Not for the first time in his life, Grantaire is absolutely eager for the week to end. He slogs through his classes, even the ones with Enjolras in them, praying to the gods he doesn't believe in that Friday comes quickly. Their Thursday class is cancelled due to some emergency that Valjean needs to take care of and though Grantaire looks, he can't find Enjolras anywhere on campus. He gives up within the hour and heads home.
He spends the night in a smoky haze, determined not to drink lest he be hungover for the meeting the following day. When Marius finally gets home, neck covered in hickeys, he steals the joint out of Grantaire's mouth, settles on the couch next to him and inhales deeply. Grantaire watches as he settles back against the cushions and takes another hit.
"That was mine," he says, indignation clear on his face.
"Don't be selfish," Marius replies, taking one more drag and then handing it back. "It's been a long day, I need to unwind."
Grantaire finishes the joint off and raises an eyebrow at Marius, "Oh? Did poor Monsieur Marius have a bad day?" he teases.
"Shut up, Grantaire," Marius replies with a sigh. "It's just Eponine," he complains.
"She's a wildcat," Grantaire says with a grin. He really likes Eponine, he just thinks that she and Marius have some deep shit to figure out.
Marius gets a sloppy grin on his face and he nods, "I know. But... something is missing."
"I saw you two in the kitchen last week, it didn't seem like something was missing then..." Grantaire replies. He reaches for the Wii controller, since he and Marius always go there when they're stoned and hands one over to his friend. They don't say anything while they set everything up (Mario Party this time) but once the first turn has started, Grantaire asks, "so what's the matter, then?"
Marius sighs and suddenly, Grantaire regrets asking in the first place. It feels like there won't be a simple solution and Grantaire is happily stoned at the moment, he doesn't want to have to think about Marius' poor heart. "It's just, sometimes I wish she were a little softer, sweeter. You know?"
Grantaire shakes his head. "If I wanted sweetness, I'd be fucking Jehan," he replies. "And fuck knows that will never happen."
This makes Marius actually laugh, which Grantaire supposes is a good sign. "I think he and Courfeyrac hooked up," he admits, "since you didn't bother coming to that party. Apparently Courf's been seen with flowers in his hair recently."
"Really? That's adorable," Grantaire replies. He cheers then, since he'd gotten his first star but brings them back to the conversation at hand. "So you like that Eponine is a wildcat but you also want her to be softer?"
"Well, not all the time," Marius replies. "But maybe sometimes. Like, she doesn't like to cuddle. What kind of a woman doesn't like to cuddle?"
"What kind of a man does?" Grantaire asks, just to be contrary. Marius shoots him a look which he ignores in favour of saying, "maybe you just need two girlfriends..."
"I don't know why I even talk to you, sometimes," Marius replies. He reaches for the second joint that Grantaire had rolled earlier and lights it, which causes him to lose yet another minigame. "Fuck!" he curses which gives Grantaire the chance to snatch the joint away and take a hit.
After that, they don't talk about Eponine again since at this point they're a little too stoned to think deeply. Instead, they focus on their game. Right before he heads to bed, leaving Marius sprawled out on the couch, apparently 'too stoned to move', he asks, "So even though you need a softer Eponine, you two are coming tomorrow night, right?"
"Yeah, now turn off the fucking lights. I need time alone with my brain," Marius replies. Grantaire laughs and does as he's told.
When he gets to his own room, he sees his phone flashing and checks it. It's Enjolras, of course. The text reads, idebate meeting cancelled tomorrow in order to decorate for the pride night, see you at the club/i. Grantaire nods at the phone and struggles to set an alarm. Enjolras wants him there for twelve thirty, which is insanely early, in Grantaire's opinion, but he plans to get up at eleven nonetheless. He needs to make sure he looks hot before meeting with Enjolras.
He doesn't get up at eleven. His alarm doesn't rouse him out of sleep even a little bit when it starts going off at that time. He sleeps a full hour longer and it's not until Marius is banging on his door and yelling that Grantaire actually realizes he's supposed to be awake. "Shit, fuck, fuck, what time is it?" he calls out. He fumbles around for his phone and when he finally finds it, his stomach clenches when he sees that it's already a quarter after twelve. There's no way he'll make it on time. He rolls onto his back and texts Enjolras, saying he needs to shower but that he can make it for one and Enjolras replies that there's coffee there. Grantaire is just glad that he's not going to have to face the wrath of a god over this.
