MISS DERMARK'S LITERARY RAMBLES: BBC LES MISÉRABLES (2018) ENJOLRAS FICS

Binding Revolution

courfjolras, friendsofthemusain24601

The people had not risen. This was a fact which filled Enjolras with dread, and yet finally it was undeniably true. “We’re the only ones left.” He calls, barely disguised fear causing his voice to shake. “Let all the women and fathers of children go from here.”

Courfeyrac looked up from where he was lowering his head. He knew Enjolras more than anyone. He recognised that fear in his voice that no one else seemed to notice.

He stood up and walked over to his lover, placing a gentle hand on his back “Its okay...” he whispers to him. Enjolras turns to him with frantic eyes, “I have led you all astray, we shall die here.”

He shook his head “We choose to do this, mon cher... you did nothing to force us. It was our own choices” he reassured him and presses a gentle kiss against his forehead.

Crystal blue eyes met astonishing chocolate ones, the blue full of agonizing despair. “YOU shall die here.” The hand that was on Enjolras back moves onto his arm “There is no greater honour than to die with you” Courfeyrac whispers before taking his hands into his own.

Enjolras tips his forehead down to meet Courfeyrac’s and sighs heavily. “I want you to leave this place. Please, you should have a bright future. The future our martyrdom will bring about. Leave, I beseech you.”

“Don’t be so foolish” Courfeyrac almost snapped at his lover “how could you suggest such a thing? After everything we’ve fought for. You expect me to just walk away? To leave my lover to die on his own?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. What happened to the Enjolras who was preaching about being proud to die for the cause?

The leader’s countenance was earnest now, begging. He cups Courfeyrac’s face with both hands and eagerly leans forward. “Please, I want so much more for you. I was never going to make it out of here, we both know this to be true. But I want you to live for the both of us.”

Tears began to roll down the centre’s face “I cannot. I’m sorry but I cannot leave you. Please don’t ask for such things... I cannot... please don’t give me such commands” he whimpers. The image of sorrow was mirrored on Enjolras’ own. A single tear drips down his marble cheek as he whispers his darkest fear coming to reality. “Then I have killed you.”

Courfeyrac shook his head and kisses his forehead repeatedly “I’ve done this to myself. It was my own decision. Please grant my wish to die alongside you... my lover...” he begged.

Enjolras inhales shakily, nodding and grabbing Courfeyrac’s hand, gripping onto it for dear life as he turns to the rest of the barricade. The warm palm resting in his own is like a life line, he needs to be grounded. Pulled out of the clouds where his head was.

Enjolras turns back to everyone else. “Again, I must insist you all leave. I cannot ask any of you to lose your lives senselessly. Think of your wives, your husbands, your children. A heroic death will do nothing for them. If you die, they will starve. There is no shame in living to fight another day”

A few more people left their post to leave and go home but Courfeyrac remained strong beside his lover, holding his hand tightly. “I love you...” he whispers.

“As I love you.” Enjolras confirms, still holding tightly to his hand. He doesn’t think he can let go, everything went wrong so quickly. The people didn’t rise. No one else was coming. They were to die, and it was all his fault. Feuilly, Jehan, Bossuet, Bahorel, Joly, Grantaire, Marius, Combeferre, and Courfeyrac. Beloved Courfeyrac. He couldn’t handle the thought that he was the cause of his life’s death.

They heard the soldiers coming. Courfeyrac knew he had to let go soon to be able to fire his weapon but he could bear to let go of his hand. He swallows thickly as he prepares himself. Enjolras takes several calming breaths focusing on absorbing the affection and strength of the man whose hand he was clasping. He readied himself for their separation, praying to every god in the sky that this would not be their last moment together.

When the moment came for Courfeyrac to let go of his hand. He brings it up to his mouth and places a tender kiss there “I love you” he whispers before letting go and holding his weapon properly, readying himself.

The leader steeled himself, stepping forward and calling declaratively out to the national guard. “We will not back down! The citizens of Paris will start a new uprising from the very spot where our blood will be spilt. We will be martyrs for our cause, and you can do nothing to prevent this from happening. The people will rise, your tyranny cannot prevail forever.” With a malicious grin he raises his right fist into the air and shouts. “VIVE LA FRANCE. VIVE LA RÉPUBLIQUE!” Courfeyrac looks up at his lover and admired what he saw. He was a very brave man and that he was very proud of. Before he could think anything else, he hears a loud ‘FIRE’ coming from the other side of the barricade and then shots began to fire at them. Enjolras lifts his chin with pride and with blazing eyes ran headfirst into the fight, away from his love.

