Chapter contains verbal and physical abuse.
Wow it's been awhile. (Over a year, if we're gonna go for at least some precision...yikes!) Just so y'all know its your comments and a dear friend which have inspired me to pick up this story again right now in my life. I always knew that I would see it to the end, I just didn't...don't know how long that will take me. I am very busy with school so I can make no assurances of when another chapter will be coming, but just know that it will. (Smash that bookmark button if you want to stay up to date!) I want to thank everyone who has encouraged me to continue or has been with me from the start. I intend to tell Enjolras and Grantaire's story fully and to the end.
xoxo T.W.o.W.
Ps: the format might be a little different from previous chapters, for which I apologize, but that is probably how the rest will be written as well.
Valjean looked at Enjolras curiously. "I take it you've met Javert?"
"I have," Enjolras said coolly. "What are you…?"
"Did you really think you're little lie about Kentucky would work?" Javert asked genuinely without malice.
"Um." Enjolras could feel his heart pounding as panic knotted his stomach. His mouth was dry, but before he could say anything, Javert spoke.
"Look kid, for the past six years I've been working undercover for Valjean trying to find something that could get Tholomyes kicked out of office." The private investigator explained.
"What?" Enjolras' head was spinning.
"I've seen that man do some despicable things," Javert said, "why do you think I tried to warn you about him?"
"But what about that whole thing about wrongly imprisoning a man...was that all lie?"
Valjean let out a laugh. "Hardly."
"No, unfortunately that was true. How do you think I met Valjean? I promised him a few favors as a penance of sorts, and I've been working for him to protect Cosette ever since."
Enjolras stood still in shock.
"You better offer this man some tea, Valjean, and maybe a place to sit." Javert said kindly.
Valjean nodded and led Enjolras into his office. As soon as the blond was seated across from Javert he looked the other man in the eyes with a fierceness that had been gone from him for so long.
"What can I do to help?"
Javert ground his teeth. "This man is serious trouble...I am not sure I should be letting you-"
"I want to help. I need to. Please." Enjolras begged lowly.
Valjean shot a look at Javert who nodded slowly. "Alright. I guess tell me your story from the beginning. I need to know everything."
Enjolras paled, but he was determined. "Okay."
"I'm going to go check on our guest," Valjean said, giving the two men the privacy that this conversation, by its nature, demanded.
Javert was a good listener. At first Enjolras was a little intimidated by how Javert took everything in so passively. Nothing seemed to surprise him, until Enjolras began to describe the evening Matt. Enjolras wanted to avoid the dark deeds he had done that night, but as soon as he began describing the evening Javert looked interested.
"Say that again," Javert spoke for the first time in minutes.
"I walked in the club and found Felix and another one of the dancers get high," Enjolras said dully.
"Did Felix get high, or just the dancer?" Javert asked, his interest was certainly peaked.
"Just Mat – just the dancer," Enjolras said feeling uncomfortable in his own skin.
"And who provided the drugs?"
"Felix."
"And you're sure of that?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
Javert nodded. "That's interesting. There has been speculation, suggestions of rumors, but I've never had concrete proof."
"Is that enough to get him expelled from the Senate?" Enjolras asked.
Javert suddenly looked very tired, as if all the lies and deceptions he kept had added fifteen years to his life. "I don't know, kid. Usually it wouldn't be, but Valjean has some friends in the Senate who are willing to help us. If we can just get proof that the money he used for drugs came from his campaign funds...especially while he's up for reelection, although there would be a hearing and we would need witnesses."
Enjolras watched as Javert spoke to himself unsure of what to do. "These friends, could they really strip him of his power?"
"Yes." Valjean said after entering the room. "I think they could."
"And without his position and influence...Cosette would be safe?"
"We believe so." Valjean said. He took Enjolras' hand in his own, "and you would be safe too."
Enjolras felt a sob rise in his throat. At once he was filled with a flicker of hope and an ocean of relief which could not dare extinguish the small flame. No, it was more like gasoline which once ignited would be difficult to put out and could at once light a whole city.
"Javert tells me that Tholomyes is rather abusive towards his lovers. If that is the case I can't in good conscience let you go near the man again," Valjean interrupted Enjolras' thoughts, adopting a rather fatherly tone.
Enjolras felt his hope flicker, and although panic returned, it refused to go out entirely. He turned to Javert. "You said their would be a hearing, and you would need witnesses."
"Aye."
"And proof."
"Yes."
"Do you have any?"
