* Disclaimer * I do not own Les Miserables or any of the characters.

" Success; that is the lesson which falls drop by drop from the slope of corruption."

-Victor Hugo

Freedom. That is the cause for which we fight. For the rights of the weeping gamine who holds her quivering child, hidden in the shadows and left to be forgotten. What tribulations do these people endure each day of their life? Each day their lives are held within the stronghold of the government? Paris represents the omnipresent attendance of ignorance and poverty in the world. The heart of France is overwhelmed by the cries of its inhabitants longing to be noticed, longing to be heard. We as citizens of this country overcome with corruption, cannot watch idly by as it crumbles beneath the monarchy of Philippe! We cannot let Paris deteriorate under his reign!

The shouts and cheers of the young revolutionaries boomed throughout the Musain. A reassuring smile tugged at the sides of Enjolras's mouth as he stood on the table, reminiscing in his view. He looked over each and every face that gleamed in anticipation. When his eyes passed over the table where Marius sat, he couldn't help but notice the little shadow that clutched onto every word that left his lips, listening with an intensity all her own. Enjolras marveled at the young gamine who sat falling in line behind Marius' ankles. Everyone knew of her infatuation with the lad, except for him. Enjolras shook his head in disbelief. In some ways, the girl bothered him, making it feel as though she only came to be in the presence of her beloved, and not to listen to his speeches that kept him alert through the night, begging to be shouted from the rooftops. He got down and headed towards the table where Courfeyrac, Grantaire, and Joly sat.

"Enjolras!" At the sound of his name, he turned and looked at the direction which it came from. Marius was plowing through people, his shadow not far behind. When he reached Enjolras, he gestured towards the girl to come forward.

"This is my good friend Eponine." A small polite smile appeared on her face and she curtsied. Enjolras held out his hand for her to shake, which was accepted.

"Nice to meet your acquaintance, mademoiselle."

"Ya you to monsieur." Enjolras looked her over, noticing her sunken in cheeks, and dark hair that had large brown eyes to match. Eponine's clothing situation was hardly presentable, with rips and tears in the fabric of her dress that tugged at her small waist.

"Did you enjoy the speech?" Marius jumped at this opportunity to explain his ideas on the revolution to Enjolras, going on about the cause and how they were to go about it. Eponine just stood there, entranced in his words while staring at him longingly.

"What do you think, Eponine?" Enjolras turned his attention toward her and awaited a response.

"Me?"

"Yes, you." He let out a slight laugh.

"I think you're both delusional." She scoffed turning her attention back to Marius who laughed as well.

"You , 'Ponine." He put his arm around her and let out another laugh. Enjolras stood there, taken aback by her firm response.

"You seemed awfully interested before."

"Because I was. You may be delusional, but that doesn't mean I don't agree with you."

Eponine was the reason Enjolras didn't get involved with women. They were too confusing, and in this case, opinionated.

"I'm sorry mademoiselle but I'm afraid I don't understand." A smile appeared on her face.

"That's alright." She simply patted his shoulder and walked away. Marius caught her arm just as she was about to open the door.

"Must you go so soon?" A blush crept up to her cheeks but Eponine continued to walk forward.

"It's getting late, Marius. I have to get home or my father might get angry." He nodded and bid her goodbye. All the while, Enjolras watched the pair from a distance. How could Marius be so blind and why does Eponine even waste her time with him? He shook his head in an attempt to keep his thoughts from drifting away. His focus could not be overridden by their petty relationship; all that mattered was the revolution.

~..0..~

Eponine had stood outside of the Musain for a while, contemplating whether or not she should go back in. It was already late, and there was no doubt she would face a beating, regardless of the time she came home. In her deep thought, Eponine didn't even notice the Patron Minette come up behind, pulling her into an alley by her hair.

"Let go of me!" She screamed as they threw her to the ground.

"Where ya been girl?" Thenardier screamed into her ear, the scent of brandy sticking to his breath.

"You know, around…" Eponine fumbled with her fingers, as she often did when she was nervous. All of the men scoffed as they closed in around her.

"We missed ya! Coulda' used ya for 'r latest errand." The yellow grins on their faces sent a shiver down her spine.

