Chapter Text
Grantaire was abruptly pulled from his finally peaceful sleep by the sharp ringing of his phone —a ringing that was definitely not alarm. With his eyes still shut, he blindly reached out and located his phone in his mess of blankets and pillows. Blearily, he clicked 'accept call' and said hello. Except, what came out sounded more like, “hmph."
"Good morning to you too," said Enjolras in a voice that was too cheerful for —what time? Grantaire pulled the phone away from his face and double checked the time: 6:30. Definitely too early for anyone to be awake. Grantaire then realized who it was he was talking to.
He cleared his throat and tried again, "Hello. Is there a reason you're up this early on a Saturday?"
"I just had a question."
Oh god, was he regretting the kiss last night? Was he calling to say that he changed his mind? "About last night?" Grantaire prompted.
"No! No I had a great time last night. It was actually about a book."
"A book?" Was Enjolras really calling him about a book, of all things. This better be damn important, Grantaire thought.
"Yes exactly. A book. I want to write one, but I can only say so much over the phone," Enjolras replied.
"The government is always listening, trust no one. All that right?"
Enjolras sighed and said, "Listen, can we just meet up so I can give you more details?"
"Sure, when and where?"
"My place in 20? I'll text you my address."
"Yeah, I'll see you then," Grantaire said before hanging up the phone.
Grantaire stood in front of his closet, debating what to wear. He ended up throwing on a hoodie and a dark pair of jeans, something simple and not too much.
Grantaire looked at the address on his phone as he hurried out the door. Enjolras' apartment wasn't too far way, close enough to walk to, so that's what he did.
The warm spring air was pleasant, and the harsh winter breeze was almost completely gone. As Grantaire neared Enjolras' place, his thoughts started to pick up again and doubt filled his mind. How would they greet? Would a simple kiss on the cheek suffice? Would a handshake be too weird? (Clearly it would). After all, last night ended on good terms, but not in the way Grantaire expected.
Grantaire shifted and started to kiss underneath Enjolras' jaw working his way down to his neck as he tried to relax Enjolras. He heard Enjolras laugh awkwardly and say, "Promise you won't write any articles about this?"
Grantaire hummed into his neck and pulled away quickly before saying, "I promise."
Slowly, Grantaire began to unbutton Enjolras' shirt, until he got to the last button and he found himself on his knees -- worshipping at his feet, taking penance in the form of passion. Enjolras put a hand on Grantaire's cheek, slowly running his thumb over his cheek. They held each other's gaze for a few moments before Enjolras took an uneven breath and closed his eyes.
"As much as I would love for this to continue, can we wait?" Enjolras asked.
"Yes, of course. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Enjolras helped Grantaire to his feet and wrapped his arms around Grantaire's waist.
"You didn't make me uncomfortable, probably the opposite actually. But, let's get dinner this Friday first and if I'm not being too presumptuous, the night can end even better than tonight."
"Mhm, that sounds good."
All the worries and doubts that tickled the back of his mind calmed, at least for the time being, when he knocked on Enjolras' door and was greeted by a warm smile and Enjolras leaning in and brushing his cheeks against his.
"Salut, please come in," Enjolras said as he stepped away and opened the door further to let Grantaire in, closing it behind him.
Grantaire took in the view around him. On the far side of the living room we're floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the street below. Books overflowed from their home on the bookshelves and many were simply strewn across the room; stacked in piles, some having a clean spoon that was being used as a bookmark. The entire room was clean, except for those books and files strewn about.
"Would you like anything to drink? Tea? Coffee?" Enjolras asked from Grantaire's side.
"Water is fine for now," Grantaire said.
Enjolras disappeared through an open doorway and returned with a water bottle in hand, handing it Grantaire who nodded in thanks. Enjolras then led them to the couch, where Grantaire sat down gingerly, unsure of the circumstances.
"What was it about the book you were talking about over the phone?" Grantaire prompted when Enjolras didn't offer any words.
"I want to talk about my feelings about the government. Like my original hopes when I got elected, then what I realized about voters and the public. Also, I want to talk about how I feel now," Enjolras said.
Grantaire sat back a bit and just stared at Enjolras, who looked a bit radiant with the sun shining in through the windows and into his hair.
"I would want to remain anonymous, obviously," Enjolras continued.
"And what's my role in all this?"
"That's why I wanted you to come over! I know you're a writer and I was wondering if you could help me write it. I have no experience writing the way you write after all."
"And ruin my career?" Grantaire asked, not that he was concerned that it would actually ruin his career. After all, that's what he did when he wrote as R.
