It had been stupid, terrible even Who: Azelma, Gavroche, and Éponine Thénardier What: Meeting Gavroche and Azelma in this universe. When: Backdated Aug. 19th. Where: Park in the city, Scoot's flat, and the hospital. Rating: PG-13 for adult themes and blood. Trigger warning for Thénardier family problems, blood, hospital stuff. Status: Complete.
It had been stupid, terrible even, and it was one she’d kept from her sister. Well now, her sister was gone, her brother gone too.. How could she even go back. She followed him onto the boat, faking the ill from her... condition on being seasick. Happy her father didn’t dare do anything while on the ship to the Americas.
She groaned and leaned over the edge of the boat, looking at the water. It was so clean, and pure... and her reflection was ruining that. She turned away from it and sunk against the side when she felt a whirl around her and she was suddenly somewhere she did not know. All she knew was it was a park, with people in unusual clothes.
Azelma stuck out like a sore thumb and she had no idea what to do. She was dirty and... well, not going into that. Her first instinct was to find a landmark and go from there and as she was rushing to find one she stopped when she heard an oh-so-familiar voice. “Éponine...”
It’d been a while since this... strange place had saved Éponine from death. She still wasn’t entirely used to it, truth be told, and was using her rare times without Scoot to explore - it’d been her thing back in France, so why shouldn’t it have been here?
She could’ve sworn she heard something... her name? And in such a familiar voice... it wasn’t impossible, was it? The universe had saved her, so... why not her sister? “Azelma?”
Her bottom lip trembled and she moved from behind a large pillar along the sidewalk for some kind of ‘modern art’ and just looked up to her. “Is it... you... no this.” Stepped back. “But... but you died. I saw you. You and Gavroche. You were lined up and...” And now she was regretting getting so worked up.
Éponine dared to take a step closer to her sister, holding up her hands to attempt to keep her calm - despite the doctors insisting it was healing fine, the one the bullet had struck her in was still bandaged. “I promise. I’m alive. I can even show you the wounds...”
Not in public, mind you. She might’ve had a rather lax approach to modesty, and she’d had to be convinced into wearing shoes permanently, but there were some lines that even she didn’t cross.
“N...no it’s okay.” Looked up to her and moved closer, just looking over her person. It was her sister, yes, in the clothes the others were wearing. If anything her sister should know all too well what bring an arm over her stomach constantly meant. “I... I thought we’d only see each other if we were granted salvation.” Took an even closer step towards her.
This feels too good to be true. It can’t be true, can it?
Oh, she knew alright, but Éponine was in no rush to ask or even comment. What mattered now was helping her sister. “This world is... almost a second chance for people like us. I came here whilst I was dying, and... I was saved by a man who seemed so like an angel.”
Took in a heavy breath before just tackle hugging her around the shoulders. If she does have the wound she knows better than to hug her chest. “I... thought I’d lost you forever. I... Gavroche and... Dad was taking me to the Americas.”
Azelma held even tighter before feeling very ill again. “Éponine... Can we find somewhere more private?”
Éponine held her sister as close as she could, careful not to accidentally touch the still-healing wound on her chest. It was nowhere near as bad as it had been, back when she’d first arrived, but it was still unpleasantly tender. “I can take you somewhere safe. Get you cleaned up and fed.”
“You have food?” Blinked, still trying to wrap her mind around all of this. Where exactly were they anyway? “I’m safe so long as I’m with you, big sister.” She went to take her hand but stopped and pulled away to leaned onto the ground and lose bile again. Damn this. Damn it all.
Food will have to come last.
That was how things were going to go anyway, so it wasn’t like that changed Éponine’s plans much. She gently took Azelma’s hand, squeezing lightly. “I’ll explain when we get there. Promise.”
Azelma nodded and just followed close by, returning evil glares that passers by gave her for how she looked. Wasn’t her fault, dammit. When she stepped in she looked around a little confused. “Where are we?”
“Would you believe me if I said we’re in the future?” It’d made sense to Éponine the moment she’d come around in the hospital, even if it’d taken her a few weeks longer to truly accept it. “And in the Americas. They’re a lot different than they were in our time...”
