Hey guys! This be my first Les Miserables fanfiction! Yay for that! I think, idk, I'm pretty sure I'll slaughter the characters here worse than I did for my Phantom fics, but I am doing my homework constantly and I will try to make this as, not stupid, as possible. And I also have to say, for the time being, don't expect an update TOO too often. My computer is, not happy with me. He's being eated by a virus. IN the meantime, here be Chapter 1!
And a few more things before I have angry people tearing me limb from limb. YES, this is based mostly on the musical and YES I have read the book. I would have Enjolras as himself (Blond Hair) but Ramin Karimloo was my first Enjolras, so this Enjy has his dark hair. Everybody else, well whatever you want with them really. I'm not very good at descriptions.
19 year old Enjolras walked down the street late one winter night. He pulled his jacket closer to him and focused only on getting to his warm flat. He'd been in the cafe late with his friends as usual after school and had hardly noticed when the clock struck midnight. "Great" he thought to himself "I'll hardly get a wink of sleep before school".
It wasn't really a big deal that he wouldn't get that much sleep, he never really did. But he always chastised himself for not sleeping enough, as a student he needed to sleep so he could be fully aware during class. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sounds of something crashing and the sounds of people shouting in the street.
He turned to see what it was, and was surprised to find the street empty. "Must be on one of the side streets" he thought to himself. His thoughts were proved right as a young girl, no older than 5, sprinted full out of one of the streets and came barreling towards him. He reached out and caught her arm as she sprinted past, making her skid to a halt and pant, her bright green eyes looking up at him in fright "Monsieur you have to help me!" she said though shaky gasps.
The shouting in the street was beginning to die down and the little girl trembled "What happened?" Enjolras asked her, not sure of what to do. She shook her head and blinked back tears "My Mama got beat up by some men in the ally over there!" she said, pointing in the directions of the screams. The street had now grown deathly quiet except for the girl's quiet whimpers.
Quietly Enjolras made his way over to the ally the little girl had pointed out, not sure if he should get involved alright. As he made his way over a group of men, 4 of them, walked out and slipped down the sidewalk in the shadows, not noticing Enjolras and the small girl now clinging to his coat, shivering. He peered down the ally, the girl trying to peak behind him but he pushed her back. "Mama?" she called, Enjolras hushed her "Stay right here" he instructed. She merely stared at him with her wide green eyes, but nodded, taking orders from the stranger.
Enjolras quickly went into the ally, and noticed a figure lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He picked up his pace and knelt beside the figure, gently turning it over so it lay on it's back. It was a woman, her face pale and covered in dirt and blood, her hazel eyes were glazed as they focused on him. She groaned "A... Abby? Abbigale?" she called weakly. He hushed her "Madame what happened to you?" he asked. She coughed up blood and groaned in pain before answering "I wouldn't give those gentleman what they wanted, so they pulled a knife on me" she replied.
Her eyes closed and she gasped sharply "M... Monsieur, my daughter" she mumbled, blood trickling from her lips "P... please protect her" she said with the desperation only a mother could have. With a final cough she became still and Enjolras looked away from the woman, she was dead. He picked her up and laid her down by the wall, hoping someone would find her in the morning, though he wasn't sure. He went back out and the little girl, Abby, looked back up at him "Is Mama ok?" she asked innocently.
When he didn't answer she went to go into the ally to check herself when Enjolras grabbed her arm "Your mother is dead" he told her gently. The girl stopped and looked at him, she simply looked at him for a long time before tears began to well in her eyes "Dead?" she repeated, as if trying to understand the word. He stood quietly and waited until finally the little girl let out a hard sob and clung to his arm "Oh Monsieur she can't be dead! Now how will I live? What'll I eat?" she asked him though her sobs.
The words of the child startled him, and he noticed that she was indeed wearing nothing but tattered rags over her tiny form, and her feet were red and most likely numb from the cold. "Just what I need right now" he thought as he gently picked the girl up in his arms and wrapped his jacket around her, hoping to keep her warm. She trembled and sobbed against his chest and he slowly began to head home once again. By the time he made it there the girl had fallen silent and become limp in his arms. He pushed the door to his house open and closed it as quietly as he could, making his way to his room and closing the door. He laid the girl down on his bed and pulled the blankets over her little body "What am I gonna do?" he asked himself.
Grabbing a pillow and a blanket, he settled on the floor next to his bed, exhaustion making him fall asleep almost instantly, tomorrow was going to be a hectic day for sure.
The next day, or simply a few hours later, Enjolras woke up and groaned, trying to figure out what he was doing on the floor. Then it occurred to him, and he looked up on the bed. Sure enough, the little girl was resting there. He stood and went over to her, and was about to wake her when he realized how pale she was, especially in the light. He placed a hand on her forehead and groaned in slight annoyance when he realized she was feverish. He quickly dressed where he was sure she wouldn't be able to see him if she woke, and then gathered his things.
He was about to leave, being as he was already almost late for school, but he realized that she might wake, and look for him. She could wonder out into the street and get herself killed, and he couldn't let that happened. Gently as he could he picked her up, wrapping her in the blanket she'd used that night, and made his way towards the Cafe Musain. He'd have to miss school today, but it wasn't like he was missing it for something stupid, right?
