Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect or variation of Les Miserables. That genius belongs to Victor Hugo and all of those who followed.
Title: Reprieve
Summary: Sometimes life gives us a second chance, but are we too weak to take advantage of this gift? Javert had thought he would die; he had hoped he would die. However, it seemed that life had not finished with him just yet. How can he hope to make a new start with all that had transpired? Life has an answer to that, as well.
Author's Note: I apologize for the later update. I was not feeling so inspired, but I managed to whip something up. I believe I may be nearing the end of this fanfiction, but I am still unsure of how exactly to end it. There are a few ideas, but none seem good enough. If there are any suggestions, please feel free to share them.
Chapter 7
- The Workings of the Heart
Supper that evening could be described as strained at best. Marius could not keep his eyes off of Javert, suspicious and ever cautious, while Javert did his best to avoid Marius at all costs, actually ashamed. Cosette was none the wiser of what had taken place earlier that day near Marius' offices. At least the two men could agree on one thing: They were both unwilling to burden Cosette with that encounter and the information that had been revealed.
Javert was rightfully nervous because of the past it would dredge up on him and his involvement in her life, but he could not be certain as to Marius' motives for keeping silent. He assumed that it had something to do with maintaining her happiness and peace of mind, but, being Javert, he was ever suspicious.
"How are you enjoying the roasted duck, Jori?" Cosette inquired pleasantly. Apparently too much silence had befallen the room and it had become unbearable.
"It is quite delicious, thank you," he muttered, swiftly sliding another piece of the carcass off of his fork with his teeth.
Cosette glanced about the table still holding her happily aloof expression. "Marius, you never did tell me what it was you two accomplished in town today."
Though it was very much like she had just read both men's thoughts, Marius remained interested in his dinner and barely showed a reaction. He kept his eyes downcast and continued to properly cut his meat.
"Well, my dear," he replied calmly, "there was never really much to tell—nothing of importance or interest in the slightest, at least." He masticated a small piece of duck and swallowed it delicately. "I know how you do love a good intrigue as much as any sort of news in the political world. Unfortunately for you, we did not acquire any such information during our outing."
He glanced up briefly at her and winked, which caused her to silently giggle to herself. It was true that her interests had become quite well-rounded. Ever since first meeting Marius and then learning of her father's secret past, Cosette had shown an interest in the intricate and complicated area of politics. She was even now slowly maturing from her youthful girlhood interests of gossip and scandals into a much more complicated subject.
Cosette glanced down at her plate sweetly, finding another vegetable to spear. "If you haven't already figured it out, Jori, my Marius is quite a skilled lawyer." Her eyes flickered upward and devotedly toward her husband, while she took the vegetable between her teeth.
"We did stop by the office today, but I am sure it is much too boring a topic to really get into," Marius avoided. He did not have qualms about discussing brief facts regarding some of his cases with his wife, since she often gave him some successful ideas regarding them, but he was certainly opposed to doing anything of the sort with a stranger. Well, not a stranger anymore. An enemy.
Javert looked at Marius daringly. "Actually, I do enjoy tales with a successful end."
Marius stared back at his foe, and he seemed to read in the older man's eyes an unspoken addition to that sentence. "Especially from where I last saw you," it seemed to say to him.
Resolute in his decision not to go into any detail, Marius responded shortly, "I help bring justice to those who otherwise would not have a chance. What else is there to say?" He took another small bite of food, allowing a pause to accumulate. "Though it is not a lot, it certainly is more than what some can claim."
"This city has seen enough of its children murdered," Cosette whispered in addition. "Any little bit helps."
Javert felt more foolish than he had since arriving there. He looked down at his plate, avoiding all eye contact and conversation. A sense of him believed that both were baiting him and lecturing when in reality he was sure it could only be Marius. He reflected on his past and his actions of long ago. There was nothing he could recall that he could rightfully consider as equal to that of which his host and hostess referred. Truthfully, he had never had a solid moral standing that wavered each decision. It was just the law; it had always been the law.
Javert dabbed at his mouth to clean off any crumbs or residue from the meal. He was not concerned that he had not even finished the plate or that leaving food behind could be considered as rude. He stood and offered a pleasant smile to his hostess.
"If you would excuse me, Cosette," he said politely.
She stood along with him, surprised and curious. "Is everything alright, Jori?"
"Yes." He hesitated, finding the words. "Today's excursion made me quite tired, so I will just retire to the bedroom if neither of you mind."