"Only what you've told us. We've found a few other of his ex-lovers, but most of them are strung out junkies. They would be untrustworthy witnesses." Javert said, his implications falling heavily on Enjolras' shoulders.
"I'll get you your proof."
"Enjolras –" protested Valjean.
"It will save Cosette." Then softly, "it will save me."
The two older men looked at each other and then nodded. It was the only way.
Felix was pacing his hotel room unhappily. He had gotten a call from DC demanding he head back the next day. Several of his constituents seemed displeased with his absence, and required he return in order for him to receive their generous donations to his reelection campaign. He hated being on a leash at their beck and call, but he had no other choice. What angered him most was things were still unfinished here. He was no longer worried about his daughter. He knew Javert was a good hunter, and if he didn't find her in Kentucky he would return here to wait. No what angered him was Enjolras. The boy believed they were through, believed he had gotten the last word. Felix was not okay with that. He was Enjolras' master. He would be the one to decide when they were through, and as far as Felix was concerned their was quite a bit of life left in Enjolras. He still had his fighting spirit, and Felix would not give up until he had crushed it. He had had a lot of lovers, but none so willing to fight as Enjolras. It made his desire to control the other man that much stronger. No. He wasn't ready to leave. Not yet.
His phone rang from where it sat on the bed. He looked at it angrily but when he saw who was calling he answered. "Enjolras," he said silkily. "I thought you told me we were done."
"I...I changed my mind," the boy said weakly.
"Is that so?"
"Can I see you? I want to talk..."
"I don't know, Enjolras, you treated me so naughtily last time we saw one another. Why should I allow you another chance?" Felix raised a brow.
"I was foolish. I thought about your offer and...please...daddy... I need to see you again. I ought to apologize in person. Please." Enjolras begged.
Felix smiled. "When would you like to meet?"
"Tuesday?"
"It's got to be sooner than that." Felix said coldly.
"Then tomorrow. At the Musain." Enjolras said swallowing nervously.
"Alright. When does your shift start?"
"Eight."
"I'll see you there at seven." Felix hung up the phone a thin smile curling at his lips.
Enjolras set down his phone like it might explode. "We meet on Monday."
Javert grimaced. "That's tomorrow, doesn't give us a lot of time to set things up."
"He wants to meet an hour before my shift," Enjolras said dryly. "No one will be there."
Valjean looked concerned, but said nothing.
"You must wear a wire." Javert stated.
"No. If things get intimate, he will know," Enjolras argued.
"Javert this is insanity. We cannot allow the boy to do this." Valjean protested.
"It's the only way," Enjolras said.
"Don't be foolish. There are other ways we can go about this." Valjean argued. "I won't see another young person ruined by this man."
Javert silenced Valjean with only one look. "Jean, Enjolras is not Fantine. He's stronger than she ever was. He will be able to do this."
Valjean's jaw clenched, "we shouldn't be sending children in to fight our battles."
"I am not a child," Enjolras protested. "I am a consenting adult."
"This is insanity."
"We are wasting time." Javert interrupted. "This might be our only good shot to get this bastard for another five or ten years. Enjolras knows what he is doing, so respect his decision and let him do it. Now I need to call some contacts. There is a lot to do before tomorrow morning."
Valjean nodded. "You better go home, get some rest."
Enjolras sighed. "I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?"
"Yes." Enjolras lied.
Early the next day Enjolras was standing with Javert in the back of the Musain. He hadn't slept at all the previous night, and his body showed his exhaustion.
"Are you ready?" Javert asked. "You can still back out if you want."
"I know...but I need to do this. I need to stop him."
Javert nodded sympathetically. "You're a good man, Enjolras. You only need to be brave for a little while longer. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Enjolras said dryly.
"You're right. I'm sorry. It's almost time. Now remember I've set up listening devices all over the cafe, and I have control of the cameras. Should you need help just say the code word-"
"Won't that risk your cover?" Enjolras asked.
"Your safety is more important."
"But-"
"No. I promised Valjean I would do whatever it takes to protect his daughter, and now you. None of my colleagues are close enough to help, so I'm your only back up. Don't worry, Enjolras. We can bring him down."
"Right."
"You better get out there. Good luck," Javert muttered patting Enjolras awkwardly on the back.
Enjolras entered the main room of the cafe. As a way to try and calm himself down he began to do his normal opening duties. He was just regaining his sense of calm when there was a knock on the glass door. Standing outside was Felix, and he already was beginning to look impatient.
