The texting with Enjolras continues over the next few days and Grantaire feels himself fall a little more in love with every exchange. Grantaire knows that he's well read and that his idea of fun is picking up Plato's iSymposium/i, pouring a glass of wine and going over the intricacies of the text; it seems that Enjolras feels the same way, except perhaps without the wine. Every single book that Grantaire prompts Enjolras with is met with not only a response but one that is thought provoking and intelligent. Grantaire lives for the exchanges between them and it seems that with the frequency he receives responses that Enjolras does as well.
His Thursday Political Theory class cannot come soon enough and when it finally does, Grantaire doesn't even spike his coffee before leaving the house. He slides into the same seat as the week before even though he still doesn't like sitting at the front because it's the one that's beside Enjolras. Grantaire smirks over at him as he sits and Enjolras smiles gently back. He has a pile of the flyers on his desk and Grantaire assumes already that he's going to make his little announcement before this class as well.
"Can you come and help decorate before the party next Friday?" Enjolras asks him suddenly, just as they're about to begin.
Grantaire thinks about it for moment because he'd much rather be at home, pre-drinking with Marius before getting there but if it means spending more time with Enjolras then, "Sure. What time?" he asks.
"I'll let you know," Enjolras replies and then stands up to announce the even to the class. He delivers his little speech and leaves the flyers at the front.
Once he returns to his seat, Professor Valjean steps to the front and begins their lesson. "So, we're going to start each class with a question," he says as he leans back against the podium. "So, let me ask you this, which comes first, traditions or the state?" he asks.
Grantaire looks over as Enjolras raises his hand. Valjean just nods at him and Enjolras says, "I would say traditions trump the state."
"Okay, why?" Valjean replies. Grantaire actually wants to hear this so he turns his seat so as the be able to fully see Enjolras.
"Because for most people, the state is just this faceless idea that keeps them all in line. The state dictates to them what they can and cannot do. On the other hand, communities and families are what form traditions and I think that most people would be more willing to put their families before the state," Enjolras points out.
Grantaire doesn't even wait for Valjean to ask if anyone else has an opinion before saying, "but the state is the thing that is in place to protect your families and traditions, so why then would you turn your back on the state in favour of your traditions?"
Enjolras turns to stare back at Grantaire and replies, "because the state isn't compatible with a whole host of traditions. What it does it quashes whatever traditions it finds wanting and implements its own, undercutting all the value they had in the first place!" Grantaire can't believe how good Enjolras looks right now, with his face red and eyes burning. He looks like he just wants to come over and throttle Grantaire for being a contrarian and Grantaire would joyfully let him, just to keep that look on his face.
"So you're trying to tell me that we can all exist in harmony without the state protecting us?" Grantaire replies. "That we can live without fearing death and thieves and all of those other terrifying things if we were a stateless government?"
"Yes," Enjolras replies. "Perhaps then we wouldn't have to deal with unjust laws and be expected to follow them." He pauses for a moment, as if to collect his thoughts before beginning again, "There was a case that occurred in the nineties where a Johova's Witness refused to get a blood transfusion which would have saved her life. The state then intervened and forced her to get it all the while claiming that it was not an infringement on her religious freedom. How are we to trust the state to protect our traditions when it does things like this and completely tramples on them? I think we'd be much better if we were free and expected to protect our own beliefs." Enjolras directs this part specifically to Grantaire, eyes burning brightly with the fire that Grantaire has so longed to see. He's quite obviously getting worked up about this, his cheeks are reddened and he's breathing heavily and it's all Grantaire can do not to surge forward and seize that beautiful mouth in a kiss. Thankfully, they're interrupted.
"Alright," Professor Valjean says from the front, "how about this? Would you defy the law to maintain the protection of the family or religion? Or would you sacrifice a family member?"
"As someone who values self-preservation, I would in no way protect my family if one of them happened to have murdered someone, or something," Grantaire replies. He earns a few chuckles from the class and a searing look from his Apollo.
"I would protect my family under any circumstances," Enjolras replies strongly. He's been worked up to the point of actually standing up at his desk. Grantaire would think it was funny if it wasn't so incredibly hot. There's no way in hell that he's going to be able to stand up anytime soon, not if his dick has anything to say. Currently, it's completely enraptured by Enjolras and standing at attention. "The bonds of family and tradition far surpass the reach of the state, especially when the state is not doing those traditions any justice. I hate to bring up the obvious, but look at what we've done to the indigenous cultures in Canada and the US. They exist as only a fraction of what they were before we wiped them out with disease and war and their culture has all but been destroyed. I think that it's more valuable to protect tradition for future generations and protect language than to obey every single law that the state inflicts upon us."
