A/N: See if you can spot the Sherlock reference! I don't own Sherlock or Les Mis! And I don't really know where taxis go at night, but I'm just going with what I put…
Eponine groaned and rummaged through her purse. When she located the small bottle of Advil, she quickly snatched it up and dry swallowed two little pills. She would have killed for some water, but she would have to carry out her father's dirty doings first. Her father, Thenardier, was New York's scummiest, lousiest cab driver that had ever lived. He had amassed thousands of luggage bags, umbrellas, hats, and coats over the years. Once he took a child, but he was so disarming with the parents when he eventually returned him that the parents understood… to a certain degree. Unfortunately, this time, Thenardier managed to snag a Louis Vuitton suitcase that had a precious diamond necklace inside. The disgruntled owner quickly snapped a picture of Thenardier's license plate and a blurry picture of Thenardier himself. When Thenardier caught wind from a spy of his inside the police force, he immediately called his daughter, Eponine, and demanded her to switch license plates and take over his job for the next week, just to be safe.
Eponine was furious. She hated driving the taxi more than anything. It stripped her freedom of wind in her hair and the ground beneath her feet. It rankled Eponine endlessly that after all this, Thenardier expected her to bring home at least $150 at the end of the day, which was a steep price. Eponine had to miss her own job at the Stardust diner for this! Work was fun for her, and she missed it immensely. It had always been her dream to be a Broadway star, and the stage was her home. Eponine was done driving people around, but she was still $50 short. Oh well, she could always pull another $50 out of her own wallet. The bottom line was: Eponine had a migraine and was in a horrid mood and she was not driving anyone else tonight. Determined, she raced to the taxi station to turn in the car for the night.
With 'Radioactive' blasting from her radio, Eponine sang along so loud that she couldn't hear anything else. Plus, she had the privacy shield up. So, when a certain blond man hopped into her cab when she was paused at a red light and demanded that he take her to some fancy restaurant that was about 15 minutes away if you took a cab, she didn't hear him.
"I raise my flag, don my clothes, it's a revolution, I suppose. We're painted red to fit right in, whoa," she sang so loud that the man thought his ear drums might explode.
"Excuse me! I need to get to Le Bernardin! Excuse me!" the man shouted, pounding on the glass desperately. Eponine was none the wiser. Suddenly, the man ceased his pounding for a moment as he let himself recognize Eponine's voice. "Eponine! It's Enjolras! Remember me? I'm friends with Les Amis! Are you freaking kidnapping me?" he projected. He tried to open the privacy shield, but it was jammed shut. Finally, in the precious moments of silence after 'Radioactive' ended, Eponine finally heard the steadfast banging on the window. Startled that she wasn't alone in the car, Eponine yanked open the shield and was eye to eye a red faced man. She knew him immediately.
"What the heck, Enjolras?" she snapped at the man. Enjolras just stared at her dumbfounded.
"I just hopped into a cab. I need to get to a dinner with my parents who are visiting," Enjolras explained exasperatedly. Eponine groaned.
"Could you not see that I have my break light thing on that means I am not accepting passengers," Eponine seethed.
"No, I-"
"Ugh, of course you didn't see it. And I have a terrible headache and I owe my father $50 or else he'll…" Eponine's voice faded immediately when she realized what she had just said. Enjolras' eyes widened and urged her to continue, but Eponine remained quiet.
"Or else what?" Enjolras prodded, but Eponine shook her head. Seeing that she would not say anything else, Enjolras changed the topic. "I thought you were a waitress, now you are a taxi driver too?"
"Yes," Eponine said through gritted teeth.
"Do you still work at the Stardust diner though?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Why are you driving a taxi then?"
"Yes."
"Are you just going to say yes to everything I ask?"
"Maybe."
Enjolras groaned in frustration; talking to Eponine almost as impossible as getting a toddler to do what you wanted them to. Enjolras didn't know why he wanted to know this girl, but something within him stirred when he spoke to her and he yearned to know more about her.
"You said you owed your dad money… Why?" he asked, resurfacing the topic once more.
"Why should I tell you?"
"Because I care."
Eponine looked at him incredulously. Out of all the years in her life, nobody has ever cared about Eponine's woes. She understood now that Les Amis did care for her overall wellbeing, but none of them had ever questioned her if she showed up with a new scar or bruise. No one had ever voiced their concern for her, and Enjolras sounded genuine.
"Yeah right, you only care about your studying," Eponine said pushing him away. "Your stone heart is incapable of caring. Anyways, I just met you! I wouldn't tell you anything." Enjolras looked offended at her words, but Eponine assumed it wasn't real. He just wanted an answer out of her.
"Why do you owe your dad money?" he demanded harshly. His tone had gotten 10 degrees colder since he last spoke.
