A single spark (Modern Enjoltaire AU)

4

Grantaire sat down on the floor next to Combeferre. "Whatcha doin'?" He asked and Combeferre shrugged.

"Being a nerd, as you would say. And before you ask," Combeferre lowered his voice so only Grantaire and him could hear, "Enjolras is with Joly getting shot glasses and alcohol. We're playing never have I ever. No idea why," Combeferre mumbled and Grantaire nodded.

"Alright. Whiskey for us and Apple juice for Gavroche," Enjolras said and Grantaire looked up at him.

"Rules are: if you've done the thing the person says take a shot," Enjolras explained and sat down on the ground.

"E-everybody on t-the ground, t-to be f-f-fair," Joly stuttered and everybody who was on a couch groaned as they slid onto the floor.

"Hey, why does Joly talk like that?" Grantaire whispered to Combeferre.

"The stutter? Born with it, I think. But he is always very anxious, too. I'm not quite sure," he replied and Grantaire nodded.

"I-I go first. N-never have I ever. . . Kissed someone," Joly said and everyone took a shot except Grantaire.

"Question. What if we didn't necessarily kiss them? Like, thy kissed us and we were kind of just there?" Grantaire asked and Joly shrugged.

"Decide if you want to get shit faced or stay sober," Bahorel told Grantaire and Grantaire shrugged as he took a shot, wincing.

"Never have I ever gotten dunk before," Enjolras said and everyone, including Gavroche, took a shot.

"How did you get drunk, you're like 11," Grantaire exclaimed and he shrugged.

"I'm thirteen, first off, and I saw a bottle and I was like, that looks good, so I drank it. It was pink moscato, not like, tequila," he explained and Grantaire nodded.

"Never have I ever slept with someone," Courfeyrac said and Grantaire sighed, watching who took a shot and taking notes.

"Whoa, I didn't know you were a virgin!" Gavroche said to Grantaire and Grantaire shrugged.

"I didn't know Combeferre wasn't. Some people like the idea of getting cancer or aids," he stated and Gavroche nodded.

"Fair point."

"Um, d-does," Enjolras whispered something in Joly's ear and Joly nodded.

Enjolras stared into the cup and slowly drank it, sighing sadly. "Never have I ever had a mental illness," Combeferre mumbled and Grantaire took a shot, along with Cosette, Eponine, Joly, and Combeferre, obviously. "Your turn," he told Grantaire and Grantaire sighed.

"Never have I ever harmed myself, such as starving, bingeing and purging, sled mutilation," Grantaire mumbled and watched Cosette, Eponine, and Bossuet take shots.

"Wait, what did you do?" Courfeyrac asked him.

"Cut," Grantaire pulled his sleeve up and showed them the bandage wrapped on his arm.

"Never have I ever beat someone up," Bahorel said and Grantaire took a shot.

"Beaten to the point of unconsciousness?" Grantaire asked and Bahorel snorted.

"If you beat them into unconsciousness take another shot! Jesus, Christ!" He mumbled and Grantaire took another shot, sighing.

"At my old school; he always made fun of my for being gay and having an alcoholic mother. Mom, I did t care so much about but he just kept teasing me and I snapped. Punched him straight in the throat, couple of kicks to the ribs and he was nearly dead," Grantaire said and Joly gulped.

"Well I hope I don't get on your bad side," he remarked and Grantaire furrowed his eyebrows.

"You stopped stuttering," he observed.

"I don't stutter when I'm very scared."

"Oh. Sorry," Grantaire mumbled and Joly smiled.

"It's fine."

***

After five rounds they stopped playing never have I ever and started truth or dare.

"Why are we playing middle school games?" Grantaire slurred.

"It's after midnight and we're all very drunk. Best time to learn secrets," Combeferre mumbled and Grantaire nodded.

"Enjolras! Truth or dare?" Grantaire asked and Enjolras sighed.

"Dare," he said and Grantaire grinned.

"Great. Kiss the best looking person in this room," he ordered and Enjolras scanned the room before jumping on Courfeyrac, roughly slamming their lips together.

He sat back down in his spot, wiping his lips on his hand.

"Grantaire. Truth or dare," Enjolras asked and Grantaire shrugged.

"Truth me," he slurred, rubbing his wrist absentmindedly.

"Who do you think is the best looking person in here?" He asked and Grantaire swallowed thickly.

"Me," he replied and Combeferre laughed.

"You can't say yourself," he told Grantaire and Grantaire sighed.

"Fuck, man. Bahorel?" He said and Bahorel grinned.

"Yes!" He cheered, falling back onto the couch with his fists thrown into the air.

"Cosette! Truth or dare?" Grantaire asked.

"Dare," she said softly and he raised an eyebrow.

"Very well. French kiss Marius," he said and she smiled softly.

"Shit. Grantaire, that is the worst possible thing you could've said!" Combeferre said and he sighed.

"Yeah, I know."

Cosette slowly pulled away from Marius and cleared her throat.

"Bahorel, truth or dare?" She asked.

"I'm feeling very risky, so truth," he said and she pursed her lips together.

"Who is your one true love?" She asked and e pulled his phone out.

"Her name is Tabby. I found her a few months ago, she's really cute," he said and showed everybody a picture of a toy poodle.

***

After a few hours they stopped and laid down on the floor, getting ready for bed. Enjolras sat beside Grantaire, sighing and poking his shoulder.

"Um, do you know where you're going to stay?" Enjolras asked and Grantaire shook his head.

"Probably crash at Courf or Ferre's place, I don't know. Maybe get a hotel or something, why?" Grantaire asked, leaning his head back to look at Enjolras.

"Just curious. I'm sorry about the whole-"

"Dude, it's fine. You know where she was getting the money for alcohol? My fucking college fund! So, yeah. Stop worrying about my problems and go to sleep," Grantaire muttered, rolling into his side and closing his eyes.

Enjolras sighed and leaned back on the couch, covering his face. "Grantaire?" He whispered and Grantaire groaned.

"What?" He snapped.

"Um, i-if you need anything," Enjolras handed him a slip of paper, "it's my number."

"Thanks," Grantaire mumbled, putting the paper in his pocket and closing his eyes again.

Enjolras leaned his head back and squeezed his eyes shut, attempting to sleep.

Finally, as the sun started to rise, he relaxed and drifted off.