A/N: This is co-written between Anna Maxwell and I. Keep in mind we haven't written together, so if it gets overly angsty, that's why. It's our specialty that we've been deprived of for far too long. Also, neither of has actually seen the play or read the book in a whole… :looks ashamed: We have both seen the 10th anniversary DVD if that counts for anything. Oh, and this is AU a bit, being as we changed things we knew had happened. Onward!
A/N2: Anna-chan is going to be out of town until Saturday, so that's the earliest that we'll get back to this story, so just be warned. My usual quick updating (which hasn't been so quick lately... sorry ya'll!) is on the whim of both Anna and I this time, instead of just me.
Part One
The sounds of gunfire sounded all around him and Enjolras yelled out an order for this and that to happen. The men - more boys really - were rushing about. It was a fight for their lives, but more so for the freedom of those not born into privilege.
"The flag's fallen!" someone called out and their leader's eyes turned upward toward the flag that was, indeed, fallen amongst the barricade.
Enjolras cut away from the friends surrounding him and ran towards the flag. The flag could not fall. He would not allow it to fall. It was their symbol of freedom, of opportunity, of hope...as long as the young men fighting could see it they could take courage from it. As long as those they were fighting against could see it, they would know that their revolution was not failing, was not quitting. He lowered his gun as he reached the flag and grasped the pole it was strung to in both hands, pulling it upwards, trying to make it fly once more. The first shot barely nicked his arm and he continued to pull upward on the flag, bringing it to stand straight once more. He heard Marius shout from below, urging the men on. Then he saw the girl. What was her name? Eponine, wasn't it? She'd followed Marius here, knowing that he loved another. What a fool, Enjolras though with spite. What a fool to come here for love. But what do you come here for? his own mind teased him. Love for Patria. Love for country. Love for freedom and to dash away what he'd seen. The second shot came whizzing past him and the third struck. His beautiful blue eyes widened and met those of the man from whose gun the bullet had flown. His fingers left the flag's pole and he felt himself falling backward onto the crudely made barricade.
Marius froze as one particular gunshot sounded louder in his mind than the others whizzing around him. He half turned from his own last shot and felt his breath catch in his throat. "Enjolras!" he screamed above the echoes of battle. He ran desperately towards his friend who had collapsed on the barricade, half covered by the flag he had tried to raise. "Enjolras!" he cried again.
The blond man lay draped across the tables and chairs and everything else used to make the barricade. He was still, far too still. Marius climbed to the place where his friend lay awkwardly. "Enjolras?" he whispered, reaching out a tentative hand, fearful that he would find no pulse, no breath left in the passionate man. His fingers brushed against the warm, sweaty skin and Marius bent closer to him, pushing part of the flag away. He breathed out softly when he felt the steady beat against his fingertips. He grabbed Enjolras shoulder and shook him gently. "Enjolras, look at me. Wake up! You cannot stay here, my friend." he said. He knew if they didn't move -and quickly- the next barrage of gunfire from the other side would finish them both.
Two blue eyes opened very slowly and the leader of the student group shivered slightly. His breath came in quicker gasps as his eyes met Marius'. His hand groped outward, reaching for something, and his friend watched him take hold of the flag and struggle to sit up. "We will not..." he struggled, ignoring Marius' protests. "We will not... fail here. We have... to fight for the people. We will not loose."
Marius grasped his arm and helped him to sit. "I know. We are still fighting. We will win, Enjolras, we will." he promised, confidence shining in his eyes. "But you must be all right. We cannot stay here."
"And where would you have me go?" Enjolras demanded, voice strained. "Away from the battle?"
"You cannot lead if you die." Marius said sharply. "I do not mean to take you away from your fight, but I think it would be wise not to sit on the barricade, especially since you are wounded."
"Who says I am to be sitting?" he asked as he struggled to his feet, reaching for his discarded weapon. "I had planned on fighting."
"You..." Marius trailed off. He simply shook his head and helped his friend to stand. "Be careful. And if you're going to stand, make yourself useful and help me get this flag up."
A small grin spread across Enjolras' bloodied lips as the two of them put the flag back in place.
