LES DÉSCENDANTS

~Chapter 15: Non Écrit (Unwritten)~

A/N: This music video is SO CUTE and perfect aesthetic,  I had to include!  Avenir aged about fifteen or twenty years or so appears at the end, timestamp 3:20 :)  This song is the reason I got past my writer's block, especially the line "reaching for something in the distance" because that reminds me of the part in the first book:

I reached out into the night with my hand once he was long gone. Reaching for what? I was not sure. For Javert? Enjolras? Anyone? I was overcome with a sense of loneliness. I was slowly beginning to realize that I was all alone here, without Enjolras to look after.

And then...

Enjolras frowned, and leaned forward. It was a student around his age. Nothing seemed to rouse this figure, reaching out into the fog.

I'll be quiet now and let Av take it from here...but check out the comment after the last paragraph for more analyzing! :)

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Avenir POV:

What I expected once we went to find Victor Hugo: a hello to an old friend, a quick chat, and then a rewriting of the ending, where Hugo would know exactly what to write and how to write it...without us all dying this time.

What I did not expect: hearing from Courfeyrac about an almost betrayal from Metias Soult, then finding ourselves speaking to an author with extreme writer's block, who was currently in exile.

Let's zoom in first to the part when I consoled Courfeyrac, along with Enjolras, who was visibly shaken, once we had rescued Courfeyrac.  We had found him trembling on the sidewalk, speaking of betrayals by Metias Soult, and how he was close to turning to the wrong side...

Meanwhile, Enjolras was beside himself over how he had caused so much heartache to Courf: "Courfeyrac, you know we tried to reach out to have peaceful discussion, and I will never be able to forgive myself if you feel like your voice wasn't being heard.  I trust your opinion greatly."

"Oh Courf," I said, hugging him.  "We're going to get through this.  We're going to find a way.  You're the best hugger in this room."

At that, Enjolras scowled.  "You're not helping with such a comment, Avenir."

"It's fine, E, I know to stay well away from Soult now," sobbed Courf.  "I just want you to be happy, Avenir, I -"

"I know," I said, squeezing him tight.  "We're going to find a way to get through this, and it's going to be ok.  I always have time for you, and I never manipulated Enjolras - Soult was lying to you, and you saw through it."

"I know, you would never, it was just...he knew my sore spots, my scars, and he knew I would listen if he prodded them..." Courf was sad.

"Listen, we've got to go," spoke up R, looking nervously at the time.  "Victor Hugo?  Remember?  We've got to change the story."

"R, is now really the time -"

"Yes," spoke Jehan weakly from the couch and I leapt up, momentarily having forgotten he was there.

"Brother, shush..."

He was crying again.  "You must be brave and go, Avenir..."

"Brother, how did Soult know so much about me?  My journey so far?  I could be being tracked...and how did he get access to the artifact?"

"You know you would want to try and save your ancestor, if given the chance - to turn him to the light.  You must not stop yourself from going to try and save him, because then Courfeyrac would not have had this revelation.  You see, Avenir?  It's the very same butterfly effect.  If I had not seen the future, then you wouldn't have known to go and talk to Victor Hugo.  Just as if you hadn't tried to save Soult - Courfeyrac might have been in trouble, and your future self wouldn't have been there to save him."  He paused, thinking of the future he had just seen.  "I just...wish the suffering could go away."