So here it finally is, after all the promotion on tumblr, I finally present to you My Father's Shadow a story of fathers, sons, stars, and love. This first chapter has no Enjolras in it, and I'm sorry about that, but I felt the need to show where Javert comes from, how he got his family, and what he has to go back to if he loses that. I hope you enjoy, and for further information and news for My Father's Shadow please visit the tumblr account of happinessiveneverknown, or the "My Father's Shadow" tag on tumblr for all your up-to-date information on the developments happening.
Ownership Disclaimer: fictionfrek101/happinessiveneverknown does not own the book Les Miserables, nor any characters/events/songs/other content used provided by the many adaptations of the novel, including, but not limited to, the 1980 French musical, the 2012 film adaptation of said musical, the 25th anniversary concert of said musical, and the 1998 movie adaptation.
Historical Accuracy Disclaimer: I do not live, nor do I claim to live in 1800s France, as for my knowledge of the French language, it is very limited. Most of my descriptions come from the source novel, research from the internet and creative decisions. The author will do their best to make it as accurate as possible, but the reader must be flexible in their judgement of this endeavour.
Appearance Disclaimer: All characters that appear in the 2012 adaptation look as the actors playing them do (e.g. Aaron Tveit is Enjolras, Russell Crowe is Javert, Hugh Jackman is Jean Valjean, etc.). Any exceptions will be stated in the author's notes section of the chapter of their introduction. As for the important original character of Adelaide, wife of Javert and mother of Enjolras, she is based on Jennifer Connelly's role in the movie A Beautiful Mind, as is 1809 Javert to resemble Russell Crowe in the same movie. I own none of these fabulous actors and actresses, or their likenesses.
My Father's Shadow
Chapter One
Wishing on Stars
Our story begins many years before the character of Enjolras, leader of the Les Amis de l'ABC, comes into the world, yet not so many before the birth of the son of Inspector Javert. In this time the Inspector had yet to gain this title, being merely Gabriel Javert, assistant guard in the Bagne of Toulon, and it is there we begin our story.
The year was 1809 A.D. and Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor of the French, ruling over the First French Empire. None of this information is particularly relevant to our story; however the author chooses to mention these facts as to better set the scene.
We follow, not Javert, but rather a young woman who had long, curly, dark brown hair, green eyes, a pale complexion, and went by the name of Mademoiselle Adelaide Enjolras. It is in these details the reader has no doubt surmised Adelaide's destiny to wed the future Inspector and bear him a son. At this point in time, Adelaide was of her twenty-third year and desired for a wife by many a man. Adelaide was by no means an overly picky or a pretentious being, she was waiting for no idealized Adonis on a white horse to sweep her off her feet and carry her off into the sunset. She just wished for one thing; a man who could make her smile, and carry a conversation.
And it seemed that the town of Toulon carried none in stock.
In all fairness, she did live toward the edge of town, not far enough from the prison to ignore the constant broken sounds of the prisoners, but not close enough to be in danger. That particular end of town was made up mostly of the prison guards and their families; she herself was the daughter of the town's Chief Inspector, making her that much more coveted to wed. But prison guards in Toulon were a gruff bunch of characters, and it was hard for a young girl to tell the difference between a man who gave off a sense of danger, and a man who could cause legitimate harm to her person.
Still, Adelaide hoped. She'd introduce herself to citizens' visiting relatives at weddings, and knew that there were many men in Toulon who she had not yet met. When she gave her mind an opportunity to wander, such as trips to market, and formal dinners, she'd often consider who might be her future husband. Who knew? Maybe she'd find him in Nice, or Paris, or even England or Spain.
She was on such a trip to the market on the day our story starts. Humming to herself as she picked out the ripest of apples, and charmed shopkeepers into lower prices, she pictured suitors.
Adelaide was not too concerned with looks, though in all fairness, she might have done a double take at a man with a third eye. Her husband could be young or old, it didn't matter. She just wanted a strong, sturdy man; one who would guard her, protect her, and provide for her. Adelaide was more than comfortable with becoming a happy housewife, making beds and rearing children, but if her husband thought she would just sit pretty, he had another thing coming.
Being an only child due to her mother passing away while giving birth to Adelaide, and her father never remarrying, Adelaide had been subject to interesting methods of childrearing by her father. More often than not, Adelaide was just handed a book and told to read in the corner of her father's office until it was time for them to go home. As such, by age twenty three, Adelaide was a well read, well learned, young woman, and ergo the candidate pool of appropriate suitors was well cut down as everyone knows it's hard to court someone who has no knowledge or interest in your conversational topics of choice.
"Merci, Monsieur," Adelaide nodded to the shopkeeper and dropping a few francs into his outstretched palm.