“I... can see that.” doesn’t even want to touch anything because of the dirt. “You said I can get clean?” Looked up to her, reaching to run her fingers through her brittle hair. “That’s going to take a while...” Laughed dryly, trying to attempt humour.
It wasn’t really the best subject to try for humour on. Not in Éponine’s opinion, at least. “They have some amazing things for that here. It’s like nothing we had back home...”
A lot of things just stepping into the place were nothing like they had back home. She was led in and stood there while the bath was drawn. Stripping down she made sure to take the longest time when slipping the skirt of it down. Mostly because she doesn’t even want to admit it herself but... “Éponine... I haven’t had the bleeding in four months. Just... so you know.”
She instinctively ducked down and back up. Force of habit!
Éponine had honestly assumed that, from the moment she’d seen her protecting her stomach. For a brief moment, she couldn’t help but feel like somehow, she’d failed her little sister - true, she’d been dead, but that was besides the point. “...Do you know who it might’ve been who... did that?”
Azelma looked down and ran her fingers over her stomach “...Montparnasse.” It hadn’t been pleasant either. She never was strong enough to fight them off. and true to things she rarely did. she just let it happen. Was either that or have the drunk bastard hit her.
Oh, the bastard. Many a time, Éponine had hoped that he’d get caught by the law and thrown in jail to rot, but he always seemed to escape... even when the rest of them had been thrown in, he’d slipped away. It was almost like he was untouchable.
He wouldn’t be so untouchable if he ever appeared here. She would personally rend him limb from limb for daring to touch her sister. “...I never thought I could hate him more.”
“And.. it... Dad sat back and watched.” Eased herself into the water, focusing on the bubbles and poked them. Heh... She went to just rub the dirt off with her hand when she heard her sister put her feet into the tub. “Éponine...?” Let out a contented noise when she felt something soft along her back. “What is that?”
“Just something that makes it a little easier.” Éponine wasn’t going to bother with actual names of things right now. That could come when Azelma was more settled, more used to this universe and all its quirks. “You don’t mind me helping, right?”
“Not at all... It’s nice.” Let her just wash her in silence, mostly because right it’s what she needs. There was no more loud voices of drunk patrons, no more yelling. There were no more men just coming in. It was her, being all but pampered with her sister and letting it be that was fine in her eyes.
Once she was clean and her hair brushed through and braided back till they can deal with cutting what needed cut she slipped lon the clothes she gave her and sat on the sink. “Thank you for that... It was nice.”
“You don’t have to thank me, ‘Zelma.” It seemed rather silly, to Éponine at least. Azelma was her sister, and she’d honestly do anything for her... “I’m just glad I have you with me.”
Scoot had been out and about, just getting things done with his manager. He picked up a pizza and just a soda for him and Éponine. He opened the door, dropped the keys on the side and shut the door behind him before stopping. “Hey there. Éponine?”
This was probably something that Éponine should’ve explained to Azelma beforehand. Honestly, you couldn’t blame her for forgetting to mention it, considering how much her sister meant to her... “In the bathroom. There’s... my sister’s here. Probably should’ve sent you a message to warn you.”
“...I’ll be out here when you both are ready. I got pizza!” Moved to grab three plates instead of two, and three glasses. His mind going over how exactly he could make this good for her. He went to the couch to test. “Yeah no...” He muttered to himself and sighed. “Hey, I’m going to storage real quick. Take as long as you need.”
Azelma looked to her sister. “Is that the angel you said saved you?” Held a hand over her stomach.
“My angel and my saviour. He’s the kindest, gentlest man, I promise...” Éponine knew that her sister did occasionally have issues with men, largely down to their father’s gang’s terrible influence. “He’ll never hurt you... I promise.”
“I... alright. Let me see him?” Stood up and moved her way out the door only to see him carrying something through the window. Had he been flying? Well, she did say angel and he did have wings. Azelma shook her head to ignore the confusion and saw him place the thing in the corner of the room and jumped back down off the railing.
“What is he getting...” she knows the basic shape of a bed mattress at very least.