Enjolras hurried to the door, his fingers fumbling at the lock. Once he managed to unlock it Felix brushed past him knocking him to the floor. Enjolras landed on his wrist wrong, and felt a shooting pain through his arm. Felix ignored his gasp of pain and loomed over him.
"What do you want, pet? I am losing my patience with you."
Enjolras looked up at Felix. "I know. I wanted to apologize for what I said to you. I...I can't live without you, Felix. You make the forgetting so easy."
Felix smirked. "Is that so? You do know that I must return to DC soon. And what shall you do then? You're already wasting away, pathetic."
Enjolras struggled to his knees. "Take me with you. Take me away from this place. Please. I need a protector."
"Oh? And what about Grantaire?"
Enjolras swallowed. "He means nothing to me."
Felix bent over, grabbing Enjolras jaw sharply. "How do I know you aren't lying."
"Look at me. I am pathetic. I'm on my knees, Felix, I can't live this way anymore...working three jobs, paying for my mother's bills. I need you. I need to forget."
"I can help with that," Felix purred. "But what are you willing to do?"
Enjolras met his eyes. "Anything."
"That's a big promise. I want you to tell me just exactly what you are willing to do for me. After all I am risking everything bringing you with me to DC." Felix stroked Enjolras jaw with his thumb.
"I'll be your mistress. You can whore me out to anyone you chose, or keep me to yourself. I don't care. My life wouldn't my own, it would be yours. All I ask is to be able to forget this place."
Felix grinned like a wolf. "Oh that can be arranged."
"How can I be sure?" Enjolras asked.
Felix backhanded him, causing him to fall on his sprained wrist. Enjolras keened, as Felix knelt over him stroking the cheek he had just slapped. "Insolent prick, you doubt me?"
"The drugs you gave Mattie, could you get them for me?"
Felix laughed. "If that's what you desire, pet. I knew you couldn't say no forever."
"How do I know that you can supply them to me, whenever I want to forget?"
"Oh, pet, when you're a politician the money just rolls on in, especially during reelection season." Felix chuckled.
"You use your campaign money?" Enjolras tried to keep his voice free of judgment. He knew once he said it that he had failed spectacularly.
Felix laughed cruelly before slapping Enjolras' other cheek. "There's still a little fight in you. Once you're in DC you'll quickly learn that that idealistic high horse you sit upon is nothing but horseshit. Money is money, Enjolras. Don't much matter where it comes from."
"You aren't denying it." Enjolras gritted his teeth. He was close and then he could let this facade drop. No more lies, no more fear. He would be free. He would be safe.
Felix shook his head. "No. I'm not denying it. I use campaign funds for whatever I choose. Those fools gave me money and so I shall use it as I see fit."
"They trusted you-"
"Shut up, brat." Felix grabbed Enjolras' bad wrist, "if you want to come with me you had better learn to shut your mouth."
"No. I can't."
Felix's grip tightened. "Can't?"
Enjolras let out a cry of pain. "We're through, Felix. I'm done with your lies and abuse. I deserve better."
Felix released his hold on Enjolras and stood up. "You may think you deserve better, but you're never going to get it. You're just a warm mouth. No one will love you."
Enjolras tried to rise, the fire in his eyes which had been extinguished for so long was finally returning.
"You just don't know when to give up." Felix sneered delivering a sharp kick to Enjolras' stomach. Enjolras collapsed, shaking. But Felix wasn't done, he grabbed the other man by his curls and lifted him so they were eye to eye. "You're gonna spend your whole life here, and amount to nothing. Your mother will die, your friends will move on, and you'll be left alone, a pathetic shell of a man just like you are now. I can't believe I slept with you. You're nothing but a whore."
Felix dropped Enjolras ungracefully to the floor, spat on him and then strode out of the cafe. Out of Enjolras' life. Enjolras began to cry, whether from pain or relief he didn't know. He tried to curl into a tighter fetal position but found that moving hurt too much.
"Shit. Shit! Enjolras? Enjolras! What happened? Oh fuck, stay with me. Enjolras!"
The last thing Enjolras remembered was green eyes gazing worriedly down at him and gentle caresses so different than anything he was used to.
Like I said at the beginning, I do not know when another chapter will come, but know that I am determined to write this fic in its entirety. I know (most) everything that will happen, its just a matter of having the time to write and edit.
Please consider leaving a comment as they mean so much to me and help inspire me. Thanks to those who have, especially recently, you're part of the reason I took this story up again. So leave a comment I like to know what y'all think and feel. Hopefully you won't have to wait over a year for the next chapter! I can't wait for y'all to know the ending.
Yrs,
T.W.o.W.