A/N: Thank you so, so much to all the lovely people who reviewed and follow my story, it is very much appreciated!
Eponine wasn't sure if the poor would like or despise Enjolras. As long as he didn't whip out his fancy words and didn't flaunt his knowledge, he should be okay.
Enjolras, for once in his life, wasn't planning out what he was going to say, he was just going to speak straight from his heart.
Eponine wasn't leading him anywhere in particular; they were really just walking until Eponine could find some people that she recognized when a woman holding a baby approached them.
"Ah, Eponine! So nice to see you again! Thank you so much for the bread last week, I cannot even express how much it helped us," the woman said gratefully.
"It was no problem, I was glad to help, Charlotte," Eponine said with a rare smile. Charlotte returned the smile and turned to Enjolras.
"Who is this, Eponine?" she asked examining the man.
"My name is Enjolras," he said politely nodding his head.
"I'm Charlotte, and my daughter here is Maria," the woman responded equally polite.
"Enjolras is the leader of the upcoming revolution," Eponine explained, and Charlotte eyed him in shock.
"You are the leader of the revolution, monsieur? I think you are very brave, but also foolish. You are going to get yourself killed!" Charlotte exclaimed instinctively clutching her baby closer.
"I would lay down my life any day so that another may gain their freedom. I am disgusted with the king, and I strongly believe something needs to be done about the poor! It is saddening to watch children running around without any parents, struggling to survive; women trying to provide for their babies without any help; men who have no pride hobbling down the streets. I want it to end, and I want it to all end now," Enjolras said fervently.
Charlotte was taken aback by the passion radiating from Enjolras.
"Henri! Henri! Come here!" Charlotte called and a man with no arm approached them.
"Eponine you remember Henri, non?" Charlotte asked placing her hand delicately on the man's shoulder.
"Vaguely, you introduced me a while ago. He is your brother, correct?" Eponine asked, wondering why Charlotte had called him over.
"Yes. Henri worked in a factory, when his arm was strangled in a machine," Charlotte explained briefly. "That's irrelevant however; I called him over to talk to you for he strongly supports the rebellion."
Henri rolled his blue eyes and ran his fingers through his tangle of brown hair.
"I can speak for myself, Charlotte," he snapped before turning his gaze toward Eponine and Enjolras.
"I recognize you; I have been to some of your rallies and speeches. They are quite mesmerizing, monsieur. I fully pledge my support to the revolution; I want the monarchy gone forever," Henri said shaking his head. Enjolras' eyes lit up, and Eponine had a feeling he would be chatting with Henri for a while.
"Thank you, I appreciate all the support I can get. A republic is what France needs," Enjolras said.
Henri nodded his head viciously and the two starting discussing details for the revolution so quickly that Eponine couldn't follow along, so she started her own conversation with Charlotte.
Eponine and Charlotte had never been close friends, but they often talked to each other when it was convenient.
"How is little Maria?" Eponine asked sweetly peering at the baby.
"She's doing better, but every single day I feel so guilty for bringing my daughter into this filthy world," Charlotte said sadly. "But maybe your Enjolras will change make it better."
Your Enjolras? Eponine let that one slide.
"Maybe he will," she shrugged.
"How do you know him anyways? Are you two in love? Pardon me for asking that, it just seemed like it would be so after the way he looked at you, and also because of the way you look at him," Charlotte said wisely.
"I don't look at him any differently than I do to anyone else," Eponine whispered furiously. Charlotte just laughed.
"Eponine, when you look at people you regard them as though they aren't really there; as though we are all ghosts in this big world. You live inside your head too much, my dear. When you look at me, I feel as though you look straight through me. When you look at that boy, you see him. You look at him with such a fierce look, it's as though he's the only real thing in this world," Charlotte said with a dramatic sigh.
"I do no such thing," Eponine snapped, and she could feel a blush rising on her cheeks, thankful that Enjolras and Henri were in too deep of a conversation to hear what was being said.
Except when Eponine glanced over at Enjolras, three more people that Eponine didn't recognize had joined the conversation. Enjolras wasn't preaching at them, he was actually talking with them. They all looked as though they were enjoying themselves.
"You have that look again," Charlotte said in a sing song voice with an obnoxious smirk slapped on her dirty face.
"I. Do. Not," Eponine protested looking away from Enjolras.
"All right, all right. I was just having a bit of fun, God knows I need it," Charlotte said with a somewhat sad chuckle.
"Eponine, Henri is taking me to meet some of his other friends, you can come if you would like," Enjolras shouted.
Eponine replied yes and ran over to his side.
"Your friend here is very inspirational," Henri said beaming. He was excited that maybe there would be a change for the first time in his life.
"He is indeed," said another man Eponine didn't know.
"Did you bring him here?" said a different man.
"Yes, I suppose I did," Eponine said indifferently.
"Good thing you did. My name is Amable. These are my friends Corin and Deniel," Amable said pointing to the two other men.
"My name is Eponine," she said smiling at the men.
Henri stopped in front of a group of men who were laughing and talking together.
"My friends! I would like to introduce you to Enjolras! He is the leader of the revolution I have told you about," Henri said raising his voice so all of his friends would hear.
"Ah, yes! We have heard much about the revolution!" a man with red curls and missing teeth said.
"I went to one of your speeches, and let me say, it was very good," said another man who was leaning on an old wooden crutch.
Enjolras smiled at all of the men, and he immediately compared them to Les Amis. They definitely reminded him of his friends back at the café.
"I am glad to hear that, the revolution is very important to me," Enjolras said seriously.
"Tell them what you told me," Henri urged.
Enjolras nodded and started to talk about how he despised the monarchy and wanted to restore a republic in France, and hopefully provide a better life for the people.
Again, Eponine observed that instead of talking at the people, he gladly let the others speak and ask questions. He even received some suggestions from the men, and he definitely was going to consider them.
All was going well until an old man came up to the group.
"Why do you even try? Why do you care about any of this?" he said with a rough voice.
"Why shouldn't I care? The condition of Paris has gotten out of control, and someone needs to fix it," Enjolras said as the others fell silent.
"Nobody has cared about us before, is your revolution just a trick to get us all killed?" the old man said cynically.
Eponine was surprised at herself how angry that comment made her.
"Enjolras has worked long and hard on his idea for the revolution, it isn't going fizzle out before it has a chance to start. He may have not known what he was talking about, but he has always been dedicated to helping the poor. If the revolution is unsuccessful, Enjolras will perish along with it; he would be too brave and strong to live on. Don't give him a hard time for trying to help you, you ungrateful man!" Eponine shouted.
The man seemed taken aback that he was confronted in such a manner.
"Who are you to say such things?" the man spat.
"I am Eponine, and I am his friend. Don't ever think for one second that Enjolras doesn't really care," Eponine said with venom on her tongue.
The man shook his head and hobbled away angrily.
The men burst out laughing at Eponine's outburst, congratulating her for her sharp tongue and mind.
"That was quite impressive," one man guffawed.
"I have never seen a lady speak in such a manner!" Deniel chuckled.
"You must be as devoted to the revolution as Enjolras!" Corin exclaimed.
"Or just devoted to Enjolras," Charlotte said quietly so only Eponine could hear.
Eponine began to wonder if that was true.
A/N: Yay, another chapter! We definitely see a different side of Eponine in this chapter. In the next chapter, I think I still want to focus on Enjolras talking with the poor people, but not necessarily about politics. Thanks again for everyone's reviews, they always make me smile. I'm going to go eat some chocolate now for updating, so bye!