AN: This chapter's pretty fast paced because of the rest of the story aside from the barricade. The events are probably all mixed up and out of order, but it can't be helped hehehe. Enjoy.
Lucette walked about the town for what seemed like forever. She was not about to go home and get beaten by her father just to sleep in a worn out hovel. She eventually found a small alley to sleep in. The brick walls hid her from the cool breeze and that was good enough for her. Over the years she had grown quite accustomed to sleeping on the cold, unwelcoming ground. Her only means of a blanket were the clothes on her back. Lucette somehow found this to be welcoming and calming. She fell asleep on the streets easily after a while of getting used to it. Lucette's mind wandered to Enjolras. He was a hard man to figure out. He rallied the people yet asked her to stay out of it. He acted so coldly, but showed her such kindness. He was so inspiring so how could expect her to ignore what was right in front of her? Lucette was never one to take orders so the likelihood she'd ever stay out of the revolution was slight. Perhaps Enjolras didn't realize that while his behavior towards her was cold the behavior from her father was worse. To Lucette, Enjolras was the kindest person she had ever met save her mother. He didn't realize that what little he did for her was more than anyone else had. Lucette fell asleep under the careful watch of the stars.
The next morning Lucette was awoken by the shouts of angry and passionate voices in the streets. She looked around the corner of her alley and smiled at what she found. She saw the students and many other citizens gathered around Enjolras. She stood from the ground and ran towards the crowd. She stayed towards the back so Enjolras might not catch her. Once again his words inspired her to help even more. Those blue eyes burned with passion; seeing the new world just ahead. The cries of the people were like a song of passion and freedom. Lucette watched Enjolras as he led the people in their rally.
"Soon my friends we shall build a barricade! Let us rally together and in the name of Lamarque fight for our freedom!" Enjolras shouted. Lucette did not shout with the rest, but smiled as she had no words to say. The men helped to take what they could to make a barricade in the heart of Paris. Lucette looked about not knowing what to do. She knew Enjolras would recognize her, but then again what could he do to make her leave even if he did? Lucette was pulled from her thoughts as she felt someone yank her towards them, "I told you to stay away from here, girl!" Enjolras nearly shouted at her. She had disobeyed him.
"Now, Monsieur Enjolras, you couldn't have truly expected me to stay away, could you?" Lucette asked not taking his words as seriously as he wished.
"This is not a place for you to play! Return to your home immediately and stay there!" Enjolras ordered her
"But I'm already here, why send me away?" Lucette asked, "You do need all the help you can get, monsieur."
"I told you once and this is the final word, go home and do not return or you shall be sorry." Enjolras said coldly, "We don't need the help from the likes of you." The words cut deeper than Lucette had expected. He didn't mean to be cruel, but orders were orders and Enjolras didn't want to repeat himself.
"You're such a hypocrite, monsieur." Lucette said forgetting her playfulness. Enjolras gave her a glare,
"What was that?" Enjolras asked nearly releasing his anger
"I said you're a hypocrite! If you rally the people of this town to help and then turn them away that makes you a hypocrite! You're the one who rallied the people and whether you believe it or not I'm a citizen of this town!" Lucette said angrily. Enjolras looked coldly at Lucette not many people had the courage to insult him.
"Go home and do not come back to this place." Enjolras ordered once more. He walked away from her leaving her to her own anger. Lucette watched as Enjolras turned his back on her. She turned away as well and headed home. She was not going to stay for long though. If Enjolras thought that he could control her and her actions he was wrong. She would be at that barricade whether he liked it or not. Lucette found her way home in no time and stopped outside. She took a shaky breath and headed inside. She would get it over with quickly. She pushed the curtain that substituted a door aside and walked in. Lucette was met with a bottle flying inches away from her face. She watched the bottle shatter on the wall and turned to see her father standing before her.
"Where have you been all this time, slut?" he asked with a drunk slur.
