A/N: JudyBear - you're an awesome Beta. Thanks for reading and sticking with this everyone!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. (Except for a new, adorable pink phone!)
Chapter 9:
The cold seemed to tear through his bones as Javert walked through the streets, blind to all around him. The disturbing realisation of being in love with the Thenardier girl gnawed at his mind ruthlessly.
In one kiss he, who had never doubted anything before, started doubting his entire life; all his beliefs.
He had only ever loved the law, with his entire soul. Loving Éponine overwhelmed him.
He tightened his fist around his nightstick, suddenly incomprehensibly angry.
His eyes narrowed at the sight of a young boy staring at a food stall hungrily. Javert waited in the shadows as the boy made a run for the food, grabbing onto an apple before rushing away. He was upon the boy within seconds, barely registering the fear and shock in his face.
"Inspector! I'm sorry; I was so hungry, I…"
"Save your apologies, boy. There is no place for thieves on the street."
He could not be older than ten years old.
Repressed fury followed him in the eyes of every person on the street as he dragged the boy behind him, the tearful pleas falling on deaf ears.
A woman rushed forward, tears streaming down her face.
"Inspector, have mercy on my son! Please, we have no money. The poor child is starving!"
He turned to face her with blazing eyes.
"Mercy is not written in the law."
"He will die if you take him to jail!"
He felt no pity at her anguished face.
"Then there will be one less criminal on the street."
"It was an apple!"
"It was a crime!"
The harshness in his voice silenced her and she watched hysterically as he dragged her son off to jail.
"Antoinette!"
Javert's body jerked at the familiar voice, but he kept walking – trying his best to ignore her.
Éponine.
Éponine rushed forward, kneeling next to the crying woman.
"What happened?"
"Jean-Pierre… he took an apple from a vendor. Inspector Javert…"
There was no need to say more. Éponine jumped to her feet, grabbing Javert's arm impulsively.
"M'sieur Le'inspecteur… Please. He is just a child!"
Javert yanked his arm out of her grip, the familiar icy gaze back in his eyes as he looked at her.
"You should know better than to plead with me."
Éponine's eyes met his, sympathy for the young boy's plight coursing through her. She lowered her voice, ensuring that Javert was the only one able to hear her.
"Inspector Javert, I know you have some mercy in your heart, I beg you…"
"Mademoiselle Thenardier… leave."
It was her fault. She was the reason for these daunting emotions plaguing him.
"Eugene…"
The sound of his name on her lips angered him all of a sudden.
"Unless you want me to arrest you along with him, you will leave."
She made another move towards him and Javert blocked her touch defensively, ignoring the aching emotions he felt as she fell to the ground.
He looked down at her miserable form, pushing down every ounce of pity, every ounce of love he felt at the sight of her.
"I do realise that I have much to be grateful for. Unfortunately, that does not mean that you can change the law."
He walked off without another word, the boy's arm still caught in his steel grip.
Antoinette moved forward, helping Éponine to her feet.
"Éponine, you know that man has no mercy. It is no use trying, is it?"
"No. I guess not."
Javert felt an immediate sting at the bitterness in Éponine's voice.
He chose to ignore it.
The coldness in his gaze tore through Éponine as she watched Javert's departing figure. He had looked at her as though she was nothing. A muffled sob escaped her lips as it dawned upon her that to him, that was probably exactly what she was. Nothing.
Just because she was stupid enough to fall in love with Eugene Javert did not mean he would ever love her back. Who did she think she was? Because he had stirred some desire in her, did she honestly expect him to care?
She was just a warm body when his human side took over and he needed comfort.
He had shown her the reality.
Eugene Javert existed for a fleeting instant.
The vulnerable, kind man she had come to know was gone. Inspector Javert, the same cold, cruel man that had always roamed the street with fixed determination to uphold the law was back.
Javert felt no pity at all as he watched the screaming boy being dragged off to a holding cell.
It was the law. He would uphold it, no matter what.
Honest work. Just reward. That's the way to please the Lord.
He had lived his entire life by that motto. Everyone was entitled to look for an honest job. If he could escape the gutters and become what he was, what prevented anyone else on the street from doing the same?
No, stealing and whoring was easier. These people sullied the streets that he held dear. They were a blemish on the good name of France and it was his job to rid the streets of them, protect those who lived honest lives from harm.
Éponine had no right to be upset at him.
She knew who and what he was. Anger stirred within him. She was trying to manipulate him. Just because he loved her, did not mean that she was above the law, that he would look the other way for her.
He loved her.
However, he would not – could not- change his values for her.
As she sat, obscured by shadows, Éponine knew for a fact that Javert would be back on the streets within minutes. Something seemed to be bothering him, and she knew instinctively that it would be taken out on the poverty stricken streetrats.
She waited until she saw him before casually walking through the market, her eyes meeting his. She did not leave his eyes, even as she extended her arm to grab hold of a loaf of bread.
She could read the conflict in his eyes as he watched her.
The angry cry from the vendor seemed to push him to action and he moved forward swiftly, his eyes boring into hers furiously.
"Mademoiselle Thenardier."
Her heart beat frantically as she looked up at him with a mask of nonchalance.
"Inspector."
He wanted to ask her why she had done something so dim-witted, why she took the risk.
He did not need to however. He knew. She was testing him.
For all the money in the world, Éponine could not ascertain what on earth had possessed her to test Javert.
"You should come with me."
His voice sounded tired and she hated herself for the pity rising within her. The loaf of bread fell from her hand as he pulled her away, sympathetic looks from by passers following her.
Javert ignore every officer's enthusiastic greeting, not speaking until they were inside his office, behind a closed door.
"Why?"
His voice sounded pained rather than inquisitive and Éponine looked down, unable to meet his eyes.
"I don't know."
Javert stared at her, his heart beating anxiously.
He knew what he had to do, but he couldn't bring himself to follow through. His feet seemed to move of their own accord and he rushed forward, pulling her into his arms.
His voice sounded more vulnerable than it ever had. There was no trace of coldness in his eyes.
"God, help me. I love you."
He registered the slight widening of her eyes and turned away.
"I'm sorry. You couldn't possible feel the same way, I am aware of that… I…"
"I… Eugene… I love you too."
The End.
Oh, I'm kidding. Like I'll make it that easy for them.