Hi, everyone! I'm so terribly sorry that I haven't updated in ages due to illness. Thanks so much to all of you who have stuck with me and read this story. :):):) I will be posting another chapter as soon as I can get it written to make up for my recent absence. Thank you again for sticking with the story! Also, if you're an Enjolras/Aaron Tveit fan, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check out my other story, Diary of a Chorus Girl. It hasn't been getting much traffic, but it's been my favorite story to write. I will also be updating it soon. :):):)
The Friends of the ABC were gathered for the first time since their failed revolution, watching their leader, Enjolras the marble man, crumble.
"My friends, thank you for meeting me." said Enjolras, stationed at his usual post in the upstairs room of the ABC Cafe.
"We wouldn't want to miss another revolution," answered Grantaire dryly, already drunk although it was barely midday.
"Eponine's been abducted by the Patron Minette." stated the leader of Les Amis grimly, his voice cracking with emotion.
"So? Isn't her father their leader? Maybe her family just wants her back," said Coufeyrac cooly.
"I wish it were that simply. Haven't you ever wondered why she left?"
"So what do we do?" asked Joly.
Enjolras went into leadership mode, morphing back into the man of stone his friends knew. "Does anyone know where the Patron Minette's headquarters are?"
Marius, who had been sulking in a corner, suddenly spoke up. "I know," he said meekly.
Enjolras glared at Marius for a moment, knowing that Eponine would still be safe in his flat if Marius weren't such a coward. He took a deep breath and continued planning. "So Marius will lead us to them, but what will we do when we reach them?"
"Storm the place. Shoot them all and take Eponine when it's all over," said Grantaire, a cruel glimmer in his eyes.
"No good," said Enjolras. "They could kill Eponine before we get to her, and we run the risk of hitting her."
"Have you a better idea?" retorted Grantaire, taking a swig of his wine.
"I do," said Combeferre.
"Let's hear it."
"I say we choose someone to act as a spy and sneak into headquarters to get Eponine to safety THEN we storm the place." proposed Combeferre, staring Grantaire down.
"That's very smart, my friend, BUT how does said 'chosen one' get into said headquarters?" prodded Grantaire.
Combeferre stammered and finally fell silently, glaring at Grantaire.
"If looks could kill," laughed the drunk boy.
"The sewers," a voice piped up from the corner.
"What?" chorused several voices around the cafe.
"Someone could climb up through the sewers," said Marius. "That's how I escaped the barricade."
Enjolras glared once again at Marius' cowardice but acknowledged his idea.
"Boys, it looks like we've got a plan."
The Les Amis armed themselves and followed Marius to the hideout of the Patron Minette.
"Ok who's going in?" asked Combeferre, surveying the group.
"I will," said both Marius and Enjolras, stepping forward simultaneously. The two glared at each other.
"Well, who's it gonna be?" slurred Grantaire loudly, sloshing his ever full cask of wine.
"We shouldn't have brought him," muttered several in the group.
"Joly, take him back to the cafe then wait at my flat. Eponine may need you," said Enjolras before returning his glare to Marius.
"Enjolras, please. Let me go. Let me-"
Enjolras cut Marius off, stepping forward until their faces were mere inches apart. "If you think I'm going to let you put her in danger again..." He stepped back into the grou, saying, "I'll go."
Combeferre looked grimly at Enjolras, handing him a revolver. "Bonne chance, my friend."
Enjolras clapped him on the shoulder and headed into the sewers.
The Les Amis held their breath, awaiting a signal from their leader. Meanwhile, Enjolras trudged underground, propelled forward by the promise that his love was awaiting his arrival.
Eponine's head jerked back and forth as her father slapped her repeatedly.
"You little putain!" he roared. "You leave the Minette to go be some rich boy's fin! We are your family! How dare you!"
Eponine's left eye was almost swollen shut, but she stared her father down, saying, "He is more family to me than you will ever be!"
"You will pay for that, you chienne!" Eponine's father lifted her up, chair and all and slammed her to the ground. He bent down, and brandished a knife. Eponine cowered. To her surprise, her father cut the ropes that bound her to the chair.
"I know a certain young man who is very eager for your company," he sneered. "Montparnasse!"
Eponine's childhood playmate turned criminal entered the room, ravishing her with his eyes.
Her eyes filled with tears. "'Parnasse, no," she pleaded. The boy yanked her up from the ground.
Enjolras crawled up from the sewers, dropping his soiled boots back into the filth. He creeped from the salle de bain into the nearest and almost dropped his revolver. Before him were Eponine, her father, and a strange boy he had never seen before. The boy pulled Eponine into his arms. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with him. Enjolras could barely contain his anger.
"Put her down!" he commanded, cocking his revolver. Fear replaced the sneer on the boy's face, and he cast Eponine to the ground, fleeing from the room. Enjolras reluctantly shot the boy, knowing he would have no chance of saving Eponine if the gang knew of his presence. He heard the girl cry out and refocused himself. Eponine's father picked her up off the ground pressing a knife to her neck.
"Ah ah ah!" sneered the gang leader. "Drop the gun."
Enjolras hesitated.
"Drop it!" A drop of blood trickled from Eponine's neck.
Enjolras gritted his teeth and dropped his weapon, struggling to decide what he should do next.
"Very good, boy." Thenardier chuckled. "Now what shall I do with you?"
Enjolras looked at Eponine apologetically.