“Probably something to make things more comfortable for you.” They did only have the one bed set up, after all, and that just couldn’t stand now that Azelma was here. Especially considering her... condition.
Scoot kept flying in and out before finally just setting everything up. Bed on the floor in the corner part near the window for a nice view of the sky, all the blankets he could find for her. There were just as many pillows and he fumbled with putting up christmas lights around it with a little button so if at night she got scared she could turn those on by her bed and comfort herself without blinding herself with turning the main light on. “There!”
The man grinned at them, looking a little eager to try and get her to test it out. so much in fact he turned the main light off to show the soft glow of the lights.
Those were... That was nice. She didn’t move closer though, instead she moved behind her sister. “This is a joke.. If I go over there he’ll..”
Éponine couldn’t blame her sister for being cautious, especially after all they’d been through. Their lives had never been easy, so to switch to a world like this so suddenly... she turned to face her sister, gently taking her hands.
“Trust me. Trust him.” She squeezed her hands lightly, trying to keep her voice soft and (hopefully) reassuring. “Nothing will happen. He’s... not like other men.”
“So.. I go lay down on that?” It did rather seem quite homely in her opinion. Comfortable and welcoming but. Azelma just couldn’t. “When he finds out... He’ll.”
“When I find out what? I made you the bed. I want you comfortable and even then we can look for somewhere to move that has enough room for you.” Turned to the balcony. “I do have one thing more!” As he was stepping off the edge he noticed a little kid huddled by the wall, holding his side. “What the hay...” Jumped down and ran over, mostly to see what was going on, everyone was ignoring him which was annoying.
He came back up with the boy, bleeding as he was and held him close. “He said your name!”
“Gavroche!” Oh, God, that was not what Éponine needed to see. True, her baby brother was... well, she’d been missing him more than anything, but for him to turn up like this... it more than broke her heart to see.
“He’s hurt bad.. Like you were.” Looked down at the boy who was just shaking. He held him close. “Hey kid. How long have you...” Sat down and tried to look the kid over.
Gavroche had been in this universe for a week or so. Mostly just doing as his usual; stealing, scrounging, god knows what else. The wounds he sustained were not deadly on their own. but left there they were nothing but safe now. He lifted the shirt, mostly because he sees his sister and it does not look good at all.
Éponine bit her lip, moving closer, just so she could get a better look. She knew better than to touch, just in case it made things worse. “I... we need to get you to a hospital, Gavroche. These wounds... they’re bad.”
“I can carry him.” Blinked when he saw Azelma looking even more distraught than her sister. “You guys just come on, it’s okay. I have hospital bills covered for any of you if need be. Let’s just get him there.” Stood up and held the boy even closer, tucking his head under his chin and walked out the door.
Gavroche is in more of a haze from the infection, feverish and none too well at all. He slipped in and out of consciousness the whole walk up there,
Éponine still wasn’t used to this generosity. For someone who’d lived almost her entire life in poverty, having to sell practically everything she was to make even the most meagre of livings, this was almost like... well, something impossible. Thénardiers weren’t often afforded such kindness.
“Be careful with him.” If he even remotely hurt Gavroche, she would see to it that he regretted it. Nobody could hurt her baby brother and get away with it, much as their parents had tried to divide them when they were young. “He’s only young... he can’t die like this.”
“Éponine... I could never..” He’s being as gentle as possible. When they do get to the ER he’s let back and he’s made damn sure all of them are allowed back with him. They have to clean him and get him undressed to see the wound and it’s then he starts fighting... well, up until he felt a hand on his shoulder. “Hey kid, let them. Just trying to help. I know it’s awkward but you need to get better. Taking care of your sisters is hard and I can’t do it on my own” Perfect man, y/y?
He was certainly a lot better than the men from their own time, Éponine would give him that much. “We won’t let them hurt you, Gavroche... trust us.”
Azelma stayed back, just for the sake of letting them just... do what they had to to get him better.
Getting him better meant painkillers, stuff for the fever, and actually have to take him back in for surgery just to remove the damn bullet. As he was taken back he reached for his sister for a moment, desperate and scared because he didn’t understand what was going on. Far as he knows this is some unusual purgatory that is more like hell.