The soldiers began to climb over the barricades and Courfeyrac grabs his gun and began to fight. Enjolras utilized death, though he hated it. Fighting tooth and nail for the cause he believes in, trying desperately to protect his friends. Combeferre shields him from a bayonet and he gratefully smiles before turning and shooting a man targeting Joly. The young doctor drags Bossuet away from the danger, he already injured himself.

Courfeyrac was busy fighting a soldier off of Feuilly who was grateful. He feared death. It had always been one of his greatest fears but it comforted him knowing that he would be dying fighting alongside his best friends... his lover. Fighting for a new world that the people of France deserved, a new world that they would never see. Courfeyrac turned and was met by a soldier who pierced him with his bayonet and he let out a loud cry.

The hairs on the back on Enjolras’ neck stood up even before the injury occurred. His sixth sense for his lover going haywire, when he heard Courfeyrac cry out he screamed out, hysterical. “NO!” He would have died if not for Bahorel tipping back the gun pointed at him. Enjolras runs to his love and attempts to scoop him up, but his arms are too weak. He half carries, half drags him away from the stench of death and defeat into the Musain, muttering frantic reassurances. “You’re okay, you’re okay, oh my god you’re going to be okay Sunshine. Why didn’t you leave?” Tears caused him to squint, he couldn’t see through the liquid clouding his vision. “Why did you stay, I have killed you I’ve killed you oh my god you’re going to be okay you have to be okay” his voice broke.

A pained whimper left Courfeyrac’s mouth and he weakly pushes Enjolras away from him despite that he wanted Enjolras to hold him. “Save yourself… you need to defend the barricade… for the people Enj” he squeezes his eyes shut at the pain and then reopened them. Enjolras was covered with blood. He didn’t know if it was his own blood or someone else’s but it was all the same now. “Please do not be ashamed in me… I was supposed to fight until the end. You need to leave me… the soldiers are going to break through the doors any moment” he says, becoming breathless.

Enjolras refused to be pushed away and brought himself closer, tipping their foreheads against each other. He holds Courfeyrac’s head tenderly and speaks soft reassurances, heart clenching painfully in his chest. Courfeyrac had to be okay, he had to. “Of course I’m not ashamed of you, you’re so brave. So so brave Sunshine.” A sob creeps it’s way up his throat. “I’m not leaving you. Ever. It’s you and me until the end.” The iron scent of his lover’s blood stained his hands and was encrusted beneath his fingernails. When he pushed back Courfeyrac’s hair, the blood smeared across his forehead and Enjolras releases another strangled sob. The soldiers are trying to break down the door of the Musain which was barricaded shut. It was only a matter of moments when they finally break through the door.

Courfeyrac leans forward and kisses him “you could live... there’s so shame in living... there’s no shame living to fight for another day. Please...” he pauses “for me...” tears were falling down quickly. He was so scared but this was the end of the line for him. Enjolras can keep on fighting.

Enjolras kisses back hard, desperately. One hand remains in Courfeyrac’s hair and the other on his face holding him there as if it will make a difference. As if he holds tight enough he might not slip away and might be able to protect him from death. It isn’t so. “Not without you. France needs its martyrs in order for the people to rise. I am happy to oblige for the cause. But more importantly I refuse to live in a world without you. We die together now, assuring a new world. A better and brighter tomorrow for all citizens. Join me love, I am proud to die beside you.”

The brunette lets out a pained sob and pushes him away “The people need you... our friends” he whispered, curling in on himself slightly. Before he could open his mouth, the soldiers burst in, breaking down the barricaded door, ready to kill whoever was in their path. Enjolras immediately stepped in front of his lover, attempting to shield him from view. Chin lifted in defiance he speaks, eyes blazing with ire. “Long live the republic!” He declares, slipping one hand behind him to squeeze Courfeyrac’s. This was his last moment, and he was proud of it. “Long live the revolution!” It takes everything in Courfeyrac for him to get up from where he was sat. He gripped his gun tightly and shoved Enjolras aside. Foolish boy. He rose up his gun and began to shoot at the soldiers who began to slaughter their friends before their very eyes before he looked over at his lover to make sure he was okay.