She resumed her humming as she looked down, fitting her purchases into the basket upon her arm, and fixing her purse back on her belt. Adelaide had been to the market so many times that she did not feel the need to look at her surroundings. As for the people in her way, they passed to the side, making way for the girl whether it was because they recognized her to be the Inspector's daughter, or because they were being gentlemanly to a pretty girl, not that she took notice of it. On this particular day, her coin purse and belt seemed to be simply incompatible, refusing to join as one. And it was this struggle for incompatibility that caused her to forgo the one most important rule for not paying attention to where you're going: look up when taking corners.
She smacked into something hard and sturdy.
Unintentionally dropping her possessions, the groceries and coin purse went crashing to the ground, with Adelaide sure to follow. But before she could crack her head against the stone walkway, she felt a grip on her forearm, followed by a swift hand to her back, steadying her, and keeping her upright.
"Pardon, Mademoiselle, I did not see you," a strange, gruff, voice said as Adelaide attempted the clear the stars from her vision. The sudden shocks of hitting something, almost falling, and the jolt of her rescue had left her reeling.
"C'est bien," she assured him steadying herself. "I didn't see you either."
The man respectfully released his grip on the strange girl, and Adelaide was finally able to take a look at the man who was both inadvertently attacker and rescuer. It was a slight shock to find that she knew him.
Sandy blonde hair, that had only just begun to get flecked with grey, steeled blue eyes, and lightly bearded, this was the form of Gabriel Javert upon his twenty-ninth year. By this age he had already developed his strong and straight posture, as well as his affinity for blue, which he now wore. Yet the hardened exterior he would become famous for, had not yet fortified itself enough to give off the threat it would one day, and in fact, it was so unnoticeable that he looked down right… approachable.
Adelaide and Javert were nowhere near friends, but it was not through some fault or discord among them. It was simply from having only briefly passed each other a handful of times that allowed them to identify their companion on that day, but not enough to really know how to interact. The daughter of the Chief Inspector barely ran in the same circles as the assistant guard, having limited their interactions to mere nods in the market, or a respectful hand kiss upon introduction at a party. Yet every time Adelaide had interacted with the man, she had noted he only acted with utmost propriety and manners, a hard quality to find among the men of Toulon.
"Here, let me help you," Javert bent down a picked up one of the apples scattered along the ground.
"Merci," Adelaide smiled as she crouched down with him. They swiftly gathered the scattered possessions from the street, and Adelaide was only all too glad she lived in Toulon and not some place like Paris, where the lost coins and food would have been scooped up by gamins before she could even bend down.
As Javert placed the scattered coins back into her purse, Adelaide's eye caught a strange object. It was a small white and blue bound book lying face down on the pavement. Though it looked rather new, a few of the page corner tops had been folded down, and there was a prominent mud stain on the formerly white canvas, no doubt from the fall onto the street. Crude sketches of various dots connected by lines adorned the cover, and written on the front in big black letters was the title L'art dies Cieux.
Picking it up, Adelaide looked at the page it had fallen open to when it hit the ground. A diagram of what appeared to be dots connected together with lines to form a bear, decorated the right-hand page. Text was laid around the picture and made up almost the entirety of the left-hand page. It described some story involving nymphs, Gods, bears and a hunter, and the words "Grande Ourse" stood tall on the top left corner of the left-hand page.
"I think that should be all of it," Javert looked up at the Inspector's daughter. He started when he noticed the book in her hands, "Oh, that- that's mine."
"Oh, pardon," Adelaide nodded, and handed the book to him, which he promptly tucked into his jacket.
"Again, I'm terribly sorry for inconveniencing you," Javert watched as she fumbled with her coin purse once more. He couldn't help but feel eyes on them, and rightly so, it wasn't proper for the Inspector's daughter to be on the ground with the son of… Well, with him. "I hope I caused you no physical harm?"
"Nope, everything's in working order. There we go!" she laughed, finally snapping the purse in place. "Merci for your help though, not many would stop to help after causing such a mess."
"Then the standards of manners have really gone down in Toulon. Allow me?" Javert asked, offering his hand.
Adelaide smiled, took his extended hand and allowed the Assistant Guard to pull her up. His hand was rough, but strong, much like the rest of him, and Adelaide could fell an impressive power at work as he pulled her up. After letting go of his hand, they stood there for a second awkwardly brushing the street dust from their clothes, not quite sure what to do next.
"Well, I should be heading home," Adelaide finally broke the ice. "Pére is waiting."
"Have you not an escort?" Javert looked at her in shock.
"Oh, no, but I know my way around well enough," Adelaide assured him.
