Eleven

The Brightest Thing

It took them a full day to track Éponine's brother Gavroche; they contacted the compound to let them know they'd be working through the evening to try and locate Gavroche properly. That was how they found themselves sat on a park bench in a town where it was snowing, the icy metal of the bench seeping through their clothes. Darkness had fallen, throwing blue grey shadows over everything in front of them. Éponine was sipping chilly coffee from a paper cup, whilst Combeferre had his fingers linked together in his lap.

"Are you sure Gavroche is here?" Combeferre asked, his breath gathering in a pale cloud in front of his face.

Éponine shrugged, tightening her hand on the cup so that the paper buckled slightly beneath her hands. "Yes," she said, through gritted teeth. "I'm not lying, you know."

Combeferre let out a little sigh. "Éponine, I didn't mean to imply that you were," he said. "I'm sorry. It was just a question."

"I wouldn't be stuck out here in the cold if I wasn't sure," she said.

"I know," he said. "It's just been a while, and there's been no sign..."

"You know Gav, if he doesn't want to be found, he won't be," Éponine said. "But we're technically from part of the same pack, so...I can feel him. He's been here."

"I am sorry," Combeferre murmured. "I didn't mean..."

"It's fine, it's just been a long day," Éponine said. "Snow doesn't agree with me."

"I don't feel the cold," Combeferre said.

"Lucky you," Éponine muttered, as the scar on her stomach twinged in pain. She winced, but caught it before Combeferre could really notice; the last thing she needed was him turning all protective on her and taking them back to the compound.

"Yes, I suppose I am, in this case," Combeferre murmured. He was staring up at the inky sky. There were too many streetlamps for stars, she noticed, but the moon was shining bright, not quite full but still beautiful.

"I don't even know if he'll be out in this weather," Éponine grumbled, taking another sip of her coffee. It had been lukewarm when she'd been served it just over an hour ago, and now it was almost ice cold. "If I was him, I'd be inside."

"Well, let's hope he's not that much like you," Combeferre said. "What do you want to do if we can't find him tonight?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "If we can't find him tonight, then he'll probably notice we've been here by morning, and if he doesn't want to be found..."

"He'll move on?" Combeferre supplied.

"Yes." Éponine shifted, and another twist of pain shot through her abdomen. She'd not been injured with silver in so long she had forgotten just how long it could take silver to leave the system.

This time she wasn't fast enough to cover the expression on her face, and she saw the exact moment when Combeferre realised what was the matter. His face went very grave, and he let out a little sigh that was two steps away from being patronising. She felt like chucking her cold coffee in his face.

"I thought Joly cleared you to leave?" Combeferre said.

"He did," she said.

"If you're still experiencing pain..."

"Combeferre, I think I know how to deal with the residual affects of silver in the bloodstream," Éponine said with a roll of her eyes. "I've had it happen before, lots of times. Experiencing pain is normal."

"Would Joly agree with that?" Combeferre asked.

"I don't care if Joly agrees with that," Éponine said, "He isn't a shapeshifter, and I am, and let me tell you, this is normal. I'm sorry if my healing process isn't fitting with your idea of –"

"Éponine –"

" – Don't interrupt –"

"Éponine, Gavroche!" Combeferre said, pointing.

She swung her head around. A boy was stood beneath the trees a few yards away. It was just dark enough that the exact position of his eyes couldn't be seen but Éponine knew that he was watching them.

She stood up, letting her coffee drop to the ground; the lid popped off and the liquid spilled out over the snow.

Her brother stepped forwards. He was taller than he had been the last time she'd seen him, thinner, his face gaunt and his cheekbones a little too prominent. His reddish hair was a greasy tangle, his clothes dirty and torn. It made something inside her ache, because he knew there was a bed for him in the compound, a bed and food and comfort, but he would never take it.

"Gavroche," she breathed.

"Éponine," he said, and then his mouth curled up into a pleased smile. "Long time no see, huh?"

She crossed the space between them and wrapped her arms around him. "I've missed you," she murmured into his dirty hair. "I've missed you so much."

