Chapter 7

It had been a week since the beating. Eponine sat in the corner of the ABC Café, her arms wrapped unconsciously around her rib cage, her attention focused on a fiery Enjolras.

"We'll set up barricades all throughout the city. Thirty or so men to each street. I've got a good collection of weaponry in my flat, but if we're to win this we need more. Is there anyone who can manage another dozen rifles?" the boy looked heatedly about the room.

"I'll try, Enjolras, but I can't say for sure," Marius piped up warily. Eponine's gaze lingered on him for a second too long before she returned it to Enjolras. Marius was not important right now. At least, that's what she was forcing herself to believe.

Enjolras ended the meeting a half hour later, leaving everyone with freedom on their lips. If nothing else, his passionate speeches had the whole city murmuring about equality where they had once been discussing the king's fashion choices. It was as if liberty were a disease, clawing its way to any living thing that would take it.

"Ready to go home?" Enjolras asked as he adorned his coat and hat in front of Eponine.

The beaten girl had nearly taken up permanent residency at the scholar's flat. After the few days of diagnosed rest had passed, Enjolras sat with her at the table.

"I know you'll be wanting to go back, now," he started. Eponine's stomach dropped unexpectedly. "But I really think it would be best if you stayed here,"

Eponine's pulse quickened. The truth of it was that she really did not want to go home. Home meant a drunken father and a mother who would rather she were out pick-pocketing than at home, healing. As neither of her parents had come looking for her since she had temporarily moved out, the idea of leaving without any consequences made her happier than most anything had in a long while. She had also left little Gavroche to fend for himself, but that seemed to be how he preferred it. Besides, he was never home anyway.

"I-"

"I know that it's uncomfortable to sleep on the same cot," He cut in. Not as uncomfortable as the floor that I sleep on at home…she thought. "But hear me out. You may not need to stay in bed all of the time anymore, but you're still getting better. If you went back, they'd have you out doing all sorts of things that would only make it worse, don't try to deny it,"

She didn't.

"If you stayed here, I could take care of you and feed you and make sure that nothing like this happens again," Enjolras stared at her intently. "I want you to stay, Eponine,"

For a while, the girl couldn't find the words to say anything. She just sat there with her mouth slightly open and her wide almond eyes evaluating the man across the table. Eventually, she took in a deep breath and replied.

"If you'll have me,"

Enjolras's stern face melted into a smile. His icy eyes lit up as he flashed his pearly teeth at the girl. It was, Eponine realized, one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen; Enjolras, happy.

Her new flat mate took her arm in the Café Musain as they headed to the door. Before they could reach it, a head of curly black hair appeared in front of them. Enjolras stopped cold.

"We have no time for this, Grantaire," he said through clenched teeth.

"I was actually hoping to have a word with Eponine," The girl was surprised to find that the seemingly permanent slur was gone from the student's voice. Upon further inspection, she realized that he was not drunk at all. His eyes were alert, his stride was tall. It may have been the first time that the man hadn't had alcohol flowing through his veins. It was also the first time that Grantaire had made any inclination to speak to her.

"Like hell, you will," Enjolras moved to open the door but Grantaire stepped in his way.

"I really must talk to her,"

"You don't deserve to be in the same room with her, let alone talk to her," the boy growled.

"I'd like to talk to him," said Eponine quietly. Her friend looked down at her. A thin line formed in the furrow of his brow.

"No, Eponine. I don't want you associating with drunkards,"

"He's clearly not drunk. Besides, I think I can pick and choose who I associate with, thank you," she slipped her arm out from Enjolras's and stepped towards Grantaire.

The black haired youth smiled at her.

"The back room?"

Eponine nodded and they worked their way to a doorway in the interior of the café. Enjolras followed in close step.

"Alone, if you don't mind," Grantaire shot over his shoulder.

"I do mind, actually,"

"Enjolras," Eponine sent him a meaningful look. The blonde bristled behind them.

"Fine. But I'll be right here. If he touches you-"

"I'll scream. But he won't, so relax,"

Enjolras huffed and sat down at a table as the two entered the back room.

"Thank you for speaking to me," Grantaire said in a small voice. He pulled a chair out for the girl and took a seat across from her.

"I'm not angry at you," she returned.

Grantaire looked up.

"You're not?"

