Work Text:
There was one thing Grantaire found surprising about dating Enjolras. Well… that might be a lie. There were several. He was surprised at how much Enjolras cared for one. Sure, he was always doing something for someone else, sometimes so much so it was at times a detriment to himself. The surprising thing for Grantaire wasn't just that he cared, it was that he cared for him specifically. Grantaire couldn’t fathom how any of this was real because there should be no world where Enjolras was in a relationship with him. But somehow he ended up in the one universe where they were. But one of the most surprising things was how perfectly composed Enjolras was so awkward about affection.
Grantaire found this out early, even on their first few dates. It didn't even matter if it was only the two of them in a room. If Grantaire so much as brushed his hand, Enjolras’ face would go pink. It was honestly sweet to see him at a loss for something so simple.
But Grantaire was happy to have a part in helping him figure it out. However, sometimes he liked to take advantage of it. Who could blame him when he looked like that when he blushed? So he decided to make a game of it.
1.
Grantaire didn't even have to work that hard for the first part of the game. Enjolras had texted him earlier, saying he would be walking down to the Musain with Courfeyrac and Combeferre and asked if he wanted to join.
Obviously, Grantaire said yes. Plus, it was easier if Enjolras was coming to him. It made his little scheme less suspicious, he thought.
He put on something a little more presentable than a hoodie and sweats, and tried his best to tame his unruly curls. When they weren't cooperative, he said screw it, and let them stay the way they were. He sprayed some of the cologne Enjolras liked for good measure and then walked out the door.
He stood outside the apartment complex for only two minutes before he saw his friends walking around the corner. He knew he would have to be subtle about this. He waved and made his way over to them.
He fell into step beside them. “Hello, Ferre, Courf, how are we today?”
“Not bad at all,” Combeferre answered.
Courfeyrac was too busy nudging Enjolras, who had his eyebrow raised good naturedly at the omission of his name, to answer.
“And how could I forget, my dear Enj,” Grantaire continued, looking for any sign of reaction.
Enjolras rolled his eyes but was already trying not to smile. “Are you doing well?”
“Couldn't be better,” he replied, smoothly slipping his hand into Enjolras’.
He heard the telltale intake of breath from his boyfriend and knew he had him. It was almost easier than Grantaire thought. All he had to do was get him off guard. He looked up to see his face, but Enjolras was just staring at their intertwined hands as they walked. It was almost like they'd never done this before. Nevertheless, Grantaire got what he asked for because there was in fact pink sprinkled across his face like freckles and his eyes sparkled with light.
He finally looked away and Grantaire could see him biting at the inside of his mouth, an attempt to keep himself from smiling that was not working too well.
Combeferre gave a knowing look at his friend, while Courfeyrac was practically bouncing. “Oh my GOD you guys are so cute!” Courfeyrac exclaimed.
Enjolras turned to him with a scowl that would have been more intimidating if he didn't also look so happy. Combeferre told Courfeyrac quietly that he was ruining the moment, to which Courfeyrac argued back that he wasn't. “How can you expect me not to say anything, look at them!”
“We're right here,” Enjolras said.
“So… when can we see a kiss?”
Enjolras covered his face with his other hand, and he whispered something that sounded like “Shut up.”
Grantaire laughed at Enjolras’ reaction, his own face heating up at Courfeyrac's insinuation. “In due time, my friend. In due time.”
2.
The next time Grantaire decided to pick his game back up, he was sitting in Enjolras’ room. Combeferre and Courfeyrac were somewhere around the apartment, but as far as Grantaire was concerned, it was just the two of them.
Enjolras was typing something up really quick. Though he was sitting at his desk, he turned his chair so that he was still facing Grantaire, his laptop sitting in his lap. It was the small things. Even when he had to take a minute to finish something, he did what he could to keep Grantaire from feeling isolated. Grantaire didn't even particularly care because being in the same room as him was still a plus.
