Chapter 6

Eponine woke to the low murmur of voices drifting towards her. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized that she had been in this room before. The collection of weaponry, the tall dresser, and the very cot she was resting on informed her of her whereabouts; the young scholar's flat. The table that sat in the corner was now occupied by two familiar faces, bent over and deep in quiet discussion.

"You cannot keep doing this to her, Marius," Enjolras muttered crisply.

"Doing what?" Eponine sucked in a breath at the sound of his voice.

"Pretending she is your dog," the leader hissed. Marius looked taken aback.

"I do no such thing,"

"Then what's this?" Enjolras shoved a small piece of folded parchment in Marius's face angrily.

"I hardly think asking her to take a note to Cossette for me is that insulting," he scoffed. Eponine froze upon hearing the name. That's why he was here? For a moment she thought…But such moments are silly, as are the thoughts that accompany them. Eponine reminded herself to breathe and continued to listen to the whispered conversation.

"The notes, the people, the errands. That's all she ever does!" Enjolras slammed his fist against the table.

"What is our friendship to you, Enjolras? Why do you care?"

"Look at her," he flung his hand in Eponine's direction. The two young men glanced at her and she snapped her eyes shut, not wanting them to realize her awareness. "She is bruised and hurt and you have done nothing but ask if she's okay after coming here in search of a letter carrier,"

"Well what do you propose I do? Take her in? Lay her in my bed? It seems you're angry that I wasn't there to save her. You're angry that I was not you," Marius took less care in lowering his voice and Eponine peered at him through half closed eyes. He was still sitting at the table, but only just. His legs were poised to stand, his hands gripping the edge of the wood.

"Even now, you're defending yourself. Do you even care about her? Would you have preferred it were some other girl so that you'd still have someone to deliver your love letters?"

"I resent that!" Marius barked, leaping from his seat.

"You may resent it but you can't deny it," Enjolras followed him to his feet and took a step towards his trembling guest. "Eponine cannot run your errand for you at this time. It's best you see to it that Cossette receives her note by some other means. Now I think it's time for you to leave, Monsieur,"

Marius held his gaze for a moment, without a sound or a gesture. Eventually, he gave a small nod and proceeded to the door, where he turned to look at the girl one last time. Eponine did not shut her eyes. Marius opened his mouth in surprise and glanced at Enjolras, who was still waiting for him to leave. Seeing no change in his stony friend, Marius took one more look at Eponine and continued through the door, letting it click shut behind him.

"I'm sorry," Enjolras said quietly without breaking his gaze from the doorway.

Eponine was silent.

"How are you feeling?" he turned towards her and knelt down by her side.

"Sore," she wasn't expecting it to be so hard to voice a single word. That was one of the casualties of being beaten, she guessed. She should have known that. Although this was admittedly the worst the girl had ever experienced, even from her father. Only he could turn beatings into a contest.

"Joly's been here. He's tended to your wounds. He said you're to stay in bed for a few days," Enjolras murmured softly, brushing a strand of dirty brown hair away from Eponine's cheek. For a brief moment, the young woman wondered if he was drunk. The only other time he had seemed this relaxed in front of her was the night that she had spent in his flat, and it was evident that he had not been sober then. She noted that, although his stoic manor suited him and his passion for liberty, the cool blue of his eyes was much easier to manage when he let down his guard. It was beautiful, even. His entire face seemed easier, less harsh, as he searched her for any sign of pain.

"Thank you for stopping them," Eponine breathed.

"Don't. They were fowl. When I think about what they did to you…" the blonde shook his head. "Thanks aren't necessary. I'm just glad you're safe,"

"Grantaire really was trying to help," she said lightly. Enjolras's face hardened.

"But he didn't,"

"But he tried. Don't begrudge him that,"

The boy smiled weakly at her.

"You're so good, 'Ponine," he urged, taking her hand in his. "Marius would be lucky to have you,"

Eponine stared at him. He knew? Was it that obvious? Did Marius know? Apparently not, if all she was to him was an errand runner. Or perhaps he did know, and that was all he cared for her to be…

Enjolras bit his lip and focused his gaze on the floor, aware that he had said the wrong thing.

"He wouldn't," Eponine whispered.

"What?" Enjolras brought his eyes back up to meet hers.

"He wouldn't be lucky," she gave him a small smile. "He'd be silly to want a girl like me,"

"Of course n-"

"No," Eponine cut him off. "It's okay. He's got Cossette. I'm just a beggar who tags along. Gotta stop being a shadow sometime, eh?" she laughed, but a revealing tear rolled down her bruised cheek. Enjolras wiped it away with a sad stare and a heavy hand.

"You're much more than a shadow, Mademoiselle,"

"I might as well be. But that's alright, it was my own fault," she paused. "How did you know?"

"A scholar must always observe his surroundings," Enjolras smirked, getting to his feet. "And you were quite something to observe,"

Eponine blushed profusely, wondering what exactly the revolutionary had seen. She rarely allowed herself to daydream in the presence of others, but couldn't help but dwell on the "what-ifs" and "could-have-beens" in the privacy of Parisian streets. Had she really been alone?

"I'm afraid I've got to leave. There's a meeting at the Café Musain," Enjolras strode to the door and took his coat from the rack.

"I can't stay here. I should come! Or go back to my parent's," Even the thought of it made the girl grimace.

"That's absurd. You're to rest until Joly says otherwise," Enjolras opened the door.

"But I can't take your bed from you for that long,"

The young man smiled at his bedridden friend.

"Seems we've figured out that problem before,"

With one last sly grin, he clicked the door shut.