He showers quickly, and dresses even faster, shoving a beanie over his hair instead of even attempting to tame it. Otherwise, he just throws on a striped shirt, some jeans and a hoodie then heads out of his only thing he pauses long enough for is filling his flask with a little something to spike his coffee with since tonight will be a party, and then he heads out to catch his bus. Grantaire arrives at the pub just before one thirty and heads down to find Enjolras. He finds him up on a ladder, hanging a rainbow flag from the ceiling. Grantaire takes a moment to appreciate his ass in his tight pants and then clears his throat. Enjolras looks down at him and smiles, "The coffee is in the corner, I'll meet you over there in a minute," he says.
Grantaire nods and heads over. He pours a liberal amount of the alcohol in his cup and stashes the flask back into his pocket just before Enjolras arrives at his side. "Good morning," Enjolras says and Grantaire thinks it's the first time he's heard his Apollo joke. Grantaire just grins at him and sips from his coffee. Enjolras gives him his assignment but then heads off to complete the many things Grantaire is sure he has listed for himself to do. Grantaire needs to set up the front, where they'll be collecting cover and then decorate it appropriately afterward. It seems that now that Enjolras knows it exists, he's taking full advantage of Grantaire's artistic abilities.
He settles the desk and takes note of his supplies before settling on the paints. It's been so long since the last time he'd painted that he can't even remember it. It feels good though, filling the water, dipping the brushes into the bright acrylics and actually imaking/i something. Before this, Grantaire had been just living his life day to day, getting wasted at least four days of the week and not really doing anything with himself. Now, he feels like he wants to do something, if not for the cause but for Enjolras. He still gets wasted, or at least high, four times a week or so but now he feels more of a sense of purpose. He wants to see Enjolras smile at him and if it means helping him out with the weekly cause, well it's not like Grantaire would be doing anything else anyway.
He's about halfway through his task when a shadow is cast over him. He looks up to see Enjolras, his perfect Apollo, is standing above him and looking down with a small smile playing across his lips. Grantaire scrambles to stand, "do you like it?" he asks.
Enjolras moves forward but Grantaire backs up a step, showing him that his hands are full of paint. "It's perfect," Enjolras replies. "Grantaire, you're so good," he adds.
Grantaire smiles at him crookedly, "not that great, really," he says.
Enjolras just shakes his head and leans against the table. "Are you always this stubborn?"
"Oh, Apollo, you have no idea," Grantaire says as he leans against the table as well. He reaches for his coffee and finishes off the now cold liquid.
Enjolras turns to him with an indiscernible look on his face, studying Grantaire. Grantaire arches a brow at him and holds up his mug, "more coffee," he states before pushing himself off the table and heading over to the machine. Once he pours the steaming liquid into his cup, he pulls out his flask and whitens it with the Bailey's.
"Grantaire!" he hears behind him, "what are you doing?"
He turns to see Enjolras frowning at him and shrugs. "It's going to be a party, right? Why not start early?" he says with a grin.
"It's three in the afternoon, what is wrong with you?"
"Nothing," Grantaire replies. "I'm just starting early. If this were any other Friday, I'd be day drunk by now," he repeats. He brings the cup to his lips and takes a long sip, keeping his eyes trained on Enjolras' the entire time, challenging him to say something. "Want some?" he asks, finally.
"Grantaire, you're smart, I know you are. Why would you think that drinking at three in the afternoon is a good idea? These types of habits lead into worse habits and then-"
Grantaire keeps looking at Enjolras as he lectures him, looking very serious and like he actually cares. The only thing is that he's not listening at all. Instead, he's watching Enjolras' lips move. It's amazing that he's still so hot even when he's trying to tell Grantaire what to do. In fact, he may be even hotter, all assertive and worked up like this. Grantaire begins to wonder if he's this bossy during sex and comes to the conclusion that he must be. Enjolras is in control of every aspect of his life and he's even now trying to control Grantaire's life which means he'd definitely want to be in control if they were fucking. Grantaire is so distracted by Enjolras' lips moving that he doesn't even notice his own lips pressing against his cup and taking another sip until a shadow falls across Enjolras' face.
