Work Text:
"Can you bring ice cream on your way home, please"
Enjolras glanced down at his phone the instant he saw the notification, brows furrowing as he read.
"Is it Ferre?" Jehan asked from behind his book, alert. They were sat at the library, supposedly studying, but far too nervous on Combeferre`s behalf to actually get anything done. Today was the day of his biggest med school exam so far, and it had more than just passing riding on it. Firstly, Combeferre was well aware he`d have to repeat the year if he failed. Secondly, his funding would get cut. It wasn`t that he couldn`t get a job. The problem was that he wouldn`t get a job that paid enough to make it worth sacrificing so many potential study hours for the sake of money, which effectively made the whole thing a migraine worthy problem. Lastly, he`d sacrificed every hobby, every ounce of free time, down time, organizations, clubs, and not necessarily friendships, but definitely time he would`ve invested in friendships, and he just couldn`t let it all be for nothing.
"Yeah, he asked me to pick up ice cream on the way home," he read out loud.
"Ah," Jehan winced, nose scrunching as he did so. "Did he say anything else?"
"No, not yet. I should probably-"
Jehan kindly waved him off, and armed with a lot of hugs and a ridiculously patterned scarf, Enjolras went out into the freezing cold.
Despite the biting wind and the flurries of snow, he walked as if a man on a mission. Well, technically he was a man on a mission, he mused. He didn`t mind the cold, liked it even at times, but worry overpowered any fondness he might have normally carried for the weather. Quickly popping by a coffee shop and a grocery store, he texted Combeferre.
"On my way. Do you need anything else?" He quickly typed off, ignoring the several questions regarding the exam in the group chat, before putting his hands in his pockets.
He somehow predicted Combeferre to be in his and Courfeyrac`s shared apartment, instead of having gone to his own (Courfeyrac would`ve claimed telepathy, siting how they seemed to move and work as a singular person at times). He did not, however predict him to be lying face down in their sofa.
"Ferre?" he softly said, walking over to sit just beside him on the couch.
"Mmmph."
Enjolras face wavered with pity for a second, before he schooled it into something more neutral.
"I have coffee. Or well, I brought you a chai tea latte - I`m guessing you`ve had enough coffee for a lifetime."
At that, Combeferre stirred, turning slightly towards him. Enjolras patted him sympathetically on the shoulder.
"Did it really go that badly?"
"I failed," he murmured, although reaching out an arm for the chai latte. He felt around the table a couple of times blindly, before Enjolras took pity of him and put the cup in his hand.
"Did you get the results already?"
Combeferre, now aware that he had to sit up in order to drink (the fact that one couldn`t drink lying down whilst having a bad day was honestly offensive), slowly turned around. Glasses askew, hair everywhere, Enjolras would`ve thought he was napping, except he seemed just too -alert was not the word - awake, he supposed. Bleary eyed, and foggy he definitely was though.
"No," he said quizzically.
Enjolras blinked in confusion. "How do you know you`ve failed then?"
"I just... gut feeling."
"I would`ve believed you, except you`ve told me multiple times how you never know in micro."
Combeferre lifted an unimpressed eyebrow at that, although finding himself unable to argue against his own word. "I-," he uttered, shrugging. "I just know today," he said, taking a sip to avoid the unimpressed stare directed at him.
Enjolras raised an eyebrow now, and Combeferre realized once more where he had picked it up in the first place. Even his eyebrow skills were out-conquered today, he sadly mused.
"Did you write too little?"
"No, I... I wrote something for every question."
Enjolras` other eyebrow joined the first one. "Did you black out?"
"No," Combeferre deadpanned.
"Is there a chance you might`ve done better than you expected?" he asked, trying his utmost to not let exasperation sneak into his voice.
"Look I know you`re trying to help, but I would much rather deal with the inevitable fail now, so I can move on."
Enjolras stared at him, incredulous.
"But you don`t know that you`ve failed," he cried, all of the exasperation present at once now. Combeferre opened his mouth to protest, but Enjolras continued before he could say something. "I know you feel like you`ve failed, but you just don`t know that yet," he said, slightly more calm. "You`ve said before, you`ve no idea what the teachers expect, or what they want, but that counts in your favour too. You can have your pity party now-" he said, although not unkindly, "but there`s just no use in it. I know it`s torture waiting, but you have other exams coming up, and more importantly, there`s no use in being sad for no reason."
Combeferre opened his mouth again, but was once more cut off. "You`re entitled to your emotions etc, and all the stuff Courfeyrac says, which is completely valid! I just don`t want you to brood and beat yourself up about it if there`s no reason to be broody, you know?"
At that he got a small smile. "I suppose," he muttered, slightly blushing.
"How about we meet halfway. You get to vent for as long as the coffee lasts, and then Courfeyrac will bring takeout from that Indian place, and then we`ll watch legally blonde again."
Combeferre looked at him for a second, partially wondering how Enjolras managed to single handedly out-stubborn anyone, but also convince them of anything. It would probably have been a dangerous combination, had he not used it exclusively for the benefit of others. And paired with the earnesty in his eyes, he really couldn`t say no.
"All right then. But you`d better believe I`m taking my time on this chai tea," he gave in, although he seemed a bit more at ease than just moments before.
"Deal," Enjolras smiled.