"Freeze where you are!" a voice yelled at them.
"Damn. This gets better and better." Marius murmured. He and Enjolras turned slowly, and Marius moved to stand as closely as he could to the other man. If he remembered right, Enjolras should still have a pistol in the back of his belt.
"You won't win," the French soldier said. "You know that don't you? Drop that gun, boy!"
Enjolras' eyes narrowed. "Vive la Republique!" he yelled. "We won't stand down! If we die, we die for our country!" He vaguely noticed Marius reaching for the pistol in belt. It was good thinking, if he was quick enough. The soldier, who was now standing directly in front of them, brought the butt of the gun against the revolutionary high cheekbone, sending him flying away from Marius and down the barricade.
Marius had just gotten his fingers around the gun, and he pulled it towards him as Enjolras fell. He quickly aimed and fired, and quick and true shot sending the soldier to his end. "Men! Make sure no others have gotten through!" He shouted as he stumbled down the barricade towards his friend. "Enjolras!" he called. "For God's sake man, don't you know how to duck?"
"Apparently not," Enjolras groaned as he reached a shaky hand up to his throbbing cheekbone. He closed his eyes briefly and Marius thought he'd passed out once more. When they reopened a fire was held within them and he forced himself to his feet, stumbling a few steps before full gaining his ground. He knelt and took the soldier's gun from his grasp. "One more to add."
Marius clapped Enjolras on the shoulder. "Excellent. That should secure us our victory, then." He said dryly. "Come on then, man, while you're lazing about the barricade, there are soldiers to be killing."
A serious air fell over the elder man and he nodded stiffly. Marius noticed how he held his hand pressed to his ribcage, the blood trickling through his pale fingers, but opted to say nothing.
"That girl followed you to the barricades." It was a statement that came from the wounded man, not a question. His eyes drifted to Eponine.
"Oh, God. 'Ponine." Marius breathed. "What in the world can she be thinking?" He watched her precarious movements over the barricade, between the men, between the bullets.
"She's in the way," Enjolras said in his usual cold manner.
"Be careful with your words." Marius growled. He moved away from the injured man, towards the girl, wandering blindly through the crowd of people around her. "What are you looking for, 'Ponine?" Marius asked himself as he tried to get near her.
"Marius, you fool!" Enjolras yelled. "Watch where you're walking!"
Marius ignored his warnings as a sense of dread filled him. "Eponine!" He shouted. She was in danger, this was no place for a girl. She couldn't hear him above all the noise and as the fear within him grew he wanted to turn and scream at them all to shut up so he could get her out of here. "Eponine! 'Ponine!"
Finally she turned. "Monsieur Marius!"
Enjolras saw the man take aim. "Marius! Behind you!"
Eponine rushed forward, hearing Enjolras and realizing what was about to happen. She briefly made eye contact with the leader, and her expression of fire and determination never wavered. The shot rang out.
The barricade's leader saw them both fall and he was racing - best he could without collapsing himself - towards the two. Had it missed them? Had it hit one or both? Stupid girl... getting in the way. Marius would never have been down there without her there!
He stopped short just before he reached their side. Marius had sat up and was cradling the girl in his arms. "Eponine, what's wrong?" He turned wide eyes back to Enjolras. "She needs help. She's been shot."
"Get her in the wine shop," Enjolras said shortly. "Tell Joly to make it quick. There are others that need his help and she wasn't even supposed to be here."
"Well would you prefer to let her die here?" Marius growled. "I can just leave her to bleed to death if it's such an inconvenience to you." He scooped his other arm under her legs and gently lifted her, and turned to leave the battle front.
"I never asked her to come!" Enjolras yelled. "She followed you!"
"Isn't it people like her we're fighting for? Her innocent blood spilled on our battlefield...isn't that what we're trying to prevent more of? You can't be so cold to the very people you're trying to set free." Marius replied coldly.
Enjolras was shaking now, whether it be from anger or his injuries, Marius wasn't sure. They stared facing each other. "Take her then!" the elder yelled, a cough choking him and he wiped the blood from his lips.
"Enjolras..." Marius whispered, the anger dying in his eyes. "Enjolras?"
