gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche wrinkled his nose, thinking about it. He had never been asked about how much money he would be given; usually he just had to hope that his friends had enough to spare so that he could buy some food as a reward for himself. Still, he wasn't exactly opposed to the idea of coming up with a price. Indeed, he decided he should demand that everyone ask him in future...

"Ten francs, monsieur," he announced finally, thinking it seemed like a fairly reasonable price. "For each letter," he added quickly with a nod. "And I'll deliver 'em right to their doors!"

Dans Les Roues

A little more than a week had passed before Thomas had looked for the boy, he had checked the streets a few times during those days to make sure the boy was alright. Upon reaching the young lad again, Thomas crouched down to his height. “Bonjour petit homme,” He began, allowing for a grin to appear. “I’ve got some letters for old friends of mine, I’ve got quite a bit of work today so cannot deliver them myself.” Thomas continued as he pulled out a few envelopes, “I.. was unsure if you could read or not, so I’ve put different symbols on the letters so you can tell the difference.” he added sheepishly and hoped he hadn’t offended the boy, Thomas then indicated to the letter of the top with a small star in the corner.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

"Bonjour, monsieur!" Gavroche tipped his cap towards the man as he had seen rich men do to greet their friends, and pulled it back down over his hair to cover the tips of his ears. He listened carefully and gave the man a haughty glare. "I can read, monsieur. I ain't uneducated!" He snatched the letters and peered at the top one, trying to make sense of the squiggles he saw written on the front. "M--... Mo--... Ma--... I can read!" He nodded firmly, looking at him.

Dans Les Roues

"I shall have some messages by the end of the week, I will find you when they are ready, little man." He replied, grinning on behalf both of the pair.  "Now run along, we don’t want to be mistaken for troublemakers." He said, ruffling the boy’s hair once more.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche shrugged and flashed him a smile. "I am a troublemaker, monsieur. And proud of it!" He pressed his cap down on his head and darted out of the alley, waving at him. "I'll see you around, monsieur. And merci for the coins!"

Dans Les Roues

Thomas’ smile broadened as he listened to the boy’s spirit. “Well I suppose that is very good news because I have been looking for someone I can rely on, I have some important messages I need delivered.” He replied, “Can I trust you, little man?”

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

"Of course, monsieur!" Gavroche rolled his eyes a little and nodded firmly. "No one knows Paris better than me. And no one can deliver messages as fast as me neither!"

Dans Les Roues

Thomas offered the boy a smile, “You’re very welcome, little man. Can I hope to see you again next week?” he asked, “Though you can always look for me, I live down that way.” Thomas indicated down the main street, “I am home most days, do not be shy. There is food and water, and warmth.” He raised his hand and ruffled the boy’s hair, “It is safe, and welcoming for you and your children.”

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

"I'm out in the streets everyday. I's too busy to be looking for folks, monsieur..." Gavroche said, though with less spite in his voice than there had been previously. The man's generosity had certainly boosted Gavroche's opinion of him... "And I don't need charity. Only a warm meal once in a while and I can run errands and messages for you. I'm good at doing that!"

Dans Les Roues

Thomas gave a small nod, “Are your children at least safe?” he asked calmly despite his increasing pulse. He could feel shadows creeping up on him, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Although the alley ensured their solitude, Thomas couldn’t help but to feel vulnerable to the gossip of little birds.

"Little man, I mean you no harm nor disrespect, you are wise not to trust so easily - I cannot say that for every young lad I have met. If what you say true," Though Thomas did not doubt it, the boy looked much thinner than healthy, "then take this.." Slowly he moved his own hand into his pocket and pulled out the few francs he had. Gently he took the boy’s hand, placed them there and explained, "If I find you next week, I can give you more, little man."

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche shrugged. "We're all as safe as we can be in the cold, monsieur." His eyes widened and he examined the coins carefully, biting into each one to test that they were genuine. When he was satisfied, he slipped the coins into his pocket and tipped his cap to the man. "Merci, monsieur! Very generous... My rich friends would like you."

Dans Les Roues

Thomas almost couldn’t believe what the boy was saying, he of course knew people weren’t as lucky as him, though the weight of the problem had only just begin to fall upon his shoulders. “Where are the others?” He asked softly, continuing to stay at level with the boy. Thomas looked over his shoulder to reassure himself again that there were no eavesdroppers; upon turning back to the boy, he continued “Little man, I make a wage, though small I may be able to help.”

He hadn’t even stopped to think of the repercussions this would have, though out of impulse he had known this boy and his friends needed it more. “I don’t want to see you arrested, little man.. nor your friends.” Thomas murmured.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

"I ain't giving up my children and my home to you!" came the indignant reply. "We're fast, monsieur. And small. We ain't never been arrested, and we ain't never going to be! And if we are...I have friends, monsieur. They have money! They'll pay for me to be let go. I ain't a fool; I know the officers have ta let you go if someone pays for you..."

Dans Les Roues

"If you mean a proper meal like the ones folks like you get to eat, then no, monsieur. I ain’t had one of those in…in…weeks." Gavroche took a hand from his pockets and scratched his nose, furiously blinking back a few tears that had suddenly come to his eyes. Once they were gone, he stuck his chin out at the man, almost glaring at him, daring him to make a comment on it if he had seen them. "And what else am I supposed to do, monsieur? I got all my children to feed as well; it ain’t only me on the streets…"

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

"If you mean a proper meal like the ones folks like you get to eat, then no, monsieur. I ain't had one of those in...in...weeks." Gavroche took a hand from his pockets and scratched his nose, furiously blinking back a few tears that had suddenly come to his eyes. Once they were gone, he stuck his chin out at the man, almost glaring at him, daring him to make a comment on it if he had seen them. "And what else am I supposed to do, monsieur? I got all my children to feed as well; it ain't only me on the streets..."