"Don't get soppy on me," he said, pulling away. His eyebrows flicked upwards. "You brought Combeferre?"

She looked over her shoulder. Combeferre was hovering behind them, keeping a respectful distance to let her greet her brother.

She looked back to Gavroche. His mouth was twisted. "That means you want me to do something," he said.

"You ignored our last message," Combeferre said, stepping up to stand beside Éponine.

"I never got a message," Gavroche said, fiercely. "I never would have ignored it, you've got to know that, right?"

"Hey, of course, we knew that." Éponine swept a hand over his hair. "Right, Combeferre?"

"Of course," Combeferre said. "It was just a problem of crossed wires. Let's go get something to eat."

They took Gavroche to a twenty four hours fast food restaurant, brightly lit and wonderfully warm. They watched as he wolfed down a burger and fries and slugged back a coke; Combeferre ordered him a cup of hot tea when he was halfway through and he sipped that at as lower pace as they began to explain what they wanted.

"So this Favourite, you want me to find her," Gavroche said, licking salt from his fingertips.

"Yes," Éponine said.

"Any idea on where she's last been seen?"

Combeferre shook his head. "Unfortunately, no."

"Well, that makes things harder," Gavroche said.

"We know," Combeferre said. "We'll pay you, of course."

Gavroche's eyes lit up. "That's good to hear," he said. "How long do I have?"

"We need to find her as soon as possible," Combeferre said. "So, in theory, as long as you need, but..."

"Be quick about it?" Gavroche nodded. "Got it."

"And be careful," Éponine added. "You know about the bounty?"

"For that girl you guys are hiding?" Gavroche shrugged. "Yeah."

"Well, they'll probably be trying to get to our known contacts," Éponine said. "You're one of our known contacts. I don't want..."

"I know how to look after myself," Gavroche insisted.

"I know you do." Éponine reached across the small table and brushed him under the chin. "But for me, be...extra careful, okay? Especially when you're looking for Favourite. Please."

"I'm surprised you're not begging me to come and live with you again," Gavroche muttered.

"You know I always want that," Éponine said.

"You're always welcome at the compound," Combeferre said. "I'd be much happier if you came to live with us. It isn't safe out here."

"And yet, you're asking me to do something life threatening," Gavroche said. "A lot of double standards, here."

"Gavroche –" Éponine began.

"I'm not actually having a go," Gavroche said. "I'm just saying. I don't mind doing this for you, you know that. I'm one of you. I just – I just don't want to live there. It's not for me."

"If you ever reconsider, you know where we are," Combeferre said. "Is there anything else you need to know to find her?"

"I know her name, I know her race." Gavroche drained his coffee, seemingly not caring about the heat. "I'll do some digging. If I need anything more, then as you've said, I know where to find you, right?"

"Right," Éponine and Combeferre said together.

Gavroche crushed the cup in his hand. "I'll get back to you, then," he said, standing up. "It was nice to see you, Éponine."

"You too, Gav." He touched her shoulder as he passed her, and then he disappeared into the night.

"He'll be okay," Combeferre murmured to her.

She was staring at the door that her brother had just walk through. "I know," she murmured.

OOO

The compound was often a quiet place, but today, it just felt eerily so. After her morning shower and breakfast, Cosette found herself wandering the corridors, leaving Grantaire to do whatever Grantaire wanted to do in their room.

On her wanderings, she took in what everyone was doing. She thought she saw Jehan and Courfeyrac cuddling in one of the offices, but she didn't linger long enough to look; she found that Paloma was still there, laughing over coffee and cakes in the kitchen with Musichetta whilst a grumpy looking Bahorel stood with folded arms against the stove. She found Joly organising his stock of potions in his room, Feuilly busy making clothes for her father, who was telling him stories of his time in prison in his gentle, quiet way. She almost stopped to listen – it was a part of his life she'd never heard about, and she wanted to know, but something made her feet carry on moving.

She found Bossuet sleeping in the corridor, for some reason, and she found no trace of Enjolras anywhere. She knew that Combeferre and Éponine were out of the compound for the day.

