It was over the next few days that Valjean began to notice just how thin Javert had become over the past few months. Any clothes that Valjean loaned him to wear would look even more ridiculous than the man's own clothes did. However, he knew that Javert would never let him purchase new clothes for him so he would have to do it without him finding out.

So Valjean made it his mission to find out Javert's measurements and get him some new clothes made. This proved more difficult than he ever could have imagined. Javert kept giving him odd looks when he caught him staring at his waist or legs.

The task proved almost impossible so Valjean decided the best thing to do was wait until Javert was sleeping and get a proper look at him.

And that explains why Valjean was standing over Javert's bed a twenty past four in the morning, trying to lift up the duvet so he could measure the other man's leg length. He was so engrossed is his task that he didn't even notice Javert waking up.

Before he could even react he was pinned to the bed with Javert sitting on top of him, his arms twisted backwards at an odd angle making it near impossible for him to move.

"Javert get off of me!" he exclaimed.

When he realised who it was Javert jumped off of him and helped him sit up but he was smirking slightly. He was sitting cross legged on the bed incredibly close to Valjean, personal space had never been something that Javert understood.

"Why are you here?" Javert asked, his smirk turning into a frown.

"Well…erm…because…well." Valjean stuttered as Javert's breath hit his face softly.

"You know it looks very bad to me at the moment," Javert added with a raised eyebrow, apparently unaffected by their closeness.

"I was trying to get your measurements," he explained, looking down at his hands, "I was going to buy you some new clothes as a surprise."

For a moment there was silence between them as Javert seemed to process Valjean's words and decide if they were true meanwhile Valjean began to nervously twiddle his fingers. Eventually he came to the conclusion that they were.

"Well that was very kind of you, Valjean," he murmured , then reached forward to grasp Valjean's hand and still his fingers.

It was only when they made eye contact and Valjean's breath hitched slightly that he realised their situation: they were sitting in bed practically holding hands. He pulled away quickly and coughed. Valjean took the opportunity to rise to his feet.

"You can call me Jean, you know," he smiled.

"Thank you," Javert almost grimaced, "I would say you could call me by my first name but I have no idea what it is. My mother called me boy or something less pleasant and everyone else has always referred to me as Javert."

Valjean was about to say something or sit back down to comfort Javert but eventually he decided they'd shared enough closeness for one night and merely nodded, then left the room.

#

The next day Javert went with Valjean to be measured for some new clothes. He could tell how self conscious Javert felt in his clothes in such an upmarket tailors so Valjean bought him a suit, shirt, a top hat and coat that were the best fit the shop could find under the circumstances.

"Would you like for the man to wear the clothes you have purchased?" the tailor asked.

"I think that would be for the best," Valjean replied with a smile as he handed over the money to pay for the clothes.

Around fifteen minutes later Valjean was standing outside the shop outside waiting for Javert. Finally the door opened and out he strode. The coat was long and fitted very well, somehow he managed to look less thin and more like his old self. Without even thinking Javert made eye contact with him and smiled, it wasn't a sarcastic one but one of pure friendliness and joy.

"You look well," Valjean smiled.

"Thank you for all of this Jean," Javert replied, "Really I mean it."

"I know you do."

#

That night Valjean couldn't sleep no matter how hard he tried. He was trying to work out exactly what his feelings towards Javert were.

He had been so sure that all he wanted was friendship, someone to help him make the long lonely hours a little less lonely and maybe even joke with but now things were different. It scared him.

Then suddenly there was a shout from what sounded like Javert's room. He jumped out of bed and ran through, he was certain it had been Javert shouting.

"Javert are you okay?" he asked as he leapt over to the bed.

Javert was still asleep but appeared to be having a very bad dream, he was writhing around in the bed, covered in sweat.

"Javert?"

"Please don't hurt me," Javert whimpered, "Please I'm sorry, I'll never do it again."

"Javert!" Valjean shouted this time and the other man's eyes snapped open.

Javert sat up very quickly and their heads almost collided.

"What happened?" Javert muttered, staring up at Valjean with large scared eyes.

"I think you had a bad dream but it's okay, I'm here now."

"I'm sorry," Javert whispered, as he looked away and tried to hide his face, "I thought the nightmares had stopped.

Valjean knelt down beside the bed and tilted his chin upwards so they were looking each other in the eye. Javert's eyes were filled with tears but he maintained eye contact.

"Please don't leave me alone," he murmured.

"You'll never have to be alone again," Valjean replied and pulled him into a tight embrace.