"Ah! You've come to save my daughter, have you? Well, perhaps I''l just let you watch her die." He turned Eponine so that she faced him. "I think that would be punishment enough for the both of you, don't you, my dear?"
"Wait!" screamed Enjolras, his mind racing. If only he could get one of his friends to hear him.
He spoke as loud as he could. "It would certainly be convenient if someone was outside that window to shoot you!" It was obvious, but maybe it would work.
"What?" said Eponine's father. He was not exactly bright.
Not a moment too soon, a shot rang out, and Eponine's father cried out crimson roses bloomed from his shoulder, and he cast Eponine aside. Enjolras scopped her and ran as Eponine's father cursed and shot blindly and his friends converged on the place.
Enjolras dodged bullets and ran out the front door of the tiny flat.
"Eponine," he whispered, looking down at the limp body in his arms. Her normally tan face was as white as a sheet, and her left eye was black and swollen. Blood trickled from her neck and lower lip. Enjolras increased his pace, hurrying to his flat where Joly awaited the girl's arrival. He burst through the door and deposited Eponine on his bed. Joly already had all of his equipment out and went straight to work tending Eponine's wounds. Enjolras put his hands on his knees, attempting to catch his breath as he listened to Joly mutter Eponine's diagnosis to himself.
"Laceration to the neck, not too deep. No arteries damaged." He turned to Enjolras.
"I need to check her for signs of concussion. Do you think you can wake her up?"
"Yeah. Give us a minute?"
Joly stepped out of the room. Enjolras kneeled by the bed and took Eponine's hand.
"Ponine? Wake up, darling." A tear rolled down his cheek. Only she could break through his marble facade. He ripped a strip of fabric from his shirt and dipped in the bucket of water Joly had on the night stand. He pressed it to her forehead and the back of her neck, whispering meaningless words to her until she awoke.
"Enjolras?" she asked groggilly.
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, yes! How do you feel?"
Eponine burst into tears, reaching for Enjolras who climbed onto the bed beside her and held her as she cried. As the girl's whimpering subsided, Enjolras lifted her chin and stoked her tear stained face.
"What is it, ma belle?" crooned Enjolras.
Eponine looked up at him and sniffled. She shook her head, not ready to speak about Montparnasse or her father. She laid her head on Enjolras' chest, and he stroked her soft raven locks. After a while, Enjolras nudged her. She looked up at him.
"Joly is here. He needs to examine you. Are you up for it?"
Eponine nodded. Enjolras placed a light kiss on her forehead and went out to get Joly. He check her for concussion, bandaged her neck, and took his leave.
"She needs to rest, Enjolras," he said, smiling suggestively.
"Get out!" chuckled Enjolras, slamming the door to his flat.
He went back to his room where Eponine was propped up in bed. She smiled slightly when he walked in. He began to kneel by the bed, but Eponine gestured for him to join her. Enjolras settled in beside her, draping his strong arm around her and pulling her close.
"You scared me today," he whispered.
He gazed into her eyes. They were filling with tears again.
"Sh sh don't cry, chéri," soothed Enjolras.
Eponine moved to get out of bed.
"What are you doing?" asked Enjolras, afraid it was something he had done.
"I-I can't stay here."
"You can stay here as long as you wish."
"I know, but I can't. I can't."
"Why? Do you not want to?" Enjolras was hurt.
"No, I do! More than anything!"
"Then, why don't you?"
Eponine hesitated. Enjolras grabbed her arm and looked pleadingly into her eyes.
"Why?"
"Something like this is bound to happen again. I don't want-you might-" she could not find the words to say what she wanted to, but Enjolras understood.
"Eponine," he said, crossing the room. "Look at me. Please."
She looked at him through her lashes. He kneeled and took her small cold hands in his large warm ones.
"I want you to stay here as long as you want to stay here. I can protect you from your father, from that boy-from Marius."
Eponine looked at the floor. Enjolras knew what he had done to her.
"Eponine, I love you like I've never loved anyone."
He dropped one of her hands and embraced her gingerly. He felt her tense up and stepped back, feeling his face redden.
"I- I'm sorry," he said.
"No, no! It's just that-" she stepped torward him.
"Marius."
Eponine nodded and continued to stare at the floor. Enjolras took her hand again.
"How can I prove to you that I'm not like that salaud?"
Eponine smiled sadly. "I know you aren't. That's why I can't stay."
"Please," begged Enjolras. "I can't bare the thought of you out on the street or back with your father or-"
"Or?" Eponine knew what he was going to say.
He looked at her grimly. "Or Marius."
Eponine smiled. "I'm a big tough girl," she said, stepping toward him.
"You said that before." he stepped toward her and took her hand.
"Yeah," Eponine threw her arms around Enjolras, tears streaming down her face. He lifted her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down.
"You have to rest, ma belle. Doctor's orders. You've caused a lot of trouble today."
Eponine smiled and yawned.
"My point exactly," chuckled Enjolras. He extinguished the lantern hanging by the bed and started to leave the room, but Eponine caught his hand and held him back.
"Don't leave me," she pleaded, a frightened look in her eyes.
Enjolras sat on the bed and cradled her in his arms. "Never."
Where do you want this story to go? Comment suggestions! I will also add you in as a character if you would like. Thanks to cowg9997 for her help with this chapter! Please review! :):):) If you comment a suggestion and I use it, I will send you a preview of the next chapter! :):):) Don't forget to check out my other story, Diary of a Chorus Girl! :):):)