Grantaire tried to at least pretend he wasn't just staring at Enjolras the whole time, utterly captured by him. He always got this look about him while he was focused. His eyebrows would come closer to his eyes and he wouldn't even notice how tightly his lips would press together until his jaw was sore later. And of course, it didn't matter if it was sunny, rainy, windy, snowy, his hair always fell perfectly to frame his face like a portrait. It wasn't long at the moment, but his blond curls were a little looser than Grantaire's black ones and little wisps of gold poked out in tufts under his ears and around his neck.
Out of nowhere, an idea sprang into his mind. He always brought his mini sketchbook for situations like these. He created a quick gesture sketch, then went to work filling in the details with as much speed as possible while maintaining the impressionism of the piece. Luckily for him, drawing this particular subject was pretty much muscle memory by now.
He finished in just about eight minutes, as Enjolras shut his laptop. Grantaire added the final touches to the work, almost frantically. Enjolras stood up and set his laptop on the desk.
“Sorry about that,” he said, stretching a little. “I emailed a professor yesterday about an assignment and they didn't really answer my question, so I had to email again because it's due in two days so I really need to know. And I had to make sure it sounded polite because this one tends to take things personal, and… yeah. It's just a whole thing.”
“No worries. Teachers are just weird like that. Like some can't even explain anything… it's not like that's their job or anything…”
Enjolras sighed and sat next to Grantaire on the bed. “Tell me about it.” His eyes locked on the pencil and sketchbook in Grantaire's hands. “What are you working on?” He asked, trying to get a glimpse of the paper.
“Ah, patience, Apollo.” Grantaire signed his name on the bottom and tore the paper out of the book while Enjolras gave him the lecture on why he should stop calling him that once again.
He passed the paper over to Enjolras, holding his breath a moment. He hoped he liked it. Color flooded Enjolras’ face and his eyes scanned the page a few times.
“You drew me?”
Grantaire grinned, both at the awe in his voice and at the reaction he was hoping to get. “That would be correct.”
Grantaire saw the exact moment Enjolras noticed what he'd written in the bottom corner. To my super awesome boyfriend; I love you. Next to it, was a hastily drawn heart. Enjolras’ expression seemed to open up.
Enjolras glanced between Grantaire and the portrait he'd drawn. “It's amazing,” he said breathily. “It just isn't what I look like though. I look like…like some divinity.”
“I just drew what I saw,” Grantaire responded earnestly.
Enjolras stared at him for a few seconds, and Grantaire himself got lost in his eyes. He was lucky they were boyfriends because he was so down bad.
“I love you too.” He looked sheepish, especially with the way he brought his eyes down and his face was still so red. “And you're so skilled. I can't believe I'm getting this for free, you could be selling these.”
He leaned just a little closer, and Grantaire noticed. “Sorry,” Enjolras continued. “I don't really know what to say. Thank you.”
“Wow, I never thought I'd see you speechless.”
Enjolras hit him lightly, then wrapped his arms around him. “Be quiet.”
“We'll see,” he said, planting a kiss into Enjolras’ hair.
3.
Grantaire's third leg of the game was a case of the right place at the right time. That is to say, a complete accident.
The meeting that night started out quite noisy. There was a new development in Marius and Cosette's relationship and it was absolutely vital everyone knew about it for some reason. Probably so they could all tease Marius later. Somehow, he was worse than Enjolras when it came to getting flustered.
By the time Enjolras and Combeferre finally got everyone to calm down, they were running 45 minutes later than normal. Grantaire only “listened” when Enjolras was talking. If you could count tuning in and out and mostly admiring his boyfriend as listening. It wasn't that he didn't like Combeferre, but Enjolras captured the room in a different way.
And it really wasn't fair because Enjolras was particularly eye-catching tonight. He was sitting on a table, putting his weight on one of his arms as he explained something with the other. With the sun pretty much set since they had started late, the warm light of the lamps was what caught in his hair, his curls bouncing with each movement.
Grantaire learned very quickly that Enjolras could be easily set off if you knew how to do it. He tried to be patient and understanding with the people around him, but if he was pressed, he would get gloriously riled up. Grantaire used to pinpoint the button that would chain react into an explosion because getting burned was preferable to freezing. Now that they were together, he didn’t have to do either.
