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“Remind me why we’re here again?” Enjolras scowled whilst eternally stabbing his fork into his dinner. After suffering through what felt like an eternity at his job, Enjolras just wanted to go home, work until he passed out at 2am, wake up and panic at 5am, before starting the process all over again. What occurred instead was Combeferre asking (more like forcing) Enjolras to come with him to visit their friends (and Combeferre’s boyfriend) at work. What a traitor. “It’s good for you to be social. Besides,” Combeferre shrugged while eating, cool as ever, “Courf is MC-ing tonight and he made a setlist that involves all of our friends.” “Oh so that’s what you want, I see. So you wouldn’t be alone eh?” Enjolras grinned crookedly.“For God’s sake Enj, you’re not the only one coming. I’ve invited Joly, Bossuet, and Feuilly to come along too.” Enjolras physically groaned. As if on cue, the three men loudly came into the diner. Thankfully there is no one performing at the moment because Bossuet (God bless him) trips over his own feet, tries to pick himself up but grabs a tray that Marius is bringing to a customer at table 19 causing all the contents, Marius, and himself to fall to the ground with a rather loud crash. This in itself causes the occupants of the diner to fall deadly silent. Luckily, the tension is broken when Courfeyrac mutters, “clean up on aisle 5” into the mic sending everyone into laughter and allowing the bustling to resume. About ten minutes late, a paranoid Joly, a soaking wet Bossuet, and one overworked highly amused Feuilly sat down at the booth. Enjolras allowed Bossuet to have the window seat with Feuilly in between himself and the sopping wet mess. The aisle seat isn’t Enjolras’ favorite spot but he doesn’t want to complain unless risking the wrath of Combeferre was a reasonable option. Which it wasn’t. “Hey Courf, I’ve got this next one,” Grantaire said. Court saluted laughing and nodding. “Just so you’re aware, you’ve got Enj’s table, and the next song is a love duet with his sister,” Court said promptly, not in the microphone this time (he would never make that mistake twice). “You little shit Courf,” Grantaire signed, “What song is it?” “As long as You’re Mine, from Wicked,” Courfeyrac responded sheepishly grinning. “I’m gonna kill you someday, you know that?” Grantaire grinned back at him. Damnit Courf, Grantaire thought to himself, you’re always giving me the sad or unrequited love songs. That’s what you get when you confide in him about your hopeless crush on the beautiful blonde with blue eyes, curly hair, and cheekbones made of marble, his brain helpfully supplied. “Hey ‘Taire,” Court interrupted. “Yeah?” “You’re up.”The music began and Enjolras honestly wasn’t paying much attention. That is, until his sister started singing. Cosette, his twin sister, was the most talented person he knew. And who was singing with her? None other than Grantaire. Or was it Marius? Whoever it was wasn’t doing much singing yet. Enjolras went back to stabbing his salad, (neutrally this time thank you very much Combeferre), whilst rolling his eyes at the ballad. Until, the second verse when the singer was distinctly male and actually very close. So close in fact that Enjolras’ attention was very swiftly torn away by a hand, a male hand, Grantaire’s hand, Enjolras’ brain helpfully supplied. Enjolras’ piercing blue eyes met a pair of the prettiest hazel eyes he has ever seen in his life, Grantaire’s eyes, his brain helpfully supplies again. And though his thoughts have been racing for what feels like forever, but has truly been only a second, Enjolras realizes that Grantaire is cupping his face with one of his hands and starting to sing his verse: “Maybe I’m brainless, maybe I’m wise. But you’ve got me seeing, through different eyes.” Grantaire turns away from Enjolras on the line ‘but you’ve got me seeing’ and Enjolras hasn’t stopped looking up towards where Grantaire was originally staring at him from. The other four amis are staring slack-jawed in awe at a very pink, obviously very smitten, Enjolras, who is looking at where R should be with some sort of reverence. Enjolras, however, does not see them and is only trying to get through this traumatic moment of being seduced by his friend/(very) secret (but only to him and R) crush in public no less. Despite his inner joy, Enjolras is soon hoping for the moment to end. But alas, it was not to be as Grantaire turns around yet again and he strokes Enjolras’ face now singing: “Somehow I’ve fallen, under your spellAnd somehow I’m feeling, it’s up that I fell.” And just like that Grantaire is gone and he and Cosette are singing together. Combeferre, Joly, Bossuet, and Feuilly tried to keep it together and not laugh. However, the second the face stroke happened they had since given up that hope. The four had now stopped laughing just long enough to glance at Enjolras who was mentally not present.