Oh, to be able to do something to soothe his fears... there wasn’t enough time for Éponine to do that right now, but she was going to make damned sure to make up for it before they left this place. “I’ll be here when they bring you out, Gavroche... I’ll explain everything.”
Scoot moved to pull her into his arms, granted they’d continued to ‘do things’ on and off but he’s not actually had the nerve to do anything publicly to show affection. This seemed like a time to do so, he put a hand to brush fingers through her hair. “He’ll... be okay. And then we can look for a house to move into so there is room for all of you.”
Seeing her sister like that made her tense, mostly because a guy but... she didn’t seem to be unwillingly against him. Azelma sighed and looked around. Would do her good to see one herself but...
That was actually a surprise. Even though he tended to be quite affectionate in the bedroom, he’d never shown her much affection outside of it... Éponine had honestly never expected him to, considering her track record with men and their... attentions.
“‘Zelma... do you need me to get you a doctor too?” Yes, even now, her siblings were her number one priority. “Considering your... condition.”
Scoot arched an eyebrow but didn’t ask. He took in a breath and gently kissed her before letting go. “You take her... I will wait here for your brother and come get you if any word comes?”
The younger Thénardier girl tensed at seeing him be with her sister like that. If only because men just never ended right in their time. She bit her lip. “Do I have to?”
“It’s for your own good...” The kissing was unexpected, but Éponine could take it. More than take it, even, considering how nice it was. “I don’t want you to come to any harm because of this.”
Scoot gave them both a reassuring smile. “Things will be okay. I already sent a text to the landlord of me wanting to end the.. lease or whatever it is. I’ll look on whatever the internet thing still is and look for a nice house for us.” Kissed her cheek before taking a seat and pulling out the little phone like device.
“..you want to move for us?” Looked rather upset, taking it wrong. What was going on?
Éponine could understand why her sister would take that wrong. When they’d moved around in the past, it’d been due to their father’s plans failing - Montfermeil was the most notorious case, but they’d moved around a lot in Paris proper, especially after the Jondrette incident. “He... wants to give us a house where we’ll all have a room, I assume.”
“Yeah, totally! I’d rather you not be in the same bed. Last time I checked sisters don’t spend the night in the same bed with her and her boyfriend.” Wait shit did he say that out loud. “Uh... I..” Pushed his head down and just focused on the touch screen, cheeks and ears turning pink.
Well. That was an admission that Éponine hadn’t expected at all. True, they’d been growing closer over the past few weeks, but... well, it wasn’t like she was complaining! “You’re right. We’re used to sharing beds, but... it’d be just a little awkward now.”
“Oh... okay.” Ran a hand over her shoulder. “I guess that would be nice.”
“Do you have any preferences, Azelma?” Smiled up to her. “Like where you’d want to live?”
“I’ve always wanted to live by the ocean... but...” Ducked her head into her shoulders and moved closer in to cling to her sister.
“No buts, I’ll see what I can do. I have plenty saved up so I can probably outright buy something nice! Now go on, get check over anything you need and let me try and find the perfect family home.” Leaned back and switched to the next page of listing.
Azelma took Éponine‘s hand as they walked off. “Boyfriend?”
Not a term often used in their own time period, Éponine had to admit, if at all. Especially not when it came to the Thénardier sisters. “Our relationship is a little... complicated sometimes.”
“What do you mean?” Bit her lip as the nurse went on to everything that needed to be done, even down to her having to use the bathroom and return with a cup. she pulled away when a woman with gloves and a tray came over. “What are they going to do?!”
Éponine squeezed her sister’s hand lightly, trying to will her to stay calm. “They did this for me when I came in. It might sting a little, but... it’ll help you, I promise.”
If Éponine said it would help and be okay, she’d be okay. She winced against it, keeping her hands still until the woman put the tape on. They were left to wait and she looked around. “You sure this is a hospital? Where are the nuns?”
“Hospitals have changed a lot since our time. Not many are run by the sisters, far as I can tell.” That was probably for the better, all things considered. These people seemed far more capable and kind than the stern women they’d replaced.’
Azelma looked up when a woman came in and smiled at her.