"No, of course not. I'm grateful that you tried to help back there," Eponine, in a moment of confidence, took the man's hand. "What Enjolras said was cruel. You didn't deserve it,"

"I did," he shook his head. "If I had been sober-"

"You had no idea they were going to do that to me. A man is free to drink as he pleases, it's not a crime," the girl laughed innocently. Grantaire tilted his head and smiled sadly at her. A tear threatened the edge of his nearly black eyes.

"But I did," he choked.

"What?"

"I knew. I mean I didn't know they were talking about you, but I knew they were going to find some girl. And I didn't do anything about it. I sat at that bar and I ordered another drink," the tear escaped and trailed down his cheek, leaving a silvery path in its wake.

"Grantaire, I-"

"No, no don't say anything. Listen for a moment,"

Eponine closed her mouth and waited patiently. The boy inhaled deeply before starting again.

"I know them all. I go to that bar often and so do they. We drink together. And it's happened before. They find girls and they…use them. And I've never said anything or done anything because I've always been too drunk to care. But then I saw that they had you and it made me so…angry. Not just for that moment but for all the moments when I hadn't tried to stop them. And I am so sorry, Eponine. Truly, I am. I won't begrudge you for never speaking to me after tonight, but I just wanted you to know. I cannot apologize enough," the tears were flowing freely, now. His face glistened as he met eyes with the girl. She was beautiful, even with the bruises and the scars.

"You are a good man, Grantaire. And I forgive you. We've never spoken before, but I'd very much like to speak to you again," Eponine squeezed his hand and smiled. Disbelief shone through his face.

"No, Eponine I'm not a good man. That's the point,"

"I'd like to make my own judgments, if you don't mind. And I've decided you are,"

Grantaire was quiet a moment. He withdrew his hand from the table and closed his eyes. The sound of rain hitting the roof began, pitter-pattering its way into their conversation.

"What they said about me, about the kissing…it was true," He did not bring his gaze up to meet her eyes.

"That you don't take part in the beatings…?" Eponine inquired, confused.

"No…well no, I don't, but…I…" he began to shake, ever so slightly. "I want to kiss men, not the women they bring into the bar. Or any women, really,"

Eponine breathed a sigh of realization.

"I'm a horrible man, Eponine. I'm an abomination," he buried his head in his hands and shook violently, sobs tearing through the quiet of the empty room.

"No, no Grantaire, shh," the girl got up and moved around the table. She wrapped her arms around the man, leading him to his feet. "You're not an abomination. You're just a man. Just a man," she cooed.

"No, I am. I am. I-I think about men the way I should think about women, I let those people beat girls, I'm in love with my best friend-" Grantaire cut himself off, biting his lip.

"…Enjolras?" Eponine asked shyly. The boy froze a moment before nodding, defeated.

"Does he know?"

Suddenly, Grantaire looked fierce.

"No, only you know, 'Ponine. Please don't tell him. Please,"

Eponine folded her arms around the man once more, leaning her head on his chest.

"I won't tell anyone. You are not a bad man, Grantaire. Remember that,"

He pulled away from the hug and held Eponine at arms length, looking desperately about her face. There were patches of purple and blue, some thin cuts that had been cleaned and begun to heal, and the remnants of a black eye still circling. The girl stared at him with nothing but kindness being revealed through all of the marks and scars.

Suddenly, Grantaire pulled her to him and shoved his lips onto hers. He pushed her against the table frantically and lifted her up by the waist. Stunned, Eponine could not move. It was not an entirely unpleasant feeling, the boy's lips searching her own, his tongue slipping carelessly between their mouths. Grantaire's hands trailed up and down her abdomen as he leaned in further, nearly pushing the girl onto her back. It was only when she winced noticeably after he had touched a particularly brutal sore spot that he backed away.

Grantaire stood, unmoving. His eyes had grown to wide circles, his hands reaching up to grab at his curly hair. He started to back away, shaking his head.

"I am so sorry," he whispered, retreating through the doorway and running to the café's exit.

Enjolras stalked in to find Eponine still sitting on the table, shocked and still.

"What took so long?" he growled, eyeing her suspiciously.

Eponine slowly removed herself from the table. She brushed off her dress and pushed in the chairs, then looked up at her friend.

"He had a lot to say,"

Hi so that happened. What did you guys think? Any suggestions on what happens next? I've got some ideas but I always love to hear requests or other's thoughts. Thanks for reading, everyone!