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

chapter 23

Chapter 23

~Opera House~

Enjolras forcefully crossed out his last sentence and sighed out of exasperation. This was his fifth draft of this week's essay.

"What's that?" Evelyn said as she slid a clear plate in front of him. He hadn't even noticed that she was setting the table.

"Nothing," Enjolras dismissed it, running a hand through his hair.

"I've never seen anyone so frustrated over nothing." He moved his hand to shove the sheets of paper and pen underneath the chair. But Evelyn intercepted him. Enjolras groaned, not wanting anyone to see his currently pitiful writing.

Evelyn pulled out a chair and sat in it, resting her head on her hand as she read. Enjolras twirled the pen in his hand.

Without a word Evelyn plucked the pen out and started writing on the paper. Enjolras just arched an eyebrow.

Evelyn quickly scanned the page for an idea of what he was writing about in the first place (the effect of the earlier generation's traditional fairy tales on the current generation's beliefs. He must really be running out of things to write... Evelyn thought), then went back over to thoroughly edit.

Enjolras watched as she rewrote a word here, changed a sentence around there, all while incessantly tapping her other fingers on the table.

"Do you always sound so condescending?" Evelyn questioned, not looking up from the page. Enjolras reached across the table and tore the paper out from under her. He looked at the revisions, only slightly surprised that they actually helped.

"Does it actually sound condescending?" Enjolras murmured, a little embarrassed.

Evelyn felt a little sorry for him, so she tried to cover her tracks, "It's not that bad. And no, it's not on all your papers, either." Enjolras just nodded slightly and took out his pocket watch. Evelyn stood up and walked to the stove.

"6:30," he said, tucking the timepiece back in his vest pocket. "We have an hour," he stated, matter of factly.

"Wonderful. Let's see... Rene and Caroline should be back around then, so I'll just leave a note reminding them to keep the door locked while we're gone," Evelyn paced nervously around the kitchen. "And that they can heat up the soup for dinner and there's bread on the counter, do you think that's fine? I think that's fine," she rambled, rattling off each thought as it came to mind. "I don't know maybe I should tell them where the gun is..."

"That's not necessary," Enjolras interrupted. He turned in his chair to face her. "There's no doubt in my mind that they are totally and completely safe. We're not even gone overnight." Evelyn ladled the soup into both their bowls. Enjolras didn't realize how hungry he was until the aromas filled his senses.

"You're right," she groaned. Evelyn sunk into her chair and put her hands on her face and dragged them down, leaving a particularly unattractive expression on her face.

A smile cracked on Enjolras's face and he laughed a little. Evelyn giggled along with him.

...

"So you're going tonight?" Musi asked Joly, holding the lapels of his jacket.

"Yes, cherie," Joly said sweetly, gazing lovingly into his fiancee's eyes. "I'll be right up in the box with Enjolras and Evelyn." He kissed her on the lips and helped her into the carriage, which was taking her to the 6:45 call time.

"Don't forget! You're there to speed things along! You've already seen this thing four times!" Musi shouted from the window. Joly just smiled and waved, distracted already by his plotting.