“Hey there, how are you feeling?” Pulled the stool up and sat down, checking over her vitals.
“Who are you?” Looked around, rather confused by well... everything.
“I’m your doctor, well the doctor for this session of the ER. My name is Browning.” Smiled softly and just continued to look over things. Unknowing to what could happen she lifted the hospital gown and began gently pushing around her hips causing her to move back because ow, hit. “Hey now!” Not angry, just concerned. The doctor looked up to Éponine for answers.
Éponine, naturally, was quick to explain. “My sister just has... issues being touched around there. It’s... due to some unpleasant things in our past.”
“Ah... alright. Can you help me explain I need to in order to check and make sure everything is going as it should?” Held her hand up to halt the nurse bringing in the ultrasound machine. Just till they got her calm. Wouldn’t do to overwhelm the poor girl.
“I... I’m sorry.” Ducked down into the pillow. “You can if you want to.” Well this is not a pleasant mindset.
“‘Zelma...” Éponine took her sister’s hand again, largely to give her something to focus on. Something she knew, that wasn’t quite so strange as the rest of what was going on. “She just wants to help you... and the child. To make sure that nothing bad will happen to it.”
“...alright.” Eased back down onto the bed and just focused on breathing as the doctor went back, this time gentler than before. She tipped her head when stuff was put on her stomach and a box was set up next to her. “What is that?”
Browning looked at her and sighed, figuring this was just one of those things from the universe you just let go. “This? This is called an ultrasound machine. What it does is send high frequency waves of sound through your body and bounces back when there are things in the way. It will let us see how the baby is doing.” Put the remote to her lower stomach and turned it on.
That was... what? She looked up to Éponine. “They can see the baby?”
Éponine couldn’t even pretend she’d understood most of that, but she’d done various bits of research since arriving here, and thankfully, this was one of those things that she’d encountered, entirely by chance. “Kind of? I don’t think it’s detailed, but... it’s something.”
“Now, let’s see things okay?” Pushed the remote and bdegan looking around, mostly just for the sake of making sure things were okay. “Well, heart rate is normal... Little bit fast but that can be down to you being nervous... length is looking good.” Eased down a different direction before turning the screen to them. She circled around something. “Circumference of the head is good. I’d say you’re about 20 weeks or so. Not too far in but past the point where we get worried.”
Azelma could only stare with her mouth hanging open. This was magic. It had to be magic.
It honestly seemed more like magic than anything else to Éponine too, but she was slowly starting to accept that technology was practically the same thing in this world. It was more than a little incredible to see... “What do you think, ‘Zelma?”
“I don’t know... Other than I’m now so terrified.” She can’t help it. Now that she’s... Seen all of that ,she’s going to be nervous to go anywhere or do anything. “Is it possible to fall in love with seeing that?”
“No it’s not. I’m going to take a few pictures so you can take them home. Have you had a pelvic exam?” Rested a hand on her knee. “We can do that here as well to get it over with.”
“What is that?” She kind of guessed, but had to be sure.
“I have you put your legs up and I go over to see if your vaginal area is how it should be. Test for anything possibly infected, not saying you are. It’s just precautionary. We also inspect internally with fingers and...” Moved over to the drawer to pull it out. “This. It’s called a specula. It just goes in and holds things open so we can see how things are inside. I think we need to do a pap smear too.”
Azelma’s face went pale. That sounded terrifying.
Terrifying was one way of putting it. Éponine had been talked into having one done before she’d left the hospital, and she’d actually ended up biting the nurse who’d done it - through no fault of the nurse’s own, of course! It’d just been uncomfortable and intensely unpleasant.
“I can try and help keep you calm, ‘Zelma...” Maybe having a comforting presence would make all the difference. She could hope, right? “You’ll be okay. I promise.”
“Okay...” During the whole of the procedure she managed to kick over three trays, kicking the doctor in the face and bite to bleeding a male nurse they dared bring in. They couldn’t put it at any fault of hers, it was an occupational hazard.
She’s allowed to leave and is just staring at the pictures while they walk towards the waiting room. “This has to be magic, and Dad isn’t here to ruin it...” Looked up at her and feigned a smile.
