LES DÉSCENDANTS

~Chapter 1 - Personne N'est Seul (No One Is Alone)~

Avenir P.O.V.

I hardly dared to breathe as I gazed in horror at the shadowy figure before me, who spoke in a voice barely above a whisper: "Avenir?"

I recognized the voice immediately by the quiet Irish lilt.  "Courfeyrac?"

The shadow knelt and touched my shoulder - three taps.  A. B. C.  Our signal at the barricades, in case we got separated.

Knowing I had to remain perfectly silent due to the looming presence of Marseille police, I buried my face into his shoulder.  "Oh Courf...you're safe...and you're here!"

He was crying softly, unable to speak.  

"You and Gavroche...you made it!  We won, Courf!"

At that, his head shot up.  "We didn't win, Av."

There it was again, I thought wryly - that nickname, Av.

"We sure as bloody lost..." he continued.  "We were in the Café Musain negotiating a peace treaty, the National Guard had just given us all death threats...sent warnings to our residences...Enjolras came back from the future so we were interrupted because of your disappearance.  If we go back, we're wanted.  If we stay here, we're wanted.  Plus, I'm on my own now.  Enjolras ran away."

I was horrified.  "Whatever happened in the past...we'll deal with it later.  You mean to tell me all of you are here?" I groaned.  "Why did Enjolras run away?  We have to go to him."

"I tried to tell him you were here, in Marseille...but he wouldn't listen...the artifact told him you were in Paris, he said it never lied, but then was able to give an example of when it did..."

Oh sweet Lamarque...

"Courfeyrac, the artifact has never lied," I whispered.  "It told me he was going to Paris..."

Courf's eyes widened.  "Then what're ye doin' here?" he said in his accent, which thickened the more he worried.

"I...don't know, I was supposed to find something, I suppose?  It told me I should be going here instead."

Courf froze.  He looked at me carefully.  "And what if it was tellin' you to come here because that's where it told me I'd find you?  What if...you were meant to find me?"

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Courf's POV

Had I really just said that?  Would she be mortified?  I had basically just professed my love to her...what would she say?  What would Enjolras say if he found out?

Her response made my heart beat even faster, but also break.  She didn't understand...

"I just...wish my brother were here to guide me," she said, looking directly into my eyes...simply, as a friend.  She was thinking of more important things than me, and I felt ashamed for having tried...we were all mourning our losses in different ways.  My coping mechanism was forgetting.  However, this was the time for remembering, not forgetting.  This was no time for pining.  Instead, I put my arm around her, and I sang softly:

"Jehan cannot guide you...
Now you're on your own.
Only me beside you...
Still, you're not alone!
No one is alone. Truly,
No one is alone..."

"I wish...!" she spoke, still quiet so the soldiers wouldn't hear...but the pain was still there.

"I know," I replied, my heart breaking. 

(enter Enjolras's POV...in italics.  Grantaire's lyrics are in bold, alternating with Courf's lyrics. )

(Enjolras POV) I walked alone toward Paris, the burdens of the world upon me.  My friends?  Dead, or behind me, and I was walking away.  My love?  Lost to me.  The one I never got to fully understand?  Lost to me forever, in death...