Later, Enjolras told him his arguments made his own stronger, and he appreciated it in a strange, counterintuitive way. Luckily, they weren't at each other's throats all the time anymore. But Grantaire still liked to poke holes in Enjolras’ points because old habits die hard.
“So, what are your plans if there are counter-protesters.”
Enjolras glanced at him. “What we usually do. I'm sure I explained it before.”
“Maybe. But like… what if it doesn't work?”
Enjolras narrowed his eyes. He was onto his shenanigans. “It has in the past. And if it doesn't, we have a regroup location for a reason.”
“But what if–”
“Grantaire will you please stop with the hypotheticals? We can't know what we don't know.”
“I thought you liked to be prepared.”
Enjolras furrowed his eyebrows. “This has nothing to do with what I was even talking about. We already started late, so if you're going to be distracting, you're free to go.”
Grantaire blinked. He was a little surprised at how quick Enjolras was to shut him down. He usually played along longer. “You would kick me out?” He asked dramatically. “I thought you loved me?”
Some of their friends chuckled while others stifled groans. They weren't leaving anytime soon if they continued like this.
“It's not about you, it's about the group. If you won't contribute or listen…”
Grantaire flashed him an innocent expression. “I was trying to, but you shut me down.”
Enjolras was standing now with his arms now crossed across his chest. “I wouldn't have had to if you were listening when I went over that stuff at the last meeting! Do you listen to anything I say?”
“Every word.”
“If you're listening, then you understand I want to finish at a reasonable hour?”
Grantaire stood up too, taking a more relaxed pose than Enjolras. “You say that, but I know you're not going to bed when you get home. You're gonna be on your laptop for like an hour and then text me until we both fall asleep.”
Enjolras gaped at him for a moment as some of their friends made eyes at them. Grantaire was surprised no one cracked a joke right then.
“Will you stop being difficult for once?”
Grantaire made his way over to him, a dangerous idea entering his head. He pretended to think about it. “No, I don't think I will.”
Enjolras sighed and tilted his head upward, closing his eyes. It was like he was willing himself to stay composed. “Why do you do this?”
“Because.”
Grantaire brought Enjolras’ chin back toward him and leaned in. The kiss was short, and Grantaire could feel how tense Enjolras was. This was their first kiss in front of their friends. Grantaire just hoped his boyfriend wouldn't be too upset at him.
Of course Enjolras pulled away first, evidently shocked. The room was quiet for a moment, but smiles were all around.
Someone, probably Courfeyrac said something like “About time,” and everyone laughed. Grantaire was glad of that because having everyone looking at the two of them was a lot more vulnerable than he thought it would be.
Enjolras’ face currently had the hue of a strawberry, and Grantaire thought that if his own skin was lighter he wouldn't have fared much better. But God, Enjolras looked adorable like that. He still looked so shocked. He was working his mouth like he wanted to say something but couldn't quite figure it out.
Grantaire got a little closer. The others were too busy talking to be paying too much attention, but Grantaire whispered just in case. “You're not mad, right?”
Enjolras touched his lips absently. “No, I just…?” He looked at Grantaire like he expected him to know the question he wanted to ask, though it was clear Enjolras himself didn't know what he was asking.
Grantaire took his hand. “Listen, I love you and I wanted to kiss you. Sue me.”
“No, but why?”
“Now you're not listening,” Grantaire said humorously.
“Why did you have to be so… ?” He gestured with his hand listlessly.
Grantaire rolled his eyes with a grin. “You're cute when you're all passionate and fired up.”
Enjolras covered his face. It didn't do anything to hide the fact he was blushing though because it was reaching all the way to his ears. “Forget I asked.”
Grantaire kissed his cheek and Enjolras swatted him away, though he was having a hard time controlling his smile.
4.
Next, was the time Enjolras finally caught on to what he was doing.
“R? Can you get me my laptop charger?”
Grantaire walked over to grab it for him. “Anything for you Apollo.” When he handed it to him, he kissed the side of his head, sitting next to him.
“Thanks. Are you getting tired of calling me that yet?”
Grantaire feigned thinking about it. “Not particularly. I think it's rather creative.”
Enjolras crossed his arms. His tone was flat. “Yes, so creative to give me a nickname because of the color of my hair.”
