Well, this is my first Les Miz fanfic! Unfortunatly, Cosette and especially Javert seem pretty OOC in parts, but this was really just an excuse to get me writing again - there's only going to be three or four chapters once I finish the ending.
If you do happen to like it, please review! I do not own Les Miserables in any way... although I did invent the old woman in this. That's about it.
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"Monsieur Fauchelevent, sir!"
Valjean paused, glancing at a nearby stall. The old woman manning it was calling him over, grinning broadly.
"Cosette," Valjean released her arm. "How about you view that flower stall while I talk to this woman? Maybe you can buy something nice to brighten up the house with."
Cosette smiled, lightly kissing her adoptive father on the cheek. "Don't be too long, papa. I know how you get when you socialise." She slipped through the people.
Valjean smiled back at the thought as he reached the stall. "Bonjour, ma'am," he greeted her, tipping his hat.
"Bonjour, monsieur," the woman replied. "I would just like to thank you highly for the money you lent me. My intake's increased so much!"
"Think nothing of it," Valjean advised, glancing at the woman's wares.
Across the road, Javert, Police Inspector First Class, froze. He stared at the man, studying him carefully. Was it…? It couldn't be!
Cautiously, Javert approached him and tapped him on the shoulder. The man turned around.
It was him!
Valjean gasped. "Javert!"
Javert grinned. "Finally, 24601!" He triumphantly pulled a pair of handcuffs out of his pocket as he spoke, his other hand gripping Valjean's arm tightly.. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this…"
The old woman Valjean had been talking to scowled. "Why are you arresting this good man, inspector?" she asked bluntly as she rearranged her various mixtures.
"Good man?" Javert repeated, his eyes narrowing. "This man is a criminal, a convict. He belongs in a jail cell."
"It was only a loaf of bread!" Valjean exclaimed.
The woman watched closely as Javert struggled to handcuff Valjean using only one hand while the ex-convict twisted in his grip. "Javert, please," he pleaded. "I have a girl to look after, my darling Cosette. She won't cope without me."
Javert paused at this, and at that the woman made up her mind. She grasped a small jar and untwisted the lid, aiming so that the contents would hit both men at the same time.
"Papa!" Cosette cried, rushing up to them. The basket of flowers she had been cradling crashed to the ground as she laid her hands on Valjean's arm, turning to address Javert. "Why are you trying to arrest my father?"
But the contents of the old woman's jar had already been emptied. Thick liquid splashed into Javert's face and he let out a cry as his hands flew to his eyes. The handcuffs dropped to the ground, and Valjean was suddenly free. However, Cosette had screamed as the liquid landed across her face as well.
"Cosette!" Valjean shouted, grabbing her wrist as he began to run, dragging her after him. "Quick, we must go."
Cosette stumbled after him. "Papa, I…" She slumped forward, landing heavily against the cobbles.
Valjean stopped and knelt beside her, shaking her slightly. "Cosette?" he repeated her name quietly, knowing it was pointless. Cosette was unconscious.
The old woman stood on tiptoe as she gazed through the crowds, trying to keep track of Valjean and his daughter. She watched as Cosette dropped to the ground. Her eyes flickered to the other side of the street, where Javert lay sprawled across the gutter. He too was unconscious.
The old woman tutted, shaking her head. "Oops."
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Valjean gently stroked Cosette's hair, willing her to wake up while trying to avoid her from being jolted too much. He had hired a hansom cab back to Rue Plummet, and now they were finally alone, away from Inspector Javert.
Is he never going to stop chasing me? Valjean thought desperately. Why doesn't he just let the past go?
Cosette stirred, her eyelids flickering. Valjean kissed her forehead, relaxing. As long as he was with Cosette, he was at peace.
What he wasn't prepared for was Cosette's reaction.
Her eyes snapped open, and she suddenly sat upright. Unfortunately, the cab went over a loose stone at that moment, and Cosette fell heavily to the cab's floor. Cursing under her breath, she pulled herself up onto the seat opposite Valjean, not taking her eyes off of him. "24601, what is the meaning of this?" she complained, rubbing her head.
Valjean stared at her in shock. Cosette stared back at him, her gaze fiercer than he had ever seen it. "Well?" she snapped angrily. "24601, explain yourself!"
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Cosette groaned as she opened her eyes.
"Ah, you're awake," a voice said brightly. Cosette blinked until the voice's owner swam into clarity.
"You!" Cosette exclaimed in surprise, struggling to sit up. "You were talking to my father."
The old woman smiled at her. "Wonderful man, your father is. He helped me start up my own business." Her smile dropped, her expression became guarded. "Now dear, don't get too stressed out about this…"
Cosette blinked again. "About what?"
The old woman sighed, rummaging around in her clothes. "Here," she said finally, handing Cosette a small hand mirror. "It's best if you see it for yourself."
Hesitantly, Cosette held up the mirror and looked into it.
And then she let out a cry.
"Oh, oh!" She gasped, staring at the face in the mirror. It most certainly wasn't hers. Cosette had never before had sideburns, or heavily shadowed eyes. In fact, the face she was staring at was…
"It's that policeman who tried to arrest Papa!" Cosette exclaimed in horror, twisting backwards and forwards. "I'm… I…"
The old woman nodded, gently prising the mirror from Cosette's muscular hand. "I'm so sorry, my dear."
Cosette was still in a state of shock. "But - why? How?" Only now did she realise that her voice had become much deeper.
The old woman sighed. "It's my fault, dear mademoiselle. I was aiming for your father, not you."
"My father?"
"I thought it would help him escape," the old woman explained, wringing her hands. "But then you turned up…"
Cosette hid her face in her hands, trying not to cry as her fingers brushed the horrid sideburns. "Am I to be stuck like this forever?" she murmured tearfully.
The old woman hesitantly patted Cosette on the back. "There, there, dear. It should wear off in a couple of hours or so."
Cosette choked back a sob. "What am I to do until then?"
The old woman paused. "That's up to you, mademoiselle. Until then, you will be Inspector Javert."
Cosette flinched at the unfamiliar name. "But… what's happened to Inspector Javert, then?" She asked quietly. A sudden thought struck her, and she glanced up in alarm. "He's not me, is he?"
No one answered her. Even through her tears, Cosette could see that the alley she was in was deserted.