"I’m not even going to ask what that makes Gavroche." Who: Éponine Thénardier and Scootaloo What: Éponine's not in a fantastic mood. Scoot wants to help! When: After these texts Where: The flat the Thénardiers share with Seiya. Rating: Probably only PG13! Mostly fluff. Slight TW for minor references to abuse, and to the terribleness of 1832. Status: Complete. :D
Scoot shifted to sitting up and headed over to her, mostly because he wanted her most comfortable when she talked about whatever was going on in her mind. Her bed seemed the best fit. Even if, well, he figured wherever he was and holding her was a comfortable place for her. He tapped at her door after being let in by Gavroche.
“Éponine.... It’s me. Your awesome boyfriend!” He was allowed to be a little full of himself, right?
Maybe a little? He’d proved he was pretty damned awesome, in Éponine’s eyes, in the past, so... well, it couldn’t hurt. She got up off the bed, opening her door - she’d never said how thankful she was that he didn’t just come straight in, but it meant a lot.
“Thank you... you didn’t have to come,” really, she’d been ready to deal with it herself. It wouldn’t have been the first time. “I’m lucky to have you.”
“I did too have to come.” He gently brushed her hair behind her ear. “You’re my girlfriend and you deserve a boyfriend willing to come to your rescue no matter the problem.” He kissed her forehead before shutting the door behind himself. Scoot knew all too well that the door had to be shut at all times when she was in a mood like this.
It was either that or she’d be forever distracted. To put it mildly. Éponine was mostly just glad he’d never asked her exactly why she had so many... quirks like that. True, it was probably mostly down to the ridiculous amount of things that Gavroche had told him, but... still.
“Does this mean I get to call you my knight in shining armour?” That was accompanied by a weak little smile. Sure, she wasn’t in the most fantastic mood right now, but she could at least try.
“Sure. And you’re the princess in the tower with the fire breathing dragon I have to work past to find the beauty at the top.” Kissed her hand and smiled, mostly trying to lift her mood.
It was working, somewhat! Even if, really, it was amongst some of the cheesiest stuff that Éponine had ever heard... “I’m not even going to ask what that makes Gavroche.”
“The mighty stallion that’s really just an ass.” He teased and moved to pull her into his arms, tickling slightly at her side before wrapping his arms around her middle and pushing his face against her neck. “So. What has my princess so distraught?”
Éponine couldn’t help but laugh. God, if that didn’t describe Gavroche to a T... she was going to have to tease him about that later. It was her duty as his big sister, clearly! “It’s... hard to explain. Have... you at least heard that people here sometimes have strange dreams?”
Sure, she was prone to nightmares usually, but the dreams this place brought... they were unlike anything she’d experienced before.
“Yeah, loads. I’ve been lucky enough not to have any at all. I guess.” Shrugged and began just gently rubbing at her hips and sides to soothe her as she spoke. “What did you dream of? Don’t worry, I won’t say you’re crazy or not believe you I promise.”
Lucky bastard. Éponine would’ve given anything to not have the dreams, even if they did occasionally replace her nightmares... they tended to be worse, though. “In my dreams... it’s almost like my life here, only worse.”
She’d lost count of the number of times she’d woken up with new bruises or new scars. “Starving on the streets of Paris in... I don’t know, the 1830s?”
“Hmm. Interesting. Maybe research the time period see what you can find? See if it’s a past life or something?” Gently kissed at her neck. “Just remember though. Your life here isn’t bad anymore. You have me and I will always protect you.”
Éponine had actually given that a go recently, considering she’d been given a name she knew she recognised recently. “There’s students talking about General Lamarque, saying that he’s about to die... that’s the June Rebellions.” Which had ended badly, as far as she could tell, so she had no hope for how her dreams were going to pan out. “I... might need to ask you to come over like this more often.”
Like hell could she face this alone. Especially not when all the other names from her dreams were uncomfortably close to home - Gavroche, their parents... even Cosette.
“I don’t mind coming over. It’s nice...” Began gently rocking side to side with her. Humming something right against her ear, something he hopes might help. If he can get her back to sleep, and keep her asleep without the nightmares he will deem it as a success.
This was strangely soothing... Éponine let out a contented little noise, instinctively pressing just a tiny bit closer to him. She liked the contact, more than she could really put into words. “I don’t deserve you...”
“You do.... You deserve more than you give yourself credit for.” Kissed her neck again and pushed his lips to the side of her head, pulling the blanket up to try and cocoon her and make her feel secure. He’d even dealt with anything that with anything that would make just allowing her to use him as a pillow difficult. Ate. Grabbed a drink that was in his coat pocket beside him, used the restroom, and hey. He could sleep too if it came too it.
Even with that said, Éponine was fairly sure she didn’t even remotely deserve him. What had she done in her life to get such an amazing man? She’d done nothing great nor good, done more terrible things than she’d ever be likely to admit... and yet, here he was, showing her more care and affection than she’d ever been given before in her life.
“Maybe I can try to believe that...” It’d be better than constantly denying it. Even if it’d likely take months for her to even remotely regard it as true.