Even though everyone who was there was doing something, it just all seemed so quiet, so muted.

Cosette found herself climbing down the stairs that led to the gym. Noises had drifted up from the corridor, and seeing as she'd seen everyone bar Enjolras and Marius, she assumed that either one of them or both of them were down there.

She found only Marius, sweaty in his gym clothes, slamming his fists into a punch bag like it was his personal nemesis in front of him.

"Are you all right?" she asked, but then realised she shouldn't have, because as he sent one particularly powerful punch towards the bag he turned to look at her, causing the bag to slam into him and knock him to the ground.

"Ugh." He lay in a heap on the ground for a few moments. She approached cautiously.

"Sorry," she said, hovering above him. She tucked her hair behind her ears. He rolled onto his stomach and stared up at her.

"It's fine," he said, sitting up. He rested his elbows on his knees, drawing them up to his chest.

"Are you all right?" she asked again.

"I was just..." He gestured at the bag, still swinging slightly. "You know."

"Yeah, it seemed like you really wanted to hurt that thing," Cosette said, sitting down on the floor in front of him, curling her legs beneath herself.

"I did," Marius confirmed. "Well, not it. Just – things."

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

"I really just hate this situation right now," Marius admitted. "I feel very useless."

"So you're taking out your...frustrations, I guess, on a punch bag," Cosette surmised. "There are worse ways to deal with things. You could have punched one of us in the face. Can I ask what tipped you over the edge?"

"I found myself thinking about things," Marius said. "The Demon King, and the things I saw him do when I lived in the Court, before I met Enjolras and...You know, I never used to see a problem. When I was little, I thought it was all normal – the executions, the public punishments, you know? I didn't see a problem with it. Then as I got older..."

"Marius, no one blames you for that," Cosette said gently. "The point is, you see it now –"

"It's not just that," he said. "It's my family. I heard back from my cousin, Theodule – he's – he's not my favourite person in the world, but he's not always bad, and he sometimes works as our informant. Anyway, he told me that our grandfather has added funds to the bounty on you."

He looked so ashamed, hanging his head.

"That's your grandfather," she said. "Not you. Marius, you're not contributing to anything – you're helping me. You have nothing to feel bad about."

"But I do," he said. "I wish I could go and knock some sense into him. I don't understand..."

"Of course you don't." Cosette wanted to reach out to him, touch him, try anything to make him feel better. "You're a good person."

He raised his head, meeting her eyes. She gave in to her urge and placed her hand on one of his, his with raw knuckles from his assault on the bag. She made a little clucking noise with her tongue at the sight of the pink skin.

"You should be more careful," she murmured. "You've not –"

"Can I kiss you?" he interrupted.

Her head did an involuntary jerk backwards at the question. Marius' cheeks began to glow and his eyes were very wide.

"What?" she said.

If it was possible, his eyes went even wider. "Oh, no, I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't – I've –"

"No, it's fine," she interrupted, privately feeling pleased. "I just wasn't expecting it, that's all."

Her hand was still touching his. His skin felt very hot, and seemed to be getting hotter; but it didn't feel the same way as it had the night the Demon King's guard had attacked the compound. This felt more pleasant, and made her stomach tingle and her heart begin to pound.

"You can," she murmured, leaning closer. "If you want to." With a small sigh, she inched across the floor towards him. He moved so that his legs were stretched in front of him, and she knelt between them and placed her hands on either side of his face.

He leaned up and pressed his mouth to hers. His mouth was soft and warm, and she could faintly taste toothpaste and coffee. Just like his hand, his jaw was hot too, and when she pulled away his skin was glowing faintly all over. His eyes were still closed, his mouth still puckered as if he hadn't quite realised she was no longer kissing him.

She let out a small giggle, and rested her forehead against his. Marius' eyes flew open. Her hands dropped so that they were pressed against his neck instead.

"I like you," she said.

"I like you too," he said, in a voice that sounded a little dazed. "I wish you were safe," he added, a little stronger.

