SECOND PART! =D
Javert stood there, in front of the jury. The years had been long and hard. It tested him in ways he had never dreamed of before this took place.
But he made it. He didn't know how, he just did.
Now, here he stood in the court, as the judge came to a decision.
Sentenced to death, that's what his verdict was upon him first arriving here 5 or so years ago.
He shouldn't even be standing up here, for a second trial. He should have already met his death. However, he and the law had come to an agreement, if it was allowed by the judge... A plea bargain. A second chance.
These past 5 years, all Javert has heard of the man he once 'loved' was that he left. He could not be found. The law had come to the conclusion the convict had fled this town and moved onto another. No surprise. Jean was cunning and clever. Far too clever for them.
Javert took the news and struck a deal with his once fellow lawmen.
If he was to be set free, he would track Jean down, with them following behind. He would see to the man's capture, or his death.
There was no other way to gain what he wanted.
Would he freeze up and second guess his deal once he caught sight of Jean, would all the feelings he's suppressed all these years come rushing back? Javert doubted so. He doubted he had any sort of emotion left in his heart for that man.
In the long run, Jean was why he lost his rank and was reduced to such scum. The more Javert dwelt on that the past few years, the more his resentment grew.
He once told himself it was out of protection. That he couldn't allow Jean to be caught and killed. That lie was over now.
He stood there, with vengeance towards the former mayor on his mind.
The glare he unknowingly had on the judge was that of a grudge.
His teeth were clenched tight, and his gloved hands in fists.
Proving himself once more was the only thing that mattered. If he did not, his freedom would once again be claimed by them. The deal would be broken and his days would be numbered.
"Javert." Suddenly the judge's voice called.
For a brief moment, the tension faded. Javert's attention focused on the man that addressed him in a more listening manner.
"I will grant you your freedom, without parole and your rank as an officer once more, on one condition." The judge started.
"Yes, anything. To serve the law has been my duty from the start. I was foolish to let a petty man bring me astray... To make me lose sight of who I was and where I belonged." Javert replied.
"Right. I entrust you will not allow such a thing to happen this time, will you Inspector?" The judge asked.
"No Misuer. I won't. There is only one thing I must do, I cannot fail at it. It is him, or it is me. I won't allow it to be me." Javert answered. "I swear by it." He added.
"Your mission is simple. You will find the fugitive Jean Valjean and you will bring him back to me; dead or alive. If you fail to do so, your sentence will be revoked and it will be your life we take in exchange." The judge stated.
"I understand." Javert replied, unfazed. "I won't fail the law again. A second time will not be acceptable." It was not like he had anything else now but to follow the law. Even if he had anything left within him for the man he was to hunt again; Jean would never allow him to turn around and come back.
Jean was surely fed up with him and he would never forgive. And that was another reason as to why Javert let go of his feelings. What good would they do him? The past was the past. There was no turning back now.
"Then I hereby give you back your freedom. Do not let it go to waste." The judge ruled, with a bang of his hammer echoing throughout the room.
Javert gave a nod and a mutter of thanks as he turned to make his leave.
"Inspector." One of the officers that were standing to the side called.
Javert turned his head, giving a questionable glance back to the man.
"Your sword." The man said, holding out the sheathed weapon.
"Right, of course..." Javert took hold of the sword, without further word.
The same he had before, Javert assumed. No matter. New or not, he had a sense of power back flowing through him, mixing with his emotions of revenge.
One order. That is all to win back his life. To live as he once did. All he was to do would be to kill Jean. There would be nothing to that, aside from finding him...
But even that would be not much of a challenge. Javert was just as skilled in tracking as he was anything else. Without him, Jean would've never been found in the first place. That's how he figured at least. The other officers' were simply just not as good as he was.
"A new horse is awaiting you outside." The lower ranked officer put in again, breaking the cold stare Javert had on the dark cased sword.
Javert gave a slight nod, before making his way out.
Outside, stood a white horse tied to the post. The sight made Javert grimace slight. A white horse? Such a color didn't much suit him.
Call him going overboard but, it just wasn't something to match his personality. He was going to hunt and kill, not rescue. This creature belonged to a knight in shining armor going after a princess and a dragon to slay. Not the likes of a heartless man with only one intention.
It would have to do however.
"So they let you out after all, huh Javert?" Suddenly a familiar voice called. Not of which Javert wished to hear entirely.
He turned his head, overlooking his shoulder to catch the sight of the man who had put him in jail in the first place.
"That's Inspector Javert to you." Javert answered, keeping his stare on the younger.
