A/N: Thank you my Beta, JudyBear236! Thank you again to every reader and reviewer too - I appreciate it.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine.
Chapter 7
As Éponine sneaked back into her room, she tried to make sense of the muddled feelings spinning round in her head.
The fact that there were any feelings to speak of already upset her. It wasn't just any man – it was Inspector Javert!
She had seen him many times before and the sight of him had never filled her with any emotion other than dread.
She would gladly replace the elation her treacherous heart felt at the sight of him with the dread that she was used to.
She hated herself for now noticing the shadowed emotion in his eyes, the softening of the lines on his stern face when he thought no one was looking, his broad shoulders that appeared capable of carrying the weight of the world on them.
She despised the fact that she knew how soft his lips were and it terrified her that she wanted nothing more than feeling it again.
Though he never had any interest in women, Javert was familiar with the policies that went along with courting one. As he stared at the Thenardier house, he could not help but smirk at the thought of knocking and blatantly asking the ratty old man for permission to court his daughter.
Thenardier would probably die of shock.
Javert laughed inwardly.
That would be one of the advantages of pursuing Éponine.
He shook his head lightly, his hands desperately fiddling with a button on his coat.
Pursuing Éponine? When had that become an option?
Of course it was not. It was not even something he could consider. Inspector Javert, taken in by a woman? Not just any woman: a whore!
No. It would not do. It was preposterous.
He had to end this ridiculous fixation he seemed to have with the girl. She was not worthy of his attention.
She might have deluded him into thinking that she was quite appealing, but she would not succeed in getting any hold on his heart.
Eugene Javert was not weak – and no woman could make him so!
He turned around determinedly, deciding to go home at once. Perhaps a good night's sleep was what he needed. It would clear his head from this absurdity.
As he walked through the dirty streets of Paris, Javert tried to ignore the nagging feeling insistent on reminding him that Éponine Thenardier was the first person, ever since he could remember, to see his humanity.
She saw his vulnerable side, yet he felt strong when he was with her.
His persistent thoughts disappeared when out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a movement.
Jean Valjean.
It had to be him!
Javert moved forward anxiously, his eyes not leaving Valjean's figure for a second.
Valjean seemed to have sensed him, for he turned around the second Javert was close enough to have him within his grasp.
Recognition flashed in Valjean's eyes and he took a step back. His eyes darted to where Cosette stood, talking to a young man. Her carefree laugh ripped through his heart and he shook his head lightly.
"Javert. Not here."
Javert's laugh was cold.
"Your time is up, Valjean."
It took Jean Valjean mere seconds to make his choice: he had to use any means he was capable of to escape. He had to prevent being arrested in front of his daughter.
His fists took hold of the lapels of Javert's coat before the latter could move. Valjean mumbled an unintelligible apology before pushing Javert against the wall. He could hear Javert's head hitting the hard surface with a loud thump.
Javert's tall form crumpled to the ground and Valjean rushed away and grabbed Cosette by the arm.
"I don't have time to explain. We need to leave."
Cosette shared a confused, longing look with Marius Pontmercy, before she disappeared from sight – along with the ever-elusive Jean Valjean.
Through the hazy clouds of unconsciousness, Javert could vaguely register being dragged along the rough street. He groaned as he felt his senses returning from the dark nothingness, an immediate pain shooting through his head.
Through the persistent throbbing in his head, he was vaguely aware of being propped up against a wall.
He opened his eyes slowly.
Big brown eyes stared into his worriedly.
"Éponine. How did you find me?"
She sat down next to him, avoiding his eyes.
"I might have seen it happen."
Despite his prior determination to not allow this girl into his heart, he could not help but laugh to himself gleefully.
"Were you following me, Mademoiselle?"
She huffed, folding her arms over her chest.
"Well, I had to, didn't I? I saw you standing outside my house for ages. I… I had to follow you, didn't I?"
Her voice trailed off and Javert tilted his head to look at her, wincing at the pain any movement still caused.
"I am glad you did."
Éponine shrugged.
"You saved my life. I guess I had to save yours. If anyone else found you… You'd be dead right now."
He grimaced, using the wall to pull himself to his feet.
"Yes, me being Inspector Javert and all. I assume there are many people who would pay for my death."
Éponine stood as well, impulsively caressing his face.
"As far as I know that had never bothered you before."
Javert sighed and pulled her into his arms.
"You've made me vulnerable."
He pressed a tender kiss to her hair, finding himself unable to allow her to leave his embrace.
"Come home with me."
The words were out before he could think.
Javert frowned stubbornly.
He would not take them back. He'd blame the concussion if his conscience came knocking.