Grantaire thinks that Enjolras is literally about to lunge toward him due to his predatory stance and the lightning in his blue, blue eyes but he doesn't get the chance to do so. Grantaire is about to reply to his Apollo when Valjean speaks up. "Well thank you both for your very valid opinions, but we're going to get started with iAntigone/i." Valjean jumps into the lecture which is probably for the best, especially considering the way that Enjolras glares at Grantaire as he sits back down, before spinning back around and taking notes. Grantaire also thinks that were they permitted to continue their argument, the results would have been particularly x-rated. Although he's very comfortable with his sexuality, he doesn't feel the need to put it on display in front of his entire classroom. He ignores Enjolras for the moment, and leans in to take his own notes.
Eventually, they hit the midway mark and Valjean sends them on a break. Grantaire really needs a cigarette, especially after the run in with Enjolras earlier, so he slips his jacket on and heads outside. He doesn't notice Enjolras behind him until he hears, "is nothing sacred to you?"
Grantaire turns toward him, cigarette perched on his lips, and just stares at Enjolras before breaking out into laughter.
"Seriously, Grantaire. I get that you're trying to play the devil's advocate here, making me really analyze my answers and truly believe my own opinions but you never offer up your own. I can tell that you're always just arguing with me, making me defend myself and I don't even know what you stand for. What do you believe in anyway? I doubt you're such a patriot that you would defend the state with your own life, but I also doubt you have any family traditions that you'd honour. Grantaire, you need to decide who you are and grow the fuck up!" At this point, Enjolras is right in Grantaire's face and Grantaire can see that intoxicating fire in his eyes once more. He doubts that he would ever need to drink again if only he could be subjected to this gaze daily, hourly, even by the minute.
Just like he had at the bar that night, he drops his cigarette to the ground even though he hasn't even lit it and leans forward. By this point, there is only mere inches separating his mouth from Enjolras'. "I told you, I believe in you," Grantaire replies, barely whispering the words. Enjolras' lips are so close to his that he can feel the heat coming off of them. It would only take a slight movement forward for his to touch them and he so wants to move ahead.
"Be serious, Grantaire," Enjolras snaps, his own voice at barely a whisper.
Grantaire just grins at him in return and says, "that is much too big an expectation of me, as you will come to learn."
For a moment Grantaire thinks that everything he's been wanting for the past week is about to occur and then something entirely different happens, Grantaire hears his name and just as their lips are about to touch. Enjolras is suddenly pulling away and turning around to see who is calling out to them. Standing there, just a few feet off, is Marius, ifucking/i Marius. Grantaire shoots him a glare and is about to tell him off when Enjolras smiles at him.
"Marius!" he says, walking over to shake his hand. "I haven't seen you in ages! How are your classes going?"
Grantaire glares at the both of them as they exchange pleasantries and lights a new cigarette since he'd just thrown a perfectly good on onto the ground. He leans against the wall of the school and smokes while he watches as his roommate and Enjolras talk to each other. He can't believe that Marius has managed to interrupt them again. It isn't fair. It's starting to seem like Grantaire is never going to be able to sample Enjolras' passion for himself.
He finishes his cigarette and calls out, "Apollo, we'd better get back to class," and then heads toward the door. He doesn't even know if Enjolras is behind him but he climbs the three flights of stairs to the R-Wing anyway. It turns out Enjolras is almost directly behind him though, since he slides past Grantaire within seconds of him entering. Grantaire looks over at him and Enjolras smiles. With that one quirk of his lips, Grantaire knows that everything between them is fine.
The remainder of the lesson is uneventful. Grantaire pulls on his jacket once more when it finishes and heads toward the door. Something catches him by the elbow though, and he is forced to turn around and meet the perfect blue eyes of his sun god. "Are you sure you can help out before the party?" he asks.
"Wouldn't dream of missing it," Grantaire replies with a grin. Enjolras smiles back at him and they both head out of the class.
"I didn't know that you knew Marius," Enjolras replies. He pulls on his own jacket and heads toward the front of the school where the bus stop is as well. He must have been more drunk than Grantaire had thought, since Marius had spoken to the two of them that night at the bar. He doesn't mention it though, since it's not like it really matters.
"He's my roommate," Grantaire says, shrugging. "We met in Intro to Classics and got along well. Since we didn't want to live on campus the next year, we decided to get an apartment together."
"You should bring him to Pride Night," the blond states and they exit the school and join the rest of the students waiting for the bus.
Grantaire has already invited Marius, but he's not going to admit it. Instead, he replies, "Marius has a bad habit of being a cock block so I'd really much rather leave him at home. That way, I can get exactly what I want."
