Mon Étoile

Chapter Six

Darkness veiled two figures moving through the palace corridors late into the night. At least, I hope it is. Léo had given me a black cloak to hide myself in so I wouldn't be as noticeable. We picked our way through the castle before he suddenly opened a large door and carefully shut it again when we had gotten through. Lowering my hood, I spotted the form of Hercule. I gasped, almost inaudibly but not quite. I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around him.

"Nico," he said, holding me tighter than I had expected. Pulling away, he stared at my face with happy tears in his eyes. Tears streamed from my eyes as he cupped my cheeks and wiped away my tears.

"Hercule," I said softly. His forehead pressed to mine and I closed my eyes, just glad to be here with him. "Are you okay?"

"I've been better," he admitted. "You?"

"Well now that I've gotten to see you, I'm perfect," I said, smiling happily. Turning his head slightly, Hercule pressed his lips to mine. I smiled into the kiss and for the brief moment his lips were on mine I forgot that anything bad had happened today or yesterday. Pulling away, I buried my head in his chest and listened to his heartbeat as he played with my hair.

After a few minutes had passed, Léo said regretfully, "We need to go back." I sighed but managed to pull myself from Hercule and began to get to my feet. Before I could walk away from him, he grabbed my hand and kissed me once more.

"Don't forget Nico," he said, pulling away, "I love you, always."

"I love you too," I said, kissing his cheek. Our hands were still intertwined, but I began to back up from him until our fingers lost contact and he was gone. Léo and I got to the door and I looked back. With a sigh, I followed after Léo. Tears filled my eyes as I got farther and farther from him, but I swallowed back my tears and went on.

Once we were back in Léo's room,  he asked, "Are you all right?"

"Fine," I said, giving him a half-smile. Sitting down, I asked, "So, where did we leave off?"

"Five years ago, you telling off Combeferre," Léo supplied.

"Ah, yes."

Five Years Ago

As I came more and more out of my shell, more and more people seemed to enjoy being around me. As my fear and general anxiety lessened, my passion grew. I did everything I could to get ready for the revolution. I was always the last one still working besides possibly Hercule. It was one of these times that we were the only two left, when he asked, "Nicolette, are you sure you want to fight in this revolution? You could get hurt."

"And you can't?" I countered. Hercule sighed, refusing to answer. "Oh," I said suddenly, heading over to my bag. "I forgot. I have your book. I just finished it."

"How'd you like it?" he asked.

"It's good," I admitted. "Although...it seemed to me like the author was holding back. Almost like he wasn't allowing himself to feel."

"Oh?" Hercule asked, his brows furrowed. "And what makes you think that?"

"Instincts," I said. "It was a good book though. Who wrote it?"

"I did," he admitted.

"What?" I said quickly, my eyes widening. "Oh, I didn't know you were an author."

Present Day

"Wait, what book was it?" Léo asked.

"I'm not telling you," I countered. "Now stop interrupting." Léo sighed but agreed and allowed me to proceed. "For the year after that two main things were happening. The first was that the financial situation of everyone around us was getting worse and worse. Hercule and I tried to help, but there was only so much we could do. Then Marius joined our number. We had some issues with him. He's a Bonapartists. But we let him hang out."

Four Years Ago

"No Marius," I said, irritated as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "We aren't taking down the monarchy just to go back to the way Napoleon ruled."

Marius opened his mouth to retort, but Hercule interrupted, "Ponmercy, Nico, behave yourselves." I rolled my eyes but complied. After the meeting, Enjolras and I were the only ones left.

Irritably, I snapped, "I can't believe him. Has he no idea of the political corruption in France with Bonapart? Not to mention the inefficiency and I won't even speak about the state of our finances. And just to think-"

Laying his hands on my shoulders, Hercule said with an amused smile, "Breathe, Nico." I sighed, closing my eyes as I calmed my red-hot irritation. His touch seemed to bring down my stress, calming me. "And to think, just three years ago you were a quiet, frightened little girl."

Giving him a small glare, I sassed, "What? Prefer that quiet girl?" My lips curled in an affectionate smile.

Pretending to think it over, he teased, "My meetings were much calmer with the quiet little girl." I rolled my eyes, smacking his arm. Letting out a small laugh, he said, "But then again, meetings are far more interesting now."

"That so?" I said with a smirk, fixing my dazzling blue eyes in his direction.

Growing serious, Hercule admitted, "You changed my life, Nicolette."

"Happy to have been of service," I replied. "To think that three years ago you were nothing more than a prissy rich boy."

"I wasn't that bad," he defended.

Letting out a laugh, I countered, "Yeah, sure, Hercule Raphaël Louis Hugo Jean Enjolras. Mr. My-Daddy-Gives-Me-Everything-and-Lets-Me-Do-Anything."

"Hey, I changed," he defended. I laughed. Becoming more drawn, he began fiddling nervously with his fingers and refused to meet my gaze.

Brow furrowed, I asked, "Hercule, what's wrong?"

"Uh," he said before letting out a small, humorless chuckle. "Sorry, I've never been good at this. Um, Nicolette..."

"Yes?" I said, confused.

Taking a deep breath, he said finally, "I love you, Nico."

"What?" I said, shocked.

Still refusing to meet my gaze, he said, "I-I love you." My shock froze my lips in place. When I said nothing, he ran his hand through his curly hair, causing it to ruffle as he said quickly, "Never mind, I shouldn't have said anything."

"Wait," I interrupted, cutting him off. He looked at me. "I think I love you too."

"You think you do?" he repeated, seeming neither offended nor warmed by the word choice.

Chuckling, I admitted, "Well, I never really thought about it before, but..." I broke off, thinking over the years we had spent together. Hours spent in the library studying. Days spent planning revolutions. A hand brushing over mine as I handed over papers or books we were looking through. The smile I reserved just for him. My cheeks were dusted with pink as I tucked my hair behind my ear.

Shifting my weight nervously, I asked, "But...why me? I'm just some girl from the streets."

"No," he countered. "You were never just a girl from the streets. You are strong and brave."

"Hercule, before I met you I wouldn't even think of speaking up for myself," I laughed.

"Maybe," he agreed, "but life can't make you what you're not. It can only show who you are."

With a sigh, I jumped up on one of the tables and asked, "So, where does this leave us?"

"Nico, do you want to be with me?"

A smile sprang forth from my lips and I replied, "Yes." He stepped towards me and before I could process what was happening, he was right in front of me.

Present Day

"Okay, okay, okay," Léo interrupted. "I don't need to hear about whatever you two did that night."

Frowning, I said, "We didn't do anything. He kissed my cheek and that was it."

"Okay, but the revolution. That's why we're here. I didn't ask for your romance. I asked for the revolution story."

"Boring," I joked, grinning.