"I just want to make something as clear as I can," Grantaire said. "It sounds harsh, but I am by no means here because of you. I'm not here to help you, or to make this mission unbearable for you, or anything. I'm here for me and me alone, so would you just stop pouting already?"

Eponine kicked a loose stone on the street and glared at the man walking beside her. Even when he was apologizing he sounded like a selfish ass. "I'm not pouting," she huffed, setting her jaw. Sure, she was upset about the situation, and she maybe hadn't been very talkative, but it in no way meant she was pouting. The word itself sounded so juvenile, like she was some little kid. The other boys her age were called men for fighting on the barricade and sacrificing themselves for a cause that had no hope, yet she was looked down on for having plans to start a new life. Okay, so the plans were shady and Grantaire didn't know about them. But still. She preferred the term "brooding". It was mysterious and vague and sounded much less like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum.

Grantaire gave an aggravated sigh. "Okay, then," he replied, in a voice that said anything but that. "Fine. I get that you're not happy about this, but you can just deal with it, okay?"

"This is me dealing," Eponine replied, in what she hoped was a cool, collected tone. She then returned to her brooding, both for practical purposes and to irk her companion.

There was a lot to think about, really. She had to figure out a way to give Grantaire the slip, which wouldn't be easy, considering that they had been given express instructions by Enjolras to stay together. While she had no reservations about parting and Grantaire probably didn't either, he would stick to her like glue since his beloved leader had told him to. It almost made her gag, thinking about his and the other Amis' undying devotion. She couldn't understand actually having faith in an authority figure. Ever since she had realized they were scum, her respect for her mother and father had been nonexistent, and the adults she had met since then were no better. Seeing the boys of the barricade look up to Enjolras like that was remarkable. Their commitment to the cause was admirable, to say the least, even more so because she could not understand it.

Well, there had been Marius. A lump formed in her throat. She could, in a way, understand Grantaire and the others. Even though Marius was... dead... she loved him more than anything and would go to the ends of the earth for him. Her loyalty to him was unwavering, even in... death.

Get over that word, she thought to herself harshly. Stop being such a chicken about it. But her internal fight just made her feel worse - if she wasn't kind to herself, who would be?

As they slipped through an alleyway - Eponine hoped Grantaire knew where he was headed, because she certainly did not recognize the streets of this part of the city - a large group of men passed by. While Grantaire kept walking, unaffected, Eponine shrank against a wall instinctively, letting them through. She watched as they passed, her eyes wide, and was surprised to see her escort waiting up for her. His face looked both sad and worried. "You don't have to do that every time someone walks by," he muttered, almost pitying, once the men were out of earshot.

"Do what?" she replied defensively, scowling. She wanted a lot of things, but pity was not one of them. And again, she was bothered by the notion that she had seen him before. She had, she knew she had, but she could not place him to save her life. It was driving her crazy.

"A group of students is nothing to be afraid of," he told her bitingly.

"I'm not afraid!" Eponine snapped, but in reality she was quite ashamed of her actions. It was a reflex that had kept her alive on the streets for years, avoiding others, even to the point of fearing them. In unfamiliar territory the habit had kicked in without her thinking. Unfortunately for her, it made her look like a coward, more of a little girl than ever. Grantaire had no reason to fear others, but sadly, she usually did.

"Whatever you say, darling."

Eponine bristled, trying not to let him see how his words were getting to her. For the first time, she wished she had just stayed at the barricade and died along with her happiness. It would have been so much easier.

"Don't call me that," she hissed. Every little thing he was doing was just infuriating her. How was it possible for one person to be so aggravating?

"All right, sweetheart." Grantaire grinned mischievously at her, obviously meaning it in jest. But he didn't realize just how done she was with everything.

"That's it," she said, throwing up her hands. "I'm finished with this mission. I'm out." Well. That was one way to get rid of his company.

Grantaire rolled his eyes, juvenile to the core. "I'm really not that bad when you get to know me," he smirked wryly.

Eponine stopped walking, trying to contain herself. She didn't want to make a scene and draw attention, but at the same time she couldn't stay with this man any longer. She had known him about an hour, and in that time she had decided that she absolutely hated him. Now that she was out of the barricade and away from controlling Enjolras, she had no reason to stay. She had intended to slip away subtly or something, but to hell with subtle. The time for that had come and gone. She was already worn paper-thin by the events of the day and she sure as hell did not need a drunkard mocking her on top of all her other problems.

"No, I'm done with this stupid pretense," she said. "I'm leaving. I'm sick of you, I'm sick of all this - and don't you dare touch my arm, I don't want your shame on me!" She wrenched away from his proffered hand, intended to be soothing but proving to just be provoking.

Grantaire's face fell a little at her last words, revealing some amount of insecurity on his part. "At least let me escort you back to the barricade," he said through gritted teeth, trying to stay a gentleman. "Enjolras would kill me if you got lost or injured."

Eponine let out a strained laugh at that. He was so naive it was almost funny. "You don't get it, do you? I'm not going back to the barricade, idiot. I'm leaving. I never intended to be a spy. If it weren't for you keeping me here I would be long gone by now. I'm not returning there," she pointed back to where they had come from, "for anything. Marius is dead," the words tore from her throat like bullets, but there was no stopping her now that she had started. "And I won't join him, got it? You and your beloved leader will be just like him come tomorrow, and I'm starting a new life for myself. So stay out."