Before she could respond, there was a wolf whistle from behind them. She looked over her shoulder. Courfeyrac was slowly descending the stairs, a grin stretching wide across his face. An also smiling Grantaire was right behind him. When she caught his eye, Grantaire's dark eyebrows flicked upwards.

"Hate to interrupt," Courfeyrac sang, "But Grantaire and I wanted to spar. And these facilities are for that, not for..." He waggled his fingers at them. "Other activities."

Cosette rolled her eyes, her hands dropping from Marius' neck. "Come on, Marius," she said, getting to her feet. She held out her hand to Marius, and he took it. "Let's see if Joly can do something for your hand."

He let her pull him to his feet, and they walked hand in hand past Courfeyrac and Grantaire, the former still grinning hugely. Cosette didn't fight to stop her own big smile from taking over as they climbed the stairs from the gym.

OOO

When Cosette and Marius had disappeared from view, Courfeyrac began to bounce on the balls of his feet, and looked one second away from clapping his hands together.

"That is so long overdue," Courfeyrac said happily.

"Hmm," Grantaire said, his own smile fading slightly. He was happy for Cosette – he really was, Marius was a good person and had already shown he kind of thought the world of her. He just felt bad about the poor timing.

"You don't sound so pleased?" Courfeyrac said.

"I am," Grantaire said. "It's just a shitty time, you know?"

"Well, love doesn't wait," Courfeyrac said with a sigh. "Jehan will be so happy when I tell him."

"I wouldn't call it love just yet," Grantaire muttered, heading into the changing rooms. Courfeyrac followed him.

"But it could be," Courfeyrac said. "Hey, how will her dad react? Will he go all, you know, overprotective dad mode –?"

"The only reason Marius would have to worry is if he actually hurt Cosette," Grantaire said, shrugging out of his hoodie and folding it. "Valjean's temper has a ridiculously long fuse. He's got the patience of a saint."

"And yourself?" Courfeyrac asked, watching as Grantaire placed his folded hoodie on one of the benches.

"Oh, I've had my moments," Grantaire admitted with a grin. "But only when I've had genuine bad vibes about someone. I'm not getting any off Marius."

"He is a bit like a puppy," Courfeyrac said. He was leaning against the door, arms folded over his chest, defined biceps bulging in the vest he was wearing. "So you, you and Cosette never...?" He said these words cautiously, like he was worried about the answer.

"Never what?" Grantaire said.

"You two never had a thing, or anything?" Courfeyrac said.

Grantaire let out a short bark of laughter. "No. Never. Never even thought about it. Besides, have you seen her? She's beautiful. She could have any man she wanted. I'm sure if she set her mind to it she could charm Enjolras into bed," he said, with a snort.

"That would certainly be impressive," Courfeyrac grinned. "So you're just friends?"

"Siblings," Grantaire said. His tongue felt like it was tingling. "I prefer to think of her as my sister. My mother was never really much of a mother, and my father – I never knew him. I didn't have any other family, not until Valjean took me in and I met Cosette."

"You love them both a lot," Courfeyrac said.

"Of course," Grantaire said. "But Cosette – she's, she's the brightest thing in my world. I'm forever grateful to Valjean for taking me in, but it was Cosette that really turned my life around." He sat down on the bench.

"You were in a bad place," Courfeyrac guessed.

"The worst," Grantaire said. "Things went downhill for me when I left the army – I got injured – but then my mother was murdered, and..." He cleared his throat. "Why am I telling you all of this?"

"Shit, sorry," Courfeyrac said, suddenly flapping his hands. "Shit, sorry, fairy magic and all, I don't mean to do it."

Grantaire felt somewhat like something had been lifted off his shoulders, and his tongue was no longer tingling. He shook his head. "You put a spell on me?"

"Accidentally," Courfeyrac said. "It happens sometimes, I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."

"It's fine," Grantaire said, although he wasn't really sure if it was. He'd only ever told two people about his mother's murder, and they were Cosette and Valjean. Right now, images of blood splattered over peeling wallpaper and limbs at strange angles and a mouth gaping open with the ghost of a scream still hanging in the air pushed forth, and he pressed the heel of his hand against his eyes.