“What the hell just happened,” Enjolras said somewhat numbly. “If it makes you feel any better,” Joly offered up, “I got it on video.” Enjolras groaned and the rest of the table once again dissolved into a chorus of laughter.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The second time it happens, Enjolras is with Gavroche of all people. On what should have been Eponine’s day off, (God knows that she deserves one), she had been called in under emergency circumstances to her job. That meant all hands on deck. While someone else would usually watch over Gavroche in events like this, Enjolras happened to be the only person in their group who was free to watch him that night. It wasn’t a big deal anyways, Enjolras loves Gavroche and his unbridled enthusiasm and his sarcastic remarks. To Gavroche’s own credit, he really does admire Enjolras and all the work he does, even if he doesn’t say it as often as he wants.
So after a chorus of thank you’s from Eponine, Enjolras and Gav were left to their own devices. Seeing as Enjolras absolutely cannot be trusted under any circumstances in the kitchen, the pair decided to go out to eat for dinner. And somehow they ended up at the Stardust Diner. Because of fucking course they did. Listen, Enjolras does not hate show tunes, he just also can’t go back there after the mortifying incident involving Wicked. He can’t even listen to that song anymore because all he can picture are Grantaire’s eyes. He’s hopelessly and pathetically pining away as all his gay ancestors have done before him. He’s yearned for at least 188 years, okay? Sue him.
But much to his chagrin, he sits down with Gav in the main dining area on the ground floor. At least it’s better than the booth he was in last time, which was slightly too sticky for his comfort if he had to give an opinion.
At the time, Joly did not shut up about it for at least fifteen minutes which has to be some kind of personal record,
Enjolras muses to himself.
____________________________________________________________________________
Tonight it is Musichetta’s turn to MC. Grantaire thinks it’s unfair that he’s not allowed to MC anymore but that is not a story for today. Javert and Valjean would have simultaneous heart attacks if they so much as heard Grantaire speaking into the mic to MC. Granted, Grantaire used to be a pretty different person back in the day, and he’s worked here for years, since before he met the Enjolras and the ABC, so really he doesn’t blame Valjean and Javert for making that decision. In hindsight, it really is well deserved. But that can’t stop Grantaire from sulking about it in a (slightly) deprecating way.
“Stop moping, it’s almost your turn,” Musichetta says to him. To any outsider, it would sound like she is chastising him, but there’s a smile twitching on her lips, and Grantaire just grins at her.
“Yes Mom,” Grantaire retorts, sticking his tongue out at her, and laughing. She not-so-subtly flips him off.
“By the way, Enjolras and Gav are here. They’re also sitting in your section. In case that impacts your song in any way,” she’s actively wiggling her eyebrows up and down in a suggestive way, and a bright red hue tints Grantaire’s cheeks. He has the dignity to smile.
Challenge accepted.
____________________________________________________________________________
Enjolras and Gavroche are having a very casual, not at all serious, debate about Gav’s theory on birds, (“Seriously Enj, if they were given the time and chance to be the apex species they would have gone to space. What would they have done if they had more time!!”), when suddenly Enjolras is very aware of a certain presence in the diner.
“You’re just too good to be true,
Can’t take my eyes off of you-”
And oh no. Enjolras knows that voice and it is 100% without a doubt Grantaire’s. He meekly turns around to see Grantaire is walking towards him. Enjolras glances over and Gavroche has already pulled out his phone and is already videotaping. The little shit has the audacity to just grin like the fucking Cheshire Cat at Enjolras who just decides to give up and turns back over to where Grantaire is actively walking towards him.
