So, I just saw Les Mis (the movie) for the second time today, and I was inspired to continue this story. 'Savior' is now a collection of one-shots that I'll be adding to it as I see fit. Enjoy!
A Heart Full of Love
"Monsieur Marius – run away; hide; get out of here!" Eponine hissed into the shrubbery where her friend was currently concealed. Obeying the urgency in Eponine's voice, Marius dashed past her into the nearby alleyway, while Eponine stood tall and straight, facing her father with a defiant tilt of her chin.
"Get out of here, girl; you aren't needed," said Thénardier, grasping Eponine's face between his thumb and forefinger before roughly pushing her away.
"There's nothing here worth your bother," Eponine countered, knowing how Marius felt for Cosette and what his opinion of her would be if she let her father rob the family of Marius' beloved, "Just the old man and the girl."
"I said you aren't needed!" said Thénardier sharply, moving to join his companions and dismissing Eponine's presence.
"I'll scream," Eponine taunted, opening her mouth in preparation to do just that.
"You do, and I'll make you scream for a year," Thénardier threatened as he raised his hand.
Uncaring of the consequences, Eponine gave a high pitched shriek. Her father's retaliation was swift: he struck her hard across the face, causing her to stumble and fall, her head colliding painfully with the stone wall at her back. More concerned with saving his own hide than his daughter's well-being, Thénardier disappeared from sight. Rising to her hands and knees, Eponine labored to crawl towards the shadows. She faltered when a pair of shiny boots appeared in front of her, and she looked up into the stormy eyes of her secret love, Marius, before she collapsed at his feet. He knelt to gather her into his arms, and she smiled weakly up at him.
"Don't you fret, Monsieur Marius – I've had worse," she whispered before passing into unconsciousness, thankfully missing the thunderous look that passed across her beloved's face at the sight of a purple bruise that was already taking shape across her gaunt cheek.
Rushing through the darkened streets with his precious bundle, Marius made his way to his grandfather's home where Eponine would receive better care than she would in his own dingy apartment. For Eponine's sake, Marius was willing to put aside his and his grandfather's differences to ensure Eponine's survival. Knocking rapidly, Marius rushed through the door the moment it was opened.
"Grandfather!" he called. A white-haired old man appeared on the stairs. Marius looked up at him pleadingly. "Please – call your doctor," he begged, voice breaking and tears trickling down his face at the thought that he might lose Eponine. "Save her… for me… please."
Gillenormand stood staring his grandson for a moment, before descending the stairs and signaling to a servant to obey Marius' request. "It shall be done, Marius," he said, moving to briefly clasp his grandson's shoulder before looking down at the girl in his arms. "Who is she?" he asked.
"A friend," Marius replied, bending to gently press his lips to Eponine's forehead.
"Is that all?" Gillenormand observed shrewdly, noting how Marius flushed at his question and shrugged helplessly. Taking pity on his grandson, he gestured up the stairs. "Come – let's get her settled in a room."
"Thank you, Grandfather," said Marius, his voice thick with emotion.
"You are family," Gillenormand replied.
Smiling gratefully at his grandfather's back, Marius followed him up the stairs, being sure not to bump Eponine against the walls. He tenderly settled her into the finest of his grandfather's guestrooms, tucking the covers around her, before settling himself into a chair at her bedside while he waited for the doctor's arrival. He vowed to himself that as soon as Eponine woke, he would confess his feelings for her; and whether she felt the same or not, he would strive to do all he could to help her on her way.
Eponine was floating on a cloud; she felt safe and warm, the way she imagined it must feel to be in Marius' arms. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she felt herself slowly returning to consciousness. Turning her head to the side, she was startled to discover Marius' face extremely close to her own. Looking closer, she realized that he had fallen asleep on top of his arms, one of her hands clasped within his own. He looked peaceful in slumber, she mused. She must have made a sound, though, for Marius soon began to rouse. At realizing that Eponine was awake, his face lit up excitedly.
"Eponine!" he exclaimed.
"Monsieur Marius," she replied cautiously. "Beggin' your pardon, but where am I?"
"You fell unconscious and I carried you to my grandfather's home," Marius explained, reaching out a hand to tenderly stroke Eponine's cheek, which she soon realized was tender to touch. She flinched slightly, and Marius withdrew his hand, looking almost ashamed of himself. "Forgive me," he whispered, ducking his head in embarrassment.
"My father's done worse to me," said Eponine, brushing aside Marius' concern as inconsequential, not daring to believe that he could truly care for her, much less see her as anything but a street urchin.
"How can he? You're his daughter!" Marius exclaimed. "Eponine, I almost lost you. You had a concussion; the doctor wasn't sure whether or not you would wake. Do you realize what that would have done to me?"
"I don't matter none, Monsieur," Eponine protested.
"On the contrary, you matter a great deal – to me," said Marius, once more taking Eponine's hand in his and lowering his lips to reverently kiss her knuckles. "And from this day on, you shall live in my protection. You will never go back to Thénardier –" he spat out the name of Eponine's father as though it left a bad taste in his mouth, "Not if I have anything to say about it!"
"What are you saying, Marius?" asked Eponine, unsure as to whether all this was actually happening to her or nothing but a dream.
"Almost losing you impressed upon me the truth of my feelings where you are concerned," Marius began. "Eponine, I love you," he whispered as he stared deep into her eyes. As a result, he saw the moment reality dawned, and Eponine's eyes lit up in equal measure of shock and joy, tears pricking against her eyelids. She began to laugh hysterically, causing Marius to join in.
"Oh, can this be happening to me?" she whispered through her tears, hands pressed against her mouth to hold in her giggles. "What about Cosette?" she had to ask, instantly sobering.
"I care for Cosette, but as a friend; nothing more," said Marius. Silence descended, then, between the pair. "Eponine, may I kiss you?" asked Marius shyly.
"Oui, Monsieur," Eponine replied, smiling cheekily at him.
"Please, Eponine – the name is Marius," he whispered, moments before their lips brushed together and each lost themselves to the sweetest of sensations.
Marius gently cupped Eponine's head in his hand, being mindful of the colorful bruise that still marred her lovely cheek. He'd denied his feelings for so long, not daring to believe that he could have fallen in love with one such as Eponine; the love he had thought he felt for Cosette was nothing more than mere fancy, a delusion. With Eponine, though, he had found true love. For years, Eponine had wandered the streets of Paris in search of love. Her wanderings had led to the loss of her innocence, but that didn't matter anymore. She was found, by one who would love her until God above recalled them both to His home.