"Pardon if I seem impudent," he looked down, not wanting to meet her eyes as he carefully worded a respectful response, "but we do live in an area where there's many a criminal coming and going. I would not feel right with allowing a defenceless young woman to wander the street unattended."
"Defenceless?"
"Compared to a dangerous criminal who has been strengthened by years of prison work."
Adelaide gave a slight smirk, and looked over the man. He had a strange combination of frankness and courtesy mixed with authority.
He was stubborn, but she was she.
"And what do you propose I do then? I cannot disobey Père's orders to return home, and I certainly can't stay here, so how do you suggest I get home?" she crossed her arms.
Silence.
"Unless," she smirked, "you're offering to escort me."
His eyes went wide, "Oh, no, Mademoiselle, it would not be proper for me to- Not that I wouldn't, if need be, but… Surely there's someone else available."
"Nope, just you."
Adelaide was taking way too much pleasure in making him squirm.
"Well, then," she picked up her basket, "if you're not going to escort me, then I'll just be on my way."
Javert sighed and looked back at her. As he eyes met hers, they sent one very clear message:
You win.
"May I escort you home?" Javert asked with a slight hint of bitterness, but not hatred.
"Oh, non, Monsieur," Adelaide shook her head. "Père says not to go walking with strange men, and you and I have not been properly introduced. Je m'appelle Adelaide Enjolras."
Javert regarded her with disbelief; he either liked her, or thought she was crazy.
"Gabriel Javert," he sighed, bowing his head.
"Enchantée," she replied.
"Likewise, Mademoiselle Enjolras. Now would you do me the honour, of allowing me to escort you home?" Javert offered her his arm.
"Oui, Monsieur," she smiled linking her arm through his, and handing him her basket when he gestured for it. "And call me Adelaide."
They walked in stubborn silence, a trait that would always follow one of their fights from that day on. It was like a competition to see who would crack first.
"I meant no offence," Javert broke first, like usual.
He may have the determination of a hellhound, but she had the patience of a saint.
Either way, they were both stubborn as mules.
"And none was taken," Adelaide assured him. "I just don't like when people assume I'm weak."
"Trust me, I won't be making that mistake again," he replied.
"You're a quick learner."
"So I've been told."
"It's a good thing, women like that in a man," she said. "I know I do."
Javert was not the type of man to blush, but he was known to avert his eyes.
Adelaide observed her companion; he reminded her much of a bulldog, yet he was quite prim and proper. One would expect him to come from a well-off family rather than his all too well-known background. It was no wonder he was almost thirty and still single, no girl would want to mix with that danger. But still, Adelaide couldn't help but think that a life with no danger was just plain boring. Or maybe that was just because she had read so many books.
Speaking of…
"The Art of the Heavens?"
"Pardon?" Javert looked to her.
"The Art of the Heavens," Adelaide repeated. "Your book."
"Oh yes, it's about stars and constellations," he replied. "How to spot them, the recent theories and developments in the scientific community, the myths behind them, anything you really want to know."
"Sounds good."
"It is."
"Good enough to read while walking and send a girl crashing to the ground?"
Javert looked away again, and Adelaide smiled, was he nervous?
"I caught you before you fell," Javert corrected.
"Technicalities," Adelaide waved off. "So, what made you interested in stars? Your mother?"
Javert winced, and Adelaide knew she had gone too far.
"Pardon," she frowned, "I didn't mean-"
"Here we are," he interrupted, coming to a stop. She hadn't even noticed when they had neared her home.
"Merci, Monsieur," Adelaide said releasing herself from his arm. "But I'm still sure I would have gotten home safe."
"I've no doubt," he smiled softly. It was the first time she had even seen his smile; she had to say she like it.
"Then why'd you insist on escorting me home?" she asked, matching his smile.
He looked away once more, but his smile did not disappear.
Propriety would demand that she simply thank him and go into the house, but she for some reason she couldn't put her finger on, she couldn't tear herself away.
He intrigued her.
"Will you be attending the Renault wedding?" Adelaide asked. The son of one of the higher ranking guards from the Bagne was marrying next week, and all of the law enforcement in Toulon was expected to attend.
"He is my superior, so my absence would be noted," Javert replied. To be honest, he was lucky to have received an invitation, and he never turned down the invitation of someone who was willing to have him, despite his background.
"I'll be there as my Père's escort," Adelaide said. "Though I'll mostly be figuring out how to bat off overzealous suitors who won't take no for an answer."
"Well, if it gets to be too much for you, I might be… I mean, if you need me to, I could-"
"Save me?" she suggested. "Yes, I'd like that. And maybe you could tell me more about your stars."
