TW: parental abuse
A sharp screech echoed throughout the dingy room. Iron hooks scraping across the iron rod signaled the imposing stream of sunlight, the unwelcomed arrival of the new day, and the end of sleep, as Éponine's father maliciously ripped back the curtains to awake her. Éponine's eyes scrunched in reproach to the arrival of sunshine in the once dim room.
"You need to wake up!" Éponine's father demanded, his large red mutton chops rustling with each emphasized word. "I've been far too lenient with you as you are my favorite child and you did injure yourself helping this family, but I will no longer be taken advantage of by you."
"You keep calling that, but I have no idea what that means. Favorite child? And what benefit do I receive from such an illustrious title? None I have seen so far," she grumbled attempting to match his dramatic energy. Failing, due to approaching migraine caused by the rude awakening via daylight.
"The very fact that I let you speak to me this way and you're not out on the street with your ungrateful brother right now is enough reward. D'not make me ask again, Éponine, I am not joking wit' you! You must work today or there will be no more warnings. Your sister has already left to deliver this week's round of letters, I suggest you join us down by L'Café Musain when you are ready, your highness." Her father spat at her feet and turned to leave.
"Wait! What are we doing there?" Éponine asked, curious if she may have the chance to see Marius again after their last awkward interaction.
"There are revolutionaries, petite and moyenne bourgeoisie types that are 'sympathetic philanthropists'. If we put on a good show for them, we're sure to make the rent," Monsieur Thénardier explained with slight disdain. After having dropped from the petite social class of being an innkeeper and landlord, Éponine knew he did not enjoy begging for money and paying to live in poor conditions from men once his equal. However, working for a man his equal felt even more embarrassing and shameful for him. Thénardier felt his superior mind privy to tricks and scams would bring him fortune once again, this impoverishment was merely temporary. Once he had garnered enough favor and money running schemes, he too would enjoy his former social status once again, leaving the world unchanged. At least that was his plan.
Éponine knew her luck had been pushed far enough and got ready for her day, dressing herself in a somewhat clean chemise and a maroon skirt that had once been her mother's. She buckled her large green belt around her waist hoping to hold up the skirt that was far too big for her.
She left to meet her father and mother by L'Café Musain, the whole stroll keeping a vigilant eye for Marius. It wasn't long before she felt her luck turn and saw him. He was different than usual this time, however, and not just due to his slightly noticeable healing broken nose. He waved at her approaching her with joy and warmth, rather than the cold and distant usual treatment she received.
Éponine beamed at him returning an enthusiastic wave running to meet him.
"Bonjour, Monsieur Marius!" Éponine gave a small curtsy.
Marius chuckled, "No need for such formalities with me, Éponine." He smiled at her and her heart nearly melted. Any doubts she had about her rash actions of the night before were immediately replaced with hope and desire to be saved by Marius once more.
"Oh pardon me Monsieur, I had no idea we had become such fast friends." She chuckled to him in hopes of relieving her own awkward feelings.
"Well, you were the only one there for me when I truly had nothing. Thanks to you, today I am still alive. I cannot say the same for those who claim to be my close friends, and for that, I will always be indebted to you."
Éponine was speechless. 'This was the Marius she knew, the genuine and kind Marius who valued her character over her status,' Éponine thought to herself.
"Of course sir, but it is I who is indebted to you. You saved me first, therefore we are now equals." Éponine extended her hand to shake this time Marius took it in kindness instead of disgusted hesitation as he had the first time they met. "Once you pay me back, of course." She playfully cocked her eyebrow as their hands shook and he smiled at the gesture sending a warm shiver down Éponine's spine that ruminated deep within her belly.
"Of course Mademoiselle equals and friends at last. A gentleman always makes good on his debts. You needn't worry." Marius dropped her hand still smiling down at the small girl. "I will see my Grandfather tomorrow and this will all be sorted through, do not worry."
Éponine wasn't worried. She was far too concerned with staring up at his plump pink lips as he spoke, rather than hearing the words that fell from them. How she longed to lean up and into them just as her dreams had so often pictured. This was by far the closest they had ever stood to each other and Éponine felt the tension within in her rising with each second of eye contact they held. She desperately yearned to reach out and gently kiss the swollen skin just below his eyes, to comfort him from his pain the night before. Both a nurturing yet intimate act Éponine longed to perform. She swallowed these desires however and instead chose to bring herself home to the conversation that Marius had obliged himself to control. She tuned in finally as he finished his rambling all she caught was something about Rosalind.
'Oh shit, right Rosalind' Éponine thought. The one he loves, the one who loves him. And that all too familiar sadness returned to Éponine.
"I could never talk to her about this, she would deem me an unsuitable and lowly rake if she were to ever learn of my gambling debts. That is why I do greatly appreciate our friendship so. I fear there are few I feel can speak so freely with." Éponine beamed in response to the heartfelt compliment, she felt he was being uniquely genuine at this moment and prayed it could last forever.
But she was never that fortunate.
"ÉHH'PoniNNNE" a familiar voice screamed.
"WHHAAAAT?" She screamed back extremely annoyed hardly breaking eye contact with Marius though his face was perplexed and quickly turned to face the source of the disturbance, much to Éponine's dismay.
