Hi everyone! This is my first Les Miserables attempt because I revere the works of Victor Hugo tremendously and I never wanted to touch it, however... I noticed a severe lack Les Miserables fic and.. maybe this will inspire some. Of course, this all belongs to Victor Hugo and his estate.
Another thing- If there are inaccuracies, I would love to be gently informed- However my Les Mis knowledge ego could not bear a rude reminder! I do love to learn new things, though. And please don't lower my confidence in my writing; I am easily damaged in that sense! And, by the way- This is obviously an unexplained occurence in the book, so I did take some liberties in the behavior of Grantaire and Enjolras. So Grantaire is not a two-dimensional loud drinker-- I don't think Hugo intended it that way in the long run.
Thank you for reading!
It is assumed by many that everything happens for a reason. This was one of the many philosophies discussed in the class which Grantaire had only two more days to study for before the accumulative exam. He wondered, while climbing up the wooden steps into the Cafe Musain, whether or not it would have done him any good to actually attend class sober. He lightly scratched his mostly shaven face and looked at his reflection in the window of the Cafe. His light brown hair swept lightly against his shoulders with the light breeze as he ran a hand through it. He opened the door, sighing to absolve himself of the guilt and stress that built at the base of his stomach. His expressive eyes widened significantly when he noticed that his Parisian hideout had gained popularity overnight, every table filled with enthusiastic students or working men.
His friend, the bartender Sebastien, gave him an acknowledging smile before balancing three bottles of wine in his arm and reaching high for three glasses. Slowly Grantaire dragged his worn boots over to the counter and looked skeptically at the busy man.
"Did you pay these people to come here, my friend?" Grantaire questioned lightly, inspecting the bottles Sebastien had just released from his grasp.
"No, Grantaire," Sebastien said with a smile, "But it does help that the cafe down the street ran out of wine for the day, No?"
Grantaire laughed heartily. "And that is the only reason! How fast their loyalties change!" He mused. "And where am I to sit- every table is taken."
Sebastien slid a glass to a rather gruff looking man and grabbed the bills from his hand almost lovingly. He glanced across his Cafe with searching eyes, and then singled out on one spot.
"There," he pointed.
Grantaire followed the outstreched finger to see a golden blonde head completely buried in a book. If it weren't for the boots resting on the floor, Grantaire would have thought the shimmering hair belonged to a lady. He raised one eyebrow and turned back to his friend.
"He...She...They look somewhat preoccupied," Grantaire said. In response he simply got an eyeroll from Sebastien, who poured him a glass of wine and handed it to him.
"There. Your favorite. Just go sit with the lady- if he bothers you, then come talk to me. Otherwise, he seems to be content just doing his work and drinking that tea shite." Sebastien demanded. Grantaire left him a gratuitous tip, then approached the table with an ounce of caution.
"Monseiur?"
No reply, Grantiare asked a touch louder.
"Monseiur?"
No reply. His patience began to run.
"Mo---"
"Yes?' The golden one cut in, looking up as if looking up from his work was a strenuous task.
This was the first Grantaire had seen of this student's face. Long, brown eyelashes framed green eyes, which, while pretty in their way, flashed with obvious annoyance at the interruption. His skin glowed with health, and full peach lips formed a slight frown as he glanced upon Grantaire.
Slightly taken aback, Grantaire smiled kindly and explained, "Pardon me, M'seiur, but as all the seats in the Cafe are occupied I was curious as to whether or not I could share this table with you"
The student was evidently taken aback by his politeness, as he blushed a soft pink on his cheeks. "But of course," he murmured, removing stacks of papers from the other side of the table.
Grantaire mumbled a soft "Thank you" before sitting down across from this man. He noticed this man studying his movements rather intently, and in order to break this potentially awkward silence he injected, "I suppose I should introduce myself... My name is Grantaire."
He extened a hand across the table. The student took his hand and shook with surprising strength. "I am Enjolras," he responded, his face relaxing slightly from the cool masque that played across his features.
Grantaire motioned to his books and papers, laughing slightly. "I suppose it is time for the final exam for your classes as well, No?" The student Enjolras smirked and nodded, sighing over his work. "Yes. Government. I have much to study."
Grantaire nodded understandingly. "Then I will not distract you from your work. I have my own to do as well." And with that, the two silent students sat in the noisy cafe, enraptured in their individual tasks.