"That is none of our business." She said defiantly. Her father approached her quickly and pushed her against a wall,
"Answer me!" he ordered. She spat in his face,
"Make me!" she shouted. He whipped it away and backhanded her to the ground. "How dare you spit in my face you dirty whore?" he yanked her back by her midnight locks. He threw her to the ground and grabbed a different bottle. He landed a violent swing on her shoulder making the bottle crack. Lucette could hold back a cry of pain. Her father kicked her in the stomach and in return spat on her. "I regret ever keeping you." The monster walked out of the house to who knows where. Lucette didn't waste time on the ground. Despite the pain begging her to stop moving she got up to her corner of the house. She had a thin brown jacket that she needed. She put it on and tucked her hair up in her black hat. She bid her home for what would be the last time and ran back to the heart of Paris.
Enjolras led the students and citizens in building the barricade. Before long the walls her build protectively around them. Enjolras felt a slight twinge of guilt for treating that girl the way he did, but it had to be done.
"That mattress goes there! Combeferre those go in the wine shop! Grantaire put that bottle down and put those tables over here!" Enjolras barked out orders as the construction was nearly over. Grantaire ignored Enjolras' wishes, but another who did hear him did as he said. Enjolras could not stop his mind from returning to Lucette every so often. He had to convince himself that he did what was right, but it was getting to be more difficult the more the thought about it. He heard shuffling from the other side of the barricade and turned to see who was there. He had his gun clutched in his hand ready to fire, but saw the face of an elderly man. "Monsieur Mabeuf." He greeted surprised. The man nodded. Enjolras put his gun down and assisted the man over the side of the barricade. "Monsieur, what are you doing in place such as this?"
"It is all for the cause, Enjolras. An old man like me won't be of much help, but there is still some I can do that is of use. Despite my old age there is much I can do." Mabeuf explained.
"Alright, this way monsieur," Enjolras led the elderly man somewhere he could help. Enjolras accepted the help of Monsieur Mabeuf, but not Lucette's. This made it even more difficult to convince himself that he was right. Enjolras sat be the top of the barricade waiting for signs of the people or the guard coming to fight. In the background he could hear little Gavroche begging for a musket and Combeferre refusing. He turned to them, "If there are enough guns for the men you can have one as well." Enjolras reasoned.
"If you die first I'll take yours!" Gavroche said with a wink
"Gamin!" he said angrily. The boy ran off before being administered punishment. Enjolras just turned back. He even accepted the help from a little boy, but not Lucette. He looked around and knew there were plenty of other women in the barricade so why didn't he let her help. It was probably because she was much younger than the rest. Enjolras could not let himself be distracted by that girl now. It was over and she was gone and that was all that mattered.
Time passed and eventually the presence of the National Guard was known. They lined up across from the barricade ready to take one whatever challenge the students presented. Enjolras called for his people to organize themselves for fighting. The Guards armed themselves as their commanding officer organized them as they held their fire. Enjolras craned his neck to see the rest of the citizens behind him,
"Hold!" he ordered. He had to wait until it was absolutely necessary to fire. They only had so many bullets. The first shot rang out; "Fire!" Enjolras ordered. The explosions of gunfire surrounded the air. Some men were hit, but there were others who could take care of them. Enjolras took aim at the commander, but as he was about to pull the trigger he sat a red flash fall. Enjolras ignored it and took aim against another. The explosion of gunfire continued for what seemed like eternity, but was really only a few minutes. Enjolras He looked over the barricade just enough to see that the flag had fallen. Enjolras turned, "The flag's fallen; who will retrieve it?" No one raised their hand. No one was brave enough to do it. Enjolras was about to volunteer himself, but saw someone walking up to where he was. He looked to see who it was and it was none other than Monsieur Mabeuf. His eyes widened a bit at this. Before he knew it the old man was over the barricade and weakly getting their symbol. "Monsieur Mabeuf-" Enjolras was interrupted by a gun. The old man kept moving letting Enjolras know he was alive. The weak man climbed back up the barricade slowly, Enjolras attempted to help, but he ripped back his hand as a bullet hit between him and Mabeuf. Before he could do anything Enjolras heard another shot ring and Mabeuf's climbing ceased and he started to fall, "Monsieur-" Enjolras cried out, but someone out of nowhere caught the old man and the flag he still clutched in his lifeless hands. The person quickly climbed up and threw themselves in the barricade with their arms protectively around the old man. They gently rested the deceased Mabeuf on the ground as they returned the flag to its resting place. Enjolras couldn't see the person's face clearly as their hat hid their eyes. Enjolras knelt to the old man. There was no denying that he was dead. Enjolras hung his head just the slightest bit and turned back up to the person who had saved their flag and the body of the bravest of them all. "You've done a good deed, boy." Enjolras said quietly.
