LES DÉSCENDANTS

~Chapter 5: Aurumite~

There was a knock on Grantaire's door and a cheery voice called, "Ayyy, I brought someone!"

Courf.

I quickly wiped my face and replaced my hat on my head, scurrying up to grab the door.  Grantaire had a paintbrush in place of a bolt on his door - a contraption of a lock that had clearly been broken and not fixed.  I moved the flimsy paintbrush horizontally and the door swung open to reveal Courfeyrac and Gavroche, looking pleased as punch.

"I told him," Courf and I said at the same time.  Each of us froze.  

Then we spoke again, simultaneously: "YOU TOLD HIM?!"

Then, at the same time, "Yeah?  You told HIM?"

I gaped at Courf, and he gaped at me.  "Come on, let's talk about this," he said to me.  "Gav, you're house-sitting for awhile.  Go paint R a picture or something.  You know where to meet me."  Courf winked.

Gavroche gave a mischievous grin and bounded inside the apartment.  "Make sure to lock the door!" called Courf, ever the father.

"With a paintbrush?" I muttered, and Courf cackled.  "So where are we going?" I asked.

"I think we should talk to Lamarque," said Courf.

I stopped and grabbed his shoulders.  "You're a GENIUS, Courfeyrac!  We just have to stay out of sight from...us."

"Yep, we just have to be prepared with a backstory, should we run into anyone."

We made our way to the Bastille hospital.  "Let's hurry, Courf, I don't want to run into my past self following Javert to the Bastille..."

The workers at the hospital recognized Courfeyrac, and led us in immediately.  Just as before, Lamarque was sleeping.  Marius Pontmercy was already sitting in one of two chairs in the room.

Oh, boy.

"Hey," he whispered, eyeing me with caution, and for good reason.  The first time I had seen Lamarque was also with Pontmercy, and Lamarque had seen us separately.  That was when I found out Lamarque shared my powers, and Marius found out my abilities.  Ever since I accidentally brought Marius to his past - so he'd trust me - he was always wary of me.  He didn't have an easy past, and I had only made things worse.

"Hi," I replied, quietly.  "How've you been?"

"Ok," he said, unable to meet my eye.  Courf sat quietly down in the chair at the other end of the small room, while I crossed to meet Marius and put a soft hand on his shoulder.

"Are you sure?"

"Frankly, no.  Not really."  He leaned in closer, to whisper so Courf wouldn't hear.  "I've been feeling...displaced from Les Amis.  Courf has been busy with Gav, and you've been busy with Enjolras...and you're so new. I was never able to get in this quickly..."

He was jealous.

"Marius, you know I knew Enjolras since he was little!  I had no idea...but I'm concerned you're overworking yourself, and for what?  To try to impress?  You are beyond impressive, Mar, staying here with Lamarque."

Marius yawned against his will, then blushed.

"You're exhausted, Marius.  Go back to our apartment, please," spoke up Courf.  "Get some rest.  Please."

I patted his shoulder and nodded.  "We are so proud of you," I whispered.

He left.  

I spun on Courfeyrac.  "Your past self better not be chilling out in your apartment today!" I hissed.  "Otherwise, Pontmercy might go even madder..."