It was a summer night, far too hot and humid to be comfortable. So they lay on top of the bed covers and let the breeze from the window cool them. He looked so pure and peaceful, even in cut-offs and a borrowed t-shirt. His eyes were closed and his abstract black curls fell like a waterfall down the pillow. And Enjolras wondered if he could stop time and live in that moment forever.
But that's not how real life works, because his eyes were tightly shut in pain, the borrowed shirt masked broken ribs. Even the selective light from the window reflected off broken glass lodged in his bloody, disgusting, mess of a leg. And he was on Enjolras' bed because he had carried the other man's unconscious body there and he hadn't woken up yet.
Just as Enjolras was wondering how he was going to explain all this to the man, and possibly law officers, the other man woke up. Enjolras decided foolishly to not say anything and hope the man didn't notice Enjolras lying beside him. That plan failed. The man turned his head and his confused, bloodshot eyes locked right on Enjolras.
"I can explain, just give me a minute." He did not give him a minute.
"Who the fuck are you, where the hell am I, and why are you shirtless?" Enjolras had forgotten the fact he had taken his shirt off.
"It's really hot." He answered honestly.
"I'm Enjolras by the way."
"Grantaire." The man responded, even in his rough shape Enjolras still found him attractive.
"Pleasure to meet you." Grantiare added sarcastically. Maybe this entire situation wasn't going to be as horrible as Enjolras had imagined. he decided to just confess everything he knew and hoped Granitare would fill in the gaps
"So what happened, was I found you knocked out behind the Musain, and you were pretty beat up, so I carried you to my place." Enjolras motioned to his apartment.
"Oh and your wearing my shirt- not the one I had on today- because there was blood everywhere and I'm sort of squeamish." He added with a really pathetic smile. Grantaire actually laughed a little, the whole situation was a little messed up anyway. He was lying face to face next to a virtual stranger, shirtless, on his bed and neither of them moved. Grantaire was likely unable, and Enjolras was far too unwilling.
"Okay," Grantiare sighed. "So I just started working there like a week ago, I bartend. And these two guys think they're so cool that they deserve free drinks, but they were total assholes, so I kept telling them no. Then after my shift, I was walking home and they ambushed me! And then I guess I blacked out." Grantaire obviously had trouble remembering, he was still pretty out of it.
"Looks like they threw a wine bottle at your leg." Grantiare sat up, which was even painful to watch, and took a long look at his leg.
"That's as gross as it is painful." Then he turned to Enjolras.
"I recognize you from somewhere." and after several seconds of staring added "Oh yeah, you came in with all your friends once, and you ended up screaming at them and I kicked you out."
"Wait what."
"I kicked you out for yelling too loud, you were standing on a table. You really don't remember this?"
"Are you serious."
"Dead serious." Enjolras remembered now, it was right after he lost in the final round of the debate tournament.
"I apologize, I was very upset that night." Grantaire smirked. How could you be this hurt and still be charming, this was beyond Enjolras.
"Upset or wasted?" Oh my god, he was actually enjoying this, what a bastard.
"I said, I apologize."
"Better tell your friends that 'People's choice' boy." Enjolras wanted to kiss him and rip out his throat at the same time. He wanted to fire back at Grantaire, remind him that he had found his passed out body behind a bar, but he figured that was rude, so he compromised.
"Anyway, boy I found passed out behind a bar, I have a friend who's a doctor, Combeferre, he'll be here in the morning. Don't try to run away."
"No problem, Apollo." Grantaire reached out with a shaky hand and patted Enjolras' golden curls. Enjolras was overcome with emotions, he hated this man, he should have left him behind the Musain. Other the other hand he was the most entertaining converstaion he'd had in a while.
"I'm going to sleep, because this is my bed by the way." Enjolras countered.
"You put me here." Dang it, that was true. Grantiare had won this round, but Enjolras still fell asleep smiling.
And he awoke to gunshots.