Javert swallowed, "I'd like that."
They stared at each other, trying to figure out what the other was thinking, but providing no answers themselves.
"Well," Adelaide said, "Père will be waiting."
"Right. I believe this is yours," Javert handed her, her basket.
"Merci, Monsieur Javert. Merci for everything."
"Anytime, Mademoiselle Adelaide."
"Just Adelaide," she corrected.
Javert nodded, "Adelaide."
Adelaide smiled, then turned and made her way down the pathway to the door, taking one last look at her escort before she entered the abode.
Javert stood there observing the house for a few moments, a small smile creeping onto his face.
"What was that?" asked a small voice in the back of his head.
He didn't know, but he was definitely going to the Renault wedding.
Sometimes Javert forgot that he was just kidding himself. He would go to these fancy events, get dressed up, look and act his best, and then be slapped in the face with the reminder of what he was.
The bastard of a gypsy and a thief.
And that's all that ever mattered.
He had long ago stopped asking young women to dance with him, and he no longer attempted to engage respectable men in conversation. Javert simply made the appropriate appearance, gave the required congratulations, then slunk away to some abandoned garden or balcony until it was a reasonable time to leave.
So once again, there he stood in the Renaults' garden, arms folded behind his back, staring up at the stars, just trying to run out the time until he could leave. At least tonight he had something new to do, as he attempted to spot the new constellations he read about in his book. Javert wasn't rude enough to have brought it with him, but he was guilty of wishing he had.
The book.
He couldn't help but think of his encounter with Adelaide some days ago and when he caught her reading his book. She had been the first person Javert had met that seemed interested in what he had to say about stars. Usually the townsfolk chalked it up as some witchcraft his gypsy mother had taught him. But Adelaide was different; she almost seemed to enjoy his company.
In the days since that encounter in the market, Javert had struggled to understand what exactly had happened between the two of them. He wasn't going to go so far as to delude himself into thinking her behaviour was any signal of romantic interest. Mademoiselle Enjolras could string along half the town if she desired, and it would be a lie to say if she hadn't turned his head a time or two, but her sights for husband material was set much higher… or at least they should be.
Yet, the teasing, there was something about it that was different than what Javert had observed in her natural self. But it didn't matter, he wasn't looking for a wife, and even if he was, Mademoiselle Enjolras was one of the last women he'd consider. Six years his junior, classes above him, too stubborn to comply with a lifestyle he would provide. No, he would not consider her in any respect but a friend at most. He didn't need a wife, nor did he want one. The Javert line would die with him, and he was fine with that, he was much better on his own.
But still…
"Stargazing?"
Javert jumped at the sudden intrusion, and with no doubt a humorous expression adoring his face, he turned toward steps leading back into the house to see his companion.
Sure enough, it was the very subject of his thoughts.
"Bonsoir, Mademoiselle Enjolras," he bowed as the Inspector's daughter approached him with a smile.
"Monsieur Javert, I thought I asked you to call me by my given name?" Adelaide came to a stop beside him.
"Pardon, Mademoiselle, I just thought, given the formality of the event, it would be appropriate to greet you with formality," he explained.
"Yes, because there are just so many guests out here," Adelaide looked sarcastically around the deserted garden. "Trust me, no one's going to see us out here."
"But they're sure to notice your absence."
"It's nothing new, I've been ducking parties since I turned sixteen, and was classified as eligible. Honestly, people are more likely to talk if I didn't disappear than if I did." Adelaide fidgeted with the wrap draping over her arms, "Though they're still talking about our little adventure in the market. You walk one time on the arm of a man, next thing you know, the whole town assumes I've finally accepted a request to court."
Javert looked away, "Pardon if I've called into question your reputation."
"People put too much stock into reputation; it's a mask so they don't have to really get to know people. I mean take yourself for example, you are one of the most proper and respectable men I've ever met, yet they look down on you because your mother's a-"
The assistant guard looked back at her, and she winced, she had to stop bringing this up.
"Pardon," Adelaide looked down. "I didn't mean to bring up- I mean that, I didn't… I'm sorry."
"That's alright," he replied stiffly. "I'm used to it."
They stood there in silence, the tension from her words clinging tightly in the air; any light heartedness had been killed in one fell swoop. Javert couldn't help but take a sideways glance at Adelaide, her head was hung and a frown stood where that glorious smile of hers once resided.
She had meant no harm.
"You were right," Javert gazed back up at the starry night sky, each dot a glimmering candle in the cold distant night.
"Pardon?" Adelaide looked over at her companion watching the night sky with a tall, straight posture, hands folded neatly behind his back.