If she thought Éponine would fall for something like that, she was mistaken. She knew her sister too well to fall for it. “We’re safe from our father now. For as long as we’re here, I’m sure we will be...”
“..and your boyfriend?” She’s still allowed to be worried right? He was honestly too good to be true, he had to have a snapping point. Didn’t all men have one? “You promise he’s safe?”
Maybe he did, but Éponine hadn’t encountered it as-yet. If anything, he’d been... damned near perfect, his occasional moments of awkwardness aside. “He’s never given me any reason to doubt him.”
“I... do you love him?” It’s something she felt she had to ask. It wasn’t like she could just let her sister be with someone for saving her. She knew how her sister worked and how much she’d fancied Marius.
Éponine bit her lip. That... wasn’t exactly an easy question to answer. She was fond of him, that was true enough, but to actually love him, so soon after her failed attempts to have Marius for her own... “...I think I might do.”
“Just... If he hurts you I will dest-” Blinked when she saw him come over, stumbling a bit. “Hello...”
“You...” Gasping for air because he ran to this side of the hospital. “He’s awake. I can take you to him. He keeps stealing the doctors watches.”
“Oh Gavroche...” couldn’t help but smile and lightly start to laugh.
Despite herself, Éponine couldn’t help laughing either. “He must already be feeling like himself!”
Scoot did not question it, he simply led her in and moved to the back of the room to give them space. Sure he doesn’t know what it’s like to actually have that but.. He’s not going to ever impose.
“Hey you guys! This place ain’t half bad! They let me have sweets!” Pushed himself up, someone is a little out there because of the painkillers and medicine to keep the infection down. Oh the antibiotics he will have to take. Suddenly his face went pale when he realised things again. “You died...”
That was going to be confusing to explain, but Éponine was going to try her best. “I should’ve died... but I ended up here. They... managed to heal my wounds, in a way.” By which she meant they were still healing, but they weren’t life-threatening anymore. “I’m so sorry for leaving you, Gavroche...”
“I... tried to get back to you. I guess it worked.” Well that’s not the best way to put that! All the same he had wanted to either avenge her, or to see her at the gates. This was just a different outcome he guess. Gavroche pushed up more when the nurse brought him more pudding and he offered up a spoonful to Éponine. “Here! It’s good!”
It wasn’t the best way to put it at all, but Éponine would cope. What mattered more than anything right now was that he was here. “That’s all yours, Gavroche. Wouldn’t want to take anything from you.”
“I will splat it onto your face.” Pushed his lips together and pushed the spoon higher up to get to her. Dammit she better try it. Thénardiers did not take kindly to things not going their way a lot of the time! “Come ooooon. I can just get more. The Monsieur said I was allowed to eat anythin’ I wanted to! As much of this that the nurses will let me have. Oh oh and he got me that.” Pointed to the stuffed bear beside the bed out of his reach. Make his sister eating the pudding first then grab the bear.
Azelma moved to pick up the toy and lifted it over so he didn’t have to decide. “Why are you... Why did you get this for him?” She’s still so suspicious.
“Because having a friend to hold onto at night makes scary places easier to be in? And because I thought he’d like it. I’m sorry, did I do something wrong?” Scoot bit his lip, feeling rather threatened by Azelma.
“I’m sorry for my siblings, Scoot.” Éponine felt like she had to apologise, especially considering how badly she knew Azelma could come across. Not that it made her love her any less or anything like that! “‘Zelma, trust me... when he says he just wants to help, he means that. There aren’t any other motives.”
“Still...” Azelma set the bear beside Gavroche before covering her hands over her mouth to hide the giggles.
True to his words Gavroche leaned the spoon back and flung the pudding right at his big sister’s face. “Direct hit!”
Oh, he was so charming… Éponine rolled her eyes, grabbing something to wipe that off with. “Your aim’s gotten better. I’ll give you that much.”
“I’ve been practicing since the Christmas pudding incident!” Looked over to see some kind of man in a blue and black outfit and ducked down.
