【ER】Golden Rule

Grantaire begins to recall how good Eponine is at hiding.

He remembered that when they were in seventh grade, Eponine didn't get enough money from her parents to buy lunch five days a week, so she sat on the side of the field every Friday at noon, pretending that she skipped lunch to watch the blond football Team members training.In their second year of high school, Azma dropped out. In order not to appear embarrassed, Eponine gave herself a new hairstyle and nails every week, and told everyone that Azma had transferred to the beauty school.In the first year of Grantaire University, during the hormonal confusion period, Eponine said, you can kiss me, and then figure out whether you like boys or girls.Grantaire tried kissing her, then said, sorry.Eponine said, great, I will finally not worry about you pestering me.But that's when Grantaire finally understood that she was hiding, she was always hiding how much she wanted to be loved.When Azma was arrested, Grantaire tried to ask her out to talk, she always chose the place at the cafe, said she wanted to go out, and then Grantaire realized that she just didn't want him to see to what kind of house she lives in.She's always covering up.

But this time Grantaire barely notices.Only now did he begin to recall, and he remembered Eponine's vague attitude towards Cosette when she told him the story of Marius' love, her faltering words when talking about her mother, and her depressed expression when he promised to win the case.He suddenly realized these details.He thought of Éponine's desperate face when she begged him to keep Gavroche, her thin shoulders, the tired circles around her eyes.He remembered her surprised and struggling expression when she saw Enjolras.And when she and Enjolras talked on the porch at noon on Sunday, she looked haggard, terrified, and worried.At that time, his eyes were only focused on Enjolras, and he didn't even realize Eponine's strong spirit and forced smile.Grantaire didn't even notice the look on her face that people who are suffering, wandering, suffer.Since when had he been unable to detect her?

At this moment, at two o'clock in the afternoon, Éponine was sitting on the witness stand.She was wearing a gray suit with knee-length skirt and plain vertical stripes.The clothes were so new that even the fold marks were clearly visible.Her always messy braids were done, her earrings and lip studs were gone, and she didn't even have eyeliner on.It's like she's sitting in a shell that doesn't belong to her.Grantaire realizes that this is the "court-fit" suit he asked Marius to take Éponine to buy earlier.She was still his witness at that time—but at this moment, it was Enjolras who was standing in front of the witness stand and cross-examining.

She looks tense.This is understandable.Her mother was sitting in the gallery, and the woman was cursing at her in the corridor as she and Enjolras entered the court.She reluctantly quiets down after Grantaire tells her that if she continues to swear in the gallery, she is likely to be chased away by the bailiffs.This attendance was clearly contrary to her mother's expectations.

In fact, this switch of witnesses clearly went against everyone's expectations.This morning, Grantaire hurried to the courthouse—he deliberately found a new ironed shirt to wear in his suit, carefully tied his tie, and even combed his hair with clean water.He was still full of optimism then, thinking that his careful shave was a good start, that the kindness of Enjolras and the warmth of late spring were a good start to renewed enthusiasm.Even the judge froze when he saw him come in—the district court judges had grown accustomed to a bearded, listless Grantaire with a hoodie tucked into his suit over the years.He entered the room, said good morning to the judge, and turned to Enjolras.

"Morning, Enjolras," he said, going and standing beside him. "What is the matter? I heard that you are going to use Eponine as a witness. Is this legal? One witness can testify for both parties at the same time." Is it?"

Enjolras looked at him.Grantaire thought there was a hint of guilt in his eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by the determination that something had to be done.

"She will not testify for both sides at the same time," Enjolras said.

"Ah, I guess so," Grantaire said. "So what's going on?"

Enjolras looked at him.

"She will not be your witness any more," he said. "She will be a defense witness, she will testify to Wajang's self-defense."

"Ah," Grantaire said, up to that moment optimistic that he was joking, "Yeah. She never told me about it. How are you going to explain to a judge that you didn't inappropriately touch my witness ? How to prove that she is voluntary?"

Enjolras did not smile.He pulls a handwritten, signed note from his briefcase, and Grantaire recognizes Éponine's handwriting.He finally realized that Enjolras would never joke in court.

"I didn't reach out to her," Enjolras said. "She asked me a week ago if I was going to plead not guilty to Valjean, and I said yes. She asked me if I was sure, and I told her truthfully that our progress was not. It went so well. She approached me and asked for my contact info. Three days later she called me and said she might be able to help but she was scared. I told her it was okay and she could contact me when she was ready. After that She asked me about witness protection again, and I explained it to her. I still told her to contact me when she was ready. It wasn't until yesterday that she officially expressed her willingness to be a witness for the defense." He put the letter on the On the table, so that both Grantaire and the judge could see it, "This is her pledge and signature. She can attest that what I said was true and that I explained to her the meaning of perjury."

