Pain and comforting arms

The next afternoon Éponine made her way to café Musain again, only this time it was harder, she was sore from her 'job' the evening before. Thenardier had punished her by sending a group of men at the same time and only robbing them when they were done with her. She had still been a virgin, the men seemed to like that and, instead of being more gentle because of this, were rougher on her. She hadn't looked at her father since and slept on the street, Gavroche was hurt seeing his sister hurt and slept beside her. He was with her now, trying to protect her from more harm. He was very sweet this way.

They reached the café to find only Grantaire, Courfeyrac, Combeferre and Enjolras there.

'A hangover, 'Ponine?' Courf asked and she shook her head.

'Then what made you look like you're having the worst one could possibly have?' Grantaire asked.

'Stop, don't ask.' Gavroche helped her as she was about to break down.

Courf took Gavroche aside to ask what happened and looked absolutely shocked when he heard the news. He motioned for Enjolras and Combeferre to come and when they joined him they reacted with the same shock.

'We have to stop this patron-minette.' Ferre said.

'Yes. I will not allow them to treat a fellow citizen of France like that, like garbage.' Enjolras agreed.

'Then let's go. Get Bahorel and fight them.' Courf said.

'No, that won't work. I met Thenardier and Montparnasse yesterday. I'd heard their names but didn't know who they were yet, until last evening. I regret leaving Éponine with them yesterday, but she didn't leave me any choice. I'm drifting off, Montparnasse said something very offending to her and I saw her rage but she didn't do anything, where she normally would've punched the person. That means he's dangerous, so we need to be careful.'

'He's right,' Éponine startled them with her sudden appearance, 'I did want to punch Montparnasse, but that would've been my death.'

'I'd say we just keep you away from them for now.' Courf said.

'No, then they'll use my sister.' She said with a determination even Enjolras didn't dare argue with.

'Then what can we do?' 'Ferre asked.

'You could try to keep Azelma away too, with me and Gavroche. But she is very devoted to the gang, she doesn't realize that what they do is work of the devil.'

Marius arrived and pulled Éponine in for a big hug, in his joyous mood not seeing this hurt her, mentally and physically. He blurred on and on about Cosette, which hurt her even more. Combeferre, realizing this, took him aside to let him talk to him instead of Éponine.

When she looked up she saw Enjolras with a different emotion than passion for the cause on his face for the first time. He looked worried about her. Even his body leaned towards her, ready to comfort her if she broke down. When Enjolras saw she was looking at him, his face straightened out, just as his body. Oh well, she'd probably just imagined him.

'I don't know what he sees in that bourgeoisie.' She said, trying to hide her tears, but Gavroche noticed and hugged her, a lot more gentle than Marius had, but then again he knew what had happened to her.

This sweet gesture broke her. She cried and collapsed in a flurry of tears and cries. This was a sound Gavroche couldn't take and he let her go, trying to stop himself from crying. Enjolras picked her up and carried her to a chair, when he tried to put her down she held on to his shirt and Enjolras wasn't able to loosen her grip so he had to sit down with her in his lap. When she calmed down she realized the marble man was holding her.

'I'm sorry monsieur Enjolras. I just couldn't find the strength to let go.' She said, blushing.

'There's no need to apologize mademoiselle, I understand the events of yesterday have been too much for you to handle.'

Éponine saw and heard just a hint of compassion in him. Maybe the marble man wasn't as marble as he was said to be. Probably just her imagination at work again. She climbed of his lap and motioned for him and the others to try and persuade Azelma to stay away from patron-minette. It was going to be hard, she knew that.