See, Scoot knew that colour combination from back in Ponyville and he was quick to get up and go out to explain. Stating they’d been looking for the boy for a while since bringing her over. It actually took several minutes of convincing them that none of them owned a musket, and the doctor explaining the bullet was actually several hundred years old. There was no explaining.
When he came back in he was sweaty and tense.
“What happened?” Azelma asked holding her stomach.
“Police were going to take you and your sister into custody for harming him. I managed to explain in a way that they can’t dispute and won’t bother us over it. The doctor helped.” Can he faint now, is that allowed?
Fainting definitely wasn’t allowed! Why did the Thénardiers’ somewhat terrible luck with the police have to carry over to this new world? Éponine may well have muttered something under her breath about ‘damned bobbies’, before speaking up properly.
“...I think I’ve just become even more glad you’re here.” They’d been in jail before. It wasn’t completely new to them, but it was definitely a thing best avoided.
“You don’t have to be. The thought of me not being able to see you, or having to risk anything with you being taken away is not something I want to even think on. Kind of hurts if I do.” Bit his lip.
“Ooh ~ ‘Ponine has a courter~” The little boy teased and poked at her because he can. He’s such a nice little brother.
“Thank you...” A part of Azelma still does not trust him, and it shouldn’t be expected to change any time soon - but she could be thankful. Last thing any of them needed was to be put behind bars.
If Gavroche hadn’t been wounded, Éponine would’ve punched him. It was what siblings did, okay. “So what if I do, Gavroche?”
“Nothing meant by it! Promise! At least he looks better than Monsieur Pontmercy.” Had to be said. “Less likely to look like the virgin Mary too. Seriously. Put a pair of tits in front of the man and he’d probably faint and cross himself.” Such wonderful language coming from a ten year old. Father entirely to blame.
Azelma simply smacked her face hard with her hand, trying to will down laughing. He was totally right to be fair. “Gavroche...” and that broke any strength she had in not laughing. At least she was laughing!
Scoot simple arched an eyebrow and looked up to his ‘girlfriend’. “Huh?”
Oh God. Éponine couldn’t doubt that he was probably right, even if she could argue that he’d technically seen more than enough of her chest whilst she was dying… that was a completely different context though.
“Monsieur Pontmercy was… a man I was interested in.” That was the best way of explaining him, really. Scoot didn’t need to know all the terrible ins and outs of it. “He wasn’t the most worldly man. Especially when it came to issues of the heart.”
Scoot just blinked a few times, somehow feeling a little unusual from it. It was not an emotion he wasn’t familiar with. He did however display it in body language. The quick glance down of his person, a look at himself in the dark window beside him, and the shoving of his hands into his pockets.
Azelma looked to her sister, it was her interest, she would react how she would. “Take this outside if you need, I can entertain our baby brother.”
That wasn’t quite the reaction that Éponine had expected. Maybe she needed to explain it better? She… wasn’t sure. “Scoot, you’re at least twice the man he ever was…”
“I’m... just gonna go call the realtor for the house I think I want to get...” Swallowed hard and she stepped out of the room, grabbing the weird phone thing and rang the number on the site.
“Well that was... unusual.” Arched an eyebrow and ran her fingers through Gavroche’s hair to get the tangles out.
Of all things the boy kicked his oldest sister. “Go or you get more to the face!”
What the hell, Gavroche. Éponine barely held back from punching him in return, again just because she didn’t want to hurt him any more than he already was. “Kick me again, Gavroche, and I swear…”
All the same, she did go out after him. It seemed only right to.
Scoot was already into the conversation, the client selling the house more than interested that he’d be able to pay the money in full for the house. “..Yeah no. The 5 million is okay, they didn’t have to cut the cost down. I can more tha-... alright. Oh no.. no I saw plenty of the pictures. The place is gorgeous. And it has places within walking distance... no. I said the 5 mil is fine. “ Ran a hand through his hair. What did they even want.
Was it really okay to interrupt this? Éponine bit her lip, again finding herself completely unsure… this was a feeling she was quickly becoming to hate. She was usually so confident, so ready to do anything to get things to work out.
She was just going to have to bite the bullet and get it over with. “...When you’re done, can we talk?”
