A Franc or Two - Les Misérables [IN EDITING]

Dinner [Part I] - Chapter 16

When you got into Le Café, you soon saw Matelote tending to the tables. Perhaps something had happened between her and Remillard, or maybe she felt bad for making you do her job for so long... But nonetheless, you still felt a little guilty that you were unable to go with Jehan to dinner.

But that didn't change anything.

As you scanned your surroundings, eyes on the flickering torchlight and drunken, grinning men, you weren't surprised to see Grantaire in there.

The first thing you noticed was that he had a still-full bottle of brandy next to him— it was entirely untouched. His head was turned down to the world as he sketched inside of the leather-bound book, working diligently as he didn't do so much as glance up...

That was, until Gavroche said something.

"Grantaire!" he smiled, making his way over to the man.

Unlike last time, he didn't feel compelled to clap his book shut— but it probably had something to do with the still-wet ink that would more than likely smear if he did so.

"Hello, Gavroche," he smiled, supposedly snapped back into reality. "What're you doing here?"

"Wow, thanks Grantaire," you chuckled. His head snapped into your direction as he flashed you a smile, and you noticed that he leaned over his book a little. "It's good to see you, too."

"Not as good as it is for me to see you. I thought you were dead or something," he said, watching you with a smile. "Where have you been? I've been hoping to see you around."

"She had frostbite," Gavroche chimed in, smiling as if he was pleased with himself. "Courfeyrac was taking care of her."

Something made you profusely wish that Gavroche hadn't mentioned that.

Grantaire cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh?" he said. "Courfeyrac was with her, was he?"

"Yeah," Gavroche said, dragging a chair over to sit on. He didn't want to take the one you were supposed to take. "Left me with Eponine."

Grantaire gave you a look.

"Can I talk with you for a second?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in the slightest. He stood up before you got the chance to take a seat, and he flashed Gavroche a smile before moving out from behind the table.

"We'll be right back, Gavroche," he said.

Without another word, Grantaire took your hand and led you outside, his eyebrows furrowed a little as he did so.

"Has Courfeyrac really been with you?" Grantaire asked, lowering his voice as he glanced around a little. He wanted to feel sure that no one was listening in. He didn't seem to mind the cold as much as you did.

"Yeah, why?" you asked.

Grantaire frowned a little.

"Well... that's okay— I just wanted to hear it from you, I suppose," he said. He forced a smile and gave a slight nod, then moving to open the door for you again. "Come back inside. You're going to get frostbite again."

Of course, that joke was accompanied by a bit of a wink— and you had to resist the urge to furrow your eyebrows.

He seemed to be taking that a little too well.

"Gavroche! What're you..." Grantaire began, but he was quick to make his way over before he could finish his own sentence.

Gavroche was sitting on a stool, his legs dangling as he rested Grantaire's book on his lap.

You noticed, however, that it wasn't exactly a novel...