"My mother," he turned back to the Inspector's daughter. "She was the one who interested me in stars. She used to tell me that speaking to the stars was a prayer to the Lord God, that he uses the stars to watch down on us from heaven. Since then I've never been able to feel closer to the Almighty than when I gazed up at the stars."
Adelaide turned her head up to the stars, "I never looked at it that way."
"Maybe you should look again." Javert hesitated, then, ever so slowly, took another step closer to her, "Sometimes a second look can show you things you missed."
Adelaide's breath slowed, whether that was because of his closer proximity or the magnitude of the heavens, she couldn't tell. What she did know was that he was right; each glimmering dot was like a shimmering angel on a heavenly canvas.
It was breathtaking.
"Do you know any stars?" she asked, looking back at him.
"A few. Here, do you see those four stars there?" Javert pointed up into the sky where four stars formed an upside down trapezoid. "Now look over here, off the edge of that star? See those three stars that come off it like a handle? That's the Great Chariot; it's a simple constellation to find."
"So," Adelaide placed her wrap on the ground and then traced the path of the seven stars he had pointed out, "those ones?"
"Perfect."
"What else is there?"
"Remember that last star?" Javert took another step closer to her, so he was practically behind her, very close to touching. "If we follow that star we can find Polaris, the North Star."
"So… this one?" Adelaide moving her hand to another star.
"Non." Javert hesitated, it wouldn't be considered proper, but he took a deep breath, and gently took a hold of her hand and guided it the correct spot. "There. No matter where you are in the world, if you're north of the equator, you will always be able to see that star. It is the one constant I can trust, that I will always be able to look up and see the same stars, no matter what."
Adelaide's breath hitched, this was the first time a man had ever dared to touch her like this. Sure, he had held her arm, and grabbed her hand and waist the day in the market, a feeling she hadn't been able to forget since, but there was something about the feeling that thrilled her. It was strong, it was sturdy, it was respectful…
It was right.
"Do you see?" Javert whispered in her ear, breath tickling her neck.
"Yes," Adelaide almost dare not speak. She turned her head ever so slightly to right and met his cold blue eyes, "Yes."
There was something new in his eyes, something that almost made them not so distant and guarded.
What she didn't know was she had the same look.
"Adelaide!"
It was almost comic how fast they broke apart and turned to the stairs, both muttering some fib of an excuse as to their positioning.
They were met by the sight of Léonard Enjolras, arms folded and smirking.
Adelaide's father was a curious man; the Chief Inspector of Toulon was a strong, respected man with spades of authority surrounding him. He ruled Toulon with an iron fist, that is, if you considered a firm handshake and a hard slap on the back, the stuff of iron. Léonard had no tolerance for brutality on his force, and was less likely to attack you with physical violence than a smirk and biting sarcasm. Though considered soft by the surrounding prefects, no one could deny that his methods didn't bring results. When called into action to break up a fight or solve a crime, Léonard was sight to behold; he always got his man.
With no exceptions.
Truth be told, he was something of an idol to Javert, and the assistant guard had long decided that he would do anything to try to win over Léonard into giving him a spot on the police force in the hope that he may one day work up to be a Chief Inspector like his hero.
So being caught in a compromising position with Léonard's daughter probably wasn't going to help his agenda any time soon.
"Père," a blush crept up Adelaide's cheeks as occupied herself with brushing off all the imaginary dirt from her dress to avoid her father's gaze. "I was just… Javert was just showing me… I mean, we were-"
"Stargazing?" Léonard offered, raising a brow at the couple who were both furiously avoiding his gaze. "I see."
"Forgive me, Monsieur," Javert bowed his head, "I did not intend to compromise your daughter in any way."
"Of course," Léonard restrained the urge to laugh at the embarrassed pair. "Next time, try not to make it look so suspicious."
It was hard for Léonard to understand what the couple said next as their objections overlapped each other, but he was sure it was something about it not happening again, not that it wasn't fun, it just wasn't proper, and so on.
"Well, whatever happened out here doesn't matter," Léonard held up a hand to silence them. "I merely came out here to tell Addie that it's getting late and I was thinking it's about time to head home. That is, unless you want to stay a little longer here with Monsieur Javert?"
"C'est bien, Père," Adelaide objected as Javert quickly averted his gaze. "I think now would be fine to depart. Merci, Monsieur, I had a good time."
"Bonne nuit, Mademoiselle Enjolras," Javert avoided looking at Adelaide's father as he bowed to her.
Adelaide bit back the urge to correct his address of her name. Javert was already embarrassed enough, she didn't need to make to worse by revealing to her father that they were on a first name basis.