"Take her, I said," he rasped, turning away.
Marius backed away, knowing Eponine had precious little time. He had to get her to the doctor, and then get back to Enjolras. He turned and forced his way to the wine shop, half-afraid that he would not find his friend again.
Grantaire met him there, still slightly tipsy from the night before. "Who's the girl?"
"A friend of mine. Can you do anything?" Marius asked.
The drunkard shrugged. "Put her on the table there. Joly'll take a look at her. He's got his hands full as it is. Where's Enjolras at?"
"The barricade. I'm afraid he's been hurt. I've got to get back to him." He laid Eponine down gently and stroked her hair. "Be well, brave 'Ponine." He whispered. "Make sure Joly takes care of her." He ordered before leaving the wine shop.
Grantaire nodded and hollered at the med student. "Such a shame," he murmured as he watched Marius leave.
They were loosing. That much he could tell as soon as he made it back into the street. The smoke was heavy in the air and it burned his lungs as he gripped his weapon tightly. So many dead...he pressed forward, toward the barricade where he knew -hoped- his friend would be. "Enjolras!" He cried out. "Enjolras, answer me!"
He rounded a corner to see Enjolras struggling to stand from where he had fallen. He was coughing horribly, blood staining his lips, his shirt, and pooling beneath him. All this said, his eyes had not lost their fire. Not even when part of the barricade crashed down near him.
"Oh, God. Enjolras!" he shouted. He raised his weapon and fired over the barricade. It was falling, they were loosing, and Enjolras was dying. Their revolution was turning into a death trap. He continued to fire and move closer to the front.
Enjolras pulled enough strength together to sit up. "Leave, Marius," he murmured. "You have... someone waiting." He chuckled mirthlessly. "Two someones, right?"
"Enjolras, come, we can leave together. Regroup. Fight again. Put together a better plan, get more people..." He knelt and grabbed his arm. "Come with me."
"I brought them here," the revolutionary whispered. "Now their dead. Our friends are... they're dead, Marius."
"They died for a cause, our cause! We must live to fight again, so what they have done is not in vain. We are still alive..." his voice trailed off and he glanced around. "But we don't have much time..."
"I failed," Enjolras murmured, sounding almost delirious. Within the last few moments the fire had drained from his eyes and was replaced with a glazed look. "I failed them. I failed France."
"No..." Marius whispered harshly. "No. No one can ever accuse you of that. You're brave and passionate and you have led us well. We would have never gotten this far without you. The world will hear of this, Enjolras, the world! We can still bring change, the dream cannot die! You..." his voice caught on a sob, "you cannot die, Enjolras."
Enjolras' slender shoulders shook with wariness as Marius helped him to his feet. He felt the world sway and he nearly pitched forward, if it had not been for the younger man at his side. "It was suppose to be a new dawn," the leader murmured as they limped towards the wine shop. He looked upward to Marius whose shoulder he was leaning on and his eyes cleared momentarily. "They'll follow us."
"The alley, then?" Marius asked. He felt ridiculously grateful and relieved he had gotten the older man on his feet and willingly leaving the barricade. He would live. They would both live to fight again, and at that moment it was enough for Marius.
Enjolras' next words were barely audible. "And the girl?"
Marius instantly felt torn. He couldn't leave Eponine there, she would be killed as one of them when the soldiers found the wine shop. He couldn't leave Enjolras, either, he would collapse from blood loss and exhaustion. "I don't know..."
"Marius!"
The two men looked over to see the man Marius recognized as Cosette's father coming toward them. He stopped short, his eyes serious. "Boy, you'll be killed here. You must come with me."
"No." Marius shook his head. "I must get Enjolras help. If you want to help me, take the girl in the wine shop and get her to safety. I can get myself out of here."
"Cosette would never forgive me if I allowed you to go alone. Unprotected." Valjean thought a moment, surveying the area and the situation. It would be difficult: the wounded revolutionary and the girl who was, apparently, injured as well. Marius was not at the top of health either. "Can you make it to the back alley? We can take through the sewers. Meet me there and I'll bring the girl."
