"Did you really need to tell him?" Combeferre turned on his father the second he heard Enjolras's door slam. Arthur had just tried to convince a disengaged Enjolras to sign a restraining order against Phillip. Enjolras had responded with a quick and short no. When Arthur asked again, stressing the importance of a court order, Enjolras once again replied with a no, this time his voice cutting though the otherwise silent room like a knife. And when Arthur pushed the issue for the third time, almost pleading for Enjolras to sign the order, he responded by getting up, yelling to be left alone, and storming out of the room.
"Tell him what?" Arthur sighed. Combeferre could hear the exhaustion in his father's voice but he was too angry at him to care.
"Tell him Ariane has returned." Combeferre snapped, scaring Courfeyrac who'd jumped.
"I felt he had a right to know." Arthur replied, taking off his glasses and locking eyes with his sons, "He was bound to find out somehow. Better to find out this way then have her show up at your doorstep."
"Better he doesn't find out at all." Combeferre countered. He hardly ever fought with his parents. And the very few times that he did, he normally was able to see their side of things once they explained their view of the situation. After what would turn into a lengthy discussion, Combeferre would end up following their guidance, and be glad he did so, chucking up his misguided opinions to youth and poor decision making. This time however, he wasn't about to rationalize and understand. He knew that if Enjolras had one weakness it was his mother. If anything was going to get him back into his father's grasps it would be Ariane. And Enjolras was too sick, too small, and too weak, to deal with the vengeance his father had to have in store for him. He wouldn't have wanted the healthy, vibrant, strong Enjolras to have to come to terms with the fact that Ariane had returned let alone the Enjolras of late.
"I couldn't keep this from him." Arthur retorted, "He has a right to know, Ferre."
"I think your dad's right." Courfeyrac jumped in, giving Combeferre a knowing nod. "I mean I don't like it either, but how do you think Enj would feel if his mom showed up suddenly and he found out your dad, or we, knew about it? He'd never forgive us."
"He's not healthy enough or strong enough to deal with this kind of news." Combeferre snapped, "He can barely make it to the bathroom by himself, let alone deal with this bullshit."
"He's sick, Ferre." Courfeyrac said almost laughing, "He's not a baby."
"I'd think you of all people would want to keep this from him." Combeferre said rather tartly. "Aren't you supposed to be his big protector? His savior? That's how you see yourself, isn't it? Must be nice to convince yourself you're someone's own personal superhero."
"Enj always loved his mom, Ferre." Courfeyrac shrugged, obviously ignoring Combeferre's verbal attack on him, "You always had two parents to take care of you…you don't know what it's like to have only one to rely on…You know as well as I do, she crushed him when she left. I mean, maybe just him knowing she loves him is enough to give him a boost."
"She doesn't love him, you fool." Combeferre exploded, slamming his hand down on the table, "If she loved him, she wouldn't have left him in the first place."
"Take a walk Combeferre." Arthur said suddenly, "Before you say something you regret."
Combeferre took one look at the two of them, his father looking concerned and worried, and Courfeyrac managing to look both knowledgeable and confused, and left the house.
"Enj…" Courfeyrac found the nerve to venture upstairs and knock on his best friend's door, after some coaxing from Arthur, who was pacing nervously back and forth in the kitchen. "Enjolras….." He hissed the name over and over again until he heard a very rewarding exasperating sigh. "Good." Courfeyrac said cheerfully, "You're up!" He opened the bedroom door, and jumped up into the bed next to his much fairer friend, managing to kick off his shoes at the same time.
"I don't want to talk." Enjolras grunted, trying to cover his head with his covers.
"Me either." Courfeyrac said with a grin, "Let's snuggle." He put his chin on Enjolras's shoulder and slowly brought up his hand and began lightly drumming Enjolras's ribs, knowing it would bother him. Sure enough, within seconds, Enjolras started squirming.
"What's wrong?" Courfeyrac asked innocently, digging in a little harder.