“All I ask for is for you to try.” Moved a pillow behind him and reached a hand down to pull out a chocolate bar he’d half finished. He broke off a piece and brought it around to her mouth. “Want a piece? It’s just chocolate and caramel.” He had a weak spot for it. He’ll admit that. And chocolate had chemicals that would help make her happy!
Anything that would make her happy was clearly a good thing. Éponine took that piece from him, and honestly made pretty short work of it...she’d been in here for a while, so. It was excusable, right? “You’re the best boyfriend ever. Hope you know that.”
Noticing that he arched an eyebrow and actually shifted out from behind her, tucking her in. “I will be back shortly. You need to eat” He kissed her cheek softly before going to the door. He stopped. “I will return after about fifteen minutes. Is it alright for me to just walk in? I can knock still.”
Really? He was going to... but he didn’t have to! Éponine honestly just had the occasional day like this, days where going to the effort of getting up and eating seemed too much. “I... guess that’s okay? Considering I know you’re here now...”
“I’ll cook you something special!” He smiled and left the room going to work on making her a hamburger and fries! It’s what he saw were in the freezer when he went in. And hey, it was a decent amount she’d need. He smiled and set it all up on the plate, adding extra fries because he knows full well he’ll steal some. Once it was all done he brought the ketchup with him and opened the door. “Back.”
Éponine still couldn’t believe he was actually doing this. True, she’d been with some absolute scum in the past, but... the idea of a boyfriend actually going to this amount of effort was so, so strange to her. Not in a bad way at all, but it still stood.
“You’re going to make sure I eat pretty much all of this, aren’t you?” She was better at that than she’d been when she first moved out here, but still occasionally had... issues. That probably wasn’t surprising in the slightest, considering how long she’d survived on fairly limited food.
“Damn straight I am. You eating means you’ll be strong. And you being strong means fighting off your nightmares is easier. Physical strength and health and mental strength and health go hand in hand.” He took a fry and poked her nose with it. “And I may remember how you said you liked your hamburgers when we were talking about favorite foods and made it to those specifications. Even down to the fact you don’t like mayo but prefer ranch on it and exactly four pickles!”
How was he so good at remembering these things?! Éponine couldn’t even pretend she understood... maybe it was just part of him being an awesome boyfriend or something. She wasn’t sure. “I guess you’re right. Anything that keeps those nightmares away is a good thing...”
It was probably only down to luck that she hadn’t ever had one whilst he was around. She could only hope things carried on that way.
“Yep! So here!” Set the plate in front of her and handed her the ketchup before leaning over to grab his drink. She could steal some of it if she wanted to. It was just a Monster, the orange kind. Only kind he actually liked. If she took it he’d flail but still let her. “Hey. If you aren’t that tired, maybe we could play a board game or watch a movie? I’d say we go out but it’s kinda chilly and windy.”
He could keep the drink. Éponine’d never really had a taste for energy drinks, even if they had their uses when she was trying to pull all-nighters on school projects... considering she was mostly done for now, she was definitely just going to focus on the food. Which was pretty damn good, she’d give him that much.
“Anything that keeps you around. I like being with you.” Not just in a sexual sense, obviously. Especially since the idea of sex alone was making her stomach knot up in all kinds of interesting ways... she blamed the dreams. Especially her father’s wretched ‘gang’.
“I like being with you too. It makes me happiest after all.” He smiled and set the drink back beside her bed, crossing his legs after taking off his shoes.Seiya had bitched at him, and Haruka was still trying to get him on the habit of taking them off before walking around the house. He wasn’t used to it dammit.
“So... Which? I saw there was a game of Monopoly out, but I get mean in that game and throw pieces.” Ran a hand over his neck and half laughed.
Éponine couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head. “At least you’re honest! Gav and I just cheat... terribly.”
The game just wasn’t fun if everyone was playing fair!
“Heh. Then let’s not play!” He thought for a moment before looking at the tv. “We could cuddle and watch a movie when you’re done eating.” And because he could, he took a few of her fries quickly so she couldn’t stop him.
Thief! Éponine poked him in the arm, just because she could. “I think that’d be better... even if I’m not sure we have anything you’d be interested in.”
“I like Disney movies! Like. When I was little. I had a Cinderella birthday party, but I wanted to dress like the prince so I took off the dress my foster mother at the time got me and changed into slacks from my foster brother and a button up shirt and like had a stick tied around my waist. And for a few minutes before she noticed and got mad at me I was the prince!” He shrugged. “Weird story. I know.”
Maybe a little weird, but strangely adorable. It made Éponine smile, at very least. “I’m sure you were a very dashing prince too. Just like you are now.”
Scoot turned a rather bright shade of pink at that, looking down at his lap and twiddled his thumbs together. “Heh...Éponine... uh. Thanks.” Ran a hand over his neck and tried to hide the smile that caused to creep over his lips.
Okay, that was even more adorable. Éponine pushed herself up a little, pressing a kiss against his cheek. “You’re welcome. And for the record? Adorable when you blush, even for a man.”