"I only wish I could have been here sooner." The boy said not looking at him.
"I will thank you when the battle is over. For now you must excuse me." Enjolras took the deceased Mabeuf and walked toward the café. The boy looked after Enjolras as he went into the wine shop. The boy lifted up his hat to reveal his eyes. The boy was really Lucette. Lucette was the one who saved the flag and the body of Mabeuf. She was interested in how Enjolras seemed as if he were almost broken by Mabeuf's death. Lucette followed the steps of the blond man and went into the wine shop. She watched from a distance and saw Enjolras administer one kiss to Mabeuf's cold forehead. She never thought Enjolras to be a kisser. She was about to leave him to his business, but she felt someone pull her to face them. "I'm afraid there are no means to thank you here, but you will have your reward when we have won." Enjolras told her as she hid her eyes again. She spoke in a slightly lower voice,
"I will take no reward monsieur." She said sternly, "Having our symbol is reward enough." Enjolras suddenly had a suspicious look about him,
"I don't believe I've ever seen you at the rallies. Why did you come here?" Enjolras asked
"Everyone knows monsieur. I came in hopes of helping you." Lucette said hoping Enjolras was still following her act.
"Perhaps I have seen you." Enjolras said
"I get lost in a crown very easily monsieur. I'm sure you have not." Lucette said trying to save herself. Enjolras yanked off her hat and her midnight locks fell. Lucette could not read Enjolras' expression. He did not appear either happy or angry.
"I knew it was you," Enjolras said, "Do you believe me to be a fool?" Lucette looked down at her feet trying to avoid his piercing eyes,
"Not in the least Monsieur Enjolras. I believe you to be rather smart actually." Lucette said trying to lighten the mood.
"I told you not to return!" Enjolras said sternly. His earlier thoughts stopped him from being angry. He expected her to return regardless of how he treated her. His anger probably encouraged her to come.
"Yes, well you need all the help you can get and even you cannot deny that monsieur." Lucette said with a smile. "I promise to be more of a help than a hinder to you." Enjolras looked skeptically at the young girl. He shoved the hat into her hands causing her to wince, but it went unnoticed by him.
"You better not get in the way." Enjolras warned. He left the wine shop. Lucette smiled after Enjolras. She put her hat back on and went out to help in whatever way she could. Lucette helped the women to organize bandages and cleaning solution. It wasn't much, but it was a way of helping. Lucette heard a ruckus and turned to see what was happening. She walked closer to hear and saw a man she knew to be a mole for the students. He had figured out the army's plans and reported. Lucette listened closely as the man informed them on everything, but out of nowhere she heard a childish voice call him a liar. The man turned out to be Inspector Javert. Enjolras had him arrested and tied to a table to await his sentence. Lucette approached the prisoner as Enjolras' head was turned. Lucette stood over the man not fearing that he might hurt her. He was tied up after all. The inspector's eyes met hers. His were dark and cold and hers warm and loving.
"What are you looking at?" Javert asked poisonously
"You, monsieur," Lucette answered truthfully
"Why do you stare?" Javert asked
"Curiosity I suppose." Lucette was starting to annoy Javert
"If you have nothing to say then leave and go back to your friends." Javert ordered
"Why did you do it?" Lucette ignored his wishes
"Do what?" Javert asked
"Why did you try to spy on us?" Lucette asked
"It was the only path to please the lord." Javert said strictly
"Where did you learn that?" Lucette questioned "How did you find that to be what pleases God?"