As he entered he wasn't surprised to find the place empty, everybody else was at school. The only other person who was there was Grantaire, who sat at the bar sleeping, as usual. Enjolras wondered sometimes how Grantaire had become a drunk at such a young age, he figured it probably ran in the family, since Grantaire had been drunk since the day Enjolras first met him nearly 4 years ago. A drunk 15 year old makes for a humorous friend to all the other 15 year olds.
Finding an empty table in the corner, he gently laid the girl on the floor and then sat at the table and began to read. After a few hours Grantaire finally woke from his drunken stupor and looked over at Enjolras, his eyes lighting up as he saw him "Enjolras!" he said cheerfully. Enjolras glared at him silently from where he sat "What do you want winecask?" he asked. Grantaire stood and stumbled over to the table Enjolras sat at, plopping himself down in a chair across from him. He peered over at Abbigale's sleeping form "What's ya got there? A lass for me?" he asked.
Enjolras shook his head in annoyance "No Grantaire. It's a long story, when the others get here I'll tell you" he said. Just then Joly, Lesgles, and Combeferre came through the door "How am I-" Joly tried to say but Combeferre cut him off "Just be quiet now. I thought you were done an hour ago!". They stopped and stood near Grantaire "What's that?" Lesgles asked curiously. Combeferre rolled his eyes "It's a girl. You know, like the girls you see on the street every day?" he asked.
"What has you so uptight Combeferre?" Grantaire asked, raising his half empty wine glass "Nothing a little drink can't fix?" he asked. Combeferre was about to answer when Courfeyrac and Prouvaire walked in "Hey everybody! Courfeyrac told me Combeferre can put his foot behind his head!" Prouvaire announced, Courfeyrac chuckling behind him. Enjolras stood "Joly, this child's mother was attacked and killed on the street last night and I think she's ill. Might you take her into the back room and look at her?" he asked calmly. Joly and the rest of the students all quieted at the seriousness of Enjolras's tone and Joly quietly scooped Abby up and carried her into the back room, closing the door behind him.
Combeferre was the first to speak up "How did you manage to get caught up with this child?" he asked. Enjolras sat back down and sighed "I was walking home last night after being here and I heard a loud of shouting in the streets. She ran up to me and asked me to help her mother, but I was too late to do anything. I couldn't simply leave the child in the street, the woman's dying words were to protect her. So I brought her home, and she had a fever this morning. We've been here all day" he told them.
There was silence in the cafe again before Courfeyrac spoke up "So you followed the last wished of a prostitute?" he asked. Before Enjolras could answer Lesgles crossed his arms "That's not fair!" he stated coldly. Enjolras looked at Lesgles in surprise "What's not fair?" he asked. Lesgles looked at everyone "That the mother of a child must resort to prostituting in order to support her, only to be killed by other men who were probably as poor! There are rich people with pampered children, with more food, clothing, and money that they know what to do with, while that girl looks as though she hasn't eaten in days!".
Murmurs began to rise up and Combeferre sighed "It's all the king's fault" he said. The rest of the group nodded in agreement and finally Enjolras stood "Well then why don't we do something about it?" he asked. Cheers began to ride and Enjolras stood on a chair "Why don't we make it so the people can decide their futures!" he asked. Before Enjolras could make another word Joly stepped out of the back room "Enjolras?" he asked.
Enjolras jumped down from the chair and he, followed by the rest of the students "Well?" he asked. "She's got a fever, probably from being out in the cold the way she is. She needs bed rest and food and water. She should be alright in a couple of days" he said. The students all cheered happily and Grantaire raised his wine glass "Let's celebrate!" he called. They all went over to the bar to get drinks when Courfeyrac noticed Enjolras still standing in the same spot "Aren't you coming Enjolras?" he asked. He shook his head "Gotta take Abby home and get her on the path to recovery. Don't celebrate yet, everything has only just begun" he said.
Quietly Enjolras went into the back room and picked Abby up, carrying her back to his flat and putting her to bed. She groaned softly as he pulled the blanket back over her and her eyes fluttered open to look at him "Monsieur?" she asked in a feeble voice. He hushed her "Please, my name's Enjolras" he told her. She smiled "That's a nice name. I'm Abbigale, but everybody just calls me Abby" she said.
"Are you hungry?" Enjolras asked. The girl's eyes grew wide at the words "You have food?" she asked him, as if he would just tell her 'No, I'm just kidding', but instead he nodded "You stay here and I'll go get you some soup. Ok?" he asked. She nodded and waited patiently as he made some chicken soup for her quickly. He placed the bowl on the bedside table and she eyed it hungrily "Enjolras you are too nice!" she said. He gave her the bowl and she ate ravenously, he gently had to catch her arm and remind her to slow down. Once she had her full he placed the empty bowl back on the table and looked at her.
She looked at him curiously before asking "Am I gonna stay here now?" she asked. He thought about it for a long time before answering "For the time being" he replied. She yawned "Well, alright. I'm sure Mama would be happy such a kind Monsieur is looking after me" she said sleepily. Enjolras picked up the bowl and made towards the door "I'm sure" he told her reassuringly. That night he laid on his couch and sighed "What have I gotten myself into? I think this child's started something too big for us" he thought to himself. He wouldn't know for sure until a few years later, at the barricade of freedom. Freedom for the people like her, who lived on the streets.
But for now he'd make sure she no longer had to know that life of the street, she'd be treated better than that. He wasn't sure how he'd managed, but he was sure his friends would help him. He fell asleep trying to decide what to do next.