Something missing, Something changed

Chapter 4

Gavroche glanced over at R. The man was nursing a half empty bottle against the wall, completely ignoring Enjolras' oh so rousing speech. Kind of like Gavroche, with alcohol. Gavroche nudged Courf, and picked up a franc someone had left for a tip. He took aim, and hit the wall directly behind R. The coin ricocheted off the wall and hit R on the nose. As the drunk looked at the wall confusedly, Gavroche swiped the wine bottle he had been drinking. Hiding it behind his chair, he watched with mirth as R looked around for his wine, and put his head down.

"That was slick. Bit mean though." Courf said, "What did you do that for?"

Gavroche shrugged. "For mischief's sake."

"Enjolras is probably happy though."

"Yeah, maybe if R is hungover, he won't knock Enjolras off of the table again." The two laughed, remembering an incident at Gavroche's first meeting, in which R had tackled Enjolras off of the table, proclaiming loudly that the blond was Javert.

"Why are you laughing?" Enjolras snapped angrily. Gavroche pulled R's wine out and tossed it to him. It took him a moment to make the connection, but when he did, a broad grin broke out on his face. "Bravo Gavroche." he said, and continued his speech. Blah blah revolution, blah blah Vive la France, blah blah good for nothing corrupted soldiers... Oh, wait, that part was fun. The Les Amis spent a good amount of time soldier-bashing. Gavroche had plenty of colorful language to add on that bit. Near the end of the meeting, R began to make a fuss about his wine again, and the barmaid, a pretty thing smitten with Enjolras, brought him a opaque glass. A single swig made him choke and shoot up.

"Pour la amour de Dieu, what is that?" he choked. She winked at him.

"Sobering sauce." she grinned "You shouldn't interrupt a passionate orator." Everyone began laughing and R just stood there. And then surprised the life out of everyone but finishing the glass. When the meeting was over, Gavroche walked out next to R.

"Hey, Gavroche." R started, "Why don't you camp at my place tonight, eh? Unless your current hideaway is better." Gavroche snapped his head up to the older man in shock.

"Wait, really?" Gavroche asked.

"No." R said sarcastically. "Of course for real." The urchin looked up at him, for the longest time, and then grabbed his sleeve, uttering a simple

"C'mon" A confused R followed him through the streets of Paris, jogging to keep up. When Gavroche reached the Place de la Bastille, he turned around and looked at R. "welcome to my place." the boy launched himself up and shimmied up the elephant's trunk, rolling down the ladder when he reached the head. R followed him up the ladder, marveling at the ingenuity in this whole situation. When the man squeezed into the head, his eyes fell upon Gavroche. For the first time, the boy was sitting perfectly still, his face showing a mix of shame, fear, regret, with the slightest sliver of hope. In that moment, Grantaire saw him as what he truly was, a terrified child. He squatted by Gavroche.

"Nice place." he said softly. The boy looked at him, pulled a small bag out of the elephants tusk, and held it out. R took it, and realized it was the wallet he had thought he'd lost, almost a month ago.

"Gavroche?" he asked, "What is this?"

"I took it before we started talking. I didn't spend a sou, I swear." he blurted."I was getting desperate and normally those crowds are rich brats and" R interrupted him by putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you." he said. Gavroche furrowed his brow.

"You're not mad?" he asked."You don't think I'm awful?"

"Would you say Feuilly is awful?" R asked. The urchin shook his head in confusion. "Joly met him the exact same way when they were both boys. Now, I'm going to help you, just like Joly did to Feuilly." Gavroche's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Now hurry up, my flat is on the other side of town." Gavroche reached into the tusk again and pulled out the portrait. Shoving it in his over large coat's pocket, he scurried down to the belly, and fell into the front right leg. "Gavroche?" he heard R ask.

"Front right leg." he called. The outline of R's  curly head appeared at the top.

"What on earth are you doing down there?"

"Alternate entrance. Jump down, it's not far." Gavroche heard muttered curses, and R landed next to him, on his butt. "Door's stuck, can you help me?" the  two pushed out into the Parisian night, and presently made it to R's flat. R shrugged his coat off and hung it on a chair.

"Not as flashy as a hollow elephant statue, but its comfortable." Gavroche looked around at the small place. There was a kitchen/living room, and a bedroom off of the main room. It was messy, but not filthy. To Gavroche, it was heaven. "Oh really?" R asked. He looked at R in confusion. "you said that last part out loud." Gavroche blushed a red worthy of Jehan. "anyway, if you don't mind having the couch, that's where you'll be." Gavroche sat on the lumpy thing and pulled off his faded blue coat. The portrait in his pocket fluttered to the floor.

"Who's this?" R asked, picking up the sketch. Gavroche bit his lip. "You can tell me. The mouth is sealed."

"She..." Gavroche waved his hands about uselessly," is everything. Everything. She's my sister, mum, my best friend, she had my back, and I had hers. Even when we had parents, she always meant family." He looked up. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you any more. We promised, I'd never give her away, she'd never do it either." R handed back the picture.

"Do you know where she is?" R asked. Gavroche shook his head.

"Night Taire" he said. R raised his eyebrows, realizing the conversation was over, and ruffled Gavroche's hair.

"Night Gavroche...wait a second DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

Gavroche smiled and cried himself to sleep that night, yearning for her.