A Grief That Can't Be Spoken
4 - We Talked Of Revolution
A/N: Last chapter, which is liberally smothered with my favourite literary device; dramatic irony.
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Enjolras and Combeferre's flat is a bustle of activity. They're all ready and waiting to set off to the rally, buzzing with excitement as always.
Jehan had at some point leapt at Bahorel with a battle cry, and the two are now wrestling on the floor, their taunting and shouting contributing most to the noise of the room. Feuilly steps out of the way as they roll past him – again – and kicks Bahorel with an exasperated noise.
"Come on, you two." He reprimands. "Save your energy for the rally. We're gonna be there a while."
"But Feuilly, the rallies are absolutely boring." Bahorel whines childishly from where he's got his face pressed into the carpet. "I wasn't built for peaceful protest – I'm made for revolutions and revolts!"
"Not if I can still pin you down, you're not." Jehan teases.
"I'm going easy on you, pipsqueak." Bahorel retorts, and Feuilly sighs again. Of course they all know he is going easy on Jehan – as much as the poet is a little fighter and very skilled, he is a good foot shorter than Bahorel and has nowhere near as much muscle mass – but it still provokes a wicked smirk and a cry of "Take that back!" before they're off again. Feuilly makes sure to give them another kick as they go.
Combeferre makes a mildly exasperated face in his boyfriend's direction – though it's definitely hindered by fondness – before he turns back to discussing leaflets and speeches with Enjolras. It may be only a few minutes until they head off, but he's still trying to make last-minutes tweaks. He's also making sure they have everything they need – a small medkit for Joly to take, prepared for cuts and scrapes, mobiles all properly charged for communication, enough pamphlets to give out to the crowd, spare glasses for Combeferre (they've been knocked off his face enough times that it's a precaution they like to take), and every little thing in between that they might need. This rally has a high chance of turning violent, and Enjolras is set on preparing down to every last detail to ensure he gets everyone out okay.
Courfeyrac has got himself slung over Marius and Grantaire's shoulders as he talks excitedly to them. Joly is checking through his medkit and telling Bossuet to "be careful for god's sake, I know you're unlucky but I don't understand how you manage to get punched in the face every time" while his boyfriend laughs good-naturedly. Courfeyrac is busy teasing Marius about Cosette, because they fuss over each other every rally, and also because she's currently huddling and talking with Eponine and Musichetta and Marius never has gotten over the habit of staring longingly after her whenever she's not directly by his side.
"I swear to god if I have to watch you making love-eyes a minute longer I'm going to be sick." He mutters, nudging Marius with his hip. Marius shoots him a look and Courfeyrac just grins back. "Go on freckle-face; go say your last goodbyes." Courfeyrac makes an over-dramatic gesture, putting the back of his hand to his forehead and exaggeratedly sobbing. Marius scoffs and hits him around the back of the head – Courfeyrac only cackles – before breaking off to approach the girls.
Eponine catches sight of him before he's quite to them, and smirks.
"Here comes my ward." She says, teasingly, and Marius makes a face at her.
"Haha, you're hilarious 'Ponine."
"Damn right I am." Eponine nods.
"You know, I can take care of myself." Marius tells her, pouting just slightly.
"Yeah yeah, I believe you." Eponine says in a tone that suggests she absolutely does not. "But I have been tasked by Madame to look after you, and so I will. God knows I've been doing it for long enough already anyway."
Marius rolls his eyes but smiles as he tugs her close and hugs her tightly, knocking her cap forward and over her eyes. Once she pulls away, playfully cursing him, Cosette slots easily into his arms and leans up to kiss him. She'll be staying at home with Musichetta and Gavroche; although Eponine's little brother loves to pretend that 11 years old is most definitely old enough to be classed as one of the 'big boys', they always keep him away from rallies that they don't think will be safe for him. Cosette and Musichetta will probably bake cakes or cookies or some other sweet treat with him, and as long as Gavroche doesn't eat them all there'll be some left for everyone when they return. Marius stands there with her for a few moments, his hands resting on her waist, talking quietly to each other and exchanging chaste kisses until Courfeyrac interrupts.
"Okay, come on loverbird, we're going!" He calls.
"I'll see you later." Marius murmurs, kissing Cosette's forehead before breaking off and heading over to the group. Enjolras is waiting impatiently for everyone to be ready; Jehan and Bahorel are still shoving each other every now and then; Feuilly is talking to Combeferre and Joly, taking a last minute inventory; Grantaire, who only comes along to watch Enjolras and ends up acting as some sort of bodyguard to him, stands with Eponine and Courfeyrac at the back of the group. Courfeyrac gestures again, impatiently.
"Be careful, boys." Musichetta calls after them as Enjolras does a quick headcount and starts to lead them out of the apartment. Bossuet and Joly turn to blow her kisses.
"We will!" Courfeyrac replies, and with a grin and a few more waves from the group, they're gone.
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A/N: *cackle*
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this story. I'm pretty pleased with the feedback I've gotten on it, and how well the 'backwards order' seems to have worked, so I would say this experiment has been a success.
Thank you again to my amazing reviewers; Candy Cartwright, messed up stargazer and anon. CommonSense. I'm glad you like the story! Though I'd be extremely surprised if I was the first to play on the idea of 'only Marius dies' since it's such a basic inversion of canon, but still.
Thank you all for reading, goodbye!