"We'll sorry, I was busy."

"With who?" Montparnasse came in towards her; his intimidating smirk met her timid eyes. Eponine spit in his face, making matters much worse than they already were.

"You got some nerve ya little whore." He punched her in the gut, and she recoiled in agony, the air leaving her lungs.

"Not as much as you 'Parnasse." Eponine spit his name out like venom.

"Heh, you just don't know when to shut up 'Ponine." Her eyes widened, but only to quickly narrow again. He advanced towards her again, this time with different intentions, which became apparent when he lifted her up and pressed her against a wall.

"Get off of me!" She screamed pounding his chest and pushing him away with all of her strength. "Stop, please! 'Parnasse! Stop!" Eponine was practically begging now, still trying to push him off of her. "Please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

~..0..~

Finally, the night is over.

Enjolras walked out of the Musain, exhausted in more ways than one. He couldn't keep his thoughts from drifting anymore, all he could think of was the girl Marius had introduced him to. How dare she say such a thing to him? She was so blatant in her opinions, not even attempting to hide her offensive words. But yet, she entranced him. Not once had a woman crossed him, they always just sat and giggled stupidly whispering among each other. He always thought bourgeois women ignorant and naïve. Engrossed in his thoughts, Enjolras didn't pay attention to his surroundings, and found himself in an alley. Off in the distance, he could hear a girls' shrills and pleads. He recognized that voice. Enjolras found himself running toward the screams, turning into parts unknown to him. His horrors were confirmed when he saw a man; much bigger than the gamine he held within his grasp, forcefully advancing towards her. Towards Eponine.

"Get off 'Parnasse!" Before he realized what he had done, Enjolras's fist made contact with the mans' face, throwing him completely off guard. Eponine fell to the ground, and Montparnasse wiped the blood off his lip. He returned the blow, hitting Enjolras in the jaw. Enjolras curled his fists and punched him in the stomach, then kneed him in the groin. Montparnasse leaned down in agony holding himself and screaming profanities.

"You'll pay for that you bloody bourgeois." He stammered towards Enjolras, intent on beating him until he stopped moving altogether. He hit him in the head once again, and a trickle of crimson streamed down his brow. Without the chance to recover at all, Enjolras was once again hit and he stumbled back. His head pounded and he began to wonder why he came to the gamine's aid, but he couldn't just let her be violated by that wretched man. Enjolras managed to pull himself back up, just in time and pull him away from her yet again. He hit Montparnasse over the head so hard he fell unconscious. His hand ached, but it was well worth it. Eponine lay still leaning on the back of the wall, eyes closed and breathing heavily. She opened them again and looked over at the revolutionary who proved to be so much more: her liberator.

"Why did you do that, monsieur?" A confused expression was plastered across her face. Between his gasps for air he managed to respond to the frail girl.

"You needed help, mademoiselle."

"Yes, but why. Nobody cares about me so why should you? I'm nothing."

"What kind of a hypocrite would I be if I ignored the weeps of the gamine hidden in the shadows?" Eponine offered him a half smile.

"Merci, Enjolras."

"C'est rien." He held his hand out to her but she ignored it, pulling herself up and holding on to the wall.

"I can manage on my own, monsieur." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Very well, can I at least help you to your flat?" Eponine blushed and hung her head down.

"Well…um I probably shouldn't go home tonight…besides I'm much more comfortable sleeping in the Musain, its warmer." She did not intend to sleep in the Musain, but she hoped her lie would suffice. He nodded and continued on his way, picking up his books as he traveled in the direction of his flat. Once again letting his mind drift off, with thoughts of the young gamine. She was everything he fought for, the embodiment of patria. How had he not noticed her before? Eponine was just a shadow that fell behind Marius. A tagalong. She didn't care about the cause, so why did he care about her? The shadow was creeping her way into his thoughts, filling his mind with questions that lacked the answers he longed for. Who was this girl?

A/N: So Chapter One is finished! hope you guys enjoyed it! I do not intend to drop my other story by the way, but I felt like starting a new one…So I will most likely be posting on both of them for a while. This is sort of a tester chapter, and possibly a One/shot but review and tell me what you think! If you guys like it well enough, I will continue. Thanks for reading!