A/N: We are slowly reaching the end of this story. Probably three or four chapters more. Happy reading! :)
14. Doing All Right
Joly noticed.
The Change
It wasn't something grand, just a few quotes here and there, intonation of the voice.
A book left on the sofa, scrabbled papers on the desk.
Grantaire noticed, too.
There was that strange look Enjolras had on his face only while examining some especially puzzling problem; a furrowed brow, darkened eyes, tightly clasped lips. And a hand, let's not forget a hand that would unconsciously run through golden locks.
The Look, as he liked to call it, was now pointed towards the door that led to Enjolras' bedroom, which was currently occupied by - it still sounded so strange in Grantaire's fuzzy, drunk mind- a girl. Young, living, breathing girl.
Which was strange enough even without The Look.
The aforementioned girl must have done something to earn this much attention from the leader, and Grant was dying to find out what. Especially since it affected Enjolras enough to go back to his political studies.
Maybe, just maybe...he noticed.
Maybe Prouvaire looked like he lived in his own little world for most of the time, but he also noticed.
The problem was, he just couldn't put a finger on it.
And it irritated him endlessly.
Prouvaire, as a poet, was usually good at reading various sentiments that lay beneath people's glances, but there was that -that something in Enjolras' eyes, and he just couldn't put a finger on it.
Which, once again, irritated him endlessly.
But let's get back to the night when The Change happened.
'For God's sake, Enj, why would she be standing in the first place?!'
'As I already stated, she was trying to get out of the bed. Calm down Joly.'
'But why-'
'Will you examine her or not? If the latter, I can always call Musichetta.'
Joly huffed.
'It's nothing serious, just a lack of energy and strength caused by a blood loss. Her body is still not ready for greater exertions. Please, do try to stop her the next time she tries to do something stupid!'
'Noted.'
Joly eyed the man suspiciously. There was something off. He needed a second to notice that the dark shadows that made their home beneath Enjolras' ocean eyes were gone.
Strange.
But just when he attempted to ask something more, Eponine woke up, immediately pushing herself up against the pillows.
Joly almost screamed in frustration.
'Lay down this very moment or -may God be my witness- I will tie you to that bed!'
And then another unusual thing happened.
Enjolras quietly laughed.
Strange indeed.
It seems like Eponine thought the same thing, since her eyes immediately flickered in his direction, widening at the sight. Then, she did as she was told, lying down while Joly did a final check-up of the wound.
Loud knocking broke the river of thoughts flowing through Joly's mind.
'Enjy, dear, mommy's home!', Grantaire yelled.
Enjolras hurried to the door in a failed attempt to keep Grant's mouth shut.
'ENJ-'
'For God's sake keep your voice down, I'm coming right away!', he hissed. 'Did it ever occur to you that she might be sleeping?!'
Grantaire happily ignored him and ran/stumbled straight to Eponine, hugging her sloppily. Both men gaped at the unusual sight.
What they didn't see was Grantaire whispering something into girl's ear. Ascribing her wide eyes and colourless face to the blood loss.
The alarming words still echoed in Eponine's ears like wind chimes.
'I know your secret.'
'Darlings, can you leave us alone for a moment?', Grantaire asked in a sickening, sweet voice.
'Grant, what are you-'
'Joly, we just need to have a little chat. Promise not to disturb Shady's recovery with anything wicked', the man winked playfully.
Enjolras silently observed, eyes roaming from one man to another. Only his slightly clasped palms indicated the tension building inside.
'I'm not sure that this is-', Joly tried once again, this time cut off by Eponine.
'Just for a moment, please? I really appreciate all the things you've done for me but this is something that has to be resolved immediately. Please, Joly?', her hazel eyes pleading at the confused medical student.
He let out a helpless sigh and followed Enjolras who was already making his way through the door, seemingly uninterested in the subject matter. Grantaire waved at them groggily.
The drunken act was dismissed along with the closed door.
There was a moment of an awkward silence where Grantaire's eyes were searching Eponine's , trying to read her emotions. Unsuccessfuly. The mask was up once again.
Though, her voice slightly lingered at the spoken word.
'How?'
This silence that followed was more painful than the wound on her chest.
Why isn't he speaking?
She never thought of Grant as someone who would enjoy torturing people, so why is he letting her struggle like this? Why is he examining her with those clean, sober eyes?
Not knowing what to do, she repeated the word.
'How?'
Seconds later, he shrugged. 'Seen you on the barricade. Taking the bullet.'
Sharp intake of breath.
'He...'
'...thinks that you did it for Marius. As well as the others.' Sharp gaze still resting on her face.
'Good. That's... good', she whispered softly, tension disappearing from her features.
Grant looked taken aback by the words. 'The man that you love thinks you willingly sacrificed yourself for another? How's that good?!'
A sad smile appeared on her face.
'He was never supposed to find out anyway. This just makes things easier for me. He won't suspect anything.'
'But he also won't be able to love you back!'
Eponine laughed bitterly. 'It's Enjolras we're talking about! The man who's made out of marble. Not noticing any woman besides his Patria. From the start, it was never meant to be. Why complicate things by revealing my feelings?'
'Because he deserves to know!', Grantaire argued.
'No, he doesn't.', she replied sharply. 'It's my own burden, and I will continue to carry it without complaint. You should stay out of it.'
The look of genuine hurt crossed Grantaire's face. He shook his head.
'...Grant...', she began softly.
'No, you are right. I understand. But he has a heart too, you know. You saved his life giving up on your own, Eponine, your feelings are too strong to hide!'
'He won't find out about it.' She kept her steel glance locked with Grantaire's eyes. He huffed.
'Promise me. Promise that you won't say a word to him!'
'Why do you have to be so bloody stubborn?!'
'Promise!'
Grantaire let out a long sigh before answering. 'You know I wouldn't say, Shady.'
For the first time since the rebellion, a smile reached Eponine's eyes.
Grantaire left soon after, Joly too.
Once again, it was just her and Enjolras.
She expected him to yell. To toss, to break something. Maybe even hit her.
Nothing happened.
He sat in the corner with a book in his hands, titled Politics of modern France.
She flushed.
He smiled.
She responded.
He nodded.
She understood.
He did, too.
Everything went back to normal. Except, it didn't.
Cafe Musain got renovated.
Students continued to hold meetings.
Enjolras got back to his studies.
Grantaire got back to his drinking.
Eponine got back to being a shadow.
Everything seemed the same. Except, it wasn't.
Joly and Musichetta shared glances.
Marius got engaged to Cosette.
Combeferre had a scar over his left cheek.
Prouvaire stopped writing poetry.
Enjolras stopped stirring the crowd.
Instead, he started to bound with people of the streets.
He started to make small changes.
To notice things.
To notice people.
Enjolras started to notice.
Not Shady.
Not Ponine.
Enjolras started to notice her.
To notice Eponine.
A/N: Yeah, this chapter is full of repetitions (damn it, I really like those! They give that special note of importance to everything! Though I do use them too much) and slightly blurry, didn't go minutely into descriptions of situations and conversations, hope it was understandable nonetheless!
Am immensely grateful to all af you who read/favorited/followed/commented! Means so, so much!