"You were late, you have been late, and you currently are late. Now move! Before I sell you to a dock officer, you ungrateful child." Her father yelled at her from across the square making sure she knew that he had indeed found her diddle-daddling and would no longer tolerate it. Public humiliation this time was his form of punishment. She begged Marius with desperate eyes not to judge her for her father's actions.
"Monsieur, you will not address the lady so," Marius tried to stand for his new friend feeling a developing fondness and protectiveness over a friend who had been protective of him or perhaps the money she had provided him in an hour of need was enough to buy his friendship for the afternoon.
"I will address my daughter however I wish. No boy, nay child will tell how to parent my daughter. Honestly, tell me what you will do about it, I would love to know your opinion on it all." Thénardier towered over Marius, utilizing his large frame, belly, and height to intimidate Marius into indeed feeling like a little boy. Marius's fondness had not reached that deep and his goal to protect Éponine shifted to protecting himself.
"N–n-no sir, I apologize," Marius shrunk even further in fear, and though Éponine understood as she too was terrified of her father it hardly fed her fantasy of Marius being her hero. It hardly fed her attraction to him either.
"That's what I thought, boy." Thénardier stared Marius up and down with imposing eyes, making Marius gulp. "Com'on now girl. We are leaving, we have work to do." Thénardier snatched Éponine's arm with familiar force. With the constant grabbing, there was no time for old to heal and new bruises to form and tiny near-permanent fingerprint sized bruises freckled her right forearm arm right in the place he would always grab and drag her.
Rather than fight any of it, she obliged knowing the privilege she had already taken today as a favorite was now expired. Besides leaning into the tugging of her arm made the whole process less painful.
"Au revoir, Marius!" Éponine called behind her hoping her facial expression would be enough to signal her thankfulness. Marius just stared in bewilderment giving only a small confused wave as he got smaller and smaller in Éponine's eyeline as she was dragged away by her father. Until he disappeared from sight.
Enjolras had been pacing about his apartment for what felt like hours. He needed to be sure that he was making the right decision before he took any action. For he knew once his insane plan had begun there would be no stopping it. He would have to follow through.
Enjorlas felt he had no other option however and he took one final remorseful breath before seating himself at his writing desk and crafting the letter that would seal his fate.
Enjolras had no issue sacrificing himself to his cause however he had never considered such a drastic action necessary for revolution. However when he swore his fidelity to France's liberty he knew that included doing anything and everything necessary. And now he was called upon perhaps by God, perhaps by France herself. Whatever it was, he knew he must accept his fate.
After completing the letter he set out to L'Café Musain to mail it. Grantaire was there, sober for once, perhaps Enjolras had made it just before his morning drink had taken hold.
"Enjolras, join me! I suppose you are in need of a drink after last night! Barmai–" Enjolras cut Grantaire off.
"You ought to suppose nothing about me Grantaire! Haven't you learned that? And what could you possibly know about last night?" Enjolras let out his temper on the now stammering lad for merely bringing the sensitive topic up.
"I- I- I- know far too much about you Enjolras. Haven't you learned that? I know that you can't admit the fact that I was right. Marius would let you down again like he usually does. And now you're fucked on funding and probably in massive debt. You're not the only one who notices things, and I don't even need to be sober to do it, like you." Grantaire snapped back at Enjolras with a venom that Enjolras had yet to experience before at Grantaire's lips. Usually, any insult he delivered him was drenched in honey and gentle teasing, but this mild and neutral statement wrapped in such toxicity cut Enjolras far deeper. "Speaking of which... Barmaid!" Grantaire called out once again. Only to receive no response.
"Can you stay sober past 1300 hours ever?" Enjorlas asked ignoring anything critical but correct Grantaire had said to him, only for his pride's sake.
"Perhaps if I were sleeping," Grantaire responded annoyed at Enjolras' constant nagging and deflection. "Anyways you've been partaking far more now, why would stop just when my new drinking buddy has joined me?" Grantaire stood up, attempting to wrestle Enjorlas hoping to ease the tension, Enjolras oblige him in easing the tension but wrestled himself away laughing with Grantaire like small children play fighting.
"Oh stop that you fool!" Enjolras said slapping him gently but firmly in a trite attempt to defend himself. "I am here for more important business than to indulge your drinking fantasies."
"I should say so! What's this letter you seem so intent from keeping out of my hands? A letter to another faction? A plot for the murder of a rich man to steal his fortune? A request to Napoleon himself for weapons funding?" Grantaire let his mind run wild with the opportunities he might take had he been in Enjolras' position.
"No." Enjolras laughed. And then his face quickly turned very sullen.
"It–It's a letter to my father," Enjolras said less than confident a deep sadness filled his ocean blue eyes and his voice became heavy as if the pressure of his position had finally taken its full weight upon it.
"Your father? Enjolras whatever for? You said yourself he hates the cause and you can't ask him for any more money until–until... " Grantaire's voice trailed off and his face filled with horrified shock as his revelation came to him mid-sentence.
Enjolras acknowledged his friend's eyes filled with empathy and terror for him and could only sigh defeatedly.
"I know." Enjolras croaked uncharacteristically meek.
"You didn't!" Grantaire gasped.
"I had to. I told him that I am engaged to be married."
A/N Next chapter will have guaranteed enjionine interaction so I hope y'all don't hate me for this chapter lol! Also have started writing it tonight and I am ahead of schedule so I hope to post that by Monday, but hopefully by Sunday!
