Eponine walked through the streets, with only the dull light of the moon and stars to guide her. A soft sigh escaped her lips; every time she spoke with Marius, he always diverted the subject back to Cosette. But she couldn't control him. He didn't belong to her. Still...it hurt her so. Her love for him was unbearable, and he could never know. A tear streaked down her face, glinting in the moonlight. She blinked back the hot tears welling up in her eyes, sniffing and drying her face with her sleeve. A sudden noise behind her made her jolt. She spun around, letting out a breath of relief when she saw who it was.
"It's only you."
"Only me?" Gavroche strode up beside Eponine. The girl smiled; Gavroche's ego was larger than he was, but he was still an enjoyable child.
"Whatchya doin' out so late? Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"Me? Don't have to go t' bed. Why're you out so late? Robbin' people?"
"No," Eponine shot ,"I was visiting a friend."
"Ah, that student Marius. I know 'im. Well t' do, right?"
Eponine sighed; no one saw Marius for anything more than his status.
"Why you always hangin' around that gang of your father's? Buncha curs."
"What 'ave they ever done t' you?"
"I'll tell ya what! Jus' this affernoon, they come by an' nearly tore me arms off." Gavroche spoke with a great deal of dramatic tones and gestures, nearly hitting Eponine with his flailing.
"I'm sure it's not all that bad."
"Figgers. Bet yer in with 'em too. C'est la vie, I s'pose." With that, the young urchin wandered off into the night.
"Where you 'eaded to, little gamin?"
"Told ya, I don't never sleep." And Gavroche faded into the night, leaving Eponine to walk back to the inn. By the time she arrived, the ordeal of Montparnasse and Claquesous had been resolved and she she came back to a quiet inn, thinking about her encounter with Gavroche.
"Papa? I'm back."
"Wha? Oh. 'Ponine. Missed yer friend. Got me a lotta customers." Thenardier laughed his usual hacking bark and went back to cleaning the bar counter. The gang was still at their table, slowly finishing up their last drinks before they would crawl upstairs. Eponine pulled up a chair in between Montparnasse and the sleeping Claquesous. Montparnasse looked like he had had a rough night.
"Wha's wrong, 'Parnasse?"
"Dear Lord, don't even ask."
Brujon and Babet cackled before Montparnasse shot them a glare. Babet reached over and prodded Claquesous in the head, waking the man from his sleep.
"Eh?"
This brought on another round of laughter from Brujon and Babet. Their friend clearly had no idea what was going on, nor that he had tried to stick his tounge in another man's mouth ealier that evening. Clasquesous grumbled and sat up, taking a few moments to realize that Eponine had come in.
"Aye, what're ya doin' 'ere?"
"I live 'ere, idiot." Eponine rolled her eyes at Clasquesous' idiocies. The other men at the table continued to laugh. Once they had quieted up a bit, Brujon leaned over to Montparnasse.
"'ey 'Parnasse. Wanna 'nother ten francs?"
Montparnasse promptly punched Brujon in the stomach and headed upstairs.