"It was the one way to bring man to justice." Javert answered
"What is justice to you, Monsieur Javert?" Lucette asked
"Why do you pester me so?" Javert asked
"I guess it's because you've got your life together and figured out. I'm not sure what I believe to be justice and holy, yet." Lucette answered.
"What makes you believe I'll be able to help you?" Javert asked
"I'm not sure myself." Lucette said happily. Suddenly Lucette felt someone grab her and push her behind them.
"Don't fill these minds with your poison." Enjolras nearly growled
"She is the one with the questions." Javert told him carelessly. "I'm uncomfortable can you release me from the table and put me somewhere else?" Enjolras adhered to the inspector's wishes and tied him up elsewhere and he also provided a glass of water for him. Lucette stood away from the inspector. Enjolras was even angrier when she was around the older man. Lucette still didn't have her questions completely answered. Suddenly Lucette heard someone yell,
"There's a boy climbing the barricade!" Lucette turned and saw a figure meet a boy, Marius, on the ground. No one noticed at first, but the boy turned out to be a girl and she was dying. Lucette approached the couple. She was about to assist in treating the girl's wounds, but Enjolras held her back by her jacket.
"Monsieur someone must help her!" Lucette said desperately trying to help
"Look into her eyes. She does not want to be helped." Enjolras told her. "She only wants to be with him, we should give her that much." Lucette felt tears in her eyes, but wiped them away before they could fall. How could Enjolras be so cold? Or maybe he wasn't cold. He gave that girl her dying wish. Lucette watched the girl die knowing that there was nothing left to do for her. Everyone faded away from the couple and the girl's body was taken away. Lucette felt like she couldn't move. Enjolras approached her and squeezed her shoulder, "There is nothing for you to do here." Lucette walked away from where she had previously been frozen. "Rest for now, you must brace yourself for what's to come."
Lucette watched Enjolras taking charge of everything and wondered how he did it all. She would be seeing so much more violence and hell before her. Enjolras had to be so strong to watch his friends die before it was their time. Enjolras was familiar with what was ahead and was prepared to endure all the grief that he would be attacked with. Lucette never realized that Enjolras had to be so strong.
Suddenly a man in an army uniform arose from the other side of the barricade and entered. The others questioned him and he explained that he was there to help, but before long the guard started to attack again. Lucette watched as hell itself arose from the battle before her. Lucette nearly shook at the chaos around her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a man fall wounded. Without thinking she ran to him and knelt by his side. He had been shot in the arm. Lucette didn't know what to do, but she had to do something.
"Monsieur," she started. The man was writhing in pain as she was about to pull him back to the wine shop for treatment, but a shot rang out and hit the pavement before her feet. She fell back unharmed but trembling with fear. Suddenly she saw someone stand in front of her and shoot the one aiming at her. That someone was Enjolras. He looked down at her with a stern gaze, "I told you to stay out of the way." He yanked her up, "Take him to the wine shop." Lucette did as she was told and Enjolras covered her. Lucette saw no fear in Enjolras' eyes. He was so brave and so strong. Lucette admired Enjolras, yet also pitied him. He bore such a weight on his shoulders. So many people looked up to him and so many people believe in him. If he did not succeed then he would fail them all. Lucette could never bear as much as the angel could. Lucette returned to outside as the fire was dying down. The attack was over. She went closer to the others. It seemed like a rare moment of peaceful and terrifying silence. Lucette looked around for Enjolras to thank him, but saw him talking to another man. He looked familiar. She believed to have seen him entering the Café Musain just after Enjolras. He had a wine bottle in his hand. The two conversed, but it appeared to be more of an argument. The other man left Enjolras standing alone. The angel appeared to be taking the other man's words to heart. Enjolras climbed up the barricade to watch over the night. Lucette wondered what the other man could've said to silence Enjolras in such a way. Lucette climbed up to where Enjolras was and sat next to him. He ignored her for a moment before acknowledging her presence.