He didn't move until he received both Cosette's and Marius' consent. Then he slowly made his way upstairs and to the guest room that he was issued for his stay. Safely inside of the bed chamber, with the door shut between him and the other residents of the house, he released a long sigh that had been growing inside of his chest for some time. He felt as though he could finally breathe at last.
Javert took the chair and pulled it close to the window and stared out into the vast darkness of the evening hours. "What were you thinking?" he asked himself aloud, incredulously. "You don't belong here."
He had thought that this was what he had wanted—to find Cosette and to understand what it was that drew him to her. However, he realized now that he just could not go on the way he was. He could not continue to live in this lie. He could not remain in the house with her. He certainly could not keep pretending to be this other man—this persona he invented to better fit in.
It was a few hours later when the knock fell on his door. It was quite unexpected and nearly caused Javert to physically start. He stood from the humble stool and straightened out his outfit most mechanically.
"Come in," he called, coaxing his mind from its reverie.
The door opened ever so slightly before a head poked its way into the room. It was Cosette's inquisitive and sensitive gaze he met. She appeared to be unchanged since dinner.
"May I?" she inquired, though he had already issued her permission.
"Of course," he replied quickly.
He began to reposition the chair for her use while she allowed herself in and shut the door behind her. When he had the chance to glance up, he noticed she was already standing nearby, awaiting his completion. He swung an arm across the seat, but she batted the offer away with one small hand.
"No, thank you. You are too kind."
Cosette held a single silver candle stick in front of her, but appeared to cradle it as though it were a very precious gift. She hesitated before continuing on, and Javert thought that perhaps her meekness had left her mute. He opened his mouth, about to break the silence, when she picked up the conversation again.
"I was just concerned over how supper proceeded this evening," she stated bluntly, lifting her chin defiantly, though humbly. "You seemed uncomfortable at the end, and I just wanted to apologize if there was anything that Marius or I had brought up to cause that."
Javert thought a moment. "No, not at all. It is just that you two make it quite difficult for anyone to feel accomplished in the few efforts one has put forth. You ought to be saints."
"Please," she breathed, scoffing slightly and shaking her head, "you give us too much credit. We have both been subject to experiences that made us want to change for the better—that really put the world into perspective."
He paced a few slow steps away. "Those truly are the most worthwhile experiences."
"You see," she continued, as if not hearing him, stepping toward the chair subconsciously, "there are circumstances surrounding us that left compassion in our goals and revenge upon our hearts." She sank onto the seat with a quiet, lady-like huff. Her head was bowed. "Recently I lost my father. Well, he was more a father to me than I had ever known. Though he would choose to see the illusion shattered, how else could I refer to him? My savior? My life?"
"Cosette," Javert breathed, but it wasn't loud enough by any means to grab her attention. In fact, he was sure he had not even meant to. He knew precisely who she referred to and it was her devotion and sincerity that she spoke with that touched him.
"I speak as though I have been injured the most, but it is not so." She raised her eyes, which sparkled in the candlelight. "Marius has known loss more times over than I have. He has to go on living knowing that all of his friends are dead. He still blames himself. He cannot justify his living and their dying. After all, they fought for the same cause. They stood side by side at the barricade. Yet, he is still here."
Silence engulfed the room for some minutes. She stood suddenly and loitered in front of the window, staring out at the heavy darkness. The flame cast a reflection off of the glass that Javert peered at instead of what lay outside of the window. She appeared pensive and with a strange faraway, almost sad look in her eyes.
"That is why you must forgive Marius," she stated bluntly. "Do not pay mind to the distant way he acts. It is only because he has known such pain and trial."
"Whatever do you mean?" Javert shook his head and attempted to play dumb.
Cosette turned her head to the side as if to peer over her shoulder, but her eyes remained downcast. "I am not so blind. I know that there is tension between you two, which is quite understandable given the circumstances. You must think me foolish to have even opened my home to a stranger."
"Not at all," he insisted immediately. "I think you a kind and rare person for doing so."
She scoffed again and turned back to the window, hesitating momentarily. In the reflection, she appeared to mentally debate for a short time then smile slyly when she had finally come to some sort of decision. She spun around again, looking at him with a fairly different expression. He did not know how to take it or what to think.
"Jori, I have decided that I should share a story with you," she stated seemingly randomly.
"A story?" Javert questioned curiously.
"Yes, but not tonight." She stepped lively to the door and paused before opening it. "Tomorrow should suffice, I think." She took a step or two outside of the room, but kept her head peeking through the gap. "Until then, Jori." She nodded and closed the door mysteriously after her.