A Franc or Two - Les Misérables [IN EDITING]

Taste - Chapter 25

By the time you had gone over, you immediately noticed a difference in the atmosphere around you. Many of the prostitutes were huddled together, whispering as they looked in your direction— but instead of not even trying to hide it, they all made it painfully obvious.

Some of them even approached you.

"Well, aren't you popular," Teresé— a heavily-freckled lady with abnormally large breasts— cackled in a taunting tone, her yellowing teeth parting into a grin. "You keep all the handsome ones for yourself."

"Oh, shut up Teresé," another whore, who had a strange smell emitting from her— said, looking you up and down before turning over to Enjolras. "He's got standards, since he's going with experienced one. After all..."

She was hinting at something, but you didn't get what.

Teresé didn't hesitate to say what she had been thinking about.

"How'd Timeo taste?"

You felt your face heat up, but as per usual, you knew you had to ignore them. It was a little difficult since they wouldn't let you through— you tried walking forward, but the neither of them budged— and you only felt it proper to apologize to Enjolras for the behavior.

"I'm really sorry," you whispered over to him, still trying to find the quickest route out of there. "They're not normally like this."

"We're not like what?" Teresé gasped, feigning offense. "Like you? Trying to sink our claws into every man who looks our way?"

"Yeah," the other one said, her eyes flicking over to Enjolras again. "A handsome man should have standards..."

"I do have standards, actually," Enjolras spoke up. You glanced over to see him looking as if he was ready to fight— and, had it not been an annoying lot of women, he certainly would have. He decided to do a verbal attack instead. "...and, thanks to those standards, I know for certain that I won't be spending the night with either of you two ladies. Thank you."

Without warning, he placed a hand on the small of your back and led you forward. Did he know where he was going? Of course not... but he just wanted to get you (and himself) out of there.

"Now, Mademoiselle," he said. "Where is your—"

"And she's running around with yet another man!" another voice rang out. You immediately recognized it as Timeo.

"Shit," you muttered.

Enjolras tensed up— and, as he noticed how un-entertained you were, he turned over to you.

"You know him?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in the slightest.

"Yeah," you muttered. "He's my employer... Why? Do you?"

"That man's an asshole," he whispered, his eyes still locked on him while he hurried into your direction. "He was my childhood bully— and... technically my uncle."

Timeo had stumbled over before you had the chance to respond.

"What have we got here?" he asked, giving you a look-over before turning to Enjolras. His eyes narrowed a little. "Ah... you're still a part of the family, I see?"