A/N: Thank you for your lovely reviewStechpalme! I honestly never considered this couple, but now I am in love with them.
BTW, in my mind Eponine is Samantha Barks and Javert is Roger Allam's voice, Phillip Quast's eyes and Ramin Karimloo's appearance.
I hope this chapter isn't too long! I didn't know where to break it. I'm really trying to show Javert's strong moral values and beliefs in this and I hope it comes across in the right way!
DISCLAIMER: Still not mine.
CHAPTER 3:
He could not explain this strange urge he had to follow the girl, perhaps to prevent her from becoming a criminal – to keep the streets safe of course. Perhaps it was to make sure he caught her as soon as he saw clear evidence that she was a danger to society. That made more sense.
In reality, a part of Javert realised that he was simply replacing one obsession with another. Jean Valjean eluded him like a slippery serpent and this girl, though sneaky, was much easier to follow. He would never admit it – even to himself, but Javert felt like a failure as an inspector to let Valjean escape him so easily.
He sighed. A layer of dust still lay on his index finger and he shook his head, ashamed. For a minute he had allowed his need to be seen as a man take over. For a minute he wondered what it would feel like – having the warm body of a woman in his arms. Even one like Eponine Thenardier.
Nausea filled him at once. Here he was, craving the desire of a common street whore. She was not worthy of his thoughts unless they consisted out of getting her away from society. Yet, the idea of those expressive eyes, filled with pain and fear behind prison bars did not give him the satisfaction he expected.
Eponine sneaked into a room, knowing that her father's rage would be thrown upon her the second he saw her. However, she would much rather deal with her father's fists than Javert.
A chill ran down her spine.
Those could blue eyes told her exactly how much he detested what she was. Yet… he touched her. Not one of the rough, lustful touches that she was used to. Surprisingly soft and gentle. In that moment she noticed more about him than she had ever seen before. Like how the lines of his jaw were stronger than any other man she had seen. His mouth, though stern, had a graceful bow and a hidden vulnerability. Grey was just starting to speckle through his hair and his hands were rougher than she had expected.
Eponine blushed furiously at her thoughts. Here she was, finding the biggest enemy of those on the streets attractive. She inwardly cringed, trying to defend her thoughts. She did not find him attractive. She had simply noticed that his outward appearance was not as revolting as she had always thought when she saw him from a distance.
She heard a creak in the floor, bracing herself.
Her father.
Tonight she would surely pay for the scream she had uttered impulsively. M'sieur Marius, however, made it worth the beating that was to come.
It was hours later when Eponine awakened. Pain shot through her entire body and she crawled to the wall, using it to pull herself into a seated position. Her hands travelled over her body lightly to determine the damage done by her father's fists. She was sure that her wrist was broken. The iron taste of blood filled her mouth – she guessed from a busted lip, her cheek was swollen up. She hissed in pain when her hand travelled over her ribs.
She considered her options carefully. She could stay, risking a worse beating which could no doubt result in her death. Or she could flee as far as she could with her broken body.
In truth, death did not sound bad at all. The memory of Marius' soft eyes, however, managed to convince her that death was not truly desirable. She moved to the window, bracing herself. The pain when pulled herself through the window and fell through, landing on her side, was almost unbearable. She gradually came to her feet and inched to an alleyway, moving forward with her hands against the wall. Her wounded hands left a blood trail against the wall and she bit down on her lip, refusing to cry. She was not fragile; she would not allow herself to show any weakness. Blood spluttered from her mouth as she coughed, her entire body shuddering. Eponine rested her head against the wall, trying to swallow down her nausea. A gloomy part of her wondered why she did not welcome death, reminding her that Marius had Cosette. A part of her wished for death. It didn't come.
Javert's every thought was successfully switched off as he walked through the streets, his observant eyes scanning the environment for a sign of anything remotely suspicious. A sound to his left caught his immediate attention and he rushed forward, quickly noticing the figure slumped against the wall.
Bile rose in his throat as he took in the bloody girl. He swiftly moved forward, bending down to see her more clearly.
"Eponine…"
Her name slipped from his lips and he shook his head, irritated with himself. A gargled sound reverberated in her throat as she attempted to laugh.
"Inspector."
He coughed lightly.
"Were you attacked?"
