Hello people of the fanfiction universe! I was just obsessing over Les Miserables like any typical day when I realized something, what if the barricade hadn't happened? What if Lamarke hadn't died and the barricade didn't rise? Plot bunny! So here I am, writing a fanfiction to my favorite thing in the universe, les mis. My favorite character is far and away Eponine, and after years of careful consideration, cross referencing, and daydreaming in class I have decided I ship 'Ponine and Enjolras. And I have also decided that when referring to Eponine, I prefer musical 'Ponine to brick 'Ponine. But there are some aspects of the book that I will use, but for the most part this is musical based. 25th Concert Cast, except not Nick Jonas, so visually Enjolras is based of Ramin Karimloo and Eponine is based off Samantha Barks, my favorite Eponine. Can't wait to see her in the movie! I'm seeing it tomorrow!
Edit: I've changed my muse from Ramin to Aaron for reasons explained later. I'm keeping Ramin's name here because I love him and he was my original Enjolras. This is better explained in chapter 7.
Eponine sat up from her position on the floor, drawing her knees to her chest. He hadn't come back yet, probably wouldn't. He was done, for now. Eponine shivered, blinking away the tears that built up in her eyes, refusing to let them spill. But it was all so unfair! She hadn't even done anything, and he still beat her. It was enjoyable to him, to hit his own daughter. Daughters, Eponine corrected herself, Papa hit Zelma too.
And to top it all off, Marius had asked her to find Cosette. Cosette! Of all people, why her? Eponine glanced down at her arms, already blossoming with fresh bruises.
"Look what's become of me," Eponine sang softly to herself.
"What's become of you?" Azelma asked, entering with a bundle of cloth. Bandages, if needed.
"Never you mind," Eponine said, "Did Papa leave?"
"Yes," Azelma said, "Is anything broken?" Eponine flexed her fingers, testing to see if the bones were still intact.
"I don't think so," Eponine answered, running a hand over her ribcage, "Just bruising."
"Don't you have a mission from your beloved?" Azelma asked snidely, "What was it again? To find the girl we used to tease? What was the song we used to sing? Oh, yes I remember." She began to sing the nursery rhyme from their childhood; the sisters had taunted the young Cosette with it all those years ago.
"Stop it Zelma," Eponine said, "We were children, it was long ago."
"You tell me as if I don't know! I'm just as hungry as you are Ponine; I remember those pastries just as clearly as you." Azelma answered, offering Eponine her hand, "You had best be going, if you want to catch him, I'll feed Father some line."
"Merci, Zelma," Eponine answered.
"One more thing," Azelma said, retrieving a piece of bread from her skirt, Lord knows how she got her hands on it, "Give that to Gavroche, will you? He's bound to be there, he always hangs around those schoolboys." Eponine nodded,
"Goodbye Azelma."
"Goodbye Ponine."
Eponine exited the house, swiftly navigating the familiar maze of alleys and streets to reach the cafe where the students gathered, and spoke of revolution.
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Despite what the schoolboys might think, Eponine Thenardier was not stupid. She knew what they were talking about when they spoke of revolution and equality. She also knew it would never work. The people of the slums, whom they claimed to be fighting for, who they called to join in their cause, would do no such thing. Not unless they drastically changed their approach. She may not be stupid, but plenty of the other slum residents were.
Not that those silly boys would know. Eponine was princess of the slums, if a schoolboy had visited to "rally the people," she would have heard about it.
She probably could have helped them, if they had asked, but they never did. So she didn't. Eponine moved swiftly through the streets, shivering slightly from the cold. She neared the cafe, it was later than she had anticipated, Papa had been especially angry that evening.
"Gavroche!" She called out when she caught sight of the rag - clad young boy. He was still there, she hadn't missed him.
"Hello Ponine!" Gavroche greeted, flashing her his mischievous grin.
"I have something for you," Eponine said, digging into her pocket for the bread, "Ah, there it is!" She said, placing it in his grubby hand.
"Merci Ponine!" Gavroche said, biting into it. Gavroche eyed her bruises, concern in his brown eyes, similar to her own.
"Those look new," Gavroche said, "What happened?"
"Nothing you need to trouble yourself with," Eponine replied.
"It was him, wasn't it?" Gavroche asked, taking her hand, "he did it again."
