Me again! Thanks so much for the reviews guys, it's so lovely to hear people are enjoying this story! :)
Disclaimer: Non.
I like how you touch my skin
When Les Amis met Éponine and Cosette at a stupid flat party thrown by some guy they barely knew in the first week of their second year of college, one of the things that endeared the girls to all of them was how strikingly different they were: Cosette was as quietly approachable as Éponine was fierce and guarded. Courfeyrac wasn't ashamed to admit he was a little intimidated by the tiny girl who used her quick wit and banter to avoid answering any questions… ever, whereas her willowy friend would never initiate a conversation, but if you asked, would quietly and sweetly tell you just about anything. Courfeyrac had nearly fallen off his chair laughing the first time Cosette told them all a really (honestly, really, even he was shocked…) dirty story in that soft voice of hers, an innocent smile on her face. Of course, part of the reason he was intimidated was probably that he'd seen her take people down if they crossed her; for example, unlike Cosette – who was the very definition of a hugger - Éponine had never been comfortable with physical contact; especially not from guys, and especially not from strangers, and/or people she didn't feel relaxed around. The memory of the look of real terror in the eyes of the guy who tried to grope her arse at that party as she just annihilated him still brought tears of laughter to Courf's eyes, along with the feelings of both awe and mild… fear.
As they'd gotten to know the girls, of course, they'd started to see through the obvious differences between them and realise that they had more in common than would initially be clear. Both retreated into themselves when they were sad, both liked some time alone to recharge, and actually, both of them were capable of opening up: Éponine just took a little more persuasion than Cosette. Courfeyrac's view – partially based on observation, partially based on an explanation from Joly and Combeferre that not everybody necessarily liked telling people things (that was an eye-opener) – was that Éponine was just very careful to protect herself. He'd realised that unless she was really comfortable around you, you would learn nothing, and felt a real sense of pride the first time she told him anything remotely personal; it actually touched him to know she felt she knew him that well. He had also learned that no matter who you were, if you pushed her too far, she'd clam up – possibly for good – and that certain topics were completely off-limits (specifically, any mention of the mysterious guy from her past she'd never talk about).
So when the two of them were sitting on the end of the dock after clearing up the last of the remnants of the Lakeolympics that night, the last thing Courfeyrac expected was for Éponine to scoot her butt sideways to lean the side of her bikini-clad body against his. And yet, as they watched the sun setting over the lake, sat in companionable silence (to be fair, they'd only just regained their composure after laughing hysterically at something stupid), that was what she did. It wasn't a hug, exactly - her hands remained in her lap, fidgeting with a piece of rope or something – but her whole right side rested against him; her soft skin warm against his. A look down at her told him she was still looking straight ahead; her strangely distant gaze fixed on the sunset. He took a risk, and put his left arm around her shoulders, gently rubbing her arm with his thumb, and breathed a quiet sigh of relief when she didn't punch him and storm away. Neither of them said anything for a little while; they watched the horizon. To an observer, they would have seemed perfectly at peace.
Internally though, Courfeyrac was virtually unravelling with all the thoughts and sensations running through him. His brain seemed torn: on the one hand, warmly happy that his friend was happy with this, and enjoying the apparent new level of friendship without any desire to question or push the situation. On the other hand, part of him was shouting OH MY GOD THIS IS A BIG DEAL WHY IS SHE OK WITH THIS SHE NORMALLY DOESN'T REALLY TOUCH ANY OF US GUYS OTHER THAN GRANTAIRE AND BAHOREL, NOT IN LIKE A FRIENDLY WAY, WHAT IS GOING ON!?.
It was a confusing time to be in Courfeyrac's head.
Add to that the understandable but… surprising physical reaction his body was having to the contact: Courfeyrac had been pressed against his fair share of scantily-clad women, so he was used to some of the effects this had on him, but one aspect was very, very new. And it was freaking him out a bit actually…
Why did his entire right side suddenly feel so warm?
And tingly, like an electric current was running through it? Or like fireworks had been set off in every pore?
And why was he suddenly so much more aware of every inch of his body?
And most of all, why was he enjoying the feeling so much? Was it ridiculous to think it felt kind of right? Because that was the word that came to mind.
Already in overdrive, his mind just about exploded from overexertion when she tentatively dropped the piece of rope and wrapped an arm around his waist. Luckily, just before steam started to spew from his ears, Éponine cut it off by saying brightly "Gavroche would have really enjoyed today."
Courfeyrac smiled. "Yeah, he really would've. None of us would've stood a chance in Lakeolympics!"
"He could probably have entered solo and still won" she chuckled.
"Imagine Bahorel's face, being pipped to the podium by a hyperactive ten-year-old."
"Luckily I don't have to. Because we smoked aaaaall you losers… honestly, I don't even know what I'm going to do with all my gold medals!"
"Oooh ok, Michael Phelps."
She laughed, her whole body shaking against his. The movement felt like sparks against his skin, sending shockwaves through his entire body.
After a moment she continued "seriously though, he would. He loves hanging around with you lot."
"We like having him, he's hilarious"
"I'm glad he's got, you know… like older brother figures. Like role models. He's never really had a nice guy to look up to, and even when he thought he did… he's just been let down a lot. I'm really glad you're here for him, I think if he turns out to be as good a guy as all you lot are… I'll be happy."
Courfeyrac gave her a reassuring squeeze as he replied "He's got you, you know. Don't underestimate how much he looks up to you, because he really does. You're a far better role model for him than any of us."
"Nahhh… I talk a good game, and these days I'm doing alright I suppose, but… I haven't always made good choices, and Gav remembers. He maybe looks up to me now, and I'll always watch out for him, but he needs guys like you."
"Nobody makes good decisions all the time. You've practically raised him, right from being a kid yourself. And you've tried your hardest to remove him from harm at every turn…"
"You make me sound like some sort of guardian angel" she scoffed. "You know I'm Éponine, not Cosette, right?"
He laughed "I don't know, Thénardier, I think the halo fits…"
"Nope" she laughed. "I'm the devil. But it's all the same to me anyway."
Courfeyrac laughed, unsure whether she was joking or not, and the comfortable silence fell again as they stayed where they were; feet dangling in the water off the edge of the dock, bodies comfortable nestled against each other, Courfeyrac's thumb rubbing gentle circles on Éponine's arm. They stayed there until the Sun had almost dropped completely below the horizon, when Éponine quietly whispered "hey, Courf?"
He glanced down at her quickly, before replying "yeah?"
"I'm really glad you're here for me, too."
He just smiled, surprised and pleased at the seemingly sudden glimpse into Éponine's carefully guarded heart. His head wasn't even freaking out; the soft, happy side had won out. He was just perfectly content to sit there touching her.
Well, until she quickly leaned up and planted the softest and swiftest kiss on his cheek he'd ever experienced, before standing up and walking back to the house without looking back. She left his cheek tingling and burning white-hot at the contact, and his poor confused mind in utter chaos.
Even now, lying in his bunk at 4 am several days later, he couldn't form a single coherent thought about it. Maybe he'd never be able to.
Heehee. Reviews make my day! :)
