“Cosette was not very timid by nature. There flowed in her veins some of the blood of the bohemian and the adventuress who runs barefoot. It will be remembered that she was more of a lark than a dove. There was a foundation of wildness and bravery in her…”
As is always when I write Les Mis, I got carried away with this, lol
[1:14 pm] To Mar-Bear: yo your gf is sick
[1:14 pm] From Mar-Bear: What?? Cosette??
Grantaire breathed out a laugh and showed the text to Courfeyrac, who fell back against the couch with a cackle.
[1:15 pm] To Mar-Bear: is there another gf i should know about??
[1:15 pm] From Mar-Bear: OF COURSE NOT! WHAT’S WRONG WITH COSETTE??
Grantaire and Courfeyrac sat giggling on the couch for minutes on end until Cosette shuffled in, arms crossed to combat the small shivers coursing through her slender frame.
“What’s so funny?” She questioned, voice but a soft rasp, and Grantaire tossed his phone to Courfeyrac before hopping to his feet.
“Ah, Blondie, you shouldn’t be up,” Grantaire said, humor shifting into concern as he approached Cosette.
“You guys sounded like you were having a lot of fun out here,” Cosette said, pursing her lips into a pout as she leaned against the living room door frame.
“Sorry, I guess we woke you,” Grantaire said as he pressed a palm to Cosette’s forehead, frowning at the heat. “You really ought to get back to bed,” he added, voice laced with worry.
“But, I want to know what’s got you two laughing so hard,” Cosette countered before turning to coughing lightly into the crook of her elbow.
“Your boyfriend,” Courfeyrac offered, and Cosette turned to him with a frown.
“What’s he doing?”
“Panicking,” Courfeyrac said with a light laugh. “He’s sent five more texts demanding we tell him what’s wrong with you.”
Cosette shook her head, but a small smile played at her lips. “I told you not to tell him until he got here after class.”
“That’s no fun,” Courfeyrac whined, and Cosette breathed out a low laugh, which left her coughing harshly. Grantaire was quick to put a steady hand on her back.
“Easy,” he said lowly, and Cosette nodded before allowing Grantaire to help her back into the bedroom.
“No more getting up until Marius comes to get you,” Grantaire ordered with a frown, and Cosette waved him away with a breathy laugh as she curled up under the covers on Grantaire’s bed.
“I’ll be back in a moment with some medicine for that fever.”
*****
“Marius said that’s he’s going to tell Enjolras on you if you don’t answer him right now,” Courfeyrac informed, voice colored with amusement, as Grantaire walked back into the living room.
Grantaire snatched the phone from Courfeyrac’s hand.
[1:27 pm] To Mar-Bear: you better not get me in trouble with E
[1:27 pm] From Mar-Bear: THEN TELL ME WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY COSETTE
“He said ‘his Cosette’,” Grantaire chucked, and Courfeyrac shook his head.
“What are we going to do with that boy?” Courfeyrac asked just as Grantaire turned back to his phone.
[1:28 pm] To Mar-Bear: aren’t you in law with E right now? shouldn’t you not be texting in class?
There was a four-minute pause before Grantaire’s phone chimed off once more.
[1:32 pm] From Enj :) :): If you don’t tell Marius what’s wrong with Cosette in the next five seconds, you will be sleeping on the couch for the rest of the week.
Grantaire cursed under his breath. “He told E,” he griped, annoyance flaring hot as he tapped away at his phone.
[1:33 pm] To Enj :) :): sorry love! don’t be mad!
[1:33 pm] To Mar-Bear: plague
“I told him she’s got the plague,” Grantaire informed, tossing the phone back to Courfeyrac as he started to the kitchen, with Courfeyrac’s muffled laughter following him.
“Watch him run all the way here,” Courfeyrac called out quietly as Grantaire returned moments later with a glass of water, two pills, and a cool, damp cloth.
“He wouldn’t,” Grantaire said with a shake of his head as he made his way back to the bedroom.
Cosette was already sitting up, and she welcomed him back with a polite smile.
“You’re too kind, R,” she said as he took a spot on the edge of the bed. She accepted the glass of water and the pills, and washed the small pills down with a few sips before setting the water onto the bedside table.
Before she could lie back, Grantaire reached around her to fluff up her pillows some despite her weak protests.
“I just want to make sure you’re comfortable,” he said gently, and Cosette smiled wide.
“You’re very good at this,” she said, falling back against the pillows when he finished.
“I’ve got a lot or practice thanks to E’s crap immune system.” He replied easily just as he smoothed the cool, damp cloth across her forehead, prompting her to breathe out a sigh of relief.
“I bet,” she said, eyelids already dropping, and Grantaire brushed a gentle hand against her cheek.
“Rest. I’ll tell you when Marius gets here.”
Cosette nodded just as Grantaire pushed the blankets up to her chin.
*****
“So, Enjolras texted and said Marius-”
The front door slamming open cut Courfeyrac off. Marius stood, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.
“Where,” he tried, coughing harshly into his fist. “Where is she!?”
“Jesus,” Grantaire muttered just as Courfeyrac got to his feet and began to approach Marius.
“Woah, easy. Try to breathe, Marius.”
Courfeyrac’s voice was gentle, but when he dropped a hand on Marius’s shoulder, the latter swatted it away.
“Where is Cosette?”
“Marius?”
All three boys jumped when Cosette shuffled into the room, head tilted in confusion.
“Cosette,” Marius said breathlessly as he closed the distance between the two in a matter of seconds. He cupped her cheeks and pressed his forehead against hers, frowning deeply at the heat.
“Cosette, my darling,” he began. “You’re burning.”
Grantaire went to point out that the medicine hadn’t had time to kick in but stopped when Enjolras appeared in the doorway with Combeferre in tow. Both looked fine, albeit confused, and Grantaire’s eyes fell to the car keys dangling in Combeferre’s hand.
Grantaire sighed and dropped back against the closest wall just as Combeferre nudged Marius aside so he could briefly examine Cosette.
He felt her forehead, pressed his fingers to the small indent of her wrist to feel her pulse, and then he gently massaged her throat for a moment before turning to Marius.
“I’d say she’s got a bad cold. She should be fine with a little rest.”
“R said she had the plague!” Marius snapped, pointing toward Grantaire with narrow eyes.
“You believed him?”
Everyone turned to Cosette, who was watching Marius with amused eyes.
“I was worried!”
Cosette shook her head as she giggled into her palm. “There was no need. R was taking great care of me.”
Courfeyrac took the small distraction to sneak out, motioning for Combeferre to go with him.
“Bye,” he called over his shoulder before he darted out of the room.
“Call if you need anything,” Combeferre added as he pulled his car keys out and followed Courfeyrac out the door.
Marius shrugged out of his jacket and draped it across Cosette’s shoulders before snatching Grantaire’s car keys and Cosette’s shoes. He glared at Grantaire. “I’ll be taking your car for right now.”
Grantaire motioned for him to go ahead just as Marius snaked an arm around Cosette’s waist.
“Thank you again, R,” Cosette called out softly as Marius led her to the door. Her lips curled up into a gentle smile when Grantaire offered a nod.
“Of course, Blondie” he said, and moments later, Enjolras was closing the door behind Marius and Cosette.
Grantaire was quick to close the distance between the two, draping his arms across Enjolras’s shoulder. “Am I banished to the couch?”
Enjolras sighed. “It would have been a definite yes, but I’m inclined to reconsider now that I know you took good care of Cosette.”
Grantaire smiled wide, and he pressed his lips against Enjolras’s.
