A/N: Lots of things happening in this chapter. Some overt, some smaller, but also very important. I had to do a lot of research on New York City for this one. I picked the Eventi Hotel because it seemed the one most like Enjolras in interior design - all dark wood, and maroon/blood coloured accents. I also needed to get him away from Greenwich Village so we can start to see his roots. That will be further explored in the next chapter.
I listened to these songs while writing the chapter:
Rufus and Chaka Khan: "Tell Me Something Good" - Eponine in the bedroom.
AC/DC: "Dirty Deeds" (Done Dirt Cheap) - Montparnasse
Gotye: "Heart's a Mess" - for both of them
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Les Miserables, but I do like to take them out for a spin once in a while to play. I've played with timelines from both the story by the marvellous Victor Hugo, and the actual accounts of the Occupy movement. Enjoy the story and thanks for reading!
Chapter 11
Enjolras had kept to himself after speaking with Eponine at the bar. He was furious with himself for what had happened. And incensed with Grantaire for finding it so amusing.
What is happening to me? It's like my wiring is all mixed up. The reports he'd seen in the media had helped greatly to bring his thoughts back into focus. They were not the only group going to Zuccotti Park but it seemed they were the ones getting a fair share of the attention.
The fans of the Les Amis had exponentially increased. Jann, head of security for The Musain had to put on an extra man after the last gig, and seeing the mass of them at the stage door now, Eponine decided that had been a wise move.
The group stopped for ten minutes after the gig to sign autographs and chat with the fans but it still didn't seem enough for many of them. They all wanted to discuss the rally. They wanted to share their thoughts on the Occupy movement, share their own stories with the band. If this was even a small indication, then the rally was going to be much, much larger than any of them thought.
Eponine made her way out the staff exit in the alley, walking to the front. She caught the eye of Enjolras who was still surrounded by a large group. He motioned with his eyes towards the street. She nodded in understanding, and went to wait for him there.
She suddenly realised she had no idea where Enjolras lived. She had no idea about any details of his life. Perhaps tonight he wouldn't be the only one getting some answers.
Ten minutes later, the crowd finally dispersed and Enjolras made his way to where Eponine was standing.
"Let's go",she said, "I'm freezing my butt off here".
"We're not walking. My place is almost 2 miles away. We'll catch a cab tonight, it's too cold to go on foot", he said, signalling to the next yellow cab he saw heading their way.
As they pulled away from the curb, they failed to notice the shadow in the window of the building directly opposite the club. Turning away from his view of the street below, Montparnasse slowly closed the curtain. Walking over to the battered chair, he sat for a moment, hand rubbing his chin, before pulling out his cell phone and punching in a phone number.
"Yes, Mrs T, it's me, 'Parnasse. You're still planning on visiting your husband in the clink tomorrow?"he asked. "Good. Perfect. Can you pass on a message from me? Tell him….tell him I found the girl and I have a date for the job", he said, looking down at the leaflet he had in his hand.
A rally. Confusion. It couldn't be any more perfect than if he'd planned it himself. Eponine and her band of merry mates were going to pay a heavy price for humiliating him. And as a bonus, he'd be in the boss's good books for sorting out that traitorous daughter of his.
He grinned maliciously, and started making phone calls to the rest of the gang...
They travelled in silence in the back of the cab, Enjolras was sitting as far to his side of the back seat as he could. Eponine was too busy looking out the window to notice, it was so rare she had the opportunity to see the city this way. People were spilling out onto the streets having just enjoyed late dinners, or Broadway shows. They were all dressed up, couples strolling along the street hand in hand. Loud, laughing groups coming out of pubs and clubs. She wondered what that was like; to belong to a group. To have your arm locked in another's.
She suddenly realised they were in the high end of the city when they passed signs to The Hampton Inn.
The cab stopped a little further up the road. They were in the middle of Manhattan. Enjolras paid the driver, got out of the cab and went over to open Eponine's door, but she was already halfway out. He silently cursed himself.
He gestured to the Eventis Hotel.
"Wait. You live in a hotel?" she asked.
She walked beside him as they made their way inside and across the foyer to the elevators.
