|
Suspense: June, 1832
The barricade is hushed after Enjolras executes Le Cabuc. Combeferre and Prouvaire lean on each other, their fingers laced tightly together, for several long moments as the other insurgents who observed the man's death and Enjolras' subsequent speech move away and take up whatever tasks they had laid down in order to watch. Combeferre kisses Prouvaire's forehead lightly and murmurs something to him, then goes to Enjolras and puts a hand on his shoulder, saying, "Julien," as softly as if he were waking Enjolras from a deep sleep. Enjolras turns swiftly to face him, then relaxes a little. "Yes?" Combeferre pauses a moment before answering. "You did well. Come and talk to me for a few minutes." He waves a hand toward a corner of the barricade that is open to the street. Enjolras studies him a moment, then shrugs. "All right." Combeferre gives him a weak smile and puts a hand on his shoulder as they walk. "Are you all right?" "Yes," briefly. "Are you?" "I'm not quite sure." They reach the outlet of the barricade, which might have been a clear street the day before, but is now shadowed and seems distant from the center where they had been. Combeferre embraces Enjolras. After a moment, Enjolras yields, returning the embrace. "Je t'adore," Combeferre whispers in his ear. "But you frighten me, today. Let me tend the wounded; ask someone else to guard your back." Enjolras pulls back a little to look at him, with somewhat the expression of a boy spoiling for a fight; but then his gaze meets Combeferre's, and softens. "All right, love. All right." Combeferre touches his cheek reverently. "I wish that no one else needs to be hurt to accomplish this, and -- and it hurts my heart to see you kill." His voice cracks on the last few words. "God, if it could only end now." Enjolras goes from pale to white. "Yes, I know. I very much doubt that it will." Combeferre nods, frowning. "And we may all die." He buries his face in Enjolras' shoulder. "We could still leave," he says, somewhat indistinctly. Enjolras holds him close for a moment, then shakes him slightly. "Come on, Audric. Don't go to pieces now." Combeferre gives him a pained look. "I'm not going to pieces. You're not acting like yourself, love." "No more are you." Enjolras shakes his head. "It's all right, Audric. We'll manage." Combeferre kisses his cheek. "I don't know what we'll manage, exactly. The multitudes are not precisely flocking to our side. But we will manage something," his tone grows bitter, "even if it is only a heroic death." "Stop that," sharply. Combeferre lets him go, and says, in the sing-song of a boy who is reciting a quotation, "'The day will come, citizens, when all will be concord, harmony, light, joy and life; it will come, and it is in order that it may come that we are about to die.' Or was that someone else, saying those words after he'd just shot a man, Julien, beloved friend. We are about to die, and you think I should be calm about this." Enjolras colors, but does not flinch. "Some of us, yes. In all likelihood. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be here. It does no damned good to dwell on it, Audric." "Why should we stay if we are certain to die?" Combeferre turns away from him. "They followed you here. They would follow you home, and things will change. Louis Philippe has hardly had time to warm his throne. He will be most reluctant to abandon it. If the people were as upset as our friends, our allies, our fellows -- they would be here by now." "Audric." Enjolras' voice is hard. "Don't do this." "What am I not supposed to do?" Combeferre's voice is cold. Enjolras glares at him. "Do you want to go home? Then go. Tell them what fools we all are, if they stop you." Combeferre turns and gives him an anguished look. "I would never leave without you." "Then stay. I won't ask you to fight. Don't ask things of me that I can't give, either." "I didn't ask you to leave." Combeferre sighs. "I know better than that." "Then what do you want of me?" more gently. "I want you to leave," putting a hand on his arm. "But I know you won't." Enjolras takes in a breath, and lets it out again. "No. I can't-- in conscience, beloved." He hesitates momentarily, then offers a hug. Combeferre embraces him. "I know. And neither can I." He kisses Enjolras' cheek. "Je t'aime." "Je t'aime," returning the kiss. Combeferre kisses him again, less chastely. "Julien --" "Cher?" "We should keep watch, for a bit." The words may be virtuous, but Combeferre tangles his fingers in Enjolras' hair and kisses him again. "Audric," Enjolras protests, between kisses, but his hand knots in Combeferre's shirt as though of its own accord. "Beloved." Another prolonged kiss. Enjolras