For the first time in his short life, Gavroche was terrified. Usually he was a brave kid, always rushing headlong into danger, never thinking of the consequences. But now, hiding in a dark underground bunker with the rest of the Amis and listening to the footsteps of the National Guardsmen marching above them, Gavroche was terrified. Whimpering, he pressed himself closer to Courfeyrac, clinging to the older man as if he were a lifeline.
Courfeyrac gently pressed a kiss to the boy's head and rubbed a hand down his back.
"It's alright, Gavroche" he murmured, trying to quiet the boy who was now sobbing quietly. "They will be gone soon, we will get to go home, I promise. For now, let's try and get some sleep. When you wake up, it will all be ok."
Noticing his friend's exhaustion, Enjorlas got up from his place guarding the door and walked over to the two.
"Let me take him for a bit, Courfeyrac; you need to rest and I doubt Gavroche is going to sleep in here. I will be on guard for the rest of the night, so I can watch him for a while."
"Alright," Courfeyrac agreed, reaching down to detach the child's hold on him.
"Gavroche, I need you to let go. You are going to go with Enjorlas for a little while, alright?"
"No!" the twelve-year-old whimpered, "I wanna stay with you!"
"Gavroche," Enjorlas said kneeling down and placing a hand on the child's back; "Courfeyrac needs to sleep, he has fought all day and he is really tired. I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."
After a tense silence, Gavroche loosened his death grip on Courfeyrac and allowed Enjorlas to take him in his arms.
" 'night Courf." Gavroche said, giving his friend one last hug before moving to sit with Enjorlas.
Enjorlas sat on guard near the door of the bunker, listening to the quiet breathing of the sleeping boy beside him. It had taken nearly two hours but he had finally gotten Gavroche to sleep.
A sudden thud above them caused Gavroche to startle awake and try to scramble back to Courfeyrac. Enjorlas grabbed the boy and cradled him against his chest.
"Shh," Enjorlas murmured as the child's body trembled with harsh, ragged sobs. "I know you're scared, but it is all going to be alright. The sun is going to come up tomorrow and we are all going to be fine. We are all going to go home and get a good night's sleep. The National Guard won't hurt us anymore. I won't let that happen."
Gavroche had quieted significantly and was now staring up Enjorlas.
"You promise?" he asked, his voice small.
"Yes, Gavroche," Enjorlas said, smiling down at the child, "I promise."