"Bonne nuit, Monsieur Javert," she nodded, before taking her father's arm and heading back into the house. But right before they disappeared into the house, she glanced back at Javert watching her.
He smiled and nodded.
She returned the smile.
Long after the Inspector and his daughter left, Javert still stood there, staring at the door, smiling.
"Don't even think about it," said the voice in the back of his head. "She is so far out of your league, it's not even funny."
Javert barely even registered the voice's warning; all he could focus on was trying to figure out when he could see her again.
Maybe he would talk to her after church on Sunday? No, that was too far off, besides she was always busy giving out alms to the poor with her father or batting off suitors who used the chance to give their request to court her.
Maybe he would bump into her at the market again? No, he didn't know her grocery schedule, and he wasn't about to follow her around town and scare her off. Besides, you could only bump into a person so many times before you were accused of plotting something of ill-intention.
Maybe he would see her at the police station? No, any criminal brought there was out of his jurisdiction, and Adelaide rarely went to the station anymore.
Unless…
Yes, she always brought her father lunch at noon! And if Javert just happened to be walking by the station when Adelaide happened to be bringing her father his lunch-
What was that?
Javert frowned as something caught his peripheral, there was something lying on the ground next to his foot.
Slowly, he bent down and picked it up. He examined it for a few minutes before he nearly jumped with glee. It was Adelaide's wrap! She had placed it down to point at the stars, and in their moment of embarrassment, she had forgotten it.
Well, it would be rude not to return it, wouldn't it?
"Do you like him?"
"Father!"
"What? It's a reasonable question."
Adelaide rolled her eyes and went back to stirring the pot over the fire, her father had been after her all day for details on her little encounter with Javert last night, "It's none of your business."
"It is if my daughter's finally decided to court," Léonard shot back as he set the table.
"I haven't decided anything," Adelaide focused her attentions back on the soup pot.
"So there's something to consider," Léonard set down the bowls.
"No," Adelaide sighed, "there isn't. Look, I have to face reality, any interest I may have, which I'm not saying I do… It wouldn't be proper, someone of my rank with someone of his."
"Addie," Léonard shook his head, "we abandoned all pretences of propriety the day I taught you to read."
The young woman looked away, and her father sighed. He walked over to the hearth and stayed her hand which had been stirring the pot.
"Père," Adelaide frowned looking back up at all that was left of her family.
"Adelaide, bien-amiée," Léonard took his daughter's hands. "I'm not getting any younger, and in my line of work, you're at risk of losing me every single day. I just want to know that if something happens to me, that there will be someone to take care of you, to protect you, to love you. Someone you love in return. So forget about class difference, forget about what everyone might say, just pick the man, and I'll take care of the rest."
Adelaide closed her eyes and sighed, "Merci, Papa, but even if I was interested in Javert, which I'm not saying I am… Javert is not the kind of man to go after a woman."
There was a knock on the door.
Léonard raised a brow at his daughter, and Adelaide just shrugged; she had no idea who it was. The Inspector crossed over to the door, and when he opened it he found an, oh so pleasant, surprise.
"Monsieur, Inspector," Gabriel Javert removed his hat and bowed.
Léonard smirked and turned to Adelaide, "You were saying?"
"Pardon?" Javert frowned as Adelaide hurried to the door, smoothing down her hair.
"It's nothing," Adelaide shot a look to her father. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, well, you left your wrap at the wedding last night, and I thought I'd return it to you," Javert extended the cloth that had been held by his side.
"Oh," Adelaide took her wrap, "merci, I hadn't even noticed."
"De rien," Javert bowed slightly. "It was my pleasure, Mademoiselle-"
Javert caught sight of Léonard's amused expression.
"Enjolras," Javert finished.
The pair shifted their weight awkwardly, once again not quite sure what to do next.
So, naturally, Léonard pounced.
"Why don't you join us for dinner, Monsieur?" Léonard offered.
"Père!" Adelaide exclaimed.
Javert looked between the father and daughter, "I'm not sure that would be appropriate."
"Come now, it's near supper time, and Addie always makes too much," Léonard replied urging Javert into the house and offering him a chair. "A good thing about this girl, she keeps you well fed."
As Javert sat in the given spot, Adelaide grabbed her father's arm, and pulled him close.
"Stop trying to sell me off to the highest bidder," she hissed in his ear with a fervent glance at Javert.
"Sweetheart," Léonard gave a low chuckle and whispered back, "he's nowhere near the highest bidder. Now scoot, we have a guest. I'll set the extra place and you serve your little friend."
Adelaide had half a mind to smack her father.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion," Javert said as Adelaide filled the bowls and placed them on the table.