"God, you're hopeless," he insists. "Just finish your job."
Grantaire raises his cup at Enjolras and drinks deeply before heading back to his station. He spends the next few hours perfecting the sign at the front and seemingly stays much longer than anyone else who is helping set up. Additionally, next time he fills his coffee cup, he doesn't add anything special to it. Once he finishes, he cleans everything up and goes over to say goodbye to Enjolras who is one of the only ones still here. "So I'll see you later," he says.
Enjolras doesn't even bother looking down at him from his position on the ladder, seemingly still annoyed. "Yeah, okay," he says. Grantaire grins in satisfaction. It seems like his golden god has a temper. That just makes teasing him more fun.
Back home, Grantaire changes into something incredibly sexy, pants that fit like a second skin and tighter shirt, one that hugs him in the most perfect way. He enjoys a few more brews with Marius before they both head back up to campus for the party. Marius is too loud on the bus up, talking about hooking up with lesbians but Grantaire just laughs at him since he knows that's not going to happen. He's joyfully tipsy without having over done it, yet, and he's definitely planning out how he's going to make his move assuming that Enjolras isn't still mad at him. This is the perfect opportunity. If Enjolras does happen to still be angry, well then, Grantaire will just make him jealous with some beautiful boy he meets at the club.
They pay to get in and then head down to the club area of the student pub. Grantaire heads straight for the bar and orders them each a drink. He passes Marius his and Marius immediately takes his and disappears into the crowd, leaving Grantaire alone. He doesn't mind, really, he's used to Marius' romantic pursuits but it does force him to have to find someone to talk to. For lack of any other option and since he hadn't yet seen Enjolras, he turns to the blond girl standing next to him at the bar.
"Hi, I'm Grantaire," he says as he sticks his hand out for his new friend to take. No one will ever be able to accuse him of not being sociable.
She turns and smiles at him and Grantaire's mouth almost drops open. The woman in front of him is absolutely beautiful. She has blonde hair and wide blue eyes and if Grantaire weren't such a big fan of cock, he would most certainly want to follow her around everywhere. He really hopes that Marius doesn't find her because Marius tends to be positively puppy-like when he finds someone he likes. She's almost ethereal, like a goddess, only not quite. Enjolras is definitely prettier than she is, at least Grantaire thinks so.
She takes his hand daintily and shakes it. "I'm Euphrasie, but everyone just calls me Cosette," she says.
"I think I'd rather call you gorgeous," Grantaire replies with a grin.
"Flatterer," she accuses with a smirk. "It's a good thing I'm bisexual."
His grin widens as he replies, "Well then it's too bad I'm not," he says. "But although I don't want to take you home, I would like to buy you a drink," he says.
"You're on, Grantaire," she says. She drains the rest of the drink that she has already and looks at him expectantly.
He grins back at her and signals to the bartender. "I'll have another of these," he says, motioning to his beer, "and whatever this little lady would like."
Cosette tells him her drink order and turns back to Grantaire. "So, if you're gay, then why are you wasting your time with me?" she asks.
Grantaire gulps down his beer and then states, "Haven't found anyone more interesting," he admits.
Cosette smiles and sips at her drink. "Well, we should go dance, and find you a sexy man to take home."
Grantaire laughs and grins. He downs his drink and lets her grab his hand and lead him over to the mess of writhing bodies already on the floor. Once they get there, Cosette drags him right into the middle of the crowd, bringing his hands to her hips and letting the music flow through her. It's the only way that Grantaire can explain it. She dances like no one is watching her and though she's dragging Grantaire along, he can't help but watch. They move together like they were born to do so, or maybe it's just the booze. Cosette takes Grantaire's hands and twirls around him and he laughs and laughs; it's some of the most fun he's had in a long while. The only thing he'd prefer to be doing at this point is debating with Enjolras, over shots, before inevitably making out with him against a wall somewhere.