"No," Eponine answered, squeezing his hand, "Not this time, it was just Papa." Gavroche looked relieved, that was one person that cared about her. Eponine quickly dropped Gavroche's hand as one of the revolutionary boys came near.
"Gavroche," He called, addressing the boy, "I've got you some bread," he said handing him a much larger piece than the one Eponine had given him. Gavroche held it firmly against his chest, it was still warm and it smelled divine.
"Thank you Monsieur Enjolras!" Gavroche said.
"Get along home now," Enjolras said, "And be careful in the streets on your own."
"I will!" Gavroche answered, "Bye Ponine, bye Monsieur!" Eponine watched him run off, an odd feeling in her stomach.
"Are you alright Mademoiselle, Eponine, isn't it?" Enjolras asked.
"Yes, Eponine," she answered, still looking after Gavroche, "I just wish you didn't have to do that, I wish that I could take care of him."
"Why would you care?" Enjolras asked, "What's the boy to you?"
"My brother." Eponine answered. Eponine shook her head slightly, as if to clear it's muddled thoughts, "Is Marius here?" Eponine asked.
"Yes, inside," Enjolras answered, holding open the door to the cafe for her. She joined Marius in the usual table at the back of the cafe, Marius offering her his crocked grin, making her stomach flutter with butterflies, before turning his attention to Enjolras, who had taken his place by the front.
Eponine had to admit, there was flair to Enjolras that made him pleasurable to watch. He was so passionate and so dynamic; she imagined it wouldn't be hard for someone to become lost in his voice, transfixed by his fine looks and intelligent blue eyes. The schoolboys were certainly smitten, they cheered at everything he said. Whether they were listening, or just hearing what he said was beyond Eponine. But she listened; she had nothing better to do.
"Ponine?" Marius asked her, nudging her hand
"Um, yes Monsieur Marius?" Eponine answered, snapping out of her repose and turning to look at him.
"Did you find her, the girl in the market place?" Eponine studied his face. His blue eyes were lit up in a way that hers never did, and his love-struck smile was pasted to his face, she doubted he had ever been happier. It made her heart break.
"Yes," She replied softly, "I told you I would. She's at 55 Rue Plummet."
"Come with me? After the meeting?" Marius asked her.
"Alright," Eponine sighed. Marius didn't notice her downcast demeanor. He was oblivious to everything; he hadn't even noticed the fresh bruise across her cheek.
After the meeting Eponine led Marius to his beloved Cosette. She hid outside the gate in the shadows, trying to block out what she could hear coming from inside the garden.
"He was never mine to lose, why regret what could not be?" Eponine blinked rapidly, she didn't want to cry here, she very rarely cried, and it was always in private. She wiped her eyes, clearing her blurred vision to notice a group of approaching figures, she backed further against the wall, hoping they would pass her by unnoticed. But her blood ran cold when the figure in front spoke, and her ribs throbbed painfully.
"This will cost him dear!" Thenardier sneered. Eponine cursed under her breath, they couldn't rob the house! Monsieur Marius was in there! Eponine revealed herself, stepping forward in front of the gate.
"Who's this I see?" Thenardier growled.
"It's your brat, Eponine. Don't you know your own kid? Why she hangin' abou' you?" Babet said.
"Eponine, get on home, you're not needed, we're enough," Thenardier said, pushing her out of the way
"I know this house!" Eponine said desperately, grabbing her father's arm, he shook her of easily, "There's nothing here, just the old man and the girl! Leave them alone!" Thenadier slapped her across her face
"Take care young miss! You've got a lot to say!"
"Go home 'Ponine, you're in the way," Montparnasse said, grabbing her waist to move her.
"I'm gonna scream!" Eponine said, "I'm gonna warn them!" Montparnasse restrained her arms, bringing a grimy hand up to her mouth
"You scream and you'll regret it for a year!" Thenardier spat at her. Eponine bit Montparnasse's hand, he recoiled just enough for her to let out a gut-wrenching scream.
"Get out a 'ere!" Thenardier yelled, "Leave her to me!" Thenardier grabbed his daughter, throwing her to the ground, "You wait my girl, I'll make you scream, you'll scream alright!" he ran off to some familiar sewer. Eponine knew what was coming when she returned home. What had she done?