Grantaire hadn't thought it was possible for someone so perfect to blush, but there is a pink tinge to Enjolras' cheeks. Grantaire's chest constricts and his body is propelled to move forward. He stops short though. Instead of wrapping his arm around Enjolras' back and pulling him closer like he wants to, Grantaire's hand just brushes his shoulder and then falls to the side. Enjolras looks for a moment to be about to step forward, toward Grantaire but he stops as well. "I forgot, I'm supposed to meet Combeferre about the debate club," he says. He actually sounds upset about it, like he wanted to stay here with Grantaire and hang out some more before the bus arrives. Grantaire nods and backs away slightly. "You should think about joining," Enjolras says after a moment's pause, "since you believe in nothing and seem to be able to argue about anything, you'd likely be really good at it.
"I'm not exactly one for extra curricular activity," Grantaire replies with a grin.
"Just think about it then. Text me if you have any questions," Enjolras replies before heading back into the school. Grantaire waves at him as he goes and again feels like he's somehow been cheated out of something. He thinks he may actually join this debate club, if only to see Enjolras in his element even more.
That night, he and Marius smoke way too much weed and play Super Mario on the Wii. He doesn't wake up until noon the next day and then only because his phone goes off. He rolls over and grabs it, blinking a few times to clear his sleep addled mind before registering the text message. It's from Enjolras and Grantaire can't think of a better way to wake up, except perhaps with his Apollo beside him, gloriously naked, ready for a second, third or fourth round. Grantaire grins at the image in his head. Enjolras would look better without his clothes than with, his warm skin displayed fully for Grantaire to worship. Grantaire can imagine his golden curls fanned out against his pillow, his red mouth open, lips swollen from kissing; it's delightfully erotic. Grantaire imagines himself above Enjolras, dipping his mouth down all over that delicious skin, treating Enjolras like the golden god he is.
He shakes his head, clearing his head of such tantalizing thoughts before actually reading the text message. iHave you thought about the debate club?/i, it reads.
Grantaire rolls his eyes. It seems that Enjolras is determined in every aspect of his life, even to the point of forcing Grantaire to do what he wants him to. This brings Grantaire's mind back to how Enjolras would be in bed. Dominating, he thinks. He'd throw Grantaire down, pin his arms to the bed with his hands and fuck him into submission. Or, Grantaire can imagine that they would argue about something, enlightenment theory perhaps, or modernity as Enjolras slid into him over and over again. Grantaire would have trouble keeping his thoughts together but Enjolras wouldn't let him come until the argument was settled. Lastly, he thinks that since his Apollo demands such control in his everyday life, perhaps during sex he would be compliant. He'd let Grantaire take the lead, let Grantaire fuck him so hard that he forgets about all of his causes and beliefs. Perhaps in that moment, Grantaire would be all that matters to him. Grantaire wishes desperately for a time that this could be true.
By this point, he's worked himself up enough that he certainly needs to take care of his rapidly hardening cock. Instead of responding right away, he gets up and heads to the shower, where he takes care of his little (or not so little) friend. After he does that and gets himself clean, he goes back to his bedroom and responds to Enjolras, iwhen do you meet?/i he asks.
The reply is almost instantaneous and Grantaire grins. It seems like he's definitely made an impact on his new blond friend. The message reads imeet me for coffee and we can discuss this further. Is an hour good? Same cafe?/i.
Grantaire's grin stretches even more widely at this point. It's only been a day and it seems that Enjolras is desperate to see him. He types back a quick affirmative and then sets about getting ready. He doesn't want to do anything with his wild, dark curls so he puts on a beanie and a hoodie. He makes sure he has his wallet in the pocket of his jeans and then heads down to the kitchen to get a pre-coffee date coffee. What he sees in the kitchen literally burns his eyes.
He's not sure whether it's the smoke from the stove that makes his eyes water or if it's the vision of Marius with Eponine pressed up against the stove, hands lifting her shirt, mouths fused together with no hint of separating any time soon. Grantaire rushes over to the stove and grabs the burnt mess, putting it in the sink as he yells, "Fuck, Marius!" Instantly, the two of them pull apart, but the damage is already done. Eponine's shirt has already hit the floor and Grantaire has seen far too much. "Can't the two of you keep it in your room? At least while I'm home?"
"You're one to talk," Marius says with a silly, crooked grin on his face, one that says that he was definitely just about to get lucky. "Didn't I walk in on you with Courfeyrac one time?"
"Courfeyrac? Nice," Eponine commends. She's made no move to pick up her shirt yet and Grantaire refuses to avert his eyes, despite being gay. If she's going to show them off, then he's going to look.
"We were in the shower, thank you very much," Grantaire replies. "Now, my poor gay eyes have been ruined and I'm supposed to meet Enjolras in an hour. How am I supposed to appreciate his manly excellence when all I can see in my head are Eponine's tits?"