leans against him a moment, then pulls away, faintly flushed. "Let's go and do that, then." "We'd hear if anything happened." Combeferre closes the distance between them again. "Audric--" But the protest is halfhearted, this time. "I love you," again, in the tone that implies that one cannot say this too many times. "As I love you," pressing closer. Combeferre puts an arm around Enjolras' waist. "Chéri --" "Yes?" breathlessly. "Please -- let me --" Julien catches hold of his shoulder. "God." Audric fumbles with the buttons on Julien's pants. "Dearest." Julien gasps and knots his other hand in Audric's shirt, to keep from losing his balance. "I-- not-- not right here--" Audric kisses him. "Where?" "I don't know. Audric, this isn't--" Audric lets him go and turns away. "I'm sorry." Julien makes a small, most undignified noise and catches his arm again. "Cher." Audric looks back at him, frowning. "I'm sorry." Julien leans against his shoulder. "No, it's all right." "Please --" Audric kisses him again, at some length. Julien returns the kiss, embracing him tightly. "Let me?" Audric asks again, breathlessly. "I... all right." Audric kisses his cheek. "We can go a bit farther, if you want." Julien gets a breath. "I don't mind." Audric touches his cheek. "All right." He puts an arm around Julien's waist. "Let's --" "Hm?" Audric waves a hand toward the extreme end of the barricade. "If we are closer to the street -- and farther from the rest -- it will be easier to hear what's going on nearby." Julien takes another deep breath, and nods, regaining a semblance of composure and efficiency. "All right." They walk down the street a little farther and find the darker side of a building which, if its occupants have any sense, has been empty all day. Audric embraces Julien again. "Is that better?" "Probably." Julien's demeanor is calm, now, in contrast to the eagerness with which his fingers run through Audric's hair. In order to ensure that he receives the answer he would prefer, Audric kisses Julien thoroughly, then says, "If you would rather not --" Julien shakes his head distractedly, and kisses him again. Audric makes another attempt at unbuttoning his pants. This time Julien puts up no resistance, only tangles his hands more firmly in Audric's hair. Audric obligingly kisses him while fumbling with his clothes. He breaks the kiss once he has his hand inside Julien's pants to say, "Let me --" Julien nods once, fiercely, biting his lip, and runs his fingers down Audric's spine. Audric kisses him lightly and runs his hands down Julien's chest. "Beautiful. God --" and while it may not be the best of ideas to kneel in a Parisian alleyway, he does it anyway. Julien shudders slightly, running his fingers through Audric's hair again. "Chéri," in half a voice. "Sweetheart." Audric nuzzles his hip. "Ah, God," indistinctly. "Chéri," Audric says softly, and then he stops complimenting Julien in favor of adoring him in a different, albeit still oral, manner, which has the effect of stilling Julien's hands, if not his ragged gasps. Audric, on the other hand, shows no signs of stopping what he is doing. He puts one hand on Julien's hip. Julien presses a hand to his mouth, stifling a cry. "God--" Audric runs gentle fingers down his leg, perhaps intending to be comforting. Julien shivers, and knots his free hand in Audric's hair again, whispering his name. Audric covers one of Julien's hands with his own and continues, speeding up a little. After a moment Julien makes a strangled sound, and then relaxes, barely managing to keep his feet under him. Audric stands once Julien has regained his balance and embraces him. "I love you beyond words," softly. Julien clings to him, dazed. "Je t'aime. I... we should..." "We should watch, I think, to make sure that no one ambushes us here." Audric tugs at Julien's clothing, setting it somewhat to rights. "Yes," abstractedly. "I-- I'm sorry." "Sweet love." Audric kisses his cheek. "We will all do the best we can." Julien passes a hand over his face, and nods. "I know." He straightens, blinking a few times. Audric backs away a step. "You look presentable," he says with a crooked smile. "Good." Julien rakes his hair back perfunctorily, hesitates, then kisses Audric once more, lingeringly. Audric makes a small noise that is not wholly unlike a whimper. Julien pulls back reluctantly after a moment. Audric moves half the distance necessary to reinitiate the kiss, then stops himself. "All right." Julien reaches up to touch his cheek. "Later, love." Audric turns his head. "If the world does not go mad between then and now." "I doubt it." Julien takes his hand. "Come and watch with me." Audric gives him a wan smile. "Gladly."
[ before | after ]
| 