"A week ago," Grantaire murmured.That was when Éponine first met Enjolras at his house.They kept in touch for more than a week, but Enjolras didn't say a word to him.You took my witnesses right under my nose, under my roof, right next to me!Not just my witnesses, but my friends.how can you do thisHe looked at Enjolras and almost asked.No, can't ask, he can't shout like a love-betrayed wretch before the judge.Not to mention that apart from his wishful thinking, there is no love at all.Nor can he complain here about why his witnesses don't trust him.He couldn't complain about the friendship, he ignored so many of Eponine's anomalies, he couldn't complain about why she didn't ask him for help.

Enjolras heard his murmur and looked up at him.But Grantaire had looked away, taking pains not to shout it in front of the judge.

"Anything else besides witnesses?" said the judge, accepting the paper.

"There is evidence." Enjolras said, "a knife. It was provided by Mademoiselle Thenardier, and it has been sent for appraisal."

"Can I get the appraisal report before the court session in the afternoon?" said the judge.

"According to the plan. We will send a copy of the appraisal report to the prosecution in advance."

The judge behind his desk nodded and turned to Grantaire.

"Do you agree to maintain the original court time?"

Grantaire wanted to curse, to smoke, to smash a wine bottle.He should say something, he should object, find a reason, just buy the prosecution a little time.He should have given Enjolras some trouble, he couldn't let him take his witness so smoothly.But his brain, which was soaked in alcohol before, could turn, but now he couldn't think of anything.

"I agree," he murmured.

That's why he's sitting in court now.See Enjolras standing right in front of him, next to the witness box, questioning Éponine.After they left the judge's office that morning, Enjolras tried to speak to him.He said sorry, I can't tell you until Eponine is sure to be my witness.Grantaire waved at him, and he said it's okay, it's not that I don't understand.He said it's okay, I don't mind.But it's impossible, he doesn't care about it at all.Why?He only has this problem.Sitting behind the defense desk, he felt he knew nothing about his case or his friends.He realized that Eponine felt guilty too, so he had hardly looked him in the eye since entering the courtroom.Enjolras gave him a look as he opened the folder, and Grantaire didn't know what that look was.

Enjolras stood before the witness stand.

"Your name is?"

"Épone Thenardier."

"What is your relationship to the victim?"

"Father and daughter."

"Where were you when the incident happened?"

"In the hotel lobby. Right next to them."

"Briefly describe what you saw."

"Okay. That night, Jean Valjean knocked on the door with a golf club. My father opened the door and Valjean said, 'Please let that boy go home.' The boy is my grandson. Where is their home but here?'”

"Can you please explain who 'the boy' refers to, Mademoiselle Thenardier?" said Enjolras.

"My nephew," said Éponine, her eyes fixed on the floor. "He is my sister's son. My sister cannot raise him. Sometimes he lives with me."

"Why do you think Valjean told your parents to let 'the boy' come home?"

Eponine took a deep breath.She raised her head, wandering around the court in bewilderment, looking bewildered.She glanced at Grantaire, then looked away quickly.She looked at Cosette in the gallery.She looked at Madame Thenardier in the gallery.She looked at Enjolras.

"They put the kid under house arrest."

There was a restless rustling in the jury.Grantaire's eyes widened.

"Liar!" screamed Madame Thenardier from the gallery, and Éponine shuddered a little. "The little bastard is lying!"

"Be quiet, please," said the judge.

"Why do you think they did this?" Enjolras continued.

"To blackmail Vajang."

"Why is this kid able to blackmail Vajang?"

"Because besides me, Cosette is also helping to take care of him." She said.Grantaire froze at the words.Cosette!The other person who took care of Gavreau turned out to be Cosette?He knew nothing and could not imagine it at all.Eponine has too many things to hide.

"Vajang and Cosette are like the de facto adoptive father and daughter. He cares about Cosette, so he cares about the child." Eponine continued, "So I... my parents, think he will give birth to the child. A lot of money."

"Damned little bitch!" screamed Madame Thenardier again, jumping up from her seat and rushing towards the court, her walrus-like neck flushed, "full of lies! How dare you? See I won't rip your mouth out—"

She was stopped by two guards standing at the side of the courtroom, and she was still yelling.They carried her to the back of the gallery.

Enjolras lowered his eyes and looked at the document in his hand.He was not in the least affected by Madame Thenardier's screams.