“Oh, come on. You know that's not the only reason. You're like the sun. Though maybe that means I should start calling you Helios.”
“I don't know.”
“Well, let's see what else I can come up with.”
Enjolras looked a little apprehensive. “Oh there's no need for that.”
“There's Achilles. You've certainly got the fiery personality for it. Plus, Achilles was hot.”
Already, Enjolras was starting to blush. “R–” he said, warning in his tone.
“Okay, what about…Alexander. Like Alexander the Great. Enjolras the Great.”
Enjolras rolled his eyes. “Absolutely not. He was a terrible person. He–”
“Alright, not that one then. What about something more generic?”
“Why are you doing this anyway?”
Grantaire draped himself over him. “Because you're the love of my life, my baby, dearest.”
Enjolras covered Grantaire's mouth with his hand. “Stop it!” Enjolras’ cheeks were burning and his eyes were bright. Grantaire got what he wanted.
Grantaire took the hand over his mouth and kissed it.
“You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?” Enjolras accused.
Grantaire gasped dramatically. “Why would I ever do that, sweetheart?”
Enjolras’ eyes lit with understanding. “That's what you've been doing all this time, haven't you! Trying to embarrass me for entertainment. You little schemer.”
Grantaire responded, “Not to embarrass you per se. I just like seeing you flustered. It's cute.”
“I will get you back for this.”
Grantaire scoffed. “I'm sure you will. You are the least flirtatious person to grace the earth.”
“Alright then.” His face was set in a teasing, yet challenging look. “I'll do it when you least expect it, and then you'll be sorry.”
“Highly doubtful. Even if you could catch me off guard, I still won't be sorry because it means you're flirting with me.”
Enjolras huffed. “Just shut up.”
“Okay Apollo.”
5.
They were walking hand in hand back from a date when Grantaire decided to throw all his cards at Enjolras. They ended up deciding to go back to Grantaire's apartment afterwards. When Grantaire unlocked the door, he realized what a mess it was.
“Sorry about all this.”
“It's alright. You didn't even know I was coming.”
Enjolras hung his coat up and Grantaire saw his chance. When Enjolras turned around, Grantaire pressed him up on the wall in a kiss.
“Grantaire!?” Enjolras exclaimed, laughing in shock.
In cupping his lover's face, Grantaire could tell all the blood was rushing there from the heat under his hands. He kissed him again. He had had dreams about things like this, he only hoped Enjolras would keep allowing him to.
Enjolras sighed against him. When Grantaire finally paused to open his eyes, Enjolras was staring back. Grantaire swore the man in front of him was glowing. In a move he hoped he wouldn't regret, he pulled Enjolras by the hand to the couch.
Grantaire sat first, while Enjolras hesitated. Their hands were still intertwined but Enjolras was still standing. His blush was reaching his ears, but his expression looked tense. “R… I don't know if...”
“Hey, we only do what you're comfortable with, okay?”
Enjolras nodded. He sat down carefully beside him, keeping close. Enjolras kissed him first, showing to Grantaire he trusted him. Grantaire held him reverently, like he was the god he so often called him. He reached up and carded his fingers through Enjolras’ silky curls. In turn, Enjolras had wrapped his arms around Grantaire's torso. They leaned until they lay side by side, legs tangled together.
Enjolras pulled out of the kiss, and put his head down under Grantaire's chin. He finally looked at Grantaire, his cheeks splotched with red. “Can we just… stay like this for a while?”
“Yeah.” He shifted slightly to more comfortably settle with Enjolras. “You know I don't mind if we don't do more right? I want you to be okay more than anything.”
“Yeah, I know.” He nuzzled up to his chest. “I'm lucky it's you. Even if this was another part of this intimacy war you're waging against me.”
“Come on, you love it.”
Enjolras hummed neither confirming nor denying. They spent the rest of the night snuggled on the couch until Enjolras fell asleep in Grantaire's arms. Grantaire just hoped he wouldn't have to explain to Combeferre or Courfeyrac why Enjolras didn't go back home after their date.
