The bell ran, awakening me from my sleep. Someone nudged me, and I realised it was Enjolras when he spoke. "Gorgeous, you know. When you sleep." He pressed a gentle kiss to my ear as he picked up my books and tangled his fingers in my hair. "Time to head back to the dorm."

I yawned, blinking blearily. "Don't want to move," I mumbled.

He laughed and I furrowed my brow, hiding my face in my arms as they had been before. "Come on, babe. No more classes for a week. Put your arms 'round my neck, I'll carry you."

I smiled sleepily, putting my arms around his neck. He lifted me in bridal fashion, much to my excitement, and smiled at me. Satisfied with this sight, the sight of him smiling, I buried my face in his coat, letting my guard down and attempting to fall asleep again. His arms were the only comfort I like to seek when tired, even more than that of my own bed.

"Why are you so tired?" he asked as I nuzzled his chest.

"I was up late studying for that test…"

"And you went to bed when?"

"Hm...Half past two."

"You dork, staying up late before an exam doesn't help, it makes things so much worse."

I chuckled, feeling my mind wake up a little. And to think I was lucky enough to have Enjolras for as long as I did. A week after this and it would be our tenth month anniversary - four months previously we had met for the first time, after six months of our "anonymous" dating.

I hadn't had a hangover in four months.

I hadn't hurt myself in four months.

"Go to bed at eleven next time, okay?"

I hummed in acknowledgement, pressing a lazy kiss to his shoulder. By this point I was wide awake, but I was lazy and he was too comfortable for words.

"All right now, you lazy arse. Open the door."

I whined, but nevertheless reached out and opened the door to our room. Over my four months here, I had made quite a few friends and learnt that people really didn't care. For instance, our friend Eponine had found Enjolras and myself in the middle of a very heated makeout session— she walked in just as the groping began. And the fact that he had just picked me up and walked out of class while carrying me through the halls was also to be put into consideration. We had passed students and teachers alike, yet the only words I had heard spoken were "cutest couple on campus." The most hateful words to leave a person's lips were "I'm so jealous of Grantaire" or, in very few cases, "I am so jealous of Enjolras."

Enjolras put me down on the bed, then fell beside me. "I love you so much, Grantaire," he murmured, brushing a stray stand of my hair from my face. "How did I get so lucky to get you?"

I pressed my nose against his. "I don't know," I giggled. I cupped his cheek in my hand, smiling and kissing him softly. "But you've turned my world upside-down." I kissed him again before adding, "You've turned it right-side-up."

"Tais-toi, you dork, you're making this all go straight to my head." He kissed me in turn, then moved down to kiss my neck. I felt his cool breath wash over my sensitive skin. "It looks as though that hickey I gave you needs refreshing," he purred. Nibbling my neck and then licking the bite, he was able to get a gasp out of me.

But his affections changed from our last "session." I couldn't say I didn't like it.

His kisses, though to my neck, grew more passionate and his hand moved from my shoulder to my chest. He was able to elicit a groan from me, and I clutched at the back of his shirt. Each open-mouthed kiss turned me on a little more than each previous one.

"Grantaire," he murmured against my skin, "you are so intoxicating."

"Enjolras...May I ask a question?"

He hummed, hand tracing down to my stomach. "Of course, anything."

I felt my cheeks burn up and I glanced away. "Should we, um...Should we use a condom?"

His head snapped up, his eyes immediately locking with mine. "Grantaire, do you mean…"

I nodded quickly. "Oui, I do mean it."

He shifted a little, then shrugged. "We can, if you'd prefer. It won't exactly make a difference." He chuckled a bit. "It's not like either of us can have children...Unless you are hiding something from me."

I snorted, then quieted down a bit. "Would you ever want children?"

He took my chin in his hand and smiled. "I suppose there would be no harm if I did. I don't want many, only one or two."

I nodded, then kissed him quickly. He reciprocated the kiss, even when I deepened it. His hand finally made it to the hem of my shirt, and he began to unbutton it. I thought about the scars on my wrists, and the way he had kissed them so tenderly when he first saw them. I silently wished he wouldn't continue, but now I knew I was ready for him to take me all the way.

His hands made their way down to my belt, undoing the buckle and sliding it out from the loops. What if he saw me and found me unsatisfactory? Would he leave, or just tell me to my face? He kissed my neck, making his way down to my stomach. My shirt hung open, but still covered my arms and back.

What if he saw my back? This made me uncomfortable. I wiggled under the attention, and he captured my lips in another kiss. I responded by returning the kiss, feeling him take off the shirt. This wouldn't end well, I could tell; there was only one thing I could do.