The blonde fell to the ground when Courfeyrac shoved him and was momentarily disoriented, but rose once more and looked behind him frantically searching for his lover. “Courfeyrac, look out!” He screeched, voice thick with panic.

Before Courfeyrac could even register what Enjolras was warning him about, he feels a bullet piece his chest. He gasps loudly, taking all the breath out of him. He gripped his chest and fell to his knees in agony. Before the soldier could shoot at Enjolras, Combeferre comes up behind and stabs him with his bayonet.

Enjolras’ vision went red, he screams so forcefully he’s certain his voice is going to give out. Immediately he runs forward catching Courfeyrac as he crumples to his knees with a broken expression. “No!” He screamed. “Sunshine you cannot do this to me. We were supposed to go together, what are you thinking leaving me here? You’re going to be okay you HAVE to be okay.”

The brunet curls in on Enjolras and smiled up at him weakly. “I have saved you... that’s all I’ve ever wanted... to keep you safe” he breathes out. He looks up at Enjolras in a dazed state “I’m looking up at a god... my own god” he takes his hand that was pressed against his wound and places it on his cheek gently. “My beautiful... brave man. I’m so proud of you”

The leader can’t stop shaking, his sobs are ripping him apart from the inside out. He doesn’t think anything could hurt more than having your lover die in your arms. If there is a god, he prays, we will die together. I cannot live without him. I don’t WANT to. Tears cascade down his face and he sweeps a thumb across Courf’s cheek. “I don’t want to be safe without you, I don’t want to do this without you. What’s the point of a new world without you in it?”

Courfeyrac opens his mouth to say something but they were suddenly surrounded by the soldiers. “He’s the leader...” one of them says “All of your friends are dead. This is over for you now” he says, staring Enjolras down.

“Any last words? If not... shoot him where he is” he says.

Courfeyrac reaches up and slips his hand into Enjolras’ hand, squeezing reassuringly, letting his lover know that he is here. “My brave man...” he whispers. Enjolras holds his hand in return, tightly and flashes a blinding grin at his enemies. May his radiance be burnt into their wretched memories forever. The gods must not be fair after all if they survived while he and his lover do not. He raised a fist in the air, other hand clutching his Sunshine’s beloved palm. “We die as one.” His smile did not fade as the bullet ripped through his body and Courfeyrac’s heart shattered at the sound of the shots, knowing full well that they have shot his lover.

The brave leader fell to the ground next to Courfeyrac, head cracking on the pavement with a sickening thud. However, he remained alive for a few moments more. He whimpers, reaching for the hand of his love which he dropped when he fell. Courfeyrac turned to face him and clutches his hand weakly “I love you... more than anything in the world... thank you for being the light in my day... thank you... the love of my life... it’s been an honour to fight beside you, my love” he was looking into Enjolras’ eyes. He wanted Enjolras to be the last thing he saw before his eyes closed. “I’ll see you on the other side... I love you...” he whispers in his final breath. He was gone.

Enjolras wheezed a sob the minute his lover passed on, screaming in agony not from the bullet wound but the pain in his heart. He crawled forward smearing blood across the hardwood and broken glass, cradling Courfeyrac’s body on top of his own. Rocking him side to side he shakily hissed out agonizing breaths, smoothing back Courf’s hair whilst muttering to himself. “It’s okay, it’s okay Sunshine.” He kisses the cold forehead. “I’m joining you soon, I love you so much just hold on baby. I’m coming home.” He looked up at the sky with angry tears in his eyes. “We could have been great.” Then the leader in red was no more.

Why Oh Why Did Enjolras Cut His Hair and Grow A Goddawful Moustache?

