Thanks, Javert || Adopted by the Barricade || A Les Mis Fanfic

Chapter 3: In Which a Visitor Arrives

When I woke up, I could hear people bustling around downstairs. I crept down the stairs and peered over the banister, just like last night. After a minute, Marius noticed me. He turned to whoever was standing beside him, Combeferre, maybe?, and said,

"Get Enjolras." Marius turned his attention back to me and smiled. "Good morning, Elaine. You want to come down here and we can talk?" I walked over as Marius sat down in a chair. I sat across from him as Enjolras came in, his blond hair strewn across his face, covering his eyes. He brushed it back and grinned.

"Hey! Sleep well?" I nodded, as he sat down in between Marius and I at the circular table. "Alright, so how old are you?"

"10." Enjolras raised his eyebrows and looked at Marius, who looked equally shocked.

"Jeez, what were you doing out on your own that late? Care to tell me what happened?" Enjolras asked. I explained what had happened, from my dad never being around to him coming home last night and speaking of the barricade to him slapping me and drawing his baton. I didn't look up until I was finished. Enjolras and Marius looked shocked.

"Well, kiddo, if you want to stay here, you can. You won't ever have to worry about that man again," Marius said.

"Thank you," I said shortly.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. I spent time helping the others prepare. I got to know most of the guys, who were all very nice and funny. In the afternoon, I heard Feuilly shout,

"Visitor!" Enjolras took one look at me and muttered a curse under his breath.

"Grantaire! Take her inside!" Grantaire appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my arm, pulling me inside the cafe. He shut the blinds and we sat with our backs to the bar.

"Grant?" I whispered. He looked at me, his curly brown hair flopping over his head. "What's going on?" He shifted so he could face me.

"There's someone approaching the barricade. Enjolras just wanted to make sure you were safe if it's someone hostile. Don't worry, someone will come and get us once it's safe." My mouth gaped open.

"You don't have to look after me! I'm fine!" Grantaire shushed me.

"It's just a precaution. We're officially revolutionaries which means the government doesn't like us that much. If someone's out there with dangerous intentions, it's safer to hide in here."

I let it go for now, but I was planning on talking to Enjolras later about his 'precautions.' We sat in silence, leaning back against the bar. I wondered if we were going to be here all day. I leaned on Grantaire's shoulder and I felt him tense up, but then relax almost immediately. Eventually, the door opened and I went to stand up, but Grantaire put his hand on my arm and I sat down.

"We don't know who it is," he whispered. I nodded, and waited.

"All clear!" Joly exclaimed with a grin. I swear, that man was always smiling. We stood up from behind the bar and walked outside.

"Who was it?" Grantaire asked.

"Some man who used to fight with the French Army. He said he was willing to help us and he would get some inside knowledge," Joly explained as we went outside. Grantaire smiled and nodded.

"Nice!"

However, I wasn't sure if I shared Grantaire's enthusiasm. It seemed a little sketchy. On the contrary, all of the other boys outside seemed satisfied, so I was going to roll with it.

Enjolras seemed busy, so I figured we could save the discussion for later. When that time came, I tapped him on the arm and asked to talk. We sat down at a table in the empty upper floor of the cafe.

"So. What's up?" he asked.

"I just...I don't know. You don't need to protect me and waste people on watching me. I don't want to mess everything up," I said, quietly, looking down.

"Oh, Elaine," Enjolras said, sadly. "You're not messing anything up. We all like having you around. I just want to make sure you're still going to be around when this is all over," he finished with a grin and a wink. "But seriously, though, I'll think about what you said. However, if you're going to be out there and me, or Marius, or Courfeyrac, or someone gives you an order, you have to listen." he said, standing up and ruffling my hair.

"Thanks. I understand."

AN:

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoh I wonder who the visitor is?

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ImTurtled