"En-Enjolras," I stammered, "I...I don't know if I'm quite r-ready yet…"

He broke the kiss, keeping his face close. "Grantaire, is something wrong?" he asked.

I hesitated before shaking my head. "No, I'm fine," I answered.

His brow furrowed. "Is something wrong?" he repeated, this time a little more quiet.

I looked away. "I-I can't let you see…"

"See what? Grantaire, mon amour, it must be something if you will not let me see."

I really didn't want to show him. What if he really didn't like what it was? That ugly scar that permanently marked my body, showing to the world what I truly was. I did not wish for him to pity me, either, and I knew I would be pitied if he saw.

I felt his hands on my shirt again, gently pulling it from my shoulders. "Let me see," he said softly. "S'il te plait."

I looked away, not answering but not refusing him. How could I refuse my lovely Enjolras from anything? The shirt fell from my arms, catching on my wrists, but he pulled it gently. His eyes looked to mine, and in them I saw the love I knew he felt for me. I swallowed nervously and he carefully turned me around.

There was silence. After a moment, his hand gently traced against the white scars on my shoulder. His fingers were gentle, taking care with each letter. I closed my eyes, waiting for him to say something.

Something cool touched my shoulder, and when I glanced over my shoulder I found he was kissing the scars. I looked back to the bed, my eyes falling to the scars on my wrists. I suddenly realised I had stopped for him. When I felt the burn of tears long forgotten, I closed my eyes tight.

I stopped because he wanted me.

I stopped because he needed me.

I stopped because he loved me.

I didn't mean to let the sound of my crying be heard, and he kissed my scars again before turning me around to face him. He held me tight in his arms, humming to me softly and assuring me everything would be okay. And I believed him. I never doubted him. I buried my face in his neck, letting the tears flow freely at this point. They did not stop for a long time.

Once I had finished, he kissed away the tears and helped me to put my shirt back on. Suddenly I felt very tired.

"Who did that to you?" he asked in a faint voice, pulling down the bed sheets.

I shook my head, refusing to tell.

"I will find out, whether or not you help me in doing so."

"I will not tell."

I didn't want anything to go on, I just wanted to sleep. And he let me sleep. I passed out not long after this little outburst, and I slept for three days without once waking up.

The sun finally awoke me from my hibernation, and I wondered what had gone on during my absence. I sat up, yawning, and heard a piece of paper crinkle. Looking down, I noticed it was a note from Enjolras.

R -

Gone out. Be back before you know it. Love you.

- E

My stomach growled, and I finally forced myself to get up. Upon glancing at the clock, I saw that it was nearly dinner time. There was time to shower and clean myself up a bit before going, though, so I hurried into the shower.

When I left the shower, I heard shuffling in the room and poked my head out of the bathroom. Enjolras was there, setting up his laptop. I smiled weakly, observing him. And then I noticed something, a bandage hidden under his shirt. I quickly put my clothes on and exited the bathroom, clearing my throat.

"Good, you're awake. I have some pictures to show you," he said.

My focus changed for a moment and I raised an eyebrow. "Pictures?" I asked.

"I spoke with your mère and she gave me the names of the boys that did that to you. I arranged a little something with them, we met up, and we had a little...disagreement."

My jaw dropped. "I-I told you not to!" I squeaked.

He opened his laptop and there, open on the screen, were four pictures. At the bottom of each picture was a name, and in the center, on each one, was a scar similar to mine. Only the word stood out more, being covered in blood. Murderer. It did not take a genius to know that Enjolras had done this. He had inflicted the same injuries to my attackers. I covered my mouth to keep any sound from escaping.

He had done this for me.

"What's that under your shirt?" I asked quietly.

"Under my—Oh! The bandages, yes." He took off his shirt easily, and I found myself blushing. The bandage was only on his shoulder, and he turned around. "Go ahead and take off the bandage."

I hesitated, before gingerly reaching out to peel the bandage off. This time, however, I choked out a sob at what I saw.

On his shoulder, in the same print and place as my own scar, was a tattoo. I would have expected it to say "hero" or something along those lines. To be honest, he truly deserved it. But instead, what I saw surprised me.

In red ink, looking just as my scar once looked, was the word "faggot." And it was obvious he was proud of it.

I sank to the floor, shaking my head and crying. He joined me, smiling softly and holding me close in his arms.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

"I...Oh, Enjolras, I love you so much, but you shouldn't have…"

He shook his head. "I needed to do it. I want you to know that you're my biggest hero, and that I will always look up to you no matter what. You are more of a hero than I ever could be. You wear your mark proudly, and I wear mine because you are the man I never could be."