"Courf!" Enjolras was biting his lip to keep from laughing, "Stop!"
"Stop what…?"
"You know what!" Enjolras tried to push Courfeyrac off of him, but failed miserably. Finally he gave up the battle and allowed himself to laugh. Courfeyrac continued his assault for a few minutes longer, and then stopped, rolled over onto his stomach and grinned at Enjolras.
"Now you ready to talk?" He asked innocently.
"Just for the record, I hate you." Enjolras said, wiping tears out of his eyes.
"You adore me." Courfeyrac flipped back over with a satisfied sigh.
"Whatever you need to tell yourself." Enjolras replied, sitting up.
"So 'yo mammas back in town." Courfeyrac continued in a sing-song voice, dancing a little, making the bed shake.
Enjolras glared at him, clearly signifying he wasn't in the mood, "I just don't see why she'd even come back after all this time."
"Maybe she heard you're sick." Courfeyrac suggested. "I mean, maybe she didn't know how to contact you. Maybe she thought you and your dad still talk. Maybe she wants to be like that 'Florence Nightingale Lady'."
"I doubt that." Enjolras paused, shaking his head at Courfeyrac's reference. "She's really not the nurturing type, you know?"
"Maybe she's changed." Courfeyrac shrugged, "I think it's weird she's back now, out of all times with you being sick and all…"
Enjolras responded with a shrug, subconsciously reaching up and readjusting the knit cap that hugged his head.
"I can call my Momma." Courfeyrac offered, "She loves you. She'd probably date you if you weren't my friend. She is great at getting information out of people without giving any away herself. Ha. How do you think she knew I skipped school so much?"
"I think it had something to do with you sleeping at your house during the day, Courfeyrac." Enjolras said sensibly. "You do realize she came home most days for lunch to let out your dog, right?"
"Whatever." Courfeyrac shrugged, "I mean, she still would have known. She probably could have been a spy or something. Maybe she was before she had me. Maybe she still is. I still don't really know what she does. So it's possible."
"Sure, Courf." Enjolras nodded in agreement mostly because he knew when it came to Verna, Courfeyrac was convinced she could do anything. He did have to admit, Verna had a certain charm about her, much like Courfeyrac that she could get anyone to warm up to her. He actually always liked Verna. She was completely different than Claire-she was younger and wilder-but definitely more present than his own mother. And there was no doubt she loved Courfeyrac with all of her heart.
"So why won't you sign those papers Arthur brought over." Courfeyrac asked, "I mean it seems like a great idea to me. They are supposed to make sure he stays away from you, right? Arthur said he could get locked up if he violates them or something."
"I'm not signing them." The replied came with such determined conviction, that Courfeyrac could almost hear the old fiery, passionate Enjolras.
"I just don't see why not." Courfeyrac asked after waiting a few seconds for an explanation.
"You know my dad…." Enjolras shuddered slightly, "He'll see the court order as a challenge. He'll show up purely because it exists." When Courfeyrac went to argue, Enjolras interrupted, "Remember how it was when he found out you and Ferre knew he was hitting me? Don't you remember how much worse it got? He literally enjoyed the fact that you guys knew but couldn't do anything. He'll see this as the same thing. Besides, no court paper is going to stop him. If he wants me, he'll get to me."
"Well, I for one am not going to let that happen." Courfeyrac said confidently, reaching out and lightly tapped Enjolras's knee. "He's not going to get to you Enj. I promise you I'll protect you. So will Combeferre and Arthur."
Enjolras shrugged, and breathed in deeply, before reaching for a book Cosette had left him the other day. Courfeyrac paused, watching as Enjolras turned the pages too quickly to actually be reading. It was obvious Enjolras was shut off from the present conversation and making that point be known.
"You have chemo tomorrow, right?" He asked tentatively getting up from the bed, slowly making it across the room.
"Yep." Enjolras said shortly, turning another page.
"See you tomorrow then." Courfeyrac replied, leaving his friend with his desired solitude, closing the door behind him.