Better Run for Cover

Chapter 11: Red and Black

((I am so sorry it has been so long sice I updated! Please don't kill me! Anyways, this is the latest chapter for Better Run For Cover, so enjoy!))

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((I do not own any of the lines and lyrics from the musical that are used in this - all rights go to Alan Boublil, Claude Michel Schönberg, Cameron Mackintosh, etc.))

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Chapter 11: Red and Black

{André's p.o.v.}

Courfeyrac and I walked quickly through the streets of Paris, avoiding any lawmen that we saw just to be safe. I wasn't sure as to what the other police knew of my current situation. Would they arrest me because they knew I was a known thief, or would they know that I was under Javert's charge now?

After narrowly avoiding a lawman on horseback, Courfeyrac and I reached La Café Musain. We made our way to the back of the room, and then climbed the stairs.

Combeferre was waiting at the top of the staircase and greeted us. I saw Enjolras in the back of the small room, his head bent over a table covered in sheets of paper as he spoke quietly to Grantaire, who stood beside him. I grinned at them as they looked up and my brother smiled, while Grantaire raised the bottle of wine he had in his hand in my direction.

Courfeyrac shook his head at Grantaire with a smile. "Some things will never change," I murmured under my breath.

"At Notre Dame the sections are prepared!" announced Combeferre, turning to Enjolras. "At rue du Bac they're straining at the leash!"

"Students, workers, everyone, there's a river on the run. Like the flowing of the tide, Paris coming to our side!" shouted Feuilly.

My brother turned to face the group of students as Grantaire made his way across the room to where Marius, who had just entered from the stairs, now stood.

"The time is near!" announced Enjolras. "So near, it's stirring the blood in their veins. And yet, beware; don't let the wine go to your brains! For the army we fight is a dangerous foe! With the men and the arms that we never can match. It is easy to sit here and swat'em like flies, but the National Guard will be harder to catch. We need a sign, to rally the people, to call them to arms, and to bring them in line!"

Combeferre gave Marius a curious look at he watched the boy gaze off into space as Enjolras rallied the students. "Marius, what's wrong today? You look as if you've seen a ghost..."

"Some wine, and say what's going on," said Grantaire, offering Marius a bottle, which he took, but at the moment, did not drink from. Ever so softly, Marius said, "A ghost you say, a ghost, maybe! She was just like a ghost to me... One minute there, then she was gone!"

Grantaire looked at him for a moment before breaking into a grin and taking another swig from the bottle that had remained in his hand. "I am agog! I am aghast! Is Marius in love at last? I've never heard him 'ooh' and 'aah'."

Marius laughed quietly, raising his eyebrows as he watched Grantaire.

"You talk of battles to be won," said Grantaire with a look in my brother's direction, "And here he comes like Don Ju-an. It is better than an o-per-a!"

As he said this, he made a dramatic gesture with his arms, and then a sweeping bow once he was finished. Marius rolled his eyes, and then my brother's voice drew everyone's gaze, including Marius', Grantaire's and my own.

"It is time for us all to decide who we are. Do we fight for the right to a night at the opera now? Have you asked of yourselves, what's the price you might pay? Or is it simply a game for rich young boys to play?" asked Enjolras looking first at Marius, the Grantaire, and then at the rest of the students.

"The color of the world is changing day by day... Red, the blood of angry men! Black, the dark of ages past! Red, a world about to dawn! Black, the night that ends at last!" Once he had finished, Marius rose to his feet, and Enjolras turned to face him.

"Had you been there tonight, you might know how it feels. To be struck to the bone in a moment of breathless delight! Had you been there tonight, you might also have known... How your world may be changed in just one burst of light, and what was right seems wrong. And what was wrong seems right!" said Marius, his gaze never leaving my brother's.

"Red!" shouted Grantaire.

"I feel my soul on fire!" finished Marius.

"Black!"

"My world if she's not there!"

"Red!"

"The color of desire!"

"Black!"

"The color of despair!"

Enjolras and Marius just looked at each other for a moment, each gaze challenging the other to look away.

Finally, Enjolras closed his eyes for a moment before opening them once more to give Marius a stern look. "Marius, you're no longer a child. I do not doubt you mean it well, but now there is a higher call!"

Marius nodded, "I know," he murmured.

"Who cares about your lonely soul? We strive towards a larger goal," my brother went on, "Our little lives don't count at all!"

"Red, the blood of angry men!" shouted Enjolras, turning to the students.

"Black, the dark of ages past!" The students joined him.

"Red, a world about to dawn!"

Grinning, I shouted along with the rest of them, "Black, the night that ends at last!"

"Listen everybody!" shouted a voice I knew well.

Standing at the top of the stairs with his hands raised slightly in the air, trying to get our attention was Gavroche.

"General Lamarque is dead," he then announced softly.

Enjolras looked at my friend for a moment, and as I watched him, I saw something break in his eyes

But, just as quickly as I had seen that, something else resolved itself, and Enjolras gave the young boy a nod, hardening his expression as he turned to face the group once more.

"Lamarque is dead," he said quietly.

The students looked at each other for a moment, their expressions slightly worried, before looking back at Enjolras.

"Lamarque, his death is the hour of fate. The people's man, his death is the sign that we await!" Enjolras began to gain confidence as he addressed the students, his plan forming as he did so. Slowly, the students began to nod in agreement. "On his funeral day, we will honor his name. With the light of rebellion ablaze in their eyes! From the candles of grief, we will kindle our flame! From the tomb of Lamarque, shall our barricade rise! The time is near!"

The students were all now in agreement, and Courfeyrac stepped forwards. "Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer!" he shouted.

"Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts!" yelled Lesgles in agreement.

"With a jubilant shout, they will come one and all!" crowed Combeferre.

And then together, everyone in the small room shouted to the heavens.

"They will come when we call!"

((So, what did you think! This one is a little bit longer than ones I normally write, so I hope that makes up for how long the wait was for the new chapter! I am always so busy, so my stories sometimes have to get put on hold for a while - sorry! But I am trying my best to keep going! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Please comment and vote and tell me what you think! I love you all! -Wolf))