Grantaire didn't bat an eyelash at her outburst. "You're staying right here," he told her, taking a step toward her. She in turn took two back. "I told Enjolras that I would stay with you. You're a pain in the ass, but I made a promise and you're not going anywhere, okay?"

"Watch me," she snarled, whisking around and starting back in the opposite direction. Her bare feet made silent steps on the cobblestones, but Grantaire was wearing boots and she could hear him coming after her. She anticipated it even as it happened, his hands grabbing her shoulders and turning her around suddenly, so they faced each other. Once again, reflexes kicked in, and she recoiled away from his anger, closing her eyes, waiting. She could take anything he threw at her, she told herself. She was used to her papa's beatings, a schoolboy could be no worse. Her courage summoned, she prepared for the worst, ready. But the blow never came. She opened her eyes, confused.

"Just get it over with already," she hissed. But then Grantaire, looming over her in his anger, stepped away and released his hold on her, realization passing over his features.

"Jesus," he whispered. "Jesus Christ, I'm not going to hit you." Eponine, too shocked to run, instantly regretted the decision as he grabbed her wrists. She struggled. "Damn woman, just stop for a second! I have a deal for you!"

"Let go of me!" she yelled, not obliging. "I don't want a deal! I'm done with deals!"

Grantaire grimaced. "You're just hurting yourself," he told her, still not letting go. "I don't want to have to injure you, okay? But I can make this worth your while."

Eponine stopped writhing all at once and pulled him to her by his wrists, her face close to his. "What will you give me?" she growled, mustering up all the ferociousness she contained. She needed to show him that despite what he had seen, she was not afraid of him or anything else. Nothing fazed a Thenardier. He needed to figure that out.

If she hadn't been in a rage, she might have realized that she had once spoken those same words to another student in a similar alleyway not long ago.

"I have money," he told her, wrenching himself away from her but not relinquishing his grasp on her wrists. "I'll pay you royally for your work, but only if you stay with me, okay?"

The word "royally" got her attention. "A thousand francs," she bargained immediately, the first sum that came to mind, before she had even decided to agree to anything. She imagined what she could buy with that kind of money - more than she had ever owned in her life, that was for sure. Not that she needed to be extravagant; she knew how to scrape by, and she could live on that amount for several years with plenty to spare. It was a glorious thought. "And half up front," she added, watching with satisfaction as Grantaire grimaced. He was fighting two evils - paying her for company that he didn't want, or disappointing Enjolras. She hoped beyond hope that he would pick the former. Suddenly, all her aspirations were riding upon it.

The money could be just what she needed to leave her miserable life behind.

"Fine," he agreed eventually. She let out a sigh of relief and tried to pull herself away from him, but he still did not release his grip. What was this guy's problem? "But," he began, in a way that signified that terms and conditions would soon follow, "You help me spy on the National Guard, then go back to the barricade with me, and I'll get you out only after Enjolras sees that you're alive and well, got it?"

She scowled. There might be no escape from the barricade if she went back. But the fact that he had agreed to a thousand francs... It was astonishing how easily he seemed to regard what was a small fortune to her. The money, if she had it, would change her life, she could tell. It was an opportunity she couldn't pass by. Anything was worth that much. Anything. She could bear his company for a little while longer if it meant the prospective future she had in mind. It would just be a few more hours, maybe a tiny bit of danger, then she would be free and her pockets heavier than ever. What was time to her - she had all the time in the world. There was no rush. And as far as danger went, she had survived her fair share. This was the opportunity of a lifetime. "Deal."

"You promise?" Grantaire stressed, squeezing her hands. She thought he might go into a panic attack if she didn't say anything. So, naturally, she let the silence fester for a moment before solemnly promising. She pulled away from his grip right as several men walked past; Grantaire tipped his hat at them, then when they were gone rummaged through a pocket and threw a small bag at her. She caught it deftly. It was heavy despite its size and jingled with countless francs.

"That's all I have on me," he said, almost apologetic, but not quite. There was still a biting tone to his voice. "It's a hundred, give or take a few, but when this is all over there will be more."

"Good," Eponine replied haughtily, pocketing the coin purse. She fought to keep the overwhelming excitement she felt inside of her - she could not bear to give Grantaire the satisfaction of seeing just how happy she was. Sure, it was far less than half, but Eponine had never owned so much money in her life.

She took a deep, calming breath. This was the beginning. She was leaving her parents, not Azelma, though, and Marius behind her. Starting from that moment, she had a future that maybe didn't involve crime. A future that involved hope.

As they began walking again, Eponine spoke up. "I still don't like you," she clarified bluntly. It wasn't necessary, but it felt good to say all the same. He needed to understand that she was doing this for herself, just like he was doing this for himself. And, she had to admit she wanted to feel like the one with the power.

"Me neither," the drunk agreed solemnly. And so they traversed on in silence, into the dying sunlight, and it never occurred to Eponine to think that he had been talking about himself.

Wow. That was a hard chapter to write for some reason. It kind of took forever, so I hope you like it. (I think I do.) Anyway, reviews are welcome as always! -BE