AberrantAngel

"What is that thing on your face!" Courfeyrac gasped as soon as Enjolras walked into the Musain. Everyone in the café turned to face him not even able to recognize him as the annoying one always shouting in the corner.
"Let us speak of more important issues," Enjolras evaded the subject, "Combeferre is there any news from other groups?"
Combeferre turned towards Enjolras, seeing his new look for the first time. He was trying ever so hard to be polite, but he couldn't keep his mouth from twitching into a smile. "Yes," He stifled a laugh behind a fake cough, "I spoke to students I found in the Luxembourg Gardens... I am sorry, my friend, I simply cannot..." And he burst into laughter along with Courfeyrac. Enjolras bristled and directed his attention to Feuilly who was chatting with Bahorel in the corner. As soon as they saw his face they simply could not stand it.
"Is anyone going to take me seriously!" Enjolras shouted and everyone's eyes were on him again. It seemed that people were starting to realize it was him since he had screamed so loud.
"Enjolras," Jehan smiled, "It has been a month since we have seen you and you return like this!"
"I had no idea you would go to such lengths to disguise yourself from the police," Bossuet commented, "When you said you would have to conceal your identity we all just thought you meant wear a hat or something of the sort!"
"After escaping arrest I could not take any chances. There is a very excessive officer in Paris that I must not run into again. I would greatly appreciate it if we could focus on the meeting and not on my face." Enjolras had not expected such a strong reaction from his friends. Many men had moustaches. What was so strange about him having one? To be fair it was quite scratchy and simply annoying to manage.
Marius came sprinting into the Musain with Gavroche behind him, “I am so sorry I am late! I thought I saw Cosette on the way here, but it was not her.” He glanced at Enjolras, “Oh, do we have a new member?” This set off a whole chain of laughter that did not cease for at least five minutes. Enjolras scowled the entire time and Marius looked confused.
“My dear Marius, I love you so! That man is our chief, Enjolras!” Courfeyrac was doubled over in his chair wheezing. Marius’s confusion turned into utter horror.
“Enjolras! I offer my sincerest apologies!” He said then fled to sit next to his roommate.
“Hey, I have never seen such a creature as what resides on your face!” Gavroche laughed with the group, “Oh! I must go fetch Grantaire from the Corinthe!” Then he took off out the door.
The last person on the entire planet he wanted to see in that moment was Grantaire. If Combeferre could not even glance at him without poking fun, what would the ridiculous cynic have to say? He knew that the teasing would have to fade out eventually, this was how he would have to live from now on. But maybe Bossuet’s idea of a hat was worth the lack in concealment for the lessening in laughter. He took a deep breath, turned to his friends, and glared until none of them made a sound.
“Good, now let us continue the meeting. I want to discuss what I have been doing while in hiding and I need to catch up on what I missed,” Enjolras took his place at the front of the table. “Joly, do you have any information about getting resources to treat injuries once our barricades are ready.”
Joly was putting every ounce of his willpower into answering kindly, but he was too weak. A trickle of a laugh slipped through his mouth. “I mean no disrespect to you! But you see it twitches strangely when you speak. I cannot help but find it funny!”
There was a chorus of agreement throughout the group. Enjolras sat and rested his hand on his hands. It was going to be a lifetime before he lived this down. While he sat, regretting the moustache, Grantaire arrived. Enjolras’s face was shielded behind his hands.
“Oh, Great Apollo! Your hair has gone short! What master from the heavens has descended to command such awful testaments!” Grantaire chuckled, but not so much as the others. He didn’t know yet. He had not suffered the same view as the others just yet. Grantaire sensed that Enjolras was upset, and assumed it was because of him, “Enjolras, I do not jest to hurt you. I am sure your marble façade will not be tarnished without the sun rays it once had.”
And Enjolras looked up.
“By the grace of the LORD and the torment of each circle of hell!” Grantaire threw back his head and convulsed with laughter. “My Apollo has grown a caterpillar above his rosy lips! Whatever witch had kissed them to curse them so must look out for I will avenge you!”
“I have not kissed any witches.” Enjolras said indignantly. “And we’re in the middle of the meeting, please keep control of yourself, Grantaire.”
“As you wish,” Grantaire said, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a few last chuckles. He sat with Joly and Bossuet at the farthest end of the table. Enjolras was no longer paying attention as he finally was able to begin the meeting, so he did not hear the whispers between the three in the corner.
“What a man he is to be brave enough to come out in public like that,” Grantaire said to his friends.
“Who are you kidding? We know your dark secrets, R. You love his new look, do you not?” Bossuet teased.
“Aw, look your cheeks have gone rosy!” Joly smiled and then looked surprised. “Oh my! You actually do like the moustache!”
“I will neither confirm nor deny that statement.”