Scoot held up a hand and nodded. “Yeah.. I can. I’m going to pay the 5.6 mil and they’re going to like it. I’ll send a check over tomorrow. I can get there probably in under a month so I would like the place cleaned up. If you could fill the pantry about a week in advance that would be great to. so it comes with the furnishing? Uh huh. Alright I guess that means a deal. I’ll sign the documents and have it sent over. Yep.. okay.. Goodbye.” He hung up the phone and looked to her.
“Sorry just.. Settling with the house I selected. What do you want to talk about?”
“...Mostly how you reacted to me talking about Monsieur Pontmercy.” Éponine had the feeling that calling him Monsieur Marius would only make things worse for him, however this was making him feel. “If it’s something I should be sorry for, I am. Honestly.”
“No. It’s not something you should be sorry for. He’s not... here far as you let on so why should I be feeling this way. Granted..” Ran a hand over his neck and looked everywhere else but at her. “Never been with anyone before and I have no idea what I’m doing so I feel foolish and I don’t want to mess anything up or be the butt of any jokes. Had a lot of that happen back where I’m from.”
It wasn’t like Éponine was ever going to make jokes like that, even if he did mess up. She might’ve teased him, but that was honestly as far as it would ever go. “He never saw me until I was dying at his feet. You have nothing to fear.”
That was a very easy way to make his entire mood change. That just wasn’t right and for some reason he could only react. Scoot pulled her into his arms and held tight as he could. Is this being possessive? He had no idea, but it wasn’t stopping him from just holding her.
“I really... I don’t know what I’m feeling but I know it’s nice. And he was obviously blind... Had to be.” Pushed his face into the crook of her neck.
It certainly seemed like possessiveness to Éponine, but a kind which she’d never truly known before. A strangely pleasant kind at that. “He saw some blonde bourgeoisie and fell for her in an instant. You think he’d show me more gratitude when I tracked her down, but…”
It hadn’t been easy, but… ‘Ponine knew her way around. Practically all of Paris knew that.
“Wasn’t right of him.” Kissed the side of her cheek closer to her ear and sighed. “Can we... make things more open to other people? Not just keep it at home because I kind of...” What word is it?! Scoot took in a flustered breath before just pulling her into a kiss. Well until he heard a very little ‘~ooh~’ coming from a little Gavroche who decided to come over and spy.
He broke the kiss and just started to blush and laugh.
Goddammit Gavroche. Éponine made a mental note to get revenge on him later, when he was better. “Aren’t you still meant to be in bed?”
“Yeah but ‘Zelma is using the foot of it to nap on!” Pointed to the bed.
Sure enough Azelma had meant to just lay down beside him but had fallen asleep. Mostly because that day had just been none too pleasant for anyone involved.
“Think she’d let me carry her. Gavroche should be allowed to leave soon enough, the doctor said he’d be getting something to get medicine for him.” Scoot commented, moving his hand to gently take hold of Éponine’s.
“If it looks like she might wake up, give her to me.” Yes, even with an injured hand and a still fairly sore chest wound, Éponine would be more than willing to do that. Azelma’s comfort was damned important to her.
“Fair enough...” Moved over to pull her into his arms, being as gentle as he could not to wake her. She didn’t trust him and he knew that, would do for her not to wake up in his arms. When they were let out he walked them home and set her down on the bed he’d made up for her. He gave a little confused look when Gavroche instantly moved over to cuddle under the blankets next to her and pass out not too long in.
“I... could have set him up with somewhere on his own to sleep.”
This, at least, was going to be easy to explain. In Éponine’s eyes, at very least. “I think it’s okay for him to stay with ‘Zelma. We’ve.. not been the closest family over the years.”
“Alright...” Still wasn’t satisfied. He moved over and made the pillows more around them so if they moved they didn’t hit the wall or the dresser drawers the bed was crammed between. He tucked them both in, adding another blanket to be safe and made sure to close the curtains so that when the sun did come up it wouldn’t blind them awake. “There.”
That he’d adapted so readily to her siblings being here did make Éponine smile. Whatever place he’d come from, it was clearly a lot kinder than Paris… “Thank you. For being so kind to them both.”