"Go on, please," he said to Eponine.

Eponine nodded.

"After my father said that, Valjean looked very angry," she said. "He said, 'Thenardier, please don't do this with me. We all know what you have done to him. What is going on? Why are you willing to let that boy go home?" said my father, laughing. "Monsieur Valjean, I know you have a lot of money in your purse. I don't think you gave us enough when you took Cosette away some years ago. I wish you would be more generous today.' Valjean said, 'I'm not going to give you a penny.' And then..." She stopped.She paled a little. "Then my father said, I'll have to be hard on you then, sir. Then he... pulled out a knife."

Enjolras nodded. "Please describe the knife."

"It's...it's as long as my forearm," Eponine said, raising her right hand for a gesture. "It's not a fruit knife, it's not a butter knife. It's a bit like a nomad's long knife. It opens The blade is sharp."

"Do you think it's dangerous?"

"Very dangerous, enough to kill people."

"Please continue to describe your father's next actions."

"He pointed the knife at Wajang and said to him, if he didn't want to die here, write him a check for $50. Wajang refused. He wanted to push my father away and go upstairs. Locked... lock my nephew's room. My father stabbed him, he was injured, he raised his golf club and hit it..." Eponine closed her eyes and took a deep breath, " he died."

Enjolras closed the document paper in his hand and gently placed it on the side table.

"I understand that it pains you to replay this experience," he said, "but I'm sorry to ask for more details. Where did your father's knife stab Valjang?"

Eponine shook her head to show that she was fine.

"I guess it's the stomach. I was standing behind him and didn't see it."

"So that fits with Valjean's medical report. Do you think Valjean's life would be in danger if he hit your father without a golf club?"

"I think so. My father was about to get the second stab, and Valjean had no room to hide."

"You think Valjean has no other choice?"

"I think so."

"Unavoidable in a critical situation. Thank you." Enjolras said, "I will show the identification results of the knife in court later. Miss Thenardier, can you tell me why the knife is in your hand? "

Eponine bit her lip. "My mother told me to dispose of the knife. But I didn't wash it or throw it away ... I hid it."

"Why did she trust you to do this?"

"I used to help out in middle school. They would sometimes steal money from customers, and I would destroy their wallets. They would buy broken food for the hotel restaurant, and I would dispose of their food waste. She didn't think I would expose it. Because then I will inevitably be punished."

"Then why are you willing to hand over the knife to the police this time?"

Éponine looked up.There was fear on her face, but also courage.

"Because I called Valjean. My parents went to school to pick up Gavroche, my nephew, before I got off work. I knew they would not listen to me if I went. It was I who told Ke Seth and Valjean asked for help, and I brought Valjean. Cosette and Valjean didn't say a word about it before, because they are much better people than me, and they want to protect me. But I want to protect My sister's baby. None of this would have happened if it hadn't been for me. Standing here today, I'm terrified! But I can't leave Monsieur Valjean to suffer alone. He took it. I know what my parents are like, and I let him go! I thought I'd just let it go, but even though I don't know anything, even though I'm the devil's daughter, Even if I'm bad - I can't do that. I'm scared of my parents, Mr. Judge, Mr. Lawyer, they used to beat me when I was a kid, but I saw them beat my sister's son like that the other day. I couldn't stand it. I'm willing to tell it all, even if I get locked up with my sister for it—"

"Mademoiselle Thenardier, please believe me—you will not be locked up for this," Enjolras interrupted her softly—it was tenderness to suffering, courteous mercy, restrained pity, and equanimity. tribute.This is the look on Grantaire's face when he first saw divinity in him.Not from his blond hair, or his pretty face, but his belief in his own principles in court, and his unbelievable, deep and genuine concern for each client.

"Thank you. My question is over. Your courage has helped us... immeasurably," said Enjolras.He turned to the judge, "My lord, please allow me to explain a few words due to the special circumstances of the witness switching positions."

"Just a few words," said the judge, shrugging his shoulders. "Don't say anything irrelevant."