"What? No way! It can't be, they can't just let you go free and allow you back on the force both!" The officer growled.
"That is my final sentence. To do a job you cannot. To find the man that has evaded you all these years.. There is only one who can touch 24601. Only me who's destiny it is to bring him to his death. Did I not say I wouldn't let you claim the glory for his capture?" Javert asked. "The likes of you do not deserve such a thing." He added, his voice letting go to parts of his anger.
"A number chasing after a number! A destiny indeed, 37425!" The officer yelled. "It takes a criminal to catch a criminal, I presume."
Javert's eyes narrowed, and within a second the sword was out of its sheath that was now latched onto his side.
The officer gave a gulp as the pointed edge of shining metal was now pointed towards his throat without even a blink marking the time of speed.
"Refer to me as that again and I will strike even you down! I 'am no longer your prisoner, no longer the dog you kick around. I 'am your leader once more. My orders are yours to follow. It is no longer vice versa. Is that understood?" Javert asked through clenched teeth.
The lower ranked officer gave a low growl of yes.
Javert put his weapon away after. "Know your place, or you'll end up where my target is." He reminded.
"And like you?... Courting a male… As if that was not bad enough, you chose to do so with a thief on the run." The other remarked, quickly.
Javert expected it. This one didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. Yet, his need to put the other in line with his fists was not an option. Not unless he wished to blow everything this quickly.
"You know nothing of me and him. He was merely something to pass the time with. I didn't care for him, just what he could give me and you cannot deny that was only a sin by me! Half of the others on the force do so.. They have their little lovers in the dark.. Playing with their soldiers in the shadows of the night… Do not think I don't know." Javert shot back. "Even you. And if you were smart, you would keep that mouth of yours shut… You never know who will tell what." He spoke with calm and ease as he took hold of the horse's saddle, placing a foot in the stirrup after undoing the reins.
"You say you don't care for him, yet you spent that time – time you could've used to take him in – to have your heated affair." The other replied.
Javert chuckled. "I hardly call it heated. To your disbelief, he was innocent in one way… And those who are inexperienced do not make for good lovers.. They expect a fairy tale ending rather than just a little fun.. Of which I would never give. I faked everything in sight of him to gain his trust, just like I said. It worked. I was close, until you showed up and ruined everything I worked so hard for. Shame on you. You could never make for a worthy inspector, unlike me." Javert taunted, as he now sat upon the horse.
"H-how dare you?" The officer growled.
Javert smirked. "Go back with your little school boys and have yourselves a drink. I do not need you or them. I can handle this on my own. At least then I won't have to fear any mistakes."
"And what? Give you the opportunity to find 24601 and the both of you escape our grasps?" The younger asked.
Javert grimaced slightly at the number that was said once more. To hear it from another, he hated that. Call it possessive still but down inside, he felt he was only allowed to use that for Jean, or even to just call the mayor by his first name. He still felt no one had that right but him. Yet, those feelings got shoved aside quickly.
"I only wish to see the fugitive dead. That is all. I'll bring him back. I must. It is he or I and you know I will not allow it to be me." Javert assured. "If you wish to be a part of this, if your heart desires you should; ask around in town would you? Do not over look anything you clearly must have in the past.." He ordered.
"And you, what will the great Javert be doing?" The other questioned with a smart tone.
"I' am going to pay a visit to someone who knew him.. Someone who can be of use to me." Javert answered.
(The other officer: ) "Why can I not come to assist you?"
"Simply because I have already given you my orders." Javert answered, smirking once more.
The other gave a sigh and a growl. "Fine." He groaned. "Go play with your friends, I'll do all the boring work for you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Javert replied, turning the horse around.
No more was spoken between them, as the officer went one way and Javert went his with the sweet taste of fresh air and sunlight hitting against him with every step his horse took.
It felt good to be back out, doing what he done best; rather than being locked in some cage within a dark room with hardly a thing to keep out the harsh wind.
He had to admit, he missed this. He missed the simple feel of his warm outfit against his skin… What it was like to be on a horse… What it was like to take in the sweet smells around, rather than that of decay and God knows what else that he would rather not name.
Yes, this was all missed and was welcomed back with a slight smile on the Inspector's face as he continued on with his quest once more.
Let me know what you think, yea? =)
Wasn't copying Les Mis on the 5 year sentence to Javert... That was just the number that popped into my head and I thought it was decent enough, lol. Would've been longer but yeah... He promised to kill Jean and thus... That's why the lucky bastard (I don't really mean that my lovely Javert!) is out so early. =P