Finally, Eponine bends down and picks up her shirt. She puts it on quickly before rounding on Grantaire. "Enjolras? Why are you meeting him?" she asks.
"Because his perfection calls to me, and I cannot refuse," Grantaire replies eloquently. Instead of moving toward the coffee machine, because a very shirtless Marius is standing in front of it, he digs in the fridge for the energy drink he'd left there sometime the week before. When he finds it, he cracks it open and turns back toward the two of them. "Every time I see him, I fall further in love," he sighs dramatically.
"You know that dude is like, asexual right? I mean, in regards to people. I'm pretty sure that debates, politics and social justice get him off," Marius says. Eponine walks back over to him and he slides his arm around her waist as she nods toward Grantaire.
"Marius is right, I've never even heard of him getting with anyone," she replies.
Eponine would know too, since it seems like she knows everything about everyone but Grantaire just shrugs. "Maybe he just hasn't met the right guy yet. He told me that he's gay in class."
"Really?" Eponine replies. "How did that come up?"
"He's organizing a Pride night at the pub next week and wanted some help making a flyer for it," Grantaire replies. "You two should come," he adds with a shrug.
"I'm so there," Eponine replies. "I love me some ladies."
Grantaire actually laughs out loud at the love struck look on Marius' face. Even though Marius is taking his time making things official, he knows that it's going to eventually happen and he's glad that they'd finally gotten their heads out of their asses and started fucking each other. Neither of them seem too willing to commit though and it worries Grantaire to think that they might lose each other. He finishes off his energy drink and tosses the can into the recycle bin before he heads out of the kitchen. "Now that I'm leaving, feel free to use the kitchen in any way you want, just bleach it after, please!" he calls out as he heads to the door.
The walk to the cafe is pleasant even though the warm air is slowly dissipating, leaving room for winter's inevitable arrival. It's only the second week of September and already the leaves are painted burnt orange, golden yellow and brilliant red. Grantaire loves the fall, loves the colours and the smells. His hands itch to paint the trees and too bright skies.
His cheeks are rosy from the chill by the time he arrives at the cafe and he heads up to the front to order himself a coffee before walking over to join Enjolras and what looks like Combeferre sitting at a table. He smiles when Enjolras looks up and slides into an empty seat. "Hello Combeferre, Apollo," he says in greeting.
Combeferre smirks at him and Enjolras smiles as well but continues to ignore the nickname. "Grantaire, we're glad you came," the golden god says as he flicks his curls back, out of his eyes.
"I kind of figured you would be, since you gave me less than twenty four hours to make a decision," Grantaire laughs.
Combeferre rolls his eyes, "he can't stop talking about how much he wants you for this," he says. "Seriously, all I hear about is how amazing you are at arguing and how ho-"
"That's enough, Combeferre. I don't want you to scare him away," Enjolras interrupts. Grantaire thinks he may be able to guess at what Combeferre had been about to say, especially judging by the blush that colours Enjolras' perfect skin. He just arches an eyebrow at the blond before his Apollo continues, "So we meet on Friday afternoons and we debate once a month," he says. "Basically, Professor Javert picks the assignment and the teams and then meets with us to make sure we're on the right track in our weekly meetings. At the end of the month, we debate and Professors Valjean as well as Professor Javert judge the match and announce the winners. At the end of each semester, the team with the most wins is awarded with a party at their choice of restaurant. And it looks really good on Masters applications."
Grantaire hadn't totally been sold yet before Enjolras had mentioned the application. He sighs and says, "Well then, I guess I'm in. I need a little padding to my masters applications."
"Looks like you didn't even need to drag me here for more convincing," Combeferre states, rolling his eyes over at Enjolras. "That was far easier than I expected it to be. Grantaire, you usually don't agree to anything since you're apparently always too busy being drunk, or high, or both."
"Those are three of my favourite past times," Grantaire admits with a grin, "but apparently I'm good at Classics and not much else, so in order to continue with something I'm good at, I might as well sacrifice my drunken Friday afternoons for sobriety and a spot in a post-grad program," he laughs.
"Well, I'm glad. Spending every Friday afternoon being drunk is a waste of your brain, Grantaire," Enjolras states. "Our first meeting is next week," he adds, "and after we're going to decorate for Pride night. Can I count on you for that too?"
"Wouldn't dream of missing it, Apollo," Grantaire replies with a grin. Enjolras smiles back at him and nods and it's enough for Grantaire, for now. He just hopes that soon enough, he's going to be able to taste those lips that tease him constantly, and feel Enjolras' perfect body against his. He's not going to mention his ulterior motives for joining the Debate Club but if he's any judge, it seems like Enjolras has some for inviting him in the first place.