Short drabble with child Enjolras and teenager Combeferre. Hope you like it!

Enjolras was scared. He was scared and nervous and he was so, so stupid. Combeferre had told him to be careful. His older friend had urged him to take good care of it, to keep it safe. And now it was ruined. Enjolras cradled Combeferre's favorite book in his arms and kept it close to his chest. Tears burned behind his eyes and he was trembling all the way over to his best friend's house. He was sure that Combeferre was going to be angry. The young blonde even prepared himself for a definite break in their friendship.

It had all been a stupid accident of course. Enjolras hadn't meant to ruin Combeferre's book. On the contrary, he had sworn to himself that he would protect it with his life if necessary. He had been so happy when Combeferre allowed him to take it. His best friend was always so enthusiastic about it and he had even read some parts to Enjolras. But Enjolras was old enough now to at least try and read it on his own and he wanted to make Combeferre proud.

So he had taken the book with him to the park that day and sat on the grass near the lake. It was a beautiful, sunny day and Enjolras loved reading outside in the warmth. He and Combeferre usually went there together, but that day his friend had to stay home with his little sister, who was sick. Enjolras only got to the third chapter of the book when a goose approached and started honking at him. Enjolras didn't like geese and quickly got up and backed away, but the goose just followed him. Enjolras started running, but tripped and the book he was holding flew out of his hold to land in the water and mud of the lake. When Enjolras got to it, it was already soaked and dirty. Ruined.

With a trembling hand, Enjolras wiped a tear away and knocked on his friend's door. He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and chewed on it while he waited for Combeferre to open up. By the time he did, Enjolras had bitten his lip so hard, he could taste blood. His friend raised his eyebrows, surprised to see his young friend back so soon, but smiled. "Enjolras, you're back already? Was the book too hard to read on your own," he asked kindly.

That was all it took for Enjolras to start crying. He cradled the book even tighter to his chest and shook his head, twisting out of Combeferre's hold when his friend tried to comfort him. "I'm sorry, 'Ferre," he whispered between gasps, "I'm sorry, please don't hate me. I ruined your book, see?" And he held out the book to his friend so that he could see the dirty smudges and wrinkled pages. "There was a goose and I tried to run, but it followed me and I tripped and the book... and the book fell... And I tried to safe it 'Ferre, I tried to dry it and clean it, but I couldn't." Tears were readily streaming down his face and Enjolras was afraid to look Combeferre in the eyes, too scared to find anger or disappointment in there. He allowed Combeferre to take the book from him and was about to turn around and run away when he felt someone grip his arm.

Enjolras nervously looked up to his friend, surprised to see that he held knelt down so that they were on eyelevel. Combeferre was smiling at him, his eyes kind and gentle. "I'm not angry, mon petit ami and I don't hate you. This was an accident and accidents happen. Now dry those blue eyes and come inside. We'll dry it together by the fire... Maybe we're able to safe at least some of it."

Enjolras turned wide eyes at his friend, not really believing that he wasn't mad, and then quickly did as he was told, but new tears kept coming so it was no easy task. Once inside, Enjolras helped Combeferre make a fire and layed the book out in front of it. Together, they turned the pages carefully and tried to clean it as best and as safely as they could. In the end, most pages were still readible, although the book no longer looked appealing.

"We aren't friends anymore now, are we 'Ferre?" Enjolras asked quietly after a while, looking to the ground and fumbling with his fingers. Before he got an answer, he felt himself being pulled into a tight embrace and he was held close to Combeferre's chest.

"Of course we're still friends, Enjolras. Not even death will break our friendship."

Please let me know what you think? Thanks for reading!