"Fine! Fine. If you really want to know, I'll tell you. Sorry if I bore you to tears with tales of my miserable life. Just don't tell the cops on my dad. When he was picking up this aristocrat from the airport, the second they dumped their luggage in his taxi, he floored it and drove off with their suitcase. The woman got some pictures first, and my dad wants me to cover for him for about a week to let this blow over. He changed his license plate, and now he is putting together disguise and fake ID for himself to start over again. He told me that every day I better bring home $150 or… let's just say I would be wearing long sleeve and pants for a while," Eponine spat bitterly.
"Why would you be wearing long… OH! Eponine! Is your father beating you?" he asked worriedly. Eponine looked at him strangely for a moment before returning her attention to the road.
"No duh, Sherlock," she snapped. "It's okay, if I bring the money, I'll be fine. I'm just gonna take money out of my earnings." Eponine talked about the delicate subject so stoically that Enjolras knew she was hiding her pain.
"I think- Wait a second. Where are we going? I need to get to Le Bernardin!" Enjolras said suddenly remembering why he was in the cab in the first place.
"Really? I was just gonna… Whatever. I'll take you there," Eponine said flatly, cranking up the radio to drown out the quietness. They fell into an uncomfortable silence that made Eponine stress out a bit. Normally, she liked to talk to her passengers and see how much she could freak them out before she had to drop them off. Something was telling her not to try that with Enjolras.
Not soon enough, Eponine dropped off her unwelcome passenger. She told him what he owed her, but was surprised when he handed her a fifty dollar bill and whispered, "Keep the change."
She rode home in relief that night. Even though she hated charity, this was one of the occasions when she would accept it. Maybe it was because she was exhausted, maybe because she didn't want another beating, or maybe it was because something beautiful had reflected in Enjolras' eyes when he handed her the money, Eponine didn't know. And tonight, she didn't care enough to figure it out. Sighing, she watched Enjolras figure retreat, but she quickly sped away when he turned around and caught her eye.
Line Break
Enjolras had done it. He had convinced all the Les Amis to join him for a study group in the café. Some of them, like Grantaire, were so close to failing it made his teeth grit. Groaning and whining, everyone was practically falling asleep in their textbooks. And by another small miracle, Grantaire and Courfeyrac had gotten Eponine (with little persuasion, actually) to tag along. Technically, yes, she was in college, but she did miss a lot of classes. It wasn't her fault, really. She only skipped when she had to work at the diner. She had thought it was a good idea to get some extra study time with the smartest guy in the grade, but now she was wondering if it was actually possible to die of boredom.
"Eponine, how could you not remember the quadratic formula? I know that you aren't a math major or anything, but you still need to know the basics!" Enjolras snapped, and in the process, causing Eponine to jump and slide her elbows off the table and face plant. Seething, she hoisted herself upright to face Enjolras.
"I don't give a crap about math. I just want to go back to work. I don't see why I can't just drop out of college; I already know what I want to do with my life and I have a job," Eponine said rolling her eyes. Les Amis all secretly admired her; none of them had the courage to speak crossly to Enjolras when he was in his study mode. Enjolras didn't say a word to Eponine after that, he just icily swept over her. Eponine couldn't help but notice he acted so differently around his friends, more guarded and secure. He even looked happier around them, but it seemed a forced happiness. Eponine wondered why it was that way.
After a frustrating study session, Les Amis rapidly tucked away their books and raced off to a bar to clear their minds, leaving Eponine and Enjolras behind. The second the last Amis walked out the door, Enjolras' mask crumpled and set into a frown.
"Why are you sad?" Eponine asked simply and innocently, not unlike a child. Her wide brown eyes were curious and she chewed on her lip. Enjolras' neck jolted upwards in surprise as though he didn't know she was still there.
"I thought you had left," Enjolras stated, confirming Eponine's suspicions. She just laughed; he was really oblivious sometimes.
"Nope… Why are you sad, though? You can trust me. I may not be good for much in this world, but I am a good listener. And a good observer. I've seen you; I mean, I have really seen you, not just the marble man that everyone knows. You always look sad when you they can't see you and you are by yourself. Why are you upset?" Eponine asked again, plopping down next to him. Enjolras fixed his cold eyes onto her, his guard settling into place again briefly.
"You can see me," he grumbled. Eponine just shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't count," she whispered. She knew Enjolras thought nothing of her, she could tell by his body language and the way he spoke to her. Her main talent other than singing was reading people.
"Don't say that; everyone counts," Enjolras said, but he was lying.
"Tell the truth. Are you happy?" Eponine asked. Enjolras sighed as sagged forward. Some of his guard slipped as he did so.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Why would I tell you?"
"Why not?"
Enjolras exhaled; Eponine was almost as persistent as he.
"Because."
"Because why?"
"BECAUSE I SAID SO!"
