"Cosette!" Jean exclaimed, in panic as he quickly made his way outside.
Javert quickly turned his attention off of the closed gate, to the man who was just about to head towards it.
"Jean, stop." Javert ordered, taking hold of his arm.
"Where is she Javert? Where has she gone!?" Jean demanded to know, not giving the other the pleasure of their eyes meeting. He kept his stare on the gate in the darkness.
Javert took notice of the note in his hand and frowned. Of course he read it. That was the only reason Jean knew she had left right away.
"Did she not explain in the letter?" Javert asked.
"No! She merely said she was going her own way now..." Jean trailed off, letting his head drop low somewhat.
Javert took hold of the note, snatching it out of the mayor's hands.
"Hey! Give that back!" Jean roared, turning to him finally in an attempt to take back the piece of paper.
"Relax. I only wish to read it." Javert replied.
"Why read it? It's pointless... She's gone... She's not coming back... She didn't even find me worthy of saying goodbye to face to face..." Jean paused, giving a sniffle. "Yet, she did you! What is so special about you!? A man who she barely even knew! I've been with her for 10 long years! You just a matter of hours combined..." Jean shot harshly, letting a brief moment of jealousy interfere with his other mixed emotions.
Javert's eyes widened. "Don't target me. There is no way she would have come to me before you. You have lost it to even think so. I caught her out here. She did not come find me."
"You knew, and you did not stop her!? WHY!?" The mayor shouted, giving a jerk to try and free himself from Javert's grip. The last place he wanted to be this minute was with him.
Javert clenched his teeth, tightening his grip and pulling the other closer to him. "We make our own destiny. It is time for Cosette to make hers. You can't hold her back forever! She needs to find her own life, not continue to live in the shadows of yours." He answered.
That instant, Jean's hand gave a slap across the former officer's face. Intentional? Who knows. It happened without him giving it much thought though. It granted him his freedom of the man's grip regardless. "How dare you talk to me as if I was keeping her from the world? Javert if anyone's to blame for her not having a normal life of a young woman, it is you! We spent years running from you!" He retorted. The anger and sorrow flashed like strikes of lightning bolts in his hues.
"You might as well find somewhere else to make your bed for the night, because you are not welcomed in mine." Jean added, taking a step back from him.
"Jean, I didn't mean-"
"No! Say no more. I don't wish to hear it... You were right. My world was her, and she left! My world is shattered! And you do not understand!" Jean kept his voice raised. Something that was becoming a rather bad habit in his opinion.
"Don't be like this... I'm sorry if I offended you, I just-" Javert attempted an apology.
"Forget it." Jean retorted. Before another word could be spoken, he went back inside; slamming the door shut.
He left it unlocked, as he made his way back to his room.
Of course he didn't mean a thing he said. He hoped Javert would follow him, and be there.
Javert gave a sigh, staying where he stood, letting moments of nothing pass.
"Damnit Jean." Javert growled, before turning to open the door to the house. "Succumb to the charms of a man to the point where I give up who I 'am for him... I never thought I would see this day." He grumbled, finding his way back to the man's room.
He found the mayor sitting on the edge of his bed, with his hands placed against his forehead.
Javert took a glance at the note still in his clutches, before finally raising it in front of his face and into the candle light to read it.
"Jean, she does not lie but this is not all there is to know." Javert stated.
Jean half way glanced over at him. "It does not matter."
Javert sat the note aside, on the nightstand. "Stop this. Stop feeling sorry. Stop feeling like you've failed. I'm sorry for what I said, I didn't mean to sound so harsh. But in a way I 'am right." He started, moving to Jean's side of the bed and sitting next to him.
"Oh yes, Inspector Javert is always right..." Jean shot back.
"No, I'm not." Javert sighed. "Will you hear me out?"
"I have not a choice." Jean replied.
Javert wrapped an arm around the man's shoulder, bringing him some comfort.
"I know you hate to lose her. I know she meant a lot to you, but she has to grow up Jean. She can't stay here feeling like a caged bird. Even though I and Marius could not see eye to eye, I believe he will take great ca-" Suddenly Javert was cut off.
"She's with him!?" Jean asked almost venomously.
Javert was startled by the others tone of voice. What happened? Jean liked the boy, did he not? He shouldn't much care.
"Yes, she is but don't anger yourself with that fact. Cosette is a strong woman who is capable of making her own destiny. She never meant to harm you. She just knows what she wants and she is going after it. After all she's been through in her life, do you not think she deserves it?"
Jean took a deep breath, waiting a moment. "She does. She deserves everything this world could give her... Yet she has taken half of my heart with her. Do you not see? I loved her. Not like you of course but she was my family. All I had left. She was my redemption."
Javert glanced down at him, taking his words into consideration. "Try to be happy for her... She's going to have the life she's always wanted, with the man she's always dreamed of. You were great company to her, a wonderful guardian but every person in time must stray from that to have a chance at something more fulfilling. We all have done it, in our own way. Even you."
"I know, I know." Jean scooted further away from him. "I'm sorry but everything will be so different now without her. I'm happy, ecstatic in fact that she found him. He's such a decent young man... However, no father - or even mother wants such a time to come."
Javert frowned. "I understand. Would you like for me to give you some time alone to think this through?" He asked, unsure.
"No!" Jean exclaimed without thinking. "Of course not... The last thing I want is to be left alone again. I think I would lose my mind in the silence." He faked a chuckle.
"As you wish. I 'am here for whatever you need." Javert replied calmly. "Cosette has trusted me with you and it is my duty to both that nothing bad comes to you."
"What worse could come?" Jean retorted.
"Don't you dare say that." Javert growled, not sure of what else to say or do.
"Forgive me... I just don't feel like myself right now." Jean frowned.
"I know, I wish there was more I could do for you." Javert replied.
"There is. Promise you will stay with me?" Jean asked, staring over at him.
Javert gave a simple nod. "I wouldn't dare think of leaving the one I care most about... For the one I love."
Jean smiled faintly. "Your words of rarity touch my heart unlike any other. It's exactly what I need at this moment... Thank you." He scooted closer to the man, resting his head on the others shoulder.
Javert blushed lightly. "T-there is no need to thank me. It's my pleasure to bring you a moment's happiness."
"Javert" Jean started, giving a yawn.
"Yes?" Javert asked.
Jean moved away from him, giving a low chuckle. "I was just about to say I was ready for bed; however I think that is now clear." He answered, standing.
"Oh, right. It is getting late." Javert announced the obvious.
Jean didn't have another thing to say, as he started to undress. That was, until something had came to mind once more.
"I still wish she would have come to me and told me, rather than writing it in some letter." Jean started again, as he now climbed into bed.
Javert gave a low sigh, joining him seconds later. "It was easier that way. If you were faced with what she done, it would've made it all the more harder for the both of you."
"Yes, I suppose you are right." Jean spoke, leaning over to blow out the candle on his side.
Javert done the same, before he turned to face his lover. "It's hard, I don't doubt that but try to let whatever negative you feel go." He gently stated, wrapping his arms around the other.
"I will try." Jean assured, cuddling close to the former officer. He buried his face in the man's chest. At least that offered him a slight escape from his feeling of emptiness.
Javert said not another word as he tightened his grip and rested his head against Jeans.
Awe, such a sweet little scene there.
So, it seems Jean has come to terms with his dear Cosette's leave, yet he's not happy for it. Even with Javert there.. It seems he's just going to let this pass by.. WRONG!
I won't say why. I'll let you guys wonder on that, heh. Well, now it is time for me to run off and start the next chapter I reckon.