Wow! I cannot believe the response that this story has received. I don't think that I have ever had a story that got this many follows, favourites and reviews on a first chapter before. Thank you all so much, it has all made me so happy and given me so much confidence in my writing ability. Well, that's my gushing thank you out of the way, so on with Chapter two of Little Brother, and I warn you there is some serious fluff in this chapter.
Gavroche stirred, with an ache in his head and his hair wet with sweat. Blinking as he tried to adjust to the light around him, he found himself lying on a small cot in a mostly empty room. He was able to hear the babble of speech from the room next door and he tried to work out what was being said. He lifted his head from the pillow only to have a wave of dizziness hit him so suddenly; he fell back having no strength to keep himself up. He groaned feeling a burning in his throat as he rolled onto his side, holding his stomach.
The door swung open slowly to reveal the timid looking Joly, with his cravat undone and his hair in disarray. Gavroche peered at him through half open eyes, seeing the bowl of water and a bottle of sickly looking medicine. "Bonjour petit" He said kindly sitting beside the boy. Although Gavroche recognised his voice, he didn't know the man and it scared him. He could tell that he wanted to help him but he didn't trust people easily. You couldn't trust easily when you were a street child. "We need to put this rag on your forehead Gavroche, and then you can take this medicine. We need to break your fever" Joly said placing the rag in the cold water then trying to place it on the squirming boy's forehead.
"No…" Gavroche whimpered. "I don't know you!"
"My name is Joly" He said softly. "I helped you last night, along with Combeferre. We got you wrapped up warm and gave you medicine. This is the first time you have woken up since, petit".
Gavroche looked at him, blinking rapidly in the bright light on the room, a determined pout on his chapped lips. "Courfeyrac?" He said, wanting to see the man who had shown him such kindness. Joly understood, for a child like Gavroche it was a miracle that anyone wanted to help and Courfeyrac had gone out of his way to bring the little boy to safety.
"I'll go get him for you Gavroche" He said. Walking out into the main room of the Musain, Joly saw Courfeyrac leaning over the table, peering at a map alongside Enjolras. He walked to him and tapped his shoulder. "Fey, Gavroche is asking for you" He said. "Said he doesn't know me, won't even let me put the rag on his head".
Courfeyrac smiled, unable to stop himself from liking the fact that the poorly little boy had asked for him over anybody else. He had taken an instant liking to the boy and was eager to help him in any way. Without a word, he followed the young doctor back into the side room. Gavroche let a little smile reach his lips when he saw the dark haired man that he already trusted so much. "Courfeyrac" He said with a smile.
The young man smiled with a cheeky glint in his eyes. "Gavroche, it's good to see you awake" He said coming forwards and picking up the wet rag. "Here, this will make you feel better petit" Gavroche stared at the man and nodded, letting his put it on his forehead. Courfeyrac smiled, pushing some strands of the boys tangled blonde hair from his face. "That's it" He smiled as Gavroche allowed Joly to give him the medicine. He squirmed at the taste and moaned "yuck" but he never let Courfeyrac out of his sight. He felt calmer with him there, like he was with someone he had known for years.
The boy was beginning to grow tired once more. Joly wrapped a warm blanket around him tightly and nodded to himself. "Try and get some sleep Gavroche" He said " and when you wake, we can get you some warm chicken broth". Gavroche smiled at the thought of food as he rolled back onto his side and curled his legs up tightly. Joly politely excused himself from the room.
Courfeyrac rose to leave also but was surprised to feel a tiny thin hand on his wrist as he stood. He looked back at the boy. "Can you stay? 'Till I fall 'sleep? Please?" Gavroche begged, needing the kind young man to stay beside him until he was resting, that way he felt safe and protected.
Courfeyrac could have sworn his heart melted a little of the sound of Gavroche's plea and the begging look in his wide blue eyes. He was silenced for a moment before nodding. "Of course" he smiled sitting back down. He dampened the rag once more and gentle wiped the boy's face as he began to drift to sleep. "There we go, petit" he whispered. He cared for the little gamin, wanting to look after him. It was clear that no one had shown any care towards him in years. He was so tiny, his spine and ribs clear to see through his skin. He was covered in bruises from living out of the streets and probably getting into many fights. His clothes were hanging off of him, torn and covered in dirt and dried blood.
Gavroche smiled, feeling the man's gentle touch across his face. As he coughed, he tucked himself up smaller as if keep warm, even though he was warmer than he had been in years. Courfeyrac moved closer trying to share his body heat. "I'll get you some new clothes Gavroche, warm clothes that will fit you" He said to the boy.
"I don't wan' charity" Gavroche said peering up at him.
"It's a gift" The older man insisted. "Ill get you a hat too, and we'll find you a tricolour pin, then you'll be one of us. You'll be an amis"
That made the boy beam as he yawned and cuddled down in the blankets "Merci" He chirped as he let his eyes close. Courfeyrac watched him carefully, making sure that he was wrapped at tightly and that he was comfortable. He could tell that the boy needed somewhere, a brotherly figure, maybe even a fatherly figure. He continued to wipe the gamin's sweaty brow, seeing a pink tinge to his cheeks rather than the blue hue he had seen the day before. He smiled; staying close to the boy should he need him. Even though he was sure that the boy was asleep, he smiled brightly when he felt his little hand grip onto the fabric of his sleeve, keeping him beside him, making sure that he was still there. To Gavroche, it was like he was holding onto comfort as he slept.
Courfeyrac put the rag down leant against the cot, knowing that Gavroche would want him to stay beside him, keeping him safe as he rested. With a smile, he leant down and laid a gentle kiss on the boy's temple, not knowing that it was the first show of affection that the boy had received in years. "It will be okay" He whispered. "I'll be here for you, mon petit frère"
Do you need a collective Awww here? Courfeyrac is so sweet and little Gavroche looks up to him like a big brother. If I get the same response to this as I did to chapter one, a new chapter will be coming soon. Please review, they make me want to keep writing.