"Don't worry about it," Adelaide shook her head. "You didn't hear it from me, but he's wanted to spend some one on one time with you for a while, long before he had any idea of our interactions."
Javert looked up sharply, and Adelaide's eyes went wide.
"Not to imply anything between us," Adelaide stuttered. "I mean not that there's anything wrong with… Not that I'm implying… I mean-"
"I understand," Javert interrupted. "So, why has he wanted to spend time with me?"
"He's heard about how good you are at the Bagne. I suppose he's looking to ask you to leave it to join the police force." Adelaide looked to make sure her father wasn't listening, and leaned in closer, "And you didn't hear this from me, but I may have heard Père say that in ten years' time, he could see you as a Chief Inspector, watching over your own precinct."
"Truly?" Javert looked over to Léonard, who was fast approaching the table.
"Truly," she quickly nodded.
"And what are you two lovebirds whispering about?" Léonard set his gathered dishes on the table.
"Père!" Adelaide cried out and Javert averted his gaze.
"I'm kidding," Léonard shook his head laughing. "Come Addie, take your seat."
"Allow me," Javert stood and moved around to the back of her chair.
Adelaide and her father shared a quick look before Adelaide took her seat and Javert gently pushed in her chair.
"Merci, Monsieur," Adelaide nodded.
"De rien, Mademoiselle," Javert smiled and took his seat.
Adelaide and Javert held each other's gaze, both smiling, almost forgetting that they were not alone, until Léonard declared it was time to dig in.
The dinner was simple, and Javert was an excellent guest. He complimented Adelaide on her cooking, and patiently listened to Léonard lecture the couple on how all men should learn to cook in case something should happen to the women in their lives, as he had been at a loss when he suddenly found himself without wife or mother. Javert assured him, not to worry, as he had been living on his own for quite some time, and had learned to feed himself long ago.
They held pleasant conversations, lingering on the topics of work, criminals, the government, exchanging a little gossip, and how unfair prices at market were.
And for the first time in a long time, Javert had dinner with people who didn't care of his background, and treated him as an equal.
"A man should not live in his father's shadow," Léonard assured him. "He is his own man, free to make his own mistakes and choices."
It was peaceful.
…Until they were interrupted by a loud pounding at the door.
"Alright! Alright!" Léonard stood up and crossed the room. "I'm coming!"
Léonard opened the door to reveal Gérard Chevalier, a guard of the Bagne, and ironically Javert's boss.
Technically Javert was an assistant to the guard, but as he did more guarding than assisting, most forewent the proper title and just called him an assistant guard. He was in the charge of Chevalier, who had taught him almost everything Javert knew, including the idea of tough love and the idea that the prisoners should always look down, and never let them look you in the eye. Chevalier was a hard man, and his methods would one day heavily influence Javert into becoming the stone hearted, fearsome man he would be known as.
As for now, he was merely panting and frantic looking, as he leaned against the doorframe of the Enjolras household, almost as if he had run a great distance.
"What is it, Gérard?" Léonard asked, glancing back at the table. "I have a guest over."
Chevalier started at the sight of his assistant dining with one of the most powerful men in town… and at how close Javert's chair was to said man's daughter, who was notorious for rejecting suitors.
"Uh, pardon," Chevalier blinked in confusion. "I was unaware that…"
Javert and Adelaide looked at each other, they hadn't noticed their proximity, and swiftly corrected it, Adelaide blushing and Javert looking away.
Léonard raised a brow and looked back at the guard, "You were saying?"
"Right," Chevalier snapped back into reality. "Prisoner break, at the Bagne. We'd like your help to bring him back."
"Of course," Léonard looked back at Javert, who had risen from his chair. "Who's the prisoner?"
Chevalier hesitated.
Léonard frowned, and repeated firmly, "Chevalier, who is the prisoner?"
The guard sighed, "24601."
There was a collective groan among the household at the speaking of prisoner 24601, and it wasn't without good reason. The man had been sentenced to five years in prison for breaking a window and stealing a loaf of bread. He should have been long out of prison with only a short parole by now... That is, if he hadn't tried to escape three times already.
In his fourth year of imprisonment, 24601 had made his first attempt, actually getting away for two days before being brought back in. That attempt added three more years onto his sentence, but it wasn't until his sixth year of imprisonment that 24601 became an unwelcome name in the Enjolras household.
Like usual, Léonard and his men had been brought in to help catch the stray bird, and soon Léonard found him hiding in the dockyard under the keel of a vessel under construction. But this time, instead of going quietly, 24601 decided he'd rather make a fuss, and resisted arrest. By the time Léonard and his men had 24601 under control, three men had suffered broken fingers, one a sprained wrist, and Léonard himself had been dealt a broken arm and nose. For this struggle, 24601 had been awarded two more years to his sentence, in addition to the three given for escaping in the first place.