"Why?"
"God, you are just as frustrating as a child. Can you stop asking questions?"
"No."
"I'm not going to talk anymore," Enjolras said coldly before returning to his notes. Eponine decided now would be a good time to throw spitballs at him.
"Stop it."
"No."
"I. Said. Quit. It. Now."
"Why are you sad? I can tell what it's like to feel like the entire world is against you, to have lost the ability to trust anyone. I practice smiling in a mirror. My own family hates me, and they hurt me mentally and physically. You know that about me, why can't you tell me what's wrong with you?" Eponine pressed.
"Lately, my father has been stressing me out a lot. He keeps telling me that my own mother thinks I'm a disgrace, and he tells me I am destined to go soft and crumble. He doesn't understand why I think charity is so important, and he really doesn't like how I fight for students' rights. My friends are all idiots, and I do… love them like brothers, I suppose… they don't realize how easy they have it. Being marble all day can wear you down, and I suppose I am really not happy inside. I don't feel like I am living life to the fullest. I want to make a change in the world, and… I'm not," Enjolras admitted. Eponine looked at him with concern and empathy in her eyes.
"I know what you mean. I feel the same way, about not living life to the fullest. I have always wanted to be a Broadway star, but I'm stuck as a waitress with an abusive father and no friends," Eponine muttered.
"You have friends. Les Amis are your friends," Enjolras assured her, but Eponine shrugged.
"It's out of pity, I'm sure," she said, her voice not above a whisper.
"Don't say that, I know they love you. They can't go five minutes without mentioning you some way or another. I could be your friend too though, if you wanted," Enjolras offered. Eponine looked up at him and giggled.
"Look at us, we sound like two year olds. But yes, of course we can be friends. It's nice to have a true friend. And there is no charity or pity involved, got it?" Eponine said, her tone a bit lighter. Enjolras smiled, a real smile this time not his usual marble smile, and stood up.
"I'm going to go home now, it's getting late. I will see you later… friend," he said testing out the word 'friend.' It was weird for him, to have a female friend. He had always tried to avoid them because of their insecurities and sketchy attitudes, but Eponine was different, somehow.
Line Break
"No, Uncle Jack. I really do not want to see Mamma Mia. Like, I really, really don't want to see it," Enjolras argued on the phone with his uncle. Les Amis were cracking up as they watched their flustered leader yelling at his uncle, trying to worm his way out of seeing Mamma Mia.
"I don't care! No, I really don't! I'm not going, and that's final," Enjolras snapped with finality. Grantaire sniggered into his drink, and Bahorel wacked his head.
"Shut up, if he catches you laughing at him, he will have your head!" Bahorel whispered urgently.
"He's so lucky. I wish my uncle was a Broadway talent scout. Then, I would be able to go to all the musicals! I don't know why Enjolras keeps complaining about it," Courfeyrac grumbled.
"No, I don't have a girlfriend to bring! Or a friend!" Enjolras shouted.
"Bring me!" Courfeyrac whispered hopefully, but Enjolras didn't hear.
"No! Ask someone else! I don't know why you want me to go so bad!" Enjolras groaned. "Bye, Uncle Jack. See you later." Enjolras shoved his phone into his pocket and angrily stormed up to Les Amis.
"Mamma Mia?" Grantaire burst out laughing.
"Stop it! Jack always wants to take me to musicals, and I never want to go. Wicked is the only one I have actually enjoyed so far," he sighed.
"I could go with or uncle or something?" Courfeyrac offered, but Enjolras glared at him.
"You know, Eponine loves Broadway and it's her dream to be a Broadway star. You could always take her as a friend, I'm sure she would love that. She can't afford to go, so getting in for free would be a big deal to her," Prouvaire spoke up.
"Oh yes, she's mentioned that before," Enjolras mused.
"Of course she wants to be on Broadway, you idiot! She works at the Stardust diner!" Grantaire said, and Enjolras mentally slapped himself.
"I can call my uncle back and ask if he could take her with you, Courfeyrac. I know both of you love the theater," Enjolras shrugged.
"OH PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!" Courfeyrac begged, and Enjolras almost smiled.
"I just said I would."
Later that week, when Enjolras slipped a ticket to Mamma Mia into her old battered up copy of Great Gatsby replacing it with her bookmark, he couldn't help but wonder how Eponine would react. Hurriedly, he ran out of the café and watched from outside, and he laughed when Eponine started to scream out of happiness. She clutched the ticket and tried to look around to see who left it there. She glanced outside and her brown eyes connected with Enjolras' blue ones. The smile that he had on his face was genuine, the second real smile Eponine had ever seen from him, and she immediately knew that he had left the ticket. She gave him a nod of thanks, and then turned away.
A/N: I will have the next chapter up in a week or so! I hope you enjoy the story so far!
