beauty and a barricade || enjonine

1: the first letter

this is now her seventh time in cafe musain. she always came in when marius did— which meant late— and left when he did— which was still late. she was always where marius was. she never joined in on the discussions. she only focused on marius— not the matters that were far more significant in their meeting. it only slightly peeved enjolras, considering he never noticed her unless she was arriving or leaving, but it felt as though she was slowing their progress: how very important progress was.

suddenly, a hand was waving in front of the leader's eyes. "enjolras? have you listened to a word i've said?"

enjolras shifted his attention from the girl and spun around to face combeferre, his closest friend. "i'm sorry?"

"i asked if you had been list— wait a moment. are you looking at that girl over there?"

"girl?" he raised an eyebrow, hoping he could escape such accusations. "what girl? no girl attends our meetings—other than musichetta, but she does not count."

combeferre rolled his eyes. "what a fantastic lie that was. i was asking if you were looking at the girl beside of marius. which, be honest, you were."

enjolras shrugged. "i was observing. there is a difference. it just seems peculiar that she attend every one of our meetings, yet all she does is stand around pontmercy."

"ah. and why, exactly, is that so strange?"

"because most everyone who attends comes to talk of the rebellion," he growled. "or drink themselves to sleep." the two amis both glanced into the corner at grantaire, who had passed out earlier.

"and so you loath that she does not discuss anything about your cause?"

"yes!" he glanced at the red flag propped up in the corner.

"well, perhaps she is interested. go and ask pontmercy."

"please, pontmercy is the last person i want to speak to regarding the rebellion, or for that better, all things, combeferre."

combeferre was growing noticeably dissatisfied with this conversation.

"he does not know a thing about it! he only shows up to show up! such a filthy bonapartist!" enjolras cursed.

"he still wants to see a change in france. he is still fighting for the cause." combeferre removed his glasses, wiping the lenses on the hem of his waistcoat.

"hmph."

"if you do not like that girl coming in cafe musain to join the meetings which you are so obsessed with, then go tell her to leave. or at least go ask her why she attends." his tone conveyed boredom. "oh, right, you are terrified of women. you could not approach her," he added sardonically.

enjolras rolled his eyes, searching through a stack of papers. "please, that is the most false accusation i have heard. do not forget i am a law student."

"well, it is true."

"and also, if was afraid of women, then why would i be fighting for them?"

"you are losing me, enjolras."

"i'll write her a letter, if that is what will make you happy. but i am not talking to her." he opened his desk drawer and searched for a piece of paper.

combeferre gave his best friend a curt nod. "oui. good idea."

the blonde boy in the rebellious red coat began to jot down a few words for the letter he would give her.

"what is this girl's name?"

"i have never heard. marius has never introduced her. joly calls her 'the shadow.' courfeyrac bestowed upon her the kind nickname of 'rejected pretty girl.' but you are prohibited from using those, especially the latter!" combeferre maintained a stern countenance. "i suppose that grantaire likes to call her 'rainy girl.'"

"none of those are formal enough. not even a last name?"

he shook his head. "no."

enjolras shrugged.

Dear Fellow Citizen of Paris,

My name is Enjolras. I am the leader of the rebellion to transpire in a number of months, as well the one who leads these meetings.

I would have to ask that if you are interesting in attending, that you must participate. It seems as though you are slowing our progress and causing distractions for M. Pontmercy.

Is there something about Les Amis that seems to fascinate you? If so, don't hesitate to inform me, for it would be a great pleasure to formally welcome you into our meetings.

he was going to end the letter there, but found something else bothering him that he insisted on adding.

Also, do you only attend for Marius? Because if you do, you should stop now. I can assure you, Mademoiselle, that he is not interesting enough for you to be his shadow. Even Grantaire (the intoxicated Monsieur in the corner) has more brain than Marius. I'm only informing you.

However, if Marius is not the reason you're attending, I stand corrected and I like you already.

If you do wish to join the cause, please state your name and your political view. Oh, and any medical illness— Joly wants to know, not me.

Best wishes,

Enjolras

by this time, grantaire had stirred and stumbled over to the leader drowsily. he smelled foully of liquor when he took his place next to enjolras.

"what'd i miss?" he mumbled.

enjolras snorted. "the entire meeting."

"oh, i'm sorry—"

"no, you're not, and i know that. you hate these meetings. you do not really regret missing it."

"i am so relieved you know," grantaire responded sarcastically. his eyes suddenly illuminated. "what is that in your hands? a letter?" he scoffed. "why would you be writing anything? the government stopped accepting your letters of change and symbolism years ago."

"i'm not writing to the government again," groaned enjolras. "it's for that mademoiselle over there."

grantaire almost fell right over. he caught hold of a chair, preventing his tumble. "you're writing to a girl? how much more could you possibly try the world, enjolras?"

"save it. just deliver my letter, and after her response, it's not going to happen again."

"you're a grown man. deliver the bloody letter yourself!"

enjolras folded his arms over his red coat. "the reason i wrote this letter was to avoid interacting with her in the first place."

grantaire groaned, snatching the letter from his fingertips.

"merci."

-

Woo, canon fic!

I Hope you're liking so far!! :D

-anna