A/N: Thank you to the people who reviewed and followed my story! I've said it before and I'll say it again, whenever someone reviews I literally cannot stop smiling. It makes me so happy!
Enjolras had been reduced to standing stiffly in shock. With every word that had left Eponine's mouth, Enjolras' jaw had dropped even further.
Did Eponine really mean what she said? To another man, her words may not have been much of a compliment, but it had a great effect on Enjolras. He couldn't help the small smile from creeping onto his face.
The men around him were laughing and commenting about how unladylike Eponine just acted, but Enjolras couldn't even bring himself to join in. He saw Charlotte whispered something to Eponine, causing a small blush to form on her cheeks and her eyes to widen.
"I don't think that man will ever say anything bad about the revolution again," someone said to Enjolras, causing him to snap back in reality.
As much as he was flattered by Eponine, he was slightly embarrassed too.
"E-Eponine, I offer my thanks to you, however, I could have handled that myself," Enjolras said turning to her. Eponine covered her hands in her face.
"I know, I am sorry! I didn't even think about what I was saying; I just said it. And I regret my actions, I just couldn't stop myself," Eponine mumbled. Enjolras sighed and his heart went out to her for defending him.
"Do not apologize, you were only helping," Enjolras said with a wide grin cracking his face. Suddenly, he found the situation just as funny as the other men and began to crack up.
Eponine regarded him with her hands on her hips as she stared pointedly at Enjolras with slight confusion etched into her features.
"Surely you saw that man's face? It was priceless! He looked so surprised that a woman, nonetheless, spoke to him like you did!" Enjolras wheezed clutching his sides and stomping his foot.
Eponine began to laugh herself; not because of that old man, rather how lighthearted and young and joyful Enjolras looked. Eponine had never seen him look so free before.
"I would like for you to meet my father, Enjolras. I think he would really like to talk with you," a man said as he approached Enjolras.
Enjolras swallowed his laughter and nodded.
"Of course! I would like to talk to as many people as I can," Enjolras said. "Thank you, monsieur…"
"Nicolas, but spare the formalities. We're all friends here," he said gesturing to the men around him. Enjolras looked around and was reminded of Les Amis again; these men were more than friends, they were brothers.
"I shall go and fetch my father," Nicolas said before running off.
Everyone picked up their conversation about politics again, and this time, Eponine joined in.
Nicolas returned shortly not only with his father, but with several other men as well.
"These are my father's friends, and they wanted to come too," Nicolas explained as the men all introduced themselves. They made no haste jumping into the large conversation, asking their questions and pitching ideas.
It was an experience Enjolras had never had before; Les Amis always were silent when he spoke, respectfully nodding and clapping for him; never interrupting or disagreeing. Now, the men here talking with Enjolras did lend him respect, but they also interrupted and disagreed and made Enjolras rethink some of the small details he had planned.
He loved it.
He felt like a leader of Les Amis when he gave speeches, and a brother to them at other times. Today, he felt like both at one time, and it was enthralling.
Eponine smiled as she watched Enjolras talk and listen with a new light and passion in his eyes, and she couldn't help but feel a little bit responsible for it. This was exactly what she had wanted for Enjolras to accomplish during his stay with her, and now it was happening before her very eyes.
The people were not only listening, but they were participating. The group of people may be small, but it was a start.
Suddenly, Enjolras stopped talking but his mouth kept trying to form a shape. Finally, he pulled his self together and expressed his thought.
"Eponine, your father is over there!" he hissed pulling Eponine aside. Eponine eye's widened as she tried to duck behind Enjolras.
"It's Thenardier and his gang!" Amable whispered to the group in fear.
"He won't go for a group or size, we should just act as normal as possible until they go away," a man name Alex said with fear in his eyes.
"Oh, I hate it when he comes over to these parts. He just robs and abuses the helpless," Henri spat angrily.
"Wait a minute; Eponine is a Thenardier isn't she?" Deniel said in disbelief looking at Enjolras for an answer.
Eponine peered over the top of Enjolras' shoulder and told him to hush. "I may be a Thenardier, but don't think for one second that I support my family and their horrible ways. Please don't let him see that I am here," Eponine whispered ducking her head.
The men attempted to act casually, talking about whatever they could think of, all the while nervously eyeing M. Thenardier to see what he would do. He appeared to be looking for someone, probably Eponine, but eventually he retreated.
Eponine could hear some of the words he was saying to Montparnasse which consisted of: "You swore you saw her come this way" and "I need more money" and "Come on, maybe she went to hang around that group of men she is so fond of."
"It makes sense you are a Thenardier with that mouth of yours," Corin said in a teasing manner.
"I do not like to associate myself with them," Eponine said stiffly, but Enjolras could hear the relief in her voice that her father had left.
"Eponine, I can hide you for a while and steal some money. I owe you for the bread last week, after all. Then if your father finds you, you will have the money to give him," Charlotte offered.
"That isn't necessary; I have money for her that I stole from my sister. Eponine can take that," Enjolras said placing the coins in his jacket that Eponine was wearing (still).
"Enjolras, what about food? Surely you are starving now, don't you want to use the money?" Eponine asked fingering the coins that felt heavy in her pocket.
"I shall be alright, Eponine. A little hunger never hurt anyone, but your father has been known to do so," Enjolras replied.
Eponine smiled at him and offered her thanks before taking her place beside Enjolras in the swarm of people. It had seemed that even more men and women had joined the discussion, and they all seemed to be fascinated by Enjolras.
When the sun started to inch lower in the sky, Eponine thought it was a good time to leave and maybe go find some food. She wanted to buy dinner with the money Enjolras found; her father could wait for the money.
"Do you have to leave already? Why don't you stay over here tonight?" Henri asked Eponine and Enjolras, treating the pair as though they were old friends.
"We have some money to buy dinner, I think we should go and eat now before it gets too late. We will come back a different day, I promise. Maybe not tomorrow, but eventually!" Eponine promised with a genuine smile.
"What money do we have? The money I gave you will go to your father," Enjolras said as they were walking away. However, Enjolras had never felt so hungry in his life, the promise of food was almost impossible to give up. He had tried to forget about it all day, but he could not ignore the starving feeling anymore.
"Nonsense, my father can learn to get money for himself, and not have to rely on me all the damn time! I'm sick of it; I'm sick of him," Eponine said furiously. Eponine didn't like to admit it, but it hurt her heart every time her father asked for money. That's all he thought she was good for, stealing, and it felt like a thousand blades to the heart for Eponine whenever she was reminded of that.
Enjolras was taken aback at the tone Eponine used, it wasn't the forcefulness she had displayed; it was the sadness laced behind every word. Enjolras may not have known Eponine that long, but he could tell that her father wasn't only hurting her physically, but emotionally as well.
"I suppose then, the Dreaded Pirate Enjolras' stolen treasure will buy us dinner tonight," he teased trying to make Eponine smile.
She did.
A/N: My chocolate box ran out (the one I eat whenever I update a chapter). I'm really sad, but it's all good because I got this new candy box… thing.
I like my candy.