One song turns into the next and then the next until finally Grantaire begs off, citing the need for more drinks. Cosette just nods and trails behind him, still clutching at his hand. When they get to the bar, they see Marius there, with Eponine pressed up against him. It seems like she hadn't actually come here looking for ladies. He approaches the two of them and when they turn to look at him, both of their eyes glaze over. Grantaire soon notices that neither of them are looking at him, but at the girl behind him instead. He turns to smirk over at Cosette but she has the exact same look on her face as well.
"Having a good time?" he asks his friend. Marius looks at him, completely awestruck and Grantaire has to force himself not to laugh. It seems like Marius has set his sights on a new woman, likely one that is completely out of his reach, again. "I'll take that look as a yes," he says.
Marius and Eponine both shake their heads at the same time and Marius looks over at Grantaire. "Yes," he says, at the same time as Eponine seizes Cosette's hand.
"You know that Grantaire is gay, right?" she asks pointedly.
Cosette laughs and nods, "it was the first thing he told me," she replies.
Grantaire shakes his head and says, "I'm pretty sure the first thing I told you was that you were gorgeous."
"Well, you aren't wrong," Eponine replies. "And also, Marius and I are not gay, well, I'm a little gay, but Marius isn't. You should come dance with us, especially since then you'll have a better chance at scoring tonight."
Cosette shrugs at Grantaire who just shrugs back and allows his friends to carry off his new platonic lifemate. He sighs and orders a drink at the bar, then thinks better of it and adds some shots to his order. If he's not getting laid, or even hit on, then he's going to make sure that he's absolutely blitzed. He takes one shot after another and then heads back into the fray. He sees Marius, Eponine and Cosette, somehow all kissing each other at the same time. He vows at this point that he's absolutely not going home tonight, if he can help it. Instead of heading over to them because they seem like they're all quite busy, Grantaire goes outside.
Once there he lights a cigarette and surveys the crowd. He sees Courfeyrac over in the corner and heads over as well. At least he can always go home with Courf if he can't find anyone else. When he gets closer though, he notices that Courfeyrac most definitely has flowers weaving through his hair and Jehan is standing rather too close for it to be casual. Not to be deterred from finally finding someone he knows, someone that doesn't steal his new friend away immediately, Grantaire continues his walk over.
Courfeyrac, bless him, grins as Grantaire slides in beside them. "Hey," he greets, "I haven't seen you around for a while."
Grantaire takes a drag on his cigarette and grins. "I've been busy," he admits. "And I hear you have been too. Hey Jehan," he adds as an afterthought. Grantaire isn't overly close with Jehan, knowing him only from his first year English seminar and seeing him around here and there. He doesn't think they've ever really had a deep conversation but they'll still greet each other in the hallways if they see each other.
Jehan smiles and slides an arm around Courfeyrac's back, possessive in a way that's not obtrusive. Jehan is just making sure that Grantaire knows he's with Courf now. "I hear you're smitten," he mentions.
Grantaire raises an eyebrow and takes another drag. "Oh really?"
Jehan nods, "Courf told me you ditched his party to do something for Enjolras," he states.
Grantaire turns to Courfeyrac and mock glares at him, "I thought we were friends," he complains.
"I thought we were going to hook up that night," Courfeyrac admits. "That's why I kept forcing Marius to text you. Lucky for me you never showed and I found Jehan."
Jehan grins at him and leans in for a kiss. Grantaire has to admit that the two of them together are kind of adorable. He finishes his cigarette and sways a little on the spot. He's had quite a bit to drink and he still hasn't found Enjolras, which causes him to ask, "speaking of my Apollo, have either of you seen him yet?"
"He's on the upper level, being crazy," Jehan replies. "In fact, you might want to go distract him. The party is great, he has nothing to worry about. And he was asking about you..."
Grantaire just shrugs because from what he's learned in these few short weeks, Enjolras is obsessive and won't relax until the bar starts clearing out in an hour or so. "Well, you two have a good night. And Courf? If I can't find anyone to go home with tonight, I'm sleeping on your couch. Last time I saw him, Marius was making out with two girls and there's no way in hell I'm dealing with that, not after seeing Eponine topless last week..."