"But it wouldn't I promise! Publish it as R," Enjolras suggested.
"Why would anybody trust what I publish under R? It's all scandal and stuff of tabloid magazines," Grantaire said.
"You wouldn't have to put your name on it. Just put, 'transposed by a friend.'"
"'A friend?' Is that what this is going to be at the end of all this?" Grantaire asked.
"I would be lying if I didn't say that I want it to be more," Enjolras said.
"I'm still a bit wary, I may need a little convincing."
Enjolras looked back up with a brightness, a determination in his eyes. "By the end of the week, I'll have you convinced."
Grantaire smirked and said, "I look forward to your persuasion."
Friday
Grantaire stood outside Enjolras's door, tugging at the bottom of his green button down and looking down at the ground, tring to build up the courage to just raise his hand to the door and knock a few times.
"Come on Grantaire, you're looking forward to this date, presumably he's looking forward to this date. Nothing to worry about," Grantaire muttered to himself.
His internal, and external, monologuing was interrupted when the door in front of him was pulled open. Now faced with a smiling angel, Grantaire felt slightly relieved.
"Hey, I thought I heard footsteps," Enjolras greeted.
"That would be me," Grantaire said awkwardly.
"Hey, no need to be nervous. Take me to the restaurant you've been excited to take me to and everything will be okay," Enjolras reassured.
Grantaire nodded and offered Enjolras his hand. Enjolras took his hand and together they made their way down the stairs and into the crisp air of the night. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as a bodyguard stepped out, and kept his distance, allowing the two of them to continue walking a bit ahead.
"So, this guy always follows you around huh?" Grantaire asked.
"Pretty much yeah."
"Okay, so, the place I'm taking you to? It's co-owned by two of my friends. It's a small place, nothing too crazy," Grantaire said, changing the topic.
"I'm sure I'll love it," Enjolras said as he squeezed Grantaire's hand reassuringly
Within a few streets, they were standing in front of a small restaurant that was tucked between a flower shop and antique store. Grantaire stepped forward and held the door open, placing his hand on Enjolras' back and gently leading him into the small place.
As soon as they were through the door, they were through the door, they were greeted with a loud and warm, "'Aire! You've finally managed to come back! And this time with a very handsome man."
In front of them stood Musichetta who stepped forward and pulled Grantaire into a hug.
"Chetta! How is Joly?" Grantaire asked.
Musichetta released Grantaire and took a step back. "He's doing well. Still a little worried, with Bousset just getting out of the hospital and all."
"Oh, that's the friend who was in the hospital yes?" Enjolras interjected.
"Smart one, this one," Musichetta said jokingly.
Grantaire nodded and squeezed Enjolras' hand.
"So Chetta, can we get a booth in the back?" Grantaire asked.
"No problem, go ahead and pick your favorite spot. Somebody will be back soon to take your orders."
Grantaire led Enjolras to the back of the small resturant and to his favorite spot in the entire place. It was located in the very corner, and from it, he could see everyone in the room, but no one ever cared enough to look in the corner. Grantaire pulled a chair out for Enjolras before taking a seat himself.
On the table, Enjolras took Grantaire's hand in his and said, "This is a very lovely place. I'm glad you brought me here."
"This is where I spent a lot of my time when I first came to the US," Grantaire admitted. "This was the first place where I met a lot of my friends."
Enjolras hummed and said, "Tell me more? I love hearing you talk."
Grantaire ducked his head and said, "Why don't you tell me about yourself too."
"Well, I was born in Virginia and a year later I was living in France with my parents. Born to an ambassador who was never home and a mother who loves me very much. So I lived in both America and France my entire life, until now really."
"Me too," Grantaire said. "Except I was born in Italy and stayed there until I was six or seven? Then I moved to Nice with my mother and father."
"What made you want to live in America?" Enjolras asked.
"I wanted to go to college in a big city where journalism was big and the scandals were bigger. I started out wanting to do investigative journalism until I realized that you couldn't be a coward and that. So I decided to come to Washington and uncover scandals on all the politicians. And here we are."
"You aren't a coward," Enjolras countered.
"I am, but thank you for thinking better of me."
"You're not I promise. Look at what you risk and what you do as R. All those articles and people. Very important people have 'friends' in lowly paces. You risk a lot doing what you do."
"I publish under a pseudonym, it's not a risk at all," Grantaire said.
"But only you have the information that they give. They could narrow it down to you. You're brave I promise."
Grantaire looked down at their entwined hands on the table and just hummed.
"I'm persuaded. I'll help you write that book of yours," Grantaire said, finally breaking the silence.