Since then, 24601 wasn't a name spoken lightly in the Enjolras household.
24601 had made another attempt in his tenth year, for which he got another three years, and now, in this his thirteenth year of imprisonment, with another escape underway, and three more years pending, 24601 was well on his way to lifetime parole, if not imprisonment.
Léonard took an annoyed sounding deep breath and exhaled heavily, "I'll get my coat."
"Oui, Monsieur," Chevalier bowed in respect.
"I'm sorry for cutting dinner short, Addie, but duty calls," Léonard put on his thick blue, uniform coat; there was no use in going in full uniform for a prisoner who would be back in jail in a few hours.
The Inspector grabbed his hat, and Chevalier turned to leave when Léonard stopped and looked back to the assistant guard.
"Why don't you come?"
Javert and Chevalier started.
"Pardon?" Javert asked.
"With us," Léonard nodded toward the door. "Why don't you help us track down 24601?"
"Monsieur!" Chevalier objected. "Pardon, but Javert is merely an assistant, it wouldn't be right-"
"All I know is that the more we stand and chat, the further 24601 gets," Léonard cut off. "Now look, all I've heard for the past few years is what an asset Javert is and how he has a bright future ahead of him. Well, I want to see him in action, so grab your hat and coat, and meet me in front of the stable, we leave in five minutes."
And with that Léonard was gone.
Javert looked hesitantly towards his superior.
"What are you standing there for?" Chevalier barked. "You heard the Inspector. Five minutes!"
As the guard disappeared from the doorframe, Adelaide and Javert looked at each other in shock.
"What just happened?" Javert asked.
"I don't know," Adelaide laughed. "But I do know that if you're not out there in five minutes, we'll have an unhappy Inspector on our hands."
Javert smiled, "Then I guess I better get out there."
Adelaide bit her lip, "I guess so."
They stared at each other for a second, once again trying to read each other. Both were afraid that one wrong move and the other would hit the hills faster than 24601.
"Um… Merci for bringing me my wrap," Adelaide spoke, breaking the ice.
"Anytime," Javert nodded.
"Four minutes!" Léonard's voice carried in from outside.
"I guess you'd better go," Adelaide shook her head at her father's antics.
"Thank you for dinner," he smiled.
Javert hesitated for a moment, then, carefully, he took Adelaide's hand and placed a gentle kiss upon it. Breaking the kiss, but still holding her hand, he looked up at her and met her eyes.
"Bonne nuit… Adelaide."
A mere four hours later, Léonard returned home exhausted, but it was worth it, they had quickly caught 24601 and safely returned him to his imprisonment.
And Adelaide still had the same goofy smile from Javert kissing her hand.
"I like that boy," Léonard said, hanging up his coat and hat. "Good guard and good dinner guest to boot. He reminds me kind of like a bloodhound, or maybe more like a bulldog. Actually, oui, definitely like a bulldog. He's good at the tracking and the chasing, not so much with the actual detaining part."
"Uh huh," Adelaide nodded absentmindedly, caught in her thoughts of Javert and why was it that she was so drawn to him. It wasn't that he was the most handsome or intelligent man she had ever met, but he was more than decent. Altogether he was quite average, of a low class, and had a tough, unfriendly exterior. Yet still, she was drawn to him.
But why?
"My, my," Léonard smirked at his daughter. "I haven't seen you smile like that in a long time. Thoughts of Javert?"
Her father's teasing comment bounced off her; she barely even registered it. It was in that moment that Adelaide finally figured out what had drawn her to the silent Javert.
He had carried a conversation.
And he had made her smile.
Again, sorry that there was no Enjolras in this chapter, but if all goes right with the next chapter, he should be entering the story at the end of it. I just really wanted to establish Javert and Adelaide's relationship, because although this story is about Enjolras and Javert, at the core, it's a story about a family, and Adelaide is an extremely important third member of the Javert family.
Just so you know, there is going to be French in this story, but I'm going to try to keep it to a minimum, just things like Bonjour (good morning), Bonne nuit (good night), Non (no) and other such simple phrases. Grande Ourse is the French term for The Greater Bear, also known as Ursa Major and The Great Chariot is the French term for the constellation The Big Dipper, also known as The Plough. L'art dies Cieux translating to The Art of the Heavens, is a fictional book created specifically for this story. Keep the book and its initial description in mind, as it'll be an important symbol throughout the story.
Again, for all the latest news on My Father's Shadow, including preview artwork, and excerpts from upcoming chapters, please visit the tumblr account happinessiveneverknown.
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