“You’d be like heaven to touch,
I wanna hold you so much”
Grantaire stops in front of the table and all hope leaves Enjolras that he is going to some other table. And suddenly it clicks. Grantaire is serenading him.
Grantaire is serenading you. Holyshitholyshitholyshitholyshit,
his brain screams.
“Pardon the way that I stare,
There’s nothing else to compare-”
Enjolras is vaguely aware that other people have started taking out their phones now and are most definitely filming them.
“So if you feel like I feel,
Please let me know that it’s real,
You’re just too good to be true,
Can’t take my eyes off of you”
And suddenly Grantaire is holding out his hand, a devious glimmer in his eyes and it’s a silent question being asked:
Do you trust me?
Enjolras is aware that he has to make a decision and he knows that whatever he does there will be no going back. He takes Grantaire’s hand and they start to dance. Real dancing, that couples tend to do. Enjolras thinks to himself that he’s so glad that Gavroche decided to go here for dinner. He then thinks he has to buy Eponine’s boss a thank you card because he is here and
he’s dancing with Grantaire
. And Grantaire’s singing and they’re dancing and it’s all so wonderful. And then the song ends. And then he realizes that the entire restaurant is watching and filming and now they are cheering. But Grantaire is beaming and then Enjolras just can’t help but smile back.
We can deal with all the people tomorrow,
Enjolras thinks.
Enjolras and Grantaire both wake up the next morning to find out that they have gone viral on the internet.
Well shit.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Enjolras wakes up to see the numerous articles and videos that have been posted online. The internet has lost their collective minds about Grantaire’s little stunt the other day and while Enjolras should be pissed, he really can’t find anything in him to care. He scrolls through some of the comments on the articles, reads through the (many) congratulatory texts from their friends about “getting their shit together” and “fucking finally” and “the pining was collectively killing us” and a thought dawns on him. Nobody has any clue that he and Grantaire aren’t actually together. He barks out a hysterical laugh. Hands shaking, he calls the first person he thinks of and is surprised to find that it’s Grantaire and not Combeferre who he calls first. Grantaire picks up on the first ring. “Good morning Apollo! To what do I owe the pleasure?” Grantaire grumbles, although not in an angry manner. He's obviously just awoken and Enjolras feels a pang of guilt but brushes it aside.“Have you looked at the news today?” “Enj, you know I never read the news.” “Well, I just thought you should know that the entire internet and our friends think we’re dating.” The line is quiet for a few moments and Enjolras isn’t sure if Grantaire is still on the phone. “Taire?” he asks and is relieved to hear the man (and the traitor) laughing. “This isn’t funny Grantaire,” he says, voice shaking only slightly. Apparently, it was enough to make Grantaire stop laughing. “Enjolras, are you serious?” “I’m serious Grantaire, when have I ever been known to prank you.” “You never know, there’s a first time for everything,” the other man speaks warmly and Enjolras can picture him smiling on the other end of the line. “Could you come over, please? I’m kinda freaking out,” Enjolras says quietly, and Jesus, has his voice ever sounded so small? “Of course I will, Enj. You know I’m here for you. Always. Now please brew me some coffee and I’ll be over there in ten minutes. I’ll see you soon.” “Thank you Grantaire,” Enjolras responds and he feels like he should be saying more. “See you soon Enjolras,” Grantaire says again. As promised, ten minutes later there is a knocking on the door of Enjolras’ apartment and Enjolras’ chest loosens when he sees that Grantaire is on the other side. He lets Grantaire inside and gives him his coffee. “So we’ve gone viral, eh?” Grantaire starts. “It appears we have,” Enjolras responds. “Well, I guess that means our social media profiles will be getting a boost,” Grantaire quips and Enjolras has to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. Given Grantaire’s amused smile he has failed. “All our friends now think we’re dating.” “I know,” Grantaire answers. “And?” Enjolras says. “And what?” Grantaire responds. “What do we do now?” Enjolras asks. “Well Apollo, we could always come clean,” Grantaire says, smiling, but Enjolras notices that