A/N: If ya haven't noticed, I'm trying to slow things down a bit… but you can't delay the inevitable. Cheers.

Chapter 7

Erik dropped into the sewer and winced. His trousers were not made for tramping through the scum of underground Paris.

"Might I ask why we're doing this, again?" he inquired as Eponine landed beside him.

"I need to find out if Marius is alright."

"But why?" he pressed. "You still worry about him after he declares his love – in front of you – to another woman?"

"He didn't know I was there."

"But you still heard it."

"Touché."

They walked in silence, except for the gentle splashing water.

"My trousers are now ruined," Erik said conversationally.

Eponine snorted. "I don't believe you. How do you even see in here, anyway?"

"After living in darkness for much of one's life, one becomes accustomed to the darkness and discovers that it slightly heightens one's senses."

"Interesting. But I still can't see."

He reached back to take her hand.

"Trust me. Let me be your eyes."

They came around a corner and saw sunlight filtering down from the grates overhead.

Eponine blinked, but she didn't let go of Erik's hand.

"How far do you think he—"

"Shhh!"

Erik stood perfectly still, and soon Eponine heard it too. Someone else was down here. And they were singing.

Erik moved through the murky water and peered around another turn. After a moment he made it swiftly back to Eponine's side with a disgusted look on his face.

"There are several bodies along the sides of the sewer," he reported. "And there's a man… I assume he is the one singing to himself… but he's defiling the bodies. Taking whatever he thinks is valuable."

Eponine felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as the singing got louder.

"We need to stop him. I think I know who it is."

This time they went around the corner together, and there was Eponine's father, bending over a corpse and humming to himself.

"This is low, even for you!" Eponine burst out.

He jumped in surprise, then glared at her.

"And what d'ye think yer doin' down here, missy?"

"I'm asking you the same thing. It's none of your business to take what these people had."

Thenardier slapped her across the face.

"Don't be talkin' back to yer superiors, now," he said in an oily voice. "Yer mum and I got to scrape by somehow."

"If one of us is the superior," Erik growled, standing behind Eponine, "it is most certainly not you."

"What's yer business down here?" Thenardier demanded, his eyes narrowing. "Someone as well-to-do as yerself wouldn't normally be caught dead with the sewer rats."

"I'm here for the same reason as you," Erik replied smoothly. "It's ridiculous, really, the number of people who carry their valuables with them everywhere."

Thenardier grinned as Eponine whirled around and stared at Erik in disbelief.

"Exactly what I was thinkin'," he agreed. But then he backed away a pace or two.

"Well, go on," he snarled. "There ain't nothin' left here."

Erik smiled and reached into his pocket. He displayed a handful of pearls, a gold medallion, and several smaller jewels.

Thenardier's gaze grew hungry.

"And… w-where didja come by them?" he asked, not concealing his greed very well.

Erik shrugged, dropping them back in his pocket.

"Back the way we came," he said, gesturing over his shoulder. "There were plenty of bodies, I doubt I even got half of everything."

"Ye mean there's… there's still more?" Thenardier rubbed his hands together happily.

"My pockets couldn't hold everything. I have to go up and get a new cloak and jacket," Erik said, looking longingly at the corpse between them.

"The others aren't too far back," he added. "Would you stand guard over it for me in case anyone else comes along?"

"Ohhh yes, yes, of course," said Thenardier, bowing and grinning insanely. "Ye can count on me, good sir."

"Merci." Erik tipped his fedora and pulled Eponine after him.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Eponine wrenched herself out of his grip.

"What the hell is going on, Erik? Where did you get all that?"

He smirked. "I carry a bit around all the time. I keep some back in the opera, but everything stays hidden until I need it. Come on, we've got to hurry."

"Where are we going?"

"The opera. If my plan is going to work, we have to move quickly."

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A/N: yes, Erik has a plan, when does Erik not have a plan? You'll find out next ch, of course, I couldn't write it all in this one. Cheers!

-- Ash