So I've got a new obsession of Les Miserables, and writing wasn't far behind, so here is my first Les Mis piece of writing. It's part of a missing scene, but mainly more a narration, and a look into the minds of Gavroche and Jean Valjean in their brief moment together. It's rather short and sweet and sad. Please review.
Gavroche slipped out of the camp at the barricade and carefully, watching out for any soldiers that may be ready to shoot at first glance, made his way towards the address Marius had given him. He found it quickly enough, having lived on the streets all his life, and sprinted up the stairs to the top room, where he was to deliver his letter.
He knocked on the door and it quickly opened. The man that stood there was well built, strong looking and wary, shrewd eyes watching Gavroche, who tried not to flinch under the gaze. He held out the paper in his hand.
"Letter from the barricade," he informed the man.
Jean Valjean frowned. "The barricade?" This little innocent boy, a street urchin, never done any purposeful wrong, in the line of fire in a fight that wasn't his? Valjean tried not to think of what could and probably would happen should the boy stay there. He ought to leave.
Quickly turning his attention to the held out paper, the man gave one nod and started to reach out. "I'll take it."
Gavroche pulled it back and held out his other hand, palm up. Recognising the gesture, Valjean nodded distractedly and reached for a coin in his pocket, putting it in the boy's hand. Automatically, the letter was held back out and Valjean took it cautiously.
"Something for me, something for you. Who needs charity?" Gavroche said lightly, before turning and hurrying back down the stairs. But just as he was going to turn out of sight, the man called, "boy?" Gavroche paused, glancing back. The innocence in his face made Valjean's heart ache, and feel heavy with the knowledge that likely the child's life would end tonight. Innocence killed until it was all gone.
Gavroche waited patiently for the man's words, and Valjean finally said, "stay away from there, understand?"
The boy didn't even pretend he might. He just stared at Valjean for a second more, and a small smile flickered on his face, briefly lighting up his features. Then he was gone, leaving behind a faint imprint of a lost childhood innocence. Valjean sighed. He didn't doubt the boy would die tonight. And another young life lost, in a battle that wasn't his.