"Yes, my father has basically disowned me because of my opinions of people like him, and my mother refuses to cut off contact so she lets me live in her private suite here. It's her way of defying him, you see. He's a very controlling person. He pretends not to know about it, and she pretends not to care what he thinks.
"Oh", said Eponine, "and who are people like him exactly?".
"He's the head lawyer for AIG". He turned to her, waiting for a reaction.
"One of the companies the rally is protesting against? I was protesting outside their offices just last week!"
"Hmmmm, as was I", he said as he pressed the button to the 22nd Floor.
Just one floor under the Presidential Suites, Eponine noted as the elevator arrived.
"Don't you find this place a little..luxurious, given what you're fighting for?", she asked, stepping in.
He shrugged his shoulders, hands firmly in the pockets of his jacket.
"What we're fighting for. And it's just a place to live. It doesn't define me. Just as surely as the places you have lived, don't' define you either Eponine. It's just rooms. I'm on my own with everything else, just like you are. It seems we've both been assisted by benefactors in that regard".
"Well, yes, when you put it that way, it's a bit easier to understand".
The quiet bell of the elevator let them know they'd arrived at their destination. Enjolras walked over to the door farthest to the left, one of only three on the floor, his boots moving quietly on the dark marble.
He slid the card key into the slot, opening the door, and motioned for Eponine to go inside before him. Behind her he pulled his hand; he had been about to place it on the small of her back to guide her. No!
She nearly gasped aloud. The suite was incredible; she had never seen anything like it.
Dark timber floors, pale grey walls and luxurious rugs on the floor, the curtains a rich brown. The sofa was deep maroon and the rest of the furniture looked to be made of mahogany.
Enjolras had claimed one corner as his working space. On a long table there sat a mess of paperwork, pens, half-empty water bottles, reference books, a scattering of CD's, and a large pile of rally flyers that he hadn't had the chance to give out yet.
Aside from that, the suite looked barely lived in, though the design gave it an inherent warmth. There were no personal items, no family photographs, nothing to give away signs of the man who lived here.
"Did you eat tonight?," he asked.
"Uh no actually, we got busy, and I just forgot."
"We can order in, do you like Chinese? Kung Pao Chicken, and maybe some stir fry noodles and vegetables?" he suggested.
Something about that struck her as ridiculously funny, and she laughed. She'd never seen him eat. She'd pictured him as a marble statue indeed, who needed no sustenance, not from people, and certainly not from Kung Pao Chicken.
Again she laughed out loud. Church giggles, the worst.
He was looking at her the same way as he had in the club, his dark blue eyes intensely trying to figure her out.
"I'm sorry Enj", she said, recovering herself. "That sounds great, thanks".
"Find yourself somewhere comfy, and um the bathroom is that way", he pointed as he picked up his cell to place the order.
Eponine decided now was as good a time as any to check out the apartment.
She walked from the lounge in the direction he'd indicated. The bedroom was appointed directly next to the living room. She couldn't help but take a peek at it.
The floor was like the rest of the apartment, made of dark wood, the bed looked to be a king size, and sat up on luxurious cream rug. The quilt was also a rich cream colour, and maroon pillows accented them. Next to the bed upon a small chest sat more of his books, and a vintage lamp. To her amusement, opposite the bed was a huge mirror. My my, she thought. Who has the risqué side - mother or son? Given Jehan's chat to her she highly doubted it was Enjolras. Still, the thought of him in the bed gave life to hidden thoughts.
She was startled by his voice, suddenly next to her. "Eponine, what are you doing?".
She turned to face him; he was very close to her, less than a foot away. She could again smell the faint undercurrent of his scent. She tried not to inhale.
"Nothing, I was just..using the ladies room".
"It's right behind you", he said firmly, leaning on the doorway with a bemused expression.
"Of course".
"The take out will be here in about thirty minutes", he advised.
"Okay, great".
"''Ponine?"
"Yes?", she said, turning from the bathroom door.
"Try not to get lost on the way back, alright?"
He walked away, the beginnings of a grin on his lips. What had she been doing in there? He had caught her lost in thought. He'd never let anyone into his apartment before, this was his sanctuary away from the madness of the streets.
The colours of the world, his world, really were changing.