Grantaire smiled, amused by her sudden burst of energy, "What has made you so happy Ponine?"
Éponine suddenly realised that she had no idea why she had suddenly become so happy upon walking into the cafe. Her day had been pretty bad, after leaving the pool she had been subjected to her father's anger and Montparnasse's hungry and unpleasantly aggressive kisses. It wasn't definite she would have come tonight; to be honest normally she wouldn't. However something inside her made her sneak out and come. She had forgotten about the argument and anger that would follow when she got back.
"I really don't know R," she finally replied, "I just don't feel like drowning my sorrows this evening."
There was a slightly awkward silence before Combeferre spoke, "I'm really sorry Éponine about earlier at the pool. I quite forgot you don't know me."
"Don't worry Combeferre it was fine, I was just in a rush," Éponine replied.
"Call me 'Ferre please," Combeferre quickly added, although that wasn't something he told everyone his full name sounded formal and harsh when she said it; like she was talking to her boss or casual co-worker not a friend.
"Ah Ferre it is then, should I get us some drinks?" she asked opening her bag to get her purse.
"No no I'll get them," Ferre said rapidly but awkwardly standing up and putting his hands into his pockets.
"I'll have a coke then please," Éponine smirked sitting back in her chair.
"Right okay," Combeferre stuttered pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose and turning to walk to the bar.
"Oi! A glass of red for me," Grantaire shouted behind him before facing Éponine and lowering his voice, "That man, so focused on seeing to our resident beauty that he forgets to get his own mate a drink."
Then Éponine did something Grantaire did not expect, she blushed a deep shade of red.
A/N: HELLO! So I love Epiferre and I finally got round to uploading some of my fanfiction about them! This will be a chapter fic (well that's what I'm planning) so I hope you like it :) Thank you for reader my darlings - Daisy (sometimes known as Enjolras)
Enjolras looked up briefly and said, "Oh that's Éponine." He looked back down to his notebook and said, "Why do you want to know that?"
It occurred to Combeferre that he wasnt particularly sure so he hesitated and replied with, "Just wondered."
Enjolras smirked and replied, "If you insist."
Combeferre looked at her one more time before turning back to his book.
'huh' he thought to himself, ' Éponine. That's a nice name.'
The next morning Combeferre had got to the swimming pool later than he usually did due to him accidentally sleeping in. The pool was a little busier than his usual time, probably about 15 people were swimming in the lanes. He climbed in and started swimming just behind a skinny woman with brown hair that was secured into a tight bun. He had swum about 15 lengths behind her when she suddenly left the pool. He realised who she was, it was Éponine.
He smiled and climbed out the pool behind her.
"Éponine!" he called when she ignored him he lightly took her arm, which he noticed had an angry bruise on it.
She turned around this time and although her face softened slightly at seeing it was him she didn't exactly look comfortable.
Combeferre suddenly realised Éponine had never actually talked to him and felt rather stupid. His faced flushed and he apologised, "I'm sorry I'm Combeferre. I am in Marius' friendship group. I'm sorry I forgot we hadn't met."
She smiled but someone from the side of the pool whistled, like you would whistle to a dog. Éponine stiffened and looked slightly towards the poolside before turning back to Combeferre, "Yes Marius had mentioned you. I'm sorry Monseiur but I have to leave."
She took one last scared look back towards the direction of the wolf whistle and hurried into the women's changing rooms.
Combeferre looked towards the pool side and noticed a man staring at him. He was tall, but not in the lanky uncomfortable way Combeferre was tall; tall in the strong, pillar way; the kind of stature that looked reliable. He was wearing a brown blazer and white shirt like he was trying to look upper class. His hair was in a neat black fringe across his forehead and his jaw was set. He gave Combeferre one more frightening look before turning and leaving the poolside.
Combeferre took a deep breath and hurried into the changing rooms even though he should probably do a bit more swimming.
After he had gotten changed he was at the drinks machine when he noticed the man he had seen earlier. He was leaning against a wall which was opposite to the door for the women's changing rooms. Not soon after Éponine left the women's changing rooms looking down at her feet. The man stood up and waited for her to join him before they walked off. Combeferre followed them forgetting about his drink (something which he later regretted). He could only hear snippets of their conversation but from where he was he could hear it was the man giving her orders and her simply mumbling or replying "Yes Montparnasse."
In the end they approached an unmarked van. The man shoved Éponine into the back and climbed into the passenger side before the van drove off.
Combeferre didn't know an awful lot about love and relationships (at the age of 20 he had only managed to convince two girls he was worth a date, although both times they stayed with him for at least a year) but he knew that was not your conventional 'happy families' relationship; if it was indeed a relationship. The only person in his mind that could possibly tell him anything was R.