"Go back to the wine shop." He ordered
"What are you looking at?" Lucette asked ignoring his order.
"Didn't you hear me?" he asked with a stern tone
"Didn't you hear me?" Lucette asked back. Enjolras gave up,
"I'm watching for the people to stir. I'm also watching for the army to attack." He told her. The two sat in silence for another moment.
"I never thanked you for saving me." Lucette said simply
"It doesn't matter." Enjolras said
"It matters to me." Lucette said. Lucette thought about her death, but had never encountered it before. It was true she had often said if she didn't die at the barricade she would throw herself off that old bridge anyway, but after that she wasn't so sure. "What did that other guy say to make you so…what's the word, upset."
"He didn't upset me." Enjolras stated, "He was just ranting about like the skeptic he is, but I never thought that he could make me doubt myself." Lucette understood now. She smiled at him,
"You know you can't let other people stop you. The only ideals that should matter to you are your own. Sure it's nice to take an opinion from other now and then, but when you get down to it the only one that really matters is your own." Lucette said happily. Enjolras looked at her for a moment.
"Who taught you that phrase?" Enjolras asked
"My mother." She said quietly
"I see." Enjolras said turning back to watch. "You told me your father is dirt, what makes him so?"
"He drinks and there's not a sober moment in his life. I hate being around him and that's why I stay out at all hours." Lucette told him simply. "Home's not worth it if I have to stay with him." Enjolras remained silent. Lucette winced as her shoulder throbbed. She had forgotten about her injuries because of the night's events.
"Were you hurt earlier?" Enjolras asked
"No, just a bruise is all." Lucette said adjusting her shoulder to make it feel better. "Just another gift my father gave me." Lucette said. Enjolras' eyes widened just the slightest bit. She only said her father drank not that his hit her too. "What about your father, what's he like?"
"That is none of your concern." Enjolras said
"That's not fair." Lucette said faking anger
"What's not fair?" Enjolras asked
"I told you about my father and I don't know anything about yours." Lucette said
"You didn't have to answer me." Enjolras said simply. Lucette sighed in defeat
"Fine don't tell me now, but one day you will." Lucette said
"Unlikely." Enjolras told her. Lucette fell onto her back and looked up at the sky with her arms supporting her head. "What are you doing now?"
"Looking at the stars, don't you do it?" Lucette asked
"Why would you take the time to look at the stars? They have no meaning and no significance to the world." Enjolras said.
"Yes they do." Lucette said happily ignoring Enjolras insult to the stars, "Stars light up the sky to lead us to a place we can call home."
"Did your mother tell you that as well?" Enjolras asked
"No, I taught me that." Lucette said with a childish smile,
"If what you said is true why are you wandering the streets?" Enjolras asked
"Well, I haven't found my home yet. Home's more than just a roof over your head, Monsieur Enjolras. I believe home is the place where you're the happiest." Lucette explained happily looking into the stars. Enjolras glanced up,
"That's and interesting theory." Enjolras said looking back into the night illuminated by the stars.
Enjolras waited for hours, but no one stirred. He got up from the ground and turned to the men and women behind him. Lucette turned to where he stood in solemn realization.
"The people have not risen." Enjolras explained coldly, "We have been abandoned by the cowardly, but we shall not abandon them." He said strongly, "Let all the women and fathers leave now." Against their wills the fathers and women were forced to leave through a back alley. Lucette watched them leave. "I want you to leave too Lucette." He said this so gently is nearly scared Lucette.
"I already explained that I'm not leaving." Lucette said firmly
"You have been of great help, but you still have a full life to live. You still have to find your home. So go from here and find it." Enjolras told her.
"What about you, you still have to find your home! All of these men have to find their homes too!" Lucette told him nearly tearing up at his calm sadness.
"My home is with them, yours will be somewhere else." Enjolras told her. "Now go."
