I come to fight. Or at least, to listen.

chapter 16

Part 2

Paris

Chapter 16

~Two~

Enjolras held her for a while. Evelyn felt his chest vibrate as he spoke words of comfort to her, gently toying with the ends of her hair.

Eventually, her breathing evened out and Enjolras almost didn't want to let her go.

She pulled back, but Enjolras caught her hands. He was shocked at his own impulsive actions. You're getting distracted, Enjolras. You don't know what you're doing. Stop it, a voice nagged at the back of his mind.

She gave a weak smile and laced her fingers in between his."We should start packing," Evelyn said in a whisper.

"Are you sure? We can come another time,"

"No," She took a deep breath, "I want to get it over with." She stepped towards a thin mattress in the corner surrounded by books. Enjolras assumed this was hers. As Evelyn gathered some books, Enjolras looked around the place.

The paint was peeling off in huge chunks, and the chair was the only furniture item. A single, thread-bare blanket covered each soft palette. Enjolras made a face at the realization that Evelyn had to live like this.

"I don't think I can take all of them..." Evelyn said, weakly laughing at her original thought of taking them all. She started sorting through the pile, choosing one out of every few. Enjolras joined her, reading off the title and getting either a "yes" or "no" from her. The collection that she had amassed was rather impressive, stacks of five or six lining the entire wall.

"How did you get these?" Enjolras asked.

"I worked at a book store before. Instead of getting paid I would take a book, sometimes. I didn't realize how immensely stupid it was until I didn't have anything to eat for two days," she answered with a small laugh.

As horrified Enjolras was by the idea of her practically starving, he couldn't help but admire the sheer determination she had for access to knowledge. As he read more and more of the books, he realized that a good percentage of them were medically oriented. It started to piece together the miracle of her saving him.

She rose, balancing about twenty books in her arms. "Can you get that?" Evelyn gestured with her shoulder to a beat-up portmanteau partially hidden underneath the chair.

Enjolras brought it to her and held it open. Evelyn dumped all her books in it and closed it.

"That's it?" Enjolras asked carefully.

"Yes, why the hell would I want to remember this place?" Evelyn turned, the familiar lopsided smile back on her face. She took the portmanteau from his hands, letting it fall to her side.

"Then, shall we?" Enjolras proposed, a small smile creeping onto his lips.

Evelyn re-adjusted her posture and held the portmanteau in both hands front of her. Enjolras grabbed the other two and they walked just past the doorframe when Evelyn proclaimed, "wait!" and dropped her suitcase.

She ran inside the room and grabbed the two blankets. She walked up to a woman sitting in the alleyway with a baby and a young child and handed them the blankets with a warm smile. She told them they could stay in the apartment until the rent was up, and there were books to sell inside, should they have to. The woman sprang up and hugged Evelyn, who hugged just as hard back.

Enjolras watched the act of generosity with pride. She's special, alright, he thought. Evelyn walked back to Enjolras and picked up her suitcase. "Let's go," she said, smiling. Enjolras grinned back. Evelyn liked this side of him.