Two weeks had passed, a week of Jean keeping to himself. Not socializing with one person. He spent most his time indoors, in his house.
He felt it was better this way. Or perhaps, it was just the fact he no longer cared.
When he was spoken to by those out on the street, he rarely responded. He ignored them all.
What was the point? If he got close to anyone, he would lose them. Thus, all attachment to anyone was cut. The will to help people was no longer there. Whatever was wrong, let them deal with it. Let them suffer the turn of fate.
It was not hard to do.
Especially with how it seemed that every time Jean turned his head, there was a happy couple. Or more so a happy family.
The man sighed heavily, ignoring them as he continued down the street of his town.
There was a small part that was still unchanged, no matter how hard he tried however. A small part that hoped, that maybe; just maybe he would see Javert somewhere in the crowds again. Yet, he hasn't once heard a word these past couple of weeks.
That was about to change.
"Extra, extra! Inspector arrested and sentenced to death by guillotine!" Came the shout of a boy standing by a stack of newspapers.
"Inspector?" Jean asked to himself. "Who is this inspector?" He questioned as he approached the child.
"I'm not sure Misuer. The paper will tell for five euros." The boy replied, turning to face where the voice came from; only to see the man had already taken off.
"'Ey! That's stealing!" He shouted.
"It's a simple newspaper, it makes no difference!" Jean retorted, not even glancing over his shoulder.
He made it down the street quite a few feet before he caught the sound of footsteps behind him.
The mayor stopped, but dared not to look. He knew who was behind him. The chase had still went on; despite the joyful moments he once spent with Javert.
Truth be told, the only reason the other officers didn't pursue the chase when they were out together was most likely due to the fact they were merely waiting for Javert to make his move.
"Stay where you are." Came the order from the officer.
Jean smirked to himself. Who did they think they were? He never stayed; they should know that by now.
He took off before those behind him could blink.
The chase was on.
The men shouted and cursed as they followed behind, trying to gain up to him. Yet, he still wouldn't be caught. Not by them at least.
Javert was the only man who was worthy enough of even coming into grabbing range, let alone to actually catch him.
Yet even he let the man go free in such times. Possibly just to have the man to chase another day. To see another day. A sick little game of them meeting one another face to face for few minutes at a time.
In an odd way, it was a sweet gesture... Javert was sweet.
That thought nearly made him stop in his tracks and be caught. Really, when he got down to it; why was he running? He had no reason to run. It was only a habit.
Weeks ago, he had a reason to run. Javert. Now he had nothing. Javert and Cosette were gone and he had nothing.
"Freeze 24601!" He heard the number called, bringing him back to his senses.
No. He would not stop. Not for that. To go back to the life of a number would not be an option.
He evaded the officers quick after that, like always. A magician in the art of escape... Or they were simply just too stupid to turn down the alley way he had gone.
Jean snickered to himself as they went straight ahead.
They were no Javert. They couldn't even stay on Jean's trail; their hopes of catching him were low.
As Jean leaned back against the ally way, he unfolded the newspaper, reading what was on the front page carefully, taking in every letter.
That's when reality hit him and hit him hard.
Inspector Javert, locked away? His Javert? It couldn't be!
Against his disbelief, the more he read; the more it was so. The reason being of betrayal and for running.
Jean's grip on the newspaper tightened as he clenched his teeth. What a stupid move! Even Javert should've known that.
"God damnit..." He growled, furious. Furious at himself for ever leaving in the first place, without giving a word of it... And furious at Javert for just simply getting himself into such a mess. He was once one of them, and he should have known better.
The newspaper was slung to the ground, absorbing the puddle of water it had landed in. Jean kept a fierce gaze on the headline still.
"37425, that is your name now..." He trailed as he thought. "NO!" Jean roared after, stepping on the piece of soiled paper and twisting until it was ripped. "He is to not be a number! I won't allow it! He does not deserve this... Not from them. They will pay." He stated, moving forward through the shadows the ally had to offer.
"Taken in by his own men... They were who betrayed him, he done nothing wrong..." Jean grumbled to himself.
They had crossed the line with him by taking his lover in. Now that he knew where the man was at, he wouldn't stand for this.
Night. Another cold and lonely night.
Javert had just been taken back into his cell of solitary after a days' worth of hard labor, insults thrown at him along with the harsh hits, kicks and punches. Something that he once gave, not received.
He could've fought back but he knew where fighting back would get him. Where it got Jean years ago. Where it got any stubborn fool.