+1
Grantaire was a little surprised by the knock on the door. Not that he wasn’t expecting one, he just wasn’t sure if he would still come out in this weather. It was downpouring, and Grantaire had been using the time to paint. Something about the soft pitter patterings made it easier to focus.
Opening the door, he expected to see Enjolras in his red coat with his hair framing his face, pink lips drawn into a smile. Grantaire still felt ecstatic every time he saw that smile, and he was eternally grateful at how privileged he was to see it as often as he did.
Instead, he was met with a frustrated Enjolras holding a bouquet of flowers. He was soaked head to toe with rain, his hair plastered to his face. Grantaire got lost in thought at record speed. He looked so adorably angry. He wasn’t brought out of his trance until he saw Enjolras shiver. He hadn’t even heard he’d been talking all this time.
“---and this rain came out of nowhere.” He paused a moment, huffing undoubtedly at the circumstances. Then his eyes fixed on Grantaire. “Why are you blushing?”
“I’m not,” he responded, touching his face like that would get rid of it. He opened the door wider. “Here, why don’t you come inside.”
Enjolras followed him in and shut the door with his foot. “I got these for you,” he said quietly, holding out the flowers. They were white daisies mixed with blood-red poppies. Some of the petals had peeled off in the rain and ended up stuck on the plastic of the bouquet. “Hopefully the rain didn’t ruin them. It hasn’t rained like that in a while… My luck that I would get caught in it.”
“You must’ve been hanging around Bossuet too much recently,” he said with a grin. He took the bouquet from Enjolras. He was pleasantly surprised to be receiving them. Enjolras didn’t seem to be the flower giving type to him. “Seriously, thank you for these. They’re beautiful. Is there a special occasion I forgot about?” He was joking, but also genuinely asking.
Enjolras shook his head. “I just wanted to do something for you.”
Grantaire smiled, knowing all too well the feeling of blush setting on his face. The illusion broke when Enjolras trembled again. Now that his hands were free from the bouquet, he wrapped his arms around himself. No way he was going to let him stay like that.
“Come on let’s get you some dry clothes.”
“Are you sure?” He asked, following him into the bedroom.
“Yes,” Grantaire said, drawing out the vowel. He set the flowers down on his bed. “If you think I’m just going to let you drag water around the apartment, and more importantly, let you suffer in cold, wet clothes, you’re wrong.” He dug around in his closet for things that would fit Enjolras. “Plus, I don’t need to get in trouble if you get sick.”
Enjolras rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to get sick. That’s a myth anyway.”
“Better safe than sorry,” he responded, tossing him various articles of clothing.
“I never thought I’d hear you of all people say that.”
“That’s because you don’t have to worry about keeping other people from getting sick, since you’re always the sick one.”
“I think being the sick one is objectively worse. Everyone is so overbearing. It’s not even that bad!”
Grantaire just gave him a look. A year and a half ago Enjolras scared the hell out of all of them by passing out at an event with a crazy fever.
Somehow Enjolras knew what he was referring to. “That was one time!”
Grantaire raised an eyebrow and sighed. “Just go change, alright?”
Enjolras huffed another breath. “Fine. Thanks by the way.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Grantaire went out, flowers in hand, looking for a vase. He knew Prouvaire had gifted him one at some point. After some intense searching, he found it lying in a drawer under the sink.
He had just put the now flower-filled vase on the counter when Enjolras came out. Grantaire’s face heated up for the third time that evening. Something about seeing Enjolras in his clothes made his heart hammer. Enjolras was a little taller than Grantaire, so the sweatshirt and sweatpants didn’t fall quite as long on him as they did on Grantaire. But he was also lankier, so everything was baggy on him and he just looked so cute and small in comparison.
“You’re doing it again,” Enjolras commented, crossing his arms.
“Doing what?”
“Blushing.”
Grantaire grinned. “So what if I am?”
Enjolras threw a wry smile at him. “So I win the competition?”
Grantaire walked over to him, pulling him closer by the waist and kissing him. Grantaire laughed when Enjolras started blushing too. “Nah. You’re still worse than me. But in all honesty, thank you for the surprise.”
Enjolras rolled his eyes but smiled. “Just shut up.”