Marius nodded emphatically. "Thank you." he said. Valjean reached out and they shook hands quickly. The older man turned and carefully headed back to the wine shop, Marius shifted his hold on Enjolras slightly and started moving them to the alley.
"Who was he?" the injured man asked.
Marius' face took on a particularly silly grin. "Cosette's father." he said, as if that explained it all.
"Cosette?"
"Mmm-hmm. The girl I almost left you for." Marius said, poking Enjolras gently in the ribs. "But being the wonderful friend I am, I stayed and nearly got my head blown off for my country."
Enjolras winced at the contact. "What a good friend," he said through clenched teeth.
"Thank you. I'm glad you appreciate me."
The awkward pair finally made their way to the alley where Jean Valjean stood with Eponine in his arms. "Your medical friend said that she would live," he informed them.
"What of Joly? What of Grantaire? Of Combeferre and Courfeyrac? Anyone? Any news at all?" Enjolras asked.
"Joly and Grantaire were the only other two alive in the wine shop, and they have escaped. Any others still alive in the street have been arrested." Valjean said quietly. "I'm sorry. We must move quickly, if we are to avoid arrest ourselves."
"They'll be killed," Enjolras murmured, his fist clenched as his side. "Murdered by those bastards that are so caught up in their precious wealth."
"Patience, my young friend. There may be ways to rescue them yet." Valjean said. Marius stayed quiet, his mind lost in thought. If he could make sure Enjolras and Eponine got to safety with Valjean, he could find Grantaire and Joly and go back for the others. It would be tricky, but they could do it.
"The sewers are our best chance," Valjean was saying. "Can you make it, boy?" the question was directed at Enjolras.
Enjolras smiled grimly. "I'll make it." he said, hints of determination creeping back into his voice. His grip on Marius' shoulder, however, did not slacken. Marius bit his lip.
"Enjolras! You didn't think you could get away that easy, you son of a-"
"Grantaire!" The blond had never thought he would be pleased to see the drunkard. "You lucky devil you! I thought you were dead drunk."
"Gunshots goin' off all around will wake any man up. Joly's just behind me. A little ways. What happened to you?"
"National Guard."
"He can't duck very well." Marius said. "He needs to learn how to protect that pretty face of his." Enjolras managed to look outraged by the comment and Grantaire laughed aloud. Joly came up to them and shushed the drunkard. Marius grabbed Joly's arm. "Can you manage him?" he asked, nodding at Enjolras.
"I think so," he young medical student responded. He was obviously shaken, but reached out for his blond friend.
"No," Enjolras murmured. "I can... walk on my own." He shrugged Joly away and stood, even if a bit unsteady, on his own two feet. "Going down to the sewers would be impossible that way."
Marius nodded. "Grantaire, we've got to go back for the others, now. If we wait, they'll be killed."
"This is the exact reason I didn't want to get into all this," he grumbled.
"No one asked you to," Enjolras hissed.
"Go back for the others?" Joly asked, eyes wide. "There are no others, Marius. They were executed on the spot. We're all that's left."
Marius' eyes went wide and he staggered back a step. "That's...not...that's impossible." There had to be more time, they'd barely left the street themselves. And what of the children? Surely they wouldn't execute children like Gavroche. He sucked in a unsteady breath.
"It is," Joly said sadly. "Every one of them. Enjolras, you saw little Gavroche fall, didn't you?"
Enjolras nodded gravely. "But I didn't expect them all to go so quickly."
Valjean saw that Marius wasn't going to be able to hold it together much longer. He shifted Eponine's weight in his arms. "Come, we must go before they search here. Start down the sewers and head north." he said firmly.
"Your friend needs a doctor, remember?" Enjolras reminded him, gently for once.
Marius nodded and climbed into the sewer numbly. How could they have not seen that this would be the outcome? And what if something happened Enjolras or Eponine now? Marius took a deep breath and steeled himself. There would be time to mourn later. He led the way through the sewers, towards freedom, even if it was a lesser freedom than they had hoped for this dawn.
A/N: Please let us know how we did. We have a horrid habit of starting fics and never finishing them, so ya'll have to give us many reviews so we can finish :) hint hint! lol! Please R&R