Éponine shifted under the weight of Enjolras, she felt her heart start to beat quickly as she realised how deathly still he was, with his check still pressed to her chest. She slowly pressed her fingers against his neck, checking for a pulse.
Enjolras mumbled, twisting his neck away from her touch, "Where? Oh –I." He sat up slowly, eyes fluttering open to see the dark haired girl he was laying on, "Éponine." He breathed her name, sitting up the rest of the way. "I'm sorry I must have been crushing you."
"I'm fine." Éponine laughed softly before the smile turned to a grimace as she watched Enjolras double over in pain as he moved. "You should try to not move so much."
"Were you checking my pulse?" Enjolras chuckled, trying to ignore the pain that was streaking through him from the wound.
"I thought-" Éponine shrugged her shoulders. "But you're not."
"Good morning." Enjolras tried to stretch but the motion only caused more pain. "Perhaps I shouldn't try that again."
Éponine reached out and placed her hand over the spot where he had been hit. She smiled a little when he placed his hand over hers. "I wish there was something to give you for the pain." Éponine pulled her hand away nervously, running her hands through his hair and rising to her feet. "I could go and fetch us something to eat if I had money."
"You don't have to act like you frequently pay for your meals for my sake." Enjolras struggled to stand up, only to have Éponine wheel around and shoo him to sit back down. "I'm not a cripple."
"But you're healing." Éponine's eyes scolded him as she looked down at his dark ones. "Don't make me use your full name."
"I'm terrified." Enjolras leaned back against the seat, grimacing as he felt the skin pull.
"You see all this movement is only causing yourself more pain." Éponine bit her lip when Enjolras held his hands out for her to take. "What-"
"Just take my hands."
Éponine placed her hands in his, shivering as his thumbs massaged the tops of her hands. "You do not have to be so stiff around me."
"I don't get attached to anyone. Just a simple part of my life. I don't get attached." Éponine pulled her hands away from his, too overwhelmed by his touch. "I mean, look at you. Aren't you Monsieur Stone Cold?"
Enjolras chuckled painfully, "I am aware that I have portrayed myself like that before this war. But the war, is for the most part, over. Until I am well I do not need to think about the next revolution."
"Enjolras," Éponine snapped, "There is no one left to fight with! You are the only one who survived. Just stop this foolish determination to be killed that you have. It's ridiculous. There's nothing for you to do." She tried to escape from his grasp, but his hold on her hands tightened. "Please, Enjolras. You can't honestly expect that you and I are going to work out."
"Anything can happen with a little hope. I just don't believe that we were brought together like this without a real reason."
Éponine shrugged her shoulders, trying to turn her attention to somewhere else. "Believe what you want, Dorian but I am going to fetch us something to eat. There's a bakery not far from here. He's a poor dear, nearly deaf and hard of sight." She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Stay alive until I get back."
"I'll try my best." Enjolras retorted, reclining back in the seat.
Éponine hesitated as she stepped away from him, "Here let me get you another pillow." She said as she snatched a pillow from an arm chair and brought it back to him. Settling the cushion behind his shoulders she gave him a gentle smile. Against everything she thought that her body was determined against, she leaned in and stole a quick kiss. "To keep you alive from now until I return." She gave him a playful pat on the shoulder as she darted from the room before anything else happened.
~o~
The sky was dark with large black rain clouds. It was only fitting that the sun would not shine after such bloodshed. Paris was quiet, despite those carrying on with their lives as though nothing happened. Shoppers and shop owners milled around, busily getting ready for just another day. Nothing was different for them today, unless they quietly mourned the loss of a husband, son, or lover. After you lose someone you are a different person, whether you want accept it or not.
Even after you gain someone – you're a different person.
Éponine hesitantly approached the baker's cart, casually waving to him and engaging him a brief conversation that last no more than a moment or two. She snatched up a few loaves, tucking them into the pockets of her coat. They were enough to last them for today, enough to keep Enjolras strong at least. She'd make do with snatching bread tomorrow.
She wasted no time to return to Enjolras, hurrying inside of the silent abandoned building she expected to find him past on to the other side. But, instead there he sat on the seat, waiting for her to return.
"I hope you come bearing gifts," Enjolras chuckled stiffly, realising that nearly any motion that he made caused pain.
"I'd say that I feel bad stealing from the less fortunate – but he's got money and food. What have I got?" Éponine pulled the bread from her pockets, she tossed him a roll before unloading the rest on a nearby table. "Enough for us for today. If you're very hungry, you can have my portion as well."
"You need as much food as I do, Éponine. Eat your own share." Enjolras motioned for her to sit down beside him. "What was it like outside?"
"Sad." Éponine replied, sitting herself down beside him. "Quiet and sad." She watched him eat the loaf before starting on her own.
"Did you hear any news?"
"I kept my distance from anyone who would have anything to say. I got our bread and came straight back." Éponine devoured the loaf of bread, filling the whole she felt in the pit of her stomach. "I didn't realise how starved I was." She gave him a sideways glance, "How are you?"
"Better now." He gave her a charming smile, before sputtering from a coughing fit.
"Take it easy." Éponine reached out hesitantly and took his hand. She was afraid to let herself become attached to him and yet at the same time she felt compelled to be near him and have her hand in his.
A/N: Blech. Terribly boring chapter. I'm sorry. This story is SO hard to write. They're so different from our dear charries in Not For Me! (: