AN: So a friend of mine told me to write a coffeeshop AU for one of my ships to help me get back into writing, so I kinda barfed something out and here it is. I know coffeeshop AUs for Enjonine are kinda overused, in their own wonderful way, but I didn't get any other prompts, so I apologise for the unoriginality. I guess this is kinda a competition of book!verse and musical!verse, and if the characters seem OOC to you, please tell me, I'm still trying to work with them and shape them and I'm literally sat here writing with my book open on my lap but I feel kinda uneasy about it still. And yeah, I haven't written in a long time and uploaded in even longer so sorry it's so bad, I'm beyond rusty. Reviews are so so so so so welcome.

"Black coffee," mumbled Eponine absentmindedly as she checked her phone. Still no word from Gavroche. He had run off again, probably spent all night sleeping on the streets. She had to admit, it was better than home, but she worried about him so much, out there in the cold. She could hardly think, her mind was so cluttered with images of him trying to start fights with kids three times his size, or worse, adults.

"Coming right up" sighed the barista grumpily, rolling his eyes not-so-subtly. Éponine looked up from her screen just in time to catch him.

"I'm sorry, is there a problem?" she asked, her impatience rising. Normally she was pretty sympathetic to employees -having been raised in a tavern- but today was not the day to try and push her.

"None at all, your highness," the man grumbled sarcastically. "Here's your coffee. That'll be €3.21."

Barely hiding an angry huff, Éponine grabbed her coffee and shoved over four euros. "Keep the change," she muttered, and disappeared behind the line and back to the small table by the window where Cosette was waiting.

"Why are you all upset?" the other girl asked, raising an eyebrow at Éponine's annoyed expression.

"The barista was a dick," she replied, quickly clearing her face with a small smile.

"Ooh, I know him," Cosette said, peering over the heads of the other customers to catch a glimpse of the prat. "He's one of Marius's friends. He's this super-political guy, leader of this big club, huge activist. He's always trying to get me to come to one of his rallies." A mischievous look flashed in the girl's eyes as a cheesy smile danced on her lips. "You know, he's also very, very handsome."

Éponine had to fight not to roll her eyes. "Yes, he's a very handsome prick. But he's still annoying."

Now that she thought about it, Éponine did know the boy. He had pulled the same thing on her when she went with Marius to that bar of his. Didn't like him much then either. Tried to tell her she was a victim of oppression, that he could liberate her from her suffering. Okay, he was handsome, she could admit that, with his blonde waves and blue eyes, a jaw that could cut glass, and those cheekbones…but he was still rude.

Suddenly Cosette perked up, her face lighting up like a star. Éponine didn't know eyes could even go that wide. "Oh my God, Éponine, I just have to tell you about what Marius did last night. It was so romantic! I came home and-"

Éponine sighed softly as she brought the coffee cup to her lips, allowing herself to zone out. She was trying, she really was. For Marius. And Cosette was nice, and she wasn't as girl-next-door prepster as she came off. Éponine actually enjoyed her company. It was just so hard, hearing her go on and on about 'Marius did this' and 'Marius did that' and 'On Valentine's Day, we did this…'. Not to mention, she wasn't exactly shy about their sex life either. Why did they both have to be so oblivious? Why couldn't they see how hard this was for her? Every time she saw them together it felt like a dagger through her gut, every time they talked about each other so fucking happily it was another wound to her, their words lashing like whips. The only benefit was that they were so oblivious that even her glares and attempts to not listen went unnoticed as they fawned in each other's glory.

Éponine leaned her head against the window, letting the Parisian sun warm her face. She knew she looked disgusting -her long black hair was tied atop her head to hide how greasy it was, she had deep purple rings under her eyes due to working through the nights, and her even her sun-tanned skin couldn't hide the dirt caked on her face. She was used to looking like this, sure, but sitting here next to Cosette, beautiful Cosette, clean, glowing, fresh-faced Cosette; she suddenly felt like trash left out on the pavement.

Well that's what you are, isn't it? breathed a voice in her head. Marius didn't want you. Your parents don't want you. Even Montparnasse grows tired of you. You're just the scum of the street now; little Éponine the Princess is gone.

"Éponine? Éponine!?"

The concerned edge to her friend's usually soft voice brought Éponine back to reality. With a jump she snapped back to see Cosette leaning forward, brow furrowed in a mixture of concern and confusion.

"Oh…sorry. I'm just…tired," she lied as Cosette returned to her relaxed position. A frown crossed the blond's face.

"Were you working again last night?"

Cosette didn't know half of Éponine's situation, but Éponine suspected Marius had told her quite a bit without her knowledge. And while their lives had been very different then, Cosette had lived with her parents as a foster child when she was younger. She knew exactly how cruel the Thenardiers could be.

"No, I was-" Éponine stopped herself before another lie could tumblr off her tongue. What was the point of it anymore? She was stuck with Cosette, she might as well be honest with her. "I was looking for my brother. He keeps on running off by himself and won't keep me updated on where he is."

Suddenly a small, soft hand like velvet was on Éponine's calloused paws. Cosette smiled up at her, her face the beacon of sympathy and hope, as ever. How did she manage to do that? Éponine thought. Just look like such a little angel no matter what?

"We'll find him," she reassured Éponine. "Marius and I will help you. And you know Gavroche has always been the smartest kid on the streets."

Éponine allowed herself a small smile to return, feeling, dare she say it, a tiny bit of friendship towards the girl? Well, a work in progress maybe.

"You know, Marius says the boys are having a get together at Musain again tonight," Cosette told her, daintily sipping her chai latte. "No politics, just genuine hanging out. You should come. I don't want to be alone with the sausage fest, and I don't know Musichetta very well. Besides," Cosette added with an evil grin, "Maybe Mr Handsome Prick will be there."