"I really am sorry." Grantaire looked up at Courfeyrac, whose eyes were wide and ashamed.

"It's fine," Grantaire repeated. "Just – please don't tell anyone I said that. About my mother."

"Of course I won't," Courfeyrac said. "It'll be like I never heard anything, I promise. I really am sorry – I can't even –"

"Stop apologising," Grantaire muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Can we get to training now?"

"Sure." Courfeyrac pushed the door to the changing rooms open with his shoulder and held it open as Grantaire ducked past.

The next few minutes were tense and awkward as they prepared for their sparring session, but as they began to fight some of the tension began to seep out of the atmosphere. Grantaire managed to push it all to the back of his head and focus all of his attention on Courfeyrac.

He had sparred with Enjolras, Bahorel, Marius and Feuilly since arriving here, but never with Courfeyrac. Courfeyrac was incredibly fast and very light on his feet, dodging more than getting actual hits in. He was prone to suddenly flipping away from him in a way Grantaire was certain had to do with his magical side, and it was a move that was incredibly frustrating.

He'd just done it again, spinning away and laughing loudly when Grantaire lunged at him and caught him around the waist, tackling him to the ground. The laughter cut off fast as they hit the mat like a heap of bricks. Grantaire landed awkwardly on one of his knees and a sharp jolt of pain shot through his leg, causing him to cry out.

It then transpired that Courfeyrac was not as honourable as he may have seemed, as he took advantage of Grantaire's momentary problem to grab Grantaire and force him onto his back and straddle him. Courfeyrac pinned Grantaire's arms above his head.

"I think I've won," Courfeyrac said, proudly, still laughing.

Grantaire rolled his eyes and let out a grunt as he tried to pull away from Courfeyrac's hands. "It's not over yet," he said.

"Isn't it?" Courfeyrac didn't ease up his grip on Grantaire's wrist at all, but his grin only got more smug.

They both heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and then Enjolras emerged into the gym. He looked distracted right up until he saw them, which was when his face seemed to close off and his eyes narrowed. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked, voice cold. Grantaire had observed his voice seemed to go that cold when he was speaking to Grantaire only, or when he was talking about the Demon King. It was nice to know he was on the same level as a tyrant in Enjolras' mind.

"Not at all," Courfeyrac said. "I just won our fight."

"He didn't," Grantaire objected.

"I think I have," Courfeyrac said, looking down at him.

"Let him up," Enjolras ordered, his voice a snap. Courfeyrac's head snapped towards Enjolras, his eyebrows raising.

"All right, it's just a bit of fun," Courfeyrac said, letting go of Grantaire's wrists and sliding backwards. Grantaire sat up, rubbing at his throbbing knee which was still complaining about how he had landed.

"What can we help you with?" Courfeyrac asked.

"Jehan said I'd find you down here," Enjolras said, to Courfeyrac. He was only looking at Courfeyrac – it was like Grantaire wasn't even in the room. He got to his feet faster than Courfeyrac, who took his time. "I need to have a word," Enjolras continued. "I just heard back from Combeferre, he and Éponine have decided to stay in the human realm..."

Grantaire tuned out, walking away from them towards the changing rooms. After the fight he was sweaty and his knee hurt like hell. He was limping, too, because it hurt to put his full weight on it.

Cosette would kill him, when she was done doing whatever it was she was doing with Marius right now.

"Grantaire," Enjolras said, before Grantaire could reach the changing room. Grantaire hadn't been paying proper attention but he knew that Enjolras had very suddenly just changed the conversation.

"What?" Grantaire said, looking over his shoulder.

"You should get that leg seen to," Enjolras said, still looking at Courfeyrac, who looked amused. "Joly shouldn't be very busy today. Go now, before you shower."

Grantaire was torn between bristling at the command and feeling somewhat flattered that Enjolras was showing some semblance of concern towards him.

He settled on the last feeling, giving a mocking salute to Enjolras. "Yes, sir," he said, before disappearing into the changing rooms.