Les Couleurs du Monde (An Enjolras Les Misérables Fanfiction)

Chapter IX ~ The ABC Café

Combeferre pushed his glasses higher onto the bridge of his nose. "At Notre Dame the sections are prepared!"

"At rue de Bac they're straining at the leash!" Feuily exclaimed.

"Students, workers, everyone! There's a river on the run, like the flowing of the tide, Paris coming to our side!" Courfeyrac said excitedly.

The back room of the ABC Cafe was teeming with young men. The only women there were Éponine, Elise, and of course, the woman who slipped in occasionally to clean.

The young revolutionists were all excited. There was a feeling of hope in the air, and they all felt it.

"The time is near. So near it's stirring the blood in their veins! And yet beware; don't let the wine go to your brains!" (and of course, here he threw Grantaire a glare) "For the army we fight is a dangerous foe, with the men and the arms that we never can match. It is easy to sit here and swat them like flies, but the national guard will be harder to catch. We need a sign to rally the people, to call them to arms, to bring them in line!"

And just as Enjolras finished speaking, Marius had walked into the room with a faraway look on his face.

"Marius, you're late." scolded Enjolras, who paid no attention to Marius' expression.

Joly however, had taken notice and was as worried and confused as always. "Marius what's wrong with you today? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

Grantaire pulled up a chair and sat near Marius, holding his bottle up. "Some wine and say what's going on!"

"A ghost you say... a ghost maybe.
She was just like a ghost to me...
One minute there, and she was gone!" Marius muttered, dazed.

"I am agog! I am aghast! Is Marius in love at last?" chuckled Grantaire, "I've never heard him 'ooh' and 'aah'! You talk of battles to be won, and here he comes like... Don Juan! It's better than an o-per-a!"

Enjolras silenced the giggling students with his serious and stern tone. Elise was awed by it. He'd always act so light and happy with her."It is time for us all to decide who we are. Do we fight for the right to a night at the opera now? Have you asked of yourselves what's the price you might pay? Is this simply a game for rich young boys to play? The colors of the world are changing day by day..."

Red, the blood of angry men!
Black, the dark of ages past!
Red, a world about to dawn!
Black, the night that ends at last!

"Had you been there today, you might know how it feels to be struck to the bone in a moment of breathless delight! Had you been there today You might also have known how you world may be changed in just one burst of light! And what was right seems wrong... and what was wrong seems right!" Marius said passionately in his defense. He did not know however, that Enjolras did indeed know how he felt. But Enjolras couldn't help but dismiss Marius' love as a distraction. He was younger and careless.

"Red..." started Grantaire, encouraging Marius.

"I feel my soul on fire!"

"Black..."

"My world if she's not there!"

This time all of the students (except for Enjolras) joined in, "Red..."

"The color of desire!"

"Black..."

"The color of despair!" cried Marius.

Enjolras glared at Marius. "Marius, you're no longer a child. I do not doubt you mean it well, but now there is a higher call. Who cares about your lonely soul? We strive toward a larger goal. Our little lives don't count at all!"

As much as Elise felt saddened by what he said, she knew it was true. In the end it wouldn't be a single Parisian's happiness that matters, it'd be the freedom of the entirety of France.

Red, the blood of angry men!
Black, the dark of ages past!
Red, a world about to dawn!
Black, the night that ends at last!

Enjolras turned away from Marius with in a huff. It was now Courfeyrac that he addressed. "Well, Courfeyrac, do we have all the guns? Feuilly, Combeferre, our time is running short.
Grantaire, put that bottle down! Do we have the guns we need?"

"In St. Antoine they're with us to a man!" said Courfeyrac.

Combeferre exclaimed, "In Notre Dame they're tearing up the stones!"

Feuilly reported, "Twenty rifles good as new!"

Gavroche rushed into the back room, shouting. He weaved through the students repeating, "Listen!"

"Twenty rounds for every man!" Joly confirmed. None of the men paid the little boy any attention at all.

"Listen to me!" Gavroche shouted again.

"Double that in Port St. Cloud!" Jean Prouvaire, or Jehan as some preffered to call him said.

"Listen everybody!" Gavroche waved his arms desperately.

"Seven guns in St. Martin!" Lesgles exclaimed.

Gavroche had reached his breaking point. He gave up in his pursuit for attention and just announced what he was going to say, hoping that at least someone would be able to hear him. "General Lamarque is dead!"

Luckily for Gavroche, the someone who heard was Enjolras. "Lamarque is dead." whispered Enjolras in a moment of disbelief before it sunk in. "Lamarque! His death is the hour of fate. The people's man. His death is the sign we await!"

All of the revolutionists were silent. The time had come.

"On his funeral day they will honor his name. It's a rallying cry that will reach every ear! In the death of Lamarque we will kindle the flame. They will see that the day of salvation is near!
The time is near! Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer! Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts!"

But a jubilant shout!

They will come one and all
They will come when we call!

(( *throws this short chapter at you* Hope you enjoyed ))