Dans Les Roues

Gavroche barely managed to catch his cap as it slipped from his head during his struggle to get away from the stranger who had caught him. He scowled and jammed it back firmly down over his ears before folding his arms across his chest and standing as tall as he could, straining onto his toes when he was still unsatisfied with the height difference.

"I ain’t got to listen to you, monsieur," he announced grandly. "These are my streets, so I get to do what I like on them! Besides, I ain’t never been caught." He sniffed and rubbed his nose, overbalancing a little and moving to lean against the wall. "And I don’t know what you’re talking about anyway, monsieur," he added, almost as an afterthought. "I never did nothing to make me be arrested…"

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche grumbled to himself and stuck his hands in his pockets stubbornly. "I ain't got nothing in my pockets, monsieur, besides what belongs to me."

He gave the man a hard look and shrugged, nodding back out towards the main street. "My parents? My parents are out there somewhere. Or maybe in a cell finally. Doubt it though..." He wrinkled his nose and shrugged again.

Dans Les Roues

Thomas was not one to call out on illegal activities, especially from those of young children, though this particular boy seemed to have stood out from others he had seen in the streets. Perhaps he had seen the boy before? It was possible as Thomas’ younger brother may have been found playing with him, though he could not recall his brother with a boy. Regardless of what it was, Thomas caught up to the boy and peered down to him. “What do you think you’re doing?” He murmured, eying the boy off before tugging him into a side-alley as to not set a scene.

"Do you want to be arrested? A boy of your age.. don’t set yourself up like that." Thomas continued and glanced back to the main street, "At least do it when there are less witnesses. You are lucky it was only I who seemed to take notice."

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche barely managed to catch his cap as it slipped from his head during his struggle to get away from the stranger who had caught him. He scowled and jammed it back firmly down over his ears before folding his arms across his chest and standing as tall as he could, straining onto his toes when he was still unsatisfied with the height difference.

"I ain't got to listen to you, monsieur," he announced grandly. "These are my streets, so I get to do what I like on them! Besides, I ain't never been caught." He sniffed and rubbed his nose, overbalancing a little and moving to lean against the wall. "And I don't know what you're talking about anyway, monsieur," he added, almost as an afterthought. "I never did nothing to make me be arrested..."

Dans Les Roues

Gavroche tugged his tattered shawl tighter around him and jammed his hat firmly over his ears as he skipped down the streets. Though the sun was bright, the air itself was surprisingly chilly and he glared enviously at the rich men walking past with their warm-looking lined coats. His quick eyes spotted one, a fat gentleman with equally fat pockets and the boy picked up his pace, trotting behind the man. He continued walking behind him for a while before his quick hand darted out and slipped a thick wallet out of the man’s pocket.

Gavroche’s eyes lit up and he quickly stopped following the man and leaned against a nearby wall, trying to count the money he had gained (though never quite being able to make it accurately past ten). He grinned and tucked the wallet into his own pocket before freezing as he heard a shout. He glanced around nervously, preparing to run if it was someone who had witnessed his thievery.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

"S-Sounds wonderful, monsieur... A feast with...with chicken and pies and cakes..." Gavroche gave a small smile and let out a quiet sigh. "T-Tell Monsieur Enjolras I'm sorry...and I'll get back to helping wh-when I've rested..."

"Come on, now. You've lived through worse than this. Just... Just live through this too."

"Monsieur… I-I… I’m cold, monsieur." Gavroche’s eyes flickered slightly and he coughed weakly.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche let a few tears fall from his own eyes at Grantaire's words and he hugged his friend as tight as he could, though his arms were feeling heavier than normal, as though he'd fallen asleep and lain on top of them. "I... I got the 'munition, monsieur..." He released Grantaire to clutch at his bag. "Got all I could find... Y-You'll be safe now."

"Come on, now. You've lived through worse than this. Just... Just live through this too."

"Monsieur… I-I… I’m cold, monsieur." Gavroche’s eyes flickered slightly and he coughed weakly.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche let out a weak giggle and nodded. "V-Very distinguished. Like a gentleman..." He curled up a little, shivering and hissing with pain. "M-Monsieur..? E-Even though I never really had a proper family...besides 'Ponine and my children... I-I always thought of you as part of it. I... I'm glad you're here now..."

"Come on, now. You've lived through worse than this. Just... Just live through this too."

"Monsieur… I-I… I’m cold, monsieur." Gavroche’s eyes flickered slightly and he coughed weakly.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche closed his eyes and smiled serenely. "They all love Christmas... Last year we got almost half a chicken..." He forced his eyes open and gazed up at him. "And...And you'll look after us all, monsieur? And...give us presents?" He reached up and took off his cap, pressing it against Grantaire's leg. "I-I wanna give you this, monsieur..."

"Come on, now. You've lived through worse than this. Just... Just live through this too."

"Monsieur… I-I… I’m cold, monsieur." Gavroche’s eyes flickered slightly and he coughed weakly.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

Gavroche smiled a little and reached up to clutch Grantaire's waistcoat. "And all my children can come stay with us too..?" He blinked back tears and clenched his jaw as jolts of pain shot through him, gazing up at Grantaire as his gaze turned mournful. "I never meant to get hurt, monsieur... I just...I only wanted to help..."

"Come on, now. You've lived through worse than this. Just... Just live through this too."

"Monsieur… I-I… I’m cold, monsieur." Gavroche’s eyes flickered slightly and he coughed weakly.

[gavrocheofsaintmichele-blog]

"Come on, now. You've lived through worse than this. Just... Just live through this too."

"Monsieur... I-I... I'm cold, monsieur." Gavroche's eyes flickered slightly and he coughed weakly.