114Hello everyone! Here's another new book for you! In this one, Enj's about fifteen, and Combeferre's almost twenty, if not already there. I have two more Enj/Ferre super-brothers fics in the works, one that's up and another that will be up soon, and they all kind of correspond, but you certainly don't have to read one to understand the other. However, they will be published in order of how they would happen (chronological order.) But I repeat, you do NOT have to read one to understand the others. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Only one for this book... I am not Victor Hugo, "Catch Me I'm Falling" is a song from Next to Normal, cover photo from crazygreenflamingo's Tumblr page, and my cousin Brianna co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!
~Rosey
Catch Me, I'm Falling
Chapter One:
Somedays, it seemed like Paris never stopped raining.
Today was one of those days. Julien Enjolras and Francis Courfeyrac sat at the kitchen table of the flat Combeferre and Julien shared, pouring over their textbooks as the downpour hammered the windows. The medical student was off at his class for the afternoon, leaving the two fifteen-year-olds alone in the flat.
"What's another word for photosynthesis?" Courfeyrac broke the silence, looking up from his book.
Enjolras looked up as well, raising an eyebrow. "There is no other word for it. Photosynthesis is photosynthesis."
"Oh," the brunette looked back down. "Well never mind then."
The other boy chuckled a little to himself, but it didn't take two seconds for the chuckle to turn into a surprisingly harsh cough. Courfeyrac looked up, concerned. "You alright?"
Julien gave a little nod, not looking up. "Mmmhmm. I'm fine."
Courfeyrac shrugged a little, not thinking anything of it, returning to his textbook. "Alright."
Another ten minutes of silence passed before Enjolras coughed again, his breath a little rattily in his throat. Courfeyrac silently got to his feet, going over to the tea pot and pouring a small cup of the warm liquid, returning to the blond's side and putting it before his friend. Julien blinked up at him. "What's that for?"
"You sounded like you needed it," Courfeyrac smiled kindly. "Also, I wanted to take a break from not working on my essay."
Enjolras gave a little laugh, taking a sip of the tea, wincing a little as it went down his raw throat. "Oh. Of course."
The brunette flopped dramatically back into his chair. "I am simply not inspired! And I refuse to subject my teacher to an essay that is dull. Especially about photosynthesis."
"I think you ought to rebel against something more valuable," Julien mumbled dryly.
"It's the little things that count, mon ami!" Courfeyrac beamed.
Enjolras opened his mouth to speak, but only managed to cough again, harsher this time, causing Francis to bite his lip. "You don't sound too good, Enj."
"No, no, I'm fine," the blond protested quickly, shaking his head. "Honest. I am."
"You don't sound fine," Courfeyrac pressed. "You sound sick."
Enjolras's head snapped up, and his eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not sick. I am perfectly fine. I promise."
"You know, you don't have to be 'fine' all the time," the other student's voice softened a little. "People do get sick."
"Well, I don't," Enjolras grumbled, looking back down at his book. "I'm fine, and I'll be fine."
"Does Combeferre know that you're 'fine?'" Courfeyrac asked a little icily, though it was purely out of concern for his dear friend.
The blond shook his head. "And he doesn't need to know."
The brunette sighed, sitting up straighter. "I think he does."
Enjolras shook his head again, speaking even more stubbornly. "No. I'm fine. He has enough to worry about."
Courfeyrac crossed his arms. "Enjolras, not telling him only burdens him with more worry, you know."
At this, the previously sharp blue eyes across the table turned wide and confused for a minute, before turning decidedly hurt, and then sharp once more. "Pardon me?"
"He worries about you anyway, and when you don't tell him things he has to make sure nothing's wrong!" Courfeyrac found his voice raising a little. "The least you could do is help him out by telling him when you need help! That way he wouldn't have to be watching you all the time!"
The blond's brows furrowed a little. "I...I don't mean to burden him... I... I try and help him by not bothering him when I just don't feel very well."