Enjolras nodded and turned to the jury. "Before today, I am sure that you thought our chances were slim. I understand that perhaps Mademoiselle Thenardier's testimony does not prove anything absolutely. But I hope you appreciate her courage. As you have seen from the previous information, she today She should have been on the witness stand for the prosecution, it would have been much easier for her, she just had to answer a few ambiguous questions and get out of the way. She would be safe, she would not disobey her mother, the prosecution It is also more likely to successfully throw a fugitive prisoner back into prison. The price of all this is nothing more than the conscience of a tortured prisoner, the trust of a suffering child in justice, and the surrender of a hopeful sister to life. I understand that my fellow prosecutors have done a lot of work before, finding a lot of 'facts', telling you that's the 'elements', and asking you to judge accordingly. There's nothing technically wrong with the law, but I don't think this The accusation is flawed. They just put symbolic subjects into the standard sentences of the law and convict them. However, the law is meaningless if it has nothing to do with individuals. They know their clients, their witnesses, Who are they going to accuse? They may not know of Valjean's recklessness in rescuing the boy, and they have no way of knowing Miss Thenardier's struggle. But without thinking about these, their accusations are not trustworthy. If our judiciary Let the good-doers, the sufferers, and the brave pay the price, while those with evil intentions are protected, even if this conforms to the meaning of the legal text-this must violate my principles of practicing law, your expectations of society, and the existence of the judiciary purpose. I therefore hope that you will treat Mademoiselle Thenardier's testimony without prejudice, even though her change of position may seem to you inexplicable and suspicious..."

Enjolras is still talking, but Grantaire is speechless.A sense of failure filled him.He thought he could help Eponine this time, he thought he could do a good thing with the law this time.But every word of Enjolras stuck on him, and he was right, Grantaire was used to finding that law, leaving it there, and simply putting Valjean, de Nardier and Eponine are all spelled out.He didn't understand what Eponine went through, he didn't understand what kind of story this case was, and he didn't understand what kind of suffering there was in this story.He had long since cared nothing about the truth, would not care, could not believe that the truth had any effect—this had become the golden rule of his business.In this way, he dared to believe that he could really help Eponine.

"...but I am not blaming my colleagues in the prosecution," said Enjolras' voice.

"I think you've accused enough. Now, sit down, defense," said the judge. "Please don't make a speech here." He turned to Grantaire. "What do you want to ask the witnesses?"

Grantaire stood up in a daze.Say something, he thought, questioning the veracity of Éponine's testimony, finding fault with her sensational story.Even to refute Enjolras, the spirit of the statement is not the individual but order, and order cannot avoid the sacrifice of the individual—say whatever you want.This is your job, your job is to break down your friend here, to negate her statements, to question her honesty.Even if you trust her completely.

"Is what you said true?" he whispered to Eponine.He was too shocked, too remorseful, too full of sympathy for her—that was all he could say.

There was a muffled laugh from the jury box.Grantaire knew that what he was asking was not a question at all.It's just the suffering of one friend to testify to the other.He is not a prosecution lawyer at the moment, but just a friend.He might be the laughing stock during this jury recess.

Éponine looked at him.

"I'm telling the truth." She also said softly.

Grantaire looked at her.He feels weak.

"I have no other questions," he said.

The stars are twinkling.No, the lights are flickering.No, the lights now look like stars.Grantaire is lying on a chair, no, a sofa, a chair as soft as a sofa, or a bed.Someone was undoing his tie, someone was laughing.Maybe he was smiling, maybe he was untying his tie.Whose hand is he holding, he is drunk, and he knows he is giggling.He smirked and said you can kiss me once, or kiss me twice, or we can hug three times.Someone was sticking a bottle in his mouth, or he was drinking himself, he couldn't tell, he just felt the wine trickling down the corner of his mouth when he giggled.Someone was talking and smiling at him.Suddenly the speaking stopped, and there was a loud bang, as if someone had fallen to the ground.The voices turned into yelling.The man fell again and sounded like he was punched straight into the floor.Someone tugged at Grantaire's collar, not the one just now, because it was too strong.Grantaire felt his glass drop to the floor, and he was yanked up, sweeping the two bottles off the table with his arms.The multicolored lights and stars turned into swaying lines, he was dragged unceremoniously, the crowd pushed and shoved, his own left foot tripped over his own right foot, and almost spun around.

"...Slow down...I want to vomit..." He begged in a low voice.

The power stopped.He felt his right hand being lifted up and held by someone around his neck.Someone grabbed his waist.He heard a soft sigh against his ear.

He was carried on, but this time it was much gentler.He was led up to a door, and he was led out.A gust of cold night wind blows in the face.

"...Ah Choo." He immediately sneezed and shivered violently.He sniffed and suddenly felt a little more awake.He opened his eyes and saw himself standing in the street.This time he could tell that the street lamps were not stars.

"What do you think you're doing?" snapped the man standing next to him.Two hands seized him by the shoulders, turned him away, buttoned his shirt viciously, and fastened his tie with the force of a noose.Grantaire looked up and saw Enjolras standing in front of him, brow furrowed, blue eyes full of anger.If the anger of the gods can really kill, Grantaire has no doubt that he is now a coke.

