Warning: Written with my focus being primarily on the foot that I seriously sprained.

Chapter 3

The next morning, Eponine opened her eyes and let out an ear-piercing scream, making Enjolras, who was sitting in a chair, fully within her view, jump up and drop the book he had been reading to the ground.

Her eyes were wide with shock as she sat up on the couch, breathing heavily. Enjolras looked just as startled, yet his voice was calm as he spoke.

"Good morning to you too."

She was glaring viciously at him, yet still was clearly in shock. "Where am I?" she finally managed to ask.

Enjolras managed a smirk. "You really don't remember?"

She frowned.

"Last night you agreed to stay with me for the night." At those words, she remembered, and quickly relaxed.

"Right. Sorry about my reaction, I was expecting to see a dirt alley when I opened my eyes, not you." Her sharp tone of voice was deliberate, and she got exactly the reaction she had wanted.

Enjolras' eyes narrowed. "Is there something wrong with me?"

Eponine smirked. Just as she had planned from the second she had remembered the events of the night before, he had opened himself up to criticism. "Oh, where do I begin..?" Her voice trailed off as he groaned. "You asked for it!" she snapped, a small smile on her face.

She knew from his expression that he knew she was right, and that made her feel pleased with herself, and gave her a bit of satisfaction. So, she began the long list of things that were wrong with Enjolras.

"You are far too serious. Honestly, do you even know the definition of the word 'fun'?" she began. That was all it took for Enjolras to drop his book. He stared at her, his mouth gaping like a dying fish. "Also, a little bit of drinking won't kill you! All of your friends do it. It's only when you drink as much as Grantaire that it begins to cause a problem. But really, a small drink once in a while won't kill you, although I guess that would fall under the 'fun' category." She was impressed with herself. His mouth was still hanging open, and his eyes were widening as his face began to turn pale. She had never seen him look like that before. He actually resembled a real human. "Furthermore, do you ever smile? I mean, really. Show some emotion for once! It's no surprise why the others all call you the marble statue!"

She held back a laugh as a muscle in his cheek twitched. The fact that he was still gaping made him look incredibly ridiculous. She decided that was enough of a buildup for her best criticism.

She dropped the bomb. "And finally, what is your problem with women?" His face turned even paler, if that was even possible by that point. He clearly hadn't expected her to shoot insult after insult at him with barely a thought. She smirked briefly, and kept going.

"Really, we're not terrifying at all! What's the big deal? None of your friends have your issues, yet you say that other than your mother, I'm the only woman you've ever really spoken to! So what's your problem, Enjy? The fact that we have so many curves, for example, breasts-" she ended there, as he was clearly not paying attention any more. Rather, he was swaying back and forth slightly, his eyes fluttering. Within a second of her cutting herself off, he fainted.

He rolled her eyes. Men. So irrational. With a shrug, she walked over to make sure he was all right. Score two for me.

Enjolras groaned when he opened his eyes to see Eponine kneeling beside him, loking at him in concern.

"You don't look so good," she commented.

"Now tell me something I don't know," he replied dryly.

"I just did, and look where that got you," she answered with a smirk. "Really, I think you should talk to Joly about your fear of women. Just talking about it made you pass out. Of course, the other criticisms of mine are probably partially to blame. But that was not at all the reaction I was expecting."

"You, mademoiselle, are somewhat insane I believe," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sat up slowly.

"Do recall who my parents are, what else could you expect? A sane Thenardier? I don't believe that any of those exist," she said with a half-hearted laugh. He frowned at her bitter humour. She deserved better.

"Anyway, how's your head? You fell pretty hard when I made that comment about-"

"Don't even think about mentioning that again, sil-vous-plait."

"Again, you are far too serious, messieur."

"Just Enjolras, please."

"Then stop with the mademoiselle," she countered, her dark eyes once again showing life. He was happy to see her fiery spirit return so quickly. He had always admired it about her. Really, she was the only girl he hadn't been entirely afraid of. The thought brought back memories of Eponine's vicious attack that morning – which he really had asked for – so he shrugged it off, focusing on Eponine's words. "If I have to call you Enjolras, then you're calling me Eponine."

"Deal."

He noticed the smirk that had been seemingly plastered to her face since she had started her attack that morning. His eyes narrowed, and she raised an eyebrow in response. She had had a bit too much fun with that morning's attack. It was like she was looking for a fight.

So be it. If it was war she wanted, war was what she was going to get.