So Javert let his pride and will to fight for his dignity go. It was the only way he would have things as easy as they were...
Javert sighed, as he was locked back in his chains. Thank God Jean wasn't here to see him in such a degrading state.
Sure, the mayor knew what this was like but, Javert didn't wish for him to see that image of the man that once thought so highly of himself.
It was bad enough that those he worked with saw this and had the pleasure to bring him to this. His lover? No. Javert prayed that Jean stayed away. If he knew what was best, he would. It was too much of a risk for him to come here.
However, somehow Jean had always accomplished the exact opposite. He was a master at that.
"Javert." Came the whisper.
Javert barely gave a glance in the direction. He had to be dreaming. There was no way luck was this much against him.
"Javert, are you here? Please answer if you are..."
Javert gave a shake of his head, full attention locked on the barred window. No.
Jean couldn't be here! He couldn't.
"Go away! I don't want to see you!" Javert growled deeply, scooting further into the shadows.
"What? Why not? Is it because I left? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to... I just..." Jean trailed off, staring down. "I had to see Cosette one final time."
"I do not care for Cosette!" Javert retorted. "I 'am in here because of you."
Jean's eyes widened. "How dare you say such a thing...?"
"It's the truth! They saw me... I failed them because I got close to the likes of you... To even think of what I done was foolish. I belonged to the law, not some street rat fugitive... Now my mistake is costing me everything..." Javert glared at him from within the shadows.
Jean flinched. He couldn't see it, but he could feel the hatred the stare held. "Is that really what I 'am, just a mistake?.."
"Nothing more." Javert answered. "Now get the hell out of my sight. I want not a thing else to do with you."
The words cut Jean like a knife. Yet, they pierced Javert like a sword. It killed what was left inside to even say such cruel things. Yet, there was no other way. He had to, or else Jean would return and he would only get himself caught. Javert was only protecting what was his.. The only way he knew how.
Jean let his grip on the iron bars go. "To think I trusted you.." He sarcastically chuckled. "That was my mistake Javert.. You are right, you only belonged to them. You were always their dog to order around and kick down.. It is no different whether you're in that cell or out there on the street.." He trailed off, clenching his teeth. "You think your life meant something? You're ignorant. Your life meant nothing. You were used by them. That is no life. At least I offered you that much when you were with me.. I-"
(Javert) "Enough 24601. You better pray they kill me. If they do not, I'll be coming for you. I'll put the pup back in his place permanently and earn my rank once more.. Given they do not do it themselves before the final verdict is reached and my fate is sealed. Either way, your trial and error is not over. Not by a long shot."
"Then come! I hope you are not sentenced to death. I hope you get your freedom.. I want you to find me. This time no lies, no false hopes. Just our destiny clashing with one another in a fight for each other's life. I have nothing more to live for. I 'am just as worthless as you are; with nothing to my name. My 'town'? Ha. They're no different than you. They used me until I had nothing more to offer them. The only difference is you drained my heart dry of joy, of love. I can never forgive you." Jean growled, feeling as if any moment his teeth were to shatter. Javert over stepped the line.
"You never had anything to forgive.. I never loved you. You were just a person to pass time with. I did use you.. And yet you were too blind to even notice. The only difference with you and the others, Valjean is that you came free.. Lower than a whore, I was quiet surprised a man of your standards was so easy.." Javert taunted with a sinister laugh; hiding every little piece of him that shattered with each word spoken.
"You will pay for your sins. Not by me, by Christ; you will pay. You will be damned to burn in hell for an eternity and I will be there to remind you, over and over as to why you are in that pit of fire. Death won't bring you any escape or comfort. Lucifer's got your soul now, he's got ours both. There is no turning back that hand of fate. Not even Inspector Javert." Jean remarked, letting a silence fall between them as he turned.
"Tell Satan I won't keep him waiting long, when you see him." Javert retorted as the mayor had already started off leaving.
Jean ended it there, refusing to say anymore. Javert deserved no more. Jean had no more to say. No heartfelt "I love you" lecture. No "You ruined everything I've been working for" further response. What's done was done. Their power over it all had vanished. Only the heavens decided what was to come next and only father time decided when it was to happen.
They had their change, and lost it; and this was just the karma they would have to face for their choices of wrong.
Done? WRONG! Please head over to Les Misberables: Javert's Final Battle to continue on with this because no, this is NOT the end. It is still going! Javert has to find his man and so on so yeah.. Go there when finished with this one, kay? Cause this isn't the end. I think some people believe it is but nope! Javert's Final Battle! Get to it, lol.