"But that only makes more work for him because he doesn't notice until you are really bad! It would be better if you told him before things got serious!" Courfeyrac snapped, unsure of why he suddenly felt so angry, if it was Enjolras's blatant disregard for his own personal health, or if it was the way he seemed to think not telling Combeferre was a good thing, or if it was just the rain putting him in a foul mood.
Needless to say, however, he was rather surprised when Enjolras leapt to his feet, his eyes blazing. "Maybe it would be better if I just got out of his hair all together."
The brunette looked a little taken aback and confused at his harsh tone. "What? Enjolras, that doesn't even make sense! That's not what I was saying!"
Memories rushed through Enjolras's head... Memories nobody except Combeferre knew about or understood. The blond revolutionary knew he was being irrational, but for the love of God, Courfeyrac hurt him, really hurt him, and he was just so bloody warm and why was that rain so loud...? "If I'm such a burden to him, maybe I should just leave."
"I didn't say that!" Something resembling panic rushed into Courfeyrac as he stood up straighter. "I said you should just tell him when you're sick!"
"It's not that easy, Courfeyrac," Enjolras's voice was cold and harsh as he moved around the table towards his friend.
"Why don't you explain it to me, then?!" the brunette stepped closer himself, not remember exactly when or how the yelling started, scared and angry and confused all at once. "What's so complicated about this, Enjolras?!"
"It's not your business, Courfeyrac," Julien grumbled, not looking away from his friend's equally blazing eyes. He had to hold back another cough, cursing when he felt it bubble up in his throat.
The other student crossed his arms. "See? You're sick. And you should tell 'Ferre."
"No," Enjolras shook his head, covering his mouth with his hand as he finally gave in and let out a hoarse cough. "He's already worried enough about me. I'm already enough of a burden, aren't I? And if you keep telling me what to do about it, I'll leave." The blond's mind was racing out of control. He hated fevers for doing that to him. He always thought too much when he wasn't fully in control of his mind... When part of it was ruled by a fever. You are a burden to him, Julien Enjolras. A useless, pitiful burden. Why would a grown man want to take care of a fifteen-year-old child anyway? You're just a useless-
"Enjolras, this is so stupid!" Courfeyrac's exclamation brought him back to the real world. "I'm trying to help you!"
"Well," Julien all but growled. "Thank you for pointing out what a burden I am to Combeferre. But I already knew that."
"Enjolras, you're not being rational!" the brunette all but pleaded, seeing the feverish light in Enjolras's eyes and getting anxious.
Enjolras was quiet for a moment before going over and putting on his coat and gathering his books, slipping them into his book bag. Then, he silently walked into his bedroom, returning moments later with a few shirts and some extra books, shoving them into his bag as well. Courfeyrac watched in silent shock before he finally found his voice again. "Julien, what are you doing? You can't just leave!"
"Of course I can," the blond spoke stoically. "I'm here to be the voice of the people. And I can do that in other parts of France just as well as I can here."
"Where are you planning on going?!" Courfeyrac's voice rose a good three octaves. "You can't just go wander the streets!"
"The people do. Every day. And I have some money," Enjolras slung his bag over his shoulder, his eyes blazing with feverish anger and hurt.
"Wouldn't it make more sense just to kick me out?" the brunette all but squealed. "I'm not the one that lives here!"
"You're also not the one causing 'Ferre to worry himself to death," Enjolras muttered.
"You cannot be serious!" Courfeyrac felt tears of guilt, anger, and fear prick in his eyes.
Silently, Enjolras pushed open the door, stepping out into the pouring rain. "I have a class at one. I have to go."
The brunette stared after him in shock for a minute, open mouthed, before running after him. "Enjolras! You can't leave!"
But the blond was already down the street, lost in the downpour, not looking back.
Phew! Some first chapter, huh? I know, I know. Going pretty fast, huh? Well, there's actually a meaning behind that... Life can change in a blink of an eye because of a few misplaced words. That's what we're trying to do here.
So! Let us know what you think, please?! Review!
~Rosey