"...Oh, Enjolras." He said flatly, feeling some lucidity slip back into his mind.He didn't want to see Enjolras at all now—for the first time ever.Not at all. "Why are you here? Are you trying to murder me with your tie?" He smiled lazily, reaching out to push him away.

Enjolras grabbed his wrist.

"I went back at six o'clock and didn't see you back home for three hours," he said. "I thought maybe you were in the pub we went to last time, so I came to see you. What are you doing? Wearing your clothes Clothes in court, drunk, dating..." He pauses in rage, and Grantaire realizes he can't get the word "flirting" out - which makes the drunk almost laugh. "...Say shameless things to people!"

Grantaire actually laughed.

"Hey, Enjolras," he said, giving one of his favorite mean, uncaring looks—if he wanted to act like a cheeky rascal, a loser, he could be very good at it. "Do you think I'm shameless? Because I'm wearing this suit, or because I just want to get stuck in a barrel as soon as I'm out of court? Ah, Apollo in his laurels. You don't know me yet? This suit is to me It's pointless and unrespectable, like justice itself is what we're fighting for. It doesn't suit me, so I don't like it." He paused, the sour taste of alcohol in his head, and he felt himself Now I dare to do anything, and I dare to say anything.He remembered his ridiculous desire for Enjolras before today, and thought he had found a perfect way to annoy him.He took Enjolras' hand behind his back and approached him. "Or because you saw me flirting with other people? I get it, you're Artemis too. You despise lust, don't you? Maybe you're clean, but I'm different, I just want to..."

"Grantaire!" Enjolras yelled angrily, a flash of panic flashed in his eyes, he immediately let go of Grantaire's wrist and took half a step back. "You are so drunk, you look ridiculous. If you really liked Mademoiselle Thenardier, you should never—"

Grantaire froze at the second half of his sentence.

"What?" he said, wondering whether he had been too drunk or had misheard. "Mademoiselle Thenardier? Which Thenardier?"

Enjolras pursed his lips.

"Épone Thenardier. Why pretend I don't know?"

Grantaire almost laughed.His sense of tragedy turned into dumbfounding.

"What? You think I like Eponine? Why?"

"Isn't that obvious? Do you think I haven't seen you comfort her the other day when she cried because of Marius?"

Grantaire grinned.

"No, I don't like her that type! Do you think I got drunk because you robbed my beloved as a witness? You may have taken my failure today too shallowly. No... Of course I am shallow .But it's not sentimental about it. There's no way I like her!"

Enjolras froze.

"...why?" he said hesitantly. "Why do you say you can't like her?"

"Because I like men, idiot!" Grantaire growled.He didn't have the brains to think about how to gracefully come out to Enjolras, and it felt really good to call Enjolras an "idiot" at this moment. "Perhaps you don't think I'm as big a brain as a walnut kernel, and I care about all the shitty stuff—drinking, sleeping, sex. But maybe you don't... Ha! What a surprise! You don't think I'm so I used to have some ideals in my mind!" He shook one arm and took half a step back.He held back these words for a long time, and finally shouted out with the help of alcohol.Even though he knew that his posture was ridiculous and his words were ridiculous, like a child who hadn't grown up acting like a spoiled child to the world, but he couldn't vomit right now. "I used to think how noble I was, but then I realized I couldn't help anyone, I couldn't save anyone. Now, look at me: I don't care about the truth, I don't care about justice, I don't care about what society becomes— — I don't think society needs to care, it's corrupting itself pretty well! A loser stands here. You can say I have no faith in the law, I don't have faith in people, and you're right, that's what I am. You still What are you doing with me? You can't find anything of value in me."

Enjolras looked at him.His eyes widened briefly when he heard Grantaire's coming out announcement, but he calmed down quickly.

"No," he said, "you're not what you say you are."

"I doubt what you said more than I doubt myself," Grantaire said. "Prove it to me."

Enjolras looked at him.As carefully as if measuring the length of Grantaire's eyelashes.

"You really don't like Éponine Theredier?" he asked. "You really like men?"

"Bullshit." He said brokenly, "I can never like her. If you don't believe it, do you want to hear my sexual fantasies about you?"

Enjolras said nothing.He took a step forward, reached out and grabbed Grantaire's hands, bringing them together and holding them between his own.He pulled those two hands over to his chin, and raised his eyes to look seriously at Grantaire.Just this gesture immediately made Grantaire speechless.

"Grantaire," he said, "this time you listen to me carefully."

TBC