"You could say that."
Javert grumbled, insistent on following the lawful procedures.
"Did you see his face?"
"It doesn't matter, M'sieur Le'Inspecteur."
Realisation dawned upon him.
"It was your father."
One of her eyes was bloodied as she looked up at him. She did not need to answer.
He pushed past his disgusted and reached out, trying to pick her up as gently as possible.
She hissed as he lifted her up against his chest.
"Where are you taking me?"
Javert thought for a minute. No respectable hospital would allow the girl a room, even if it was Inspector Javert who brought her there. He had no friends who could help him by taking her off his hands. Yet, it wouldn't be right to leave her here – in the street. He certainly did not want a death on his conscience. Not even the death of someone as irrelevant as her.
"I don't know yet. Somewhere where we can clean your wounds – stop the blood, prevent infection…"
He trailed off as her head fell against his chest. Logically, he knew there was only one place to take her. He had sufficient knowledge of medicine, his house was well-equipped and private… The thought of having her in his house repulsed him though. His determination to do what was right eventually won out over his intolerance towards these people and he made his way to his house discreetly, careful to hide the broken bundle of a person from the people passing.
Eponine was vaguely aware of the muscular chest against her head, but she had passed the point of caring about what happened to her. She whimpered when Javert shifted her to allow him to open his door.
He moved the door with his shoulder and carried her towards his bathing room, thankful that his house was one of the few to incorporate Roman tradition and have a private bath rather. He blatantly refused to expose himself to the scum at the public baths and his good fortune allowed him another option.
Javert carefully lay the shaking woman down on the floor and peeked his head out of the door.
He grimly folded his jacket around her, grabbing a large copper cauldron before rushing outside once again. The water was slightly heated when he poured it into the bath. Javert dipped a cloth in the bath and pressed it to her face, wondering why on earth he was going through all this trouble for the girl.
He pulled her into a seated position when she opened her eyes, carefully reaching forward to remove her outer garments.
Eponine watched passively as he pulled the clothes from her body, smirking.
"I'm not gonna be much use of you in this state, M'sieur."
Javert snarled at her, throwing the blood soaked clothes in a corner.
"Don't be presumptuous. For some reason I brought you here to tend your wounds."
"You?"
Her disbelief was clear and Javert sighed, wondering if it was really such a shock that he had a heart.
"It's the right thing, the moral thing to do. I did not want your death, trivial as you may be, on my conscience."
She winced as he lowered her into the water, his hands slowly removing all traces of blood from her body. She could tell that he was trying to be gentle – not that it made much of a difference. He tensed up upon noticing the small curves of her body accentuated by the wet undershirt clinging to her.
He stood quickly.
"I… wait here."
He returned seconds later, a black button shirt in his hands.
"Wear this."
He pulled her from the bath, but turned around modestly to allow her to exchange her wet clothes for his shirt.
What was he to do with her now? He silently cursed himself for bringing her there in the first place. He felt no compassion for her, no written law instilled the obligation to help those in need – if so, and he would be compelled to help every single person on the street. But the world was black and white. Leaving her to die would definitely fall in the blackened side of life.
He turned to face her, repressing the pity he felt upon seeing the black and blue standing out on her face. His shirt almost reached her knees.
Her wrist was swollen and she took a step back as he reached for her arm.
"I need to set your wrist. It is broken."
His voice was sardonic and Eponine held out her arm, a scream escaping from her as he pressed the bones back in place. He was surprised to notice the tears welling up in her eyes as she pressed her sore arm against her chest.
"It had to be done."
His voice was cold and Eponine nodded slightly.
Conflicts arose within him. Sending her away would result in her death. Keeping her here would be improper.
The corners of his mouth turned downwards. Why on earth was he the one unfortunate enough to find her? He lived his way in the light, why was he being punished in this way?
The only thing that made sense was that the Lord was punishing him for the fleeting desire he had felt the previous night.
Javert tensed up, his shoulders becoming even more rigid.
He would take the punishment he deserved.
"You will stay here until death is no longer a danger."
Eponine's eyes widened at his words.
"I cannot possibly…"
Javert glared at her, his eyes blazing.
"I will not touch you, Mademoiselle Thenardier. I simply cannot in good conscience let you leave and possibly die. You will stay."