"I don't see why you're complaining, Ep's hot," Courf replies. "But whatever, you have a key, just don't expect Jehan and I to be quiet because of you."
"Hearing gay sex is much better than hearing straight or lesbian sex, so I may see you later," Grantaire adds. He waves them a goodbye just as Jehan pulls a joint out from behind his ear. Grantaire very seriously considers staying just for that reason but finds he's more propelled toward Enjolras than the weed, a fact that would confuse him were he not so intent on finding the blond.
Grantaire weaves around all the people between him and his destination, avoiding the couples and dancing away from inviting hands. He climbs the stairs to the upper level and glances around for Enjolras.
When he sees him, finally, Grantaire has to do a double take. At first, he's not actually sure if the gorgeous creature in front of him is the object of his obsession because he looks nothing like Enjolras normally would. His red pants look like they've been painted on and he's wearing a sleeveless shirt, of all things, with a rainbow on it. There's also a rainbow painted on his cheek and his golden locks are multi coloured with paint. To top off the look, Enjolras is also covered in sparkles, glittering in the dim light. The expression, that of deep intensity and worry, is all Enjolras though. Grantaire approaches.
Enjolras is whispering sharply to Combeferre who is standing beside him, looking uncomfortable in the amount of glitter in which he's covered. Both sets of their eyes rise toward him when he gets close enough. Grantaire smiles at him and Enjolras returns it, albeit somewhat worriedly.
Grantaire frowns. "What's wrong?" he asks as he stops in front of the not-so-blond.
"Everything," Enjolras replies. He just about starts listing the everything that is wrong but Combeferre stops him. "Nothing, but everything," he admits.
"Relax," Grantaire states, "Look around, everyone is having a great time, and you look hot as hell so why aren't you enjoying yourself like everyone else? Let me buy you a drink."
Enjolras begins to shake his head but Combeferre pushes him forward. "Please, take him away so I can get rid of all of this glitter," he says.
Grantaire is glad to comply. He links his arm with Enjolras' and then leads him over to the little bar that's on the upper level. He orders himself a drink since it's been at least an hour since his last refill and then orders three shots, all for Enjolras. He takes the drink into his own hand and pushes the shots toward the blond. Enjolras begins to pass two of them back but Grantaire shakes his head. "You need to relax, Apollo," he insisted.
"Why do you call me that?" Enjolras asks after grimacing from the first shot.
"It's because of your sunny disposition," Grantaire replies easily.
Enjolras laughs and takes his second shot. "I doubt that," he counters. He takes up the final shot and drains it before leaning a little closer to Grantaire. "So, I should relax?"
Grantaire nods and grins. "And you know the best way to do that? Dancing. With me," he states.
Enjolras raises an eyebrow, perfectly arched and golden. "Oh really? I think you're going to have to prove yourself on that one."
Grantaire's grin only widens. He takes Enjolras' hand and leads him to the dancefloor. By this time, it's covered in bodies, writhing to the music, bending toward each other and the bodies of Enjolras and Grantaire are no exception. They start out distanced from each other but the crowd draws them closer together. Soon, they're against each other and it's everything Grantaire has been wanting. Enjolras' body is hard, hot, pressing into him, making him dizzy and desirous. Enjolras' hand is on his hips, then his back, then in his hair; Grantaire can't stop smiling.
As the songs bleed into each other, their feet keep moving, hands keep grasping until Enjolras is dragging him back toward the bar. It's literally ten minutes before the end of the night and Grantaire knows that last call had been at least twenty minutes ago. Enjolras, somehow, still manages to get a beer out of the bartender. He takes a long swig then offers it to Grantaire. Grantaire drinks from it gratefully and then passes it back. Enjolras places the bottle back onto the counter and then leans against it.
"I missed arguing with you in class this week," he says. Grantaire smiles at him, full and unguarded. He'd missed it too. "So, here's a question for you: if you could only have one, freedom, justice, happiness or security, which would you choose?"
Grantaire squares his shoulders, raises an eyebrow and launches right into the argument.