the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. There’s another fork in the road here, a point of no return, and Enjolras is once again aware of the choice he has to make. And because he actually has no impulse control, he says: “No.” “I’m sorry...did you just say no?” Grantaire responds, eyebrows so far up his forehead that they are hidden by his hair. “I think,” Enjolras begins and has to pause because what does he think? On the one hand, they should probably just come clean to their friends and the internet. On the other hand, they could tell their friends but not tell the internet because really, it’s none of the internet’s business. Or they could use this to make a statement for some of their rallies, use the press to their advantage, as a mouthpiece for their ideals. In order for it to be believable, they wouldn’t tell any of their friends save maybe Combeferre. But they could use this to get Les Amis and the work they do out there. Plus there’s the bonus of getting to "date" Grantaire. Enjolras tells Grantaire as much (but leaves out the part about how it is a bonus to date him). “Okay,” is all Grantaire says but there are so many different emotions going through his face and showing in his eyes and Enjolras doesn’t know what to make of it. "Okay," Enjolras responds and just like that, Enjolras and Grantaire are “dating”. “We can discuss boundaries and such later,” Enjolras says to Grantaire, who only hums in a tune of affirmation. They decide to call Combeferre and ask him to meet them at a coffee shop half a block away. Combeferre, being the gracious man he is, accepts, and Enjolras realizes that it’s only 8am. Grantaire doesn’t wake up before 11:30am on Saturdays because he works doubles on Fridays. And he has woken him up 5 and a half hours before he normally wakes up. “Oh my God Grantaire, I woke you up I am so sorry,” is the first thing out of his mouth. Grantaire laughs, bless him. “Apollo, it’s fine, don’t worry about it.” “No no, seriously you need some rest. You’ve only slept for three hours because of closing the cafe.” “Enj, I will be okay, please just listen to me.” “Grantaire you can take my bed, I’ll wake you up at 11 so you have some time to get ready.” “Enjolras.” Grantaire says, and Enjolras stops rambling. “I will be fine.” “Please Grantaire,” Enjolras says, staring at the ground, voice small for the second time that day, and Grantaire knows he is just so far gone. Who would he be if he denied Enjolras anything? “Fine,” Grantaire answers, and Enjolras’ responding smile makes Grantaire’s heart soar. They leave at 11:25am and meet Combeferre closer to 11:35am rather than 11:30, but Combeferre doesn’t seem to mind. They discuss the matter at hand and tell Combeferre of the story, how it happened, and their plan of action. Combeferre listens. “What the actual fuck were you two thinking,” is the first thing that Combeferre says to both of them after hearing what they have to say. Grantaire can only sheepishly grin while Enjolras stares at the ground, cheeks a bright shade of red. Combeferre stares at them, one eyebrow perfectly arched all the way up to the top of his forehead. He schools his expression back to semi-neutrality. “Actually, I don’t even want to know” he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose shaking his head looking completely done with their bullshit. In Combeferre’s defense, he has been putting up with Grantaire and Enjolras’ collective bullshit for years, and the latter’s bullshit for a lifetime. He asks them if they’re sure about this and they respond in the affirmative. Combeferre decides that now is the time that he has to leave for work because he’s on break and people are staring at all of them due to somebody’s activities the previous day. He’s too tired for this and leaves, huffing a “figure it out” before turning around, grinning, and adding, “oh, and congratulations by the way.” At some point in the future, it’s revealed that all the Les Amis knew that Enjolras and Grantaire were faking it long before Enjolras and Grantaire are "officially" and "actually" together. Enjolras and Grantaire aren’t even mad, and Combeferre just smiles. (For the record, it wasn’t because of Combeferre and it wasn’t because Enjolras and Grantaire were bad at faking dating, it was instead because Enjolras and Grantaire are terrible at discussing their plan in private). The walk home is quiet and if Grantaire slips his hand into Enjolras’ and if Enjolras doesn’t let go, then that’s their own little secret.