Although it was almost midday and Grantaire very rarely had terrible hangovers, it was unlikely he was awake or indeed, in any state for Combeferre to get that kind of information out of him. However, it was a risk he would have to take. After dumping his swimming stuff in the passenger seat he sat behind the steering wheel, took a deep breath and called R.
The phone rang 5 times before a slightly grumbly but surprisingly up beat Grantaire answered, "'Sup Ferre"
"Hello R, do you know a lot about Éponine?"
"I know quite a bit about Éponine, why?" Grantaire said smirking.
"Well I was wondering if you knew she. Um had a ... Well what I'm trying to say is well ... Is she in a relationship?" Combeferre stuttered; he immediately regretted it when he could hear the tone of R's voice in what he said next.
"Has Combeferre got a crush? Oh Courfeyrac and Feuilly will love this. I can't believe it. Combeferre has a crush on Ponine!"
"Grantaire. Shut up." Combeferre replied bluntly, "I have no romantic feelings towards Éponine. I saw her today at the swimming pool with this man and I think they might have been dating but he was treating her really badly and I was worried; that's all."
Grantaire was silent for a few seconds before replying rather solemnly, "Montparnasse?"
"That's what she called him."
"She mentioned him the other day when she was very very drunk. She started crying and she was a mess. I think that's where she get those bruises from."
"Bruises?" Combeferre asked surprised. He hadn't talked to Éponine a lot, their whole conversation history had consisted of a few sentences. He had simply thought the bruise on her arm had simply been from an accident; it didn't occur to him that it could have been an injury from her 'boyfriend'.
"She had a black eye about two weeks ago and I have noticed various bruises on her torso when I have undressed her whilst I was taking care of her when she drinks herself to oblivion. And before you say anything she is perfectly fine with me doing that. She asked if I could look after her when she was drunk and you can't sleep with a leather jacket and boots on." Grantaire replied remaining more serious than his usual cynical and joking self.
"Okay thanks R. I'll see you later," Combeferre replied hanging up.
Grantaire sighed throwing the landline on his sofa. Combeferre couldn't hear it himself but it was all too clear that he was falling in love with Éponine whether he liked it or not. Grantaire knew it would take a long time for Éponine to realise, let alone return his affections. She was very slow to trust and even slower to love. Anyway, Éponine was also not the 'I-like-books-and-learning-and-keep-the-partying-t o-minimum' type like Ferre; so he highly doubted she'd go for him. Meanwhile, whilst feeling a lot worse Combeferre drove out of the car park wondering how he would talk to Éponine in the evening.
That evening he watched Éponine as she slipped into the Musain from the rain out side. Grantaire, who was sitting near Combeferre, shouted to her a greeting. She turned around in shock but as soon as she saw R and Ferre her face lit up.
"Good evening!" she replied as she made her way to the table, enthusiastically pulling out a chair and sitting down.
Grantaire smiled, amused by her sudden burst of energy, "What has made you so happy Ponine?"
Éponine suddenly realised that she had no idea why she had suddenly become so happy upon walking into the cafe. Her day had been pretty bad, after leaving the pool she had been subjected to her father's anger and Montparnasse's hungry and unpleasantly aggressive kisses. It wasn't definite she would have come tonight; to be honest normally she wouldn't. However something inside her made her sneak out and come. She had forgotten about the argument and anger that would follow when she got back.
"I really don't know R," she finally replied, "I just don't feel like drowning my sorrows this evening."
There was a slightly awkward silence before Combeferre spoke, "I'm really sorry Éponine about earlier at the pool. I quite forgot you don't know me."
"Don't worry Combeferre it was fine, I was just in a rush," Éponine replied.
"Call me 'Ferre please," Combeferre quickly added, although that wasn't something he told everyone his full name sounded formal and harsh when she said it; like she was talking to her boss or casual co-worker not a friend.
"Ah Ferre it is then, should I get us some drinks?" she asked opening her bag to get her purse.
"No no I'll get them," Ferre said rapidly but awkwardly standing up and putting his hands into his pockets.
"I'll have a coke then please," Éponine smirked sitting back in her chair.
"Right okay," Combeferre stuttered pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose and turning to walk to the bar.
"Oi! A glass of red for me," Grantaire shouted behind him before facing Éponine and lowering his voice, "That man, so focused on seeing to our resident beauty that he forgets to get his own mate a drink."
Then Éponine did something Grantaire did not expect, she blushed a deep shade of red.
A/N: HELLO! So I love Epiferre and I finally got round to uploading some of my fanfiction about them! This will be a chapter fic (well that's what I'm planning) so I hope you like it :) Thank you for reader my darlings - Daisy (sometimes known as Enjolras)