A Les Miserables fan fiction

~Inspired by the 2012 musical movie starring Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, and Anne Hathaway as Fantine.

A/N: Wow, you guys are amazing! Thank you soo much! I haven't yet gotten around to answering your reviews, but I wanted to say I am amazed people liked this. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much of a response at all. So all my reviewers? THANK YOU!

This second part is for you guys. Again, there are missing scenes like in the first part, which, SaintAugustana, is something I decided to do on a whim because I desperately needed some feedback.

Hope ya'll enjoy.

Discipline Part 2

He woke the next morning with a slight headache and a tender backside. It took a minute for him to remember where he was and what happened. Mayor Madeleine's disappointment, the spanking, and…Javert's face reddened as he recalled how he had carried on, with Mere Adele and little Cosette in the house too! Javert wanted to die from sheer embarrassment. Good heavens, what a spectacle he had made!

...

[insert awkward morning scene between Javert and the other occupants of the house]

...

...

Javert bit his lip and obediently bent over the mayor's desk, pants and under pants down. A large hand came to rest between his shoulders and rubbed. No words were spoken. Javert knew exactly why this was happening. His crime had more than earned him this painful reminder.

He gritted his teeth as the first hard stroke fell. Nine more followed, reigniting the fire in his bottom systematically. Javert moaned, but did not yell out. Tears formed, but did not fall. He was breathing heavily as Madeleine instructed him to straighten up. He obeyed, whimpering only once as the rough cloth of his clothes passed over his raw backside. Then he faced his superior.

The older man regarded him for a moment before stepping forward to rest a hand on his shoulder.

"You handled that well, Javert."

The unexpected praise sent a thrill of warmth through his chest. He blinked, willing the water to remain under his eyelids and not down his face. There had already been far too much of that. Further humiliation was not necessary.

Mayor Madeleine said, "I trust you know you have already been forgiven and to leave the matter in the past."

"Yes Monsieur Mayor," he answered. Yes, he still marveled at the forgiveness the older man freely offered him. Under different circumstances he would have fought the mayor's charity, but this was hardly ordinary. He could still hear the endearment from the night before; the title Madeleine had so easily bestowed on him. But he was not sure he could forget what led him to be chastised as he had been. Jealousy was not an emotion Javert was overtly familiar with, at least not this kind. In his younger days he had briefly known envy—envy of all the children born to regular mothers and not gypsy fortune tellers. He had put all such feelings aside, however, when he went to the academy to become a policeman and took the law as his wife. Until recently.

He needed to speak with the mayor about this…by not he had wound up deliberately disobeying the old man. Still, it was a great source of embarrassment and frustration. Yesterday, they had briefly touched on it. It was no excuse however, and Javert had not wanted to speak of it further. What grown man was jealous of an innocent child's attention from her father and of the father's kindness? It made no sense. He had witnessed numerous parents and their children interacting over the years. What on earth caused this insane feeling in him?

"Monsieur, I—"Javert hesitated. "There is a matter I would," need to, "discuss with you."

"Yes?"

...

...

[Insert missing scene. You can imagine Javert's explanation. Pretty uncomfortable for the poor guy...]

...

It was only after all the excitement died down and one of the junior officers commented that Javert's actions had been reckless, though brilliant, that he realized what he had done. He had disobeyed the mayor's direct order to not behave in such a manner. The victory of capturing the criminal dimmed then. What would Mayor Madeleine do? Dismiss him? He had blatantly disobeyed the man after already being warned and disciplined after another incident. But hadn't the mayor said he would never dismiss him for such a thing?

Muddled and tense, Javert threw himself into his work, escorting the prisoner to jail and writing his report precisely, making sure every detail, every mistake, was disclosed. The day was nearly over and it was about time to meet with the mayor to review the day's incident. Were he a lesser man, he would have fidgeted with his pen or gloves. As it was, Javert had a very strong command of himself as a whole and restrained himself. He ignored the little voice in the back of his mind that he hardly conducted himself properly in the mayor's presence, especially when he was disciplined. Javert fought a wince, recalling how he had carried on after the last time. Never again, he vowed.

He strode into city hall, determined to face his superior with dignity only to be stopped by one of the mayor's aides.

"Inspector Javert, the mayor is not here. He was called away to Paris for some unexpected business a few hours ago. He left this for you."

It was a quick note from Madeleine, apologizing for not informing him in person, but Javert had been away from the station and the mayor could not delay his departure. He encouraged the inspector to go the mayor's home for what had become their ritual of reading and having supper together. After today's events, Javert did not dare go without the mayor present. Surely that invitation would be rescinded once Mayor Madeleine learned of his gross insubordination!

Somehow, his feet had different ideas because they took him straight to the mayor's home. For a while he stood at the end of the path to the door, regarding the house. What business did he have here? He was inferior to Madeleine, not only in stature but in birth. What did it matter that the mayor called him son? He was not, nor would he ever be. He was a gypsy's child. Unworthy.

A small figure came out the door, calling for him. "Monsieur Inspector!"

Cosette ran up to him, catching the unsuspecting man in a hug. "Papa said you may come. I am glad you came. Papa had to leave." She frowned at that. "He promised to return quickly. I wish he didn't have to go!"

Her chatter washed over Javert like water, leaving him off balance.

Unbothered by Javert's lack of reply, Cosette took his hand. "Mere Adele and I just finished making supper."

Dumbly, Javert allowed himself to be led into the house. Apparently he was expected. Mere Adele greeted him warmly and directed him to wash up for the meal, which would be served momentarily. Automatically, he obeyed.

What was he doing? He could barely swallow the stew. He shouldn't be here. For that matter, he should have never gotten close to Mayor Madeleine and his family. He didn't belong here. He had been insubordinate and out of line.

As soon as the meal was over, Javert excused himself and all but ran from the house and the sad eyes of the mayor's child.

Two days later found Javert standing in the corner of Mayor Madeleine's study while his superior paced behind him. Being sent to the corner had made his stomach twist with unease. But it was better than facing the older man at the moment. After his disobedience a couple days ago, while the mayor was gone he had managed to defy him several more times as waiting for Mayor Madeleine to return from Paris had driven him to act out.

It was sheer juvenile stupidity that Javert could barely comprehend. What was he thinking? The indignity of his actions was enough to make him wish he had never been given the post here in Montreuil-sur-mer. How awfully he had filled it!

"Javert. Come here."

He really didn't like how those words filled him with dread or how his backside tingled. Stoically, he complied and approached. Madeleine's gaze was cool—disappointment, frustration, and sadness battling across his face.

"What happened? This behavior is not like you."

Javert looked down at his boots. In a matter of fact voice, he quickly explained what had occurred and what he had done. By the time he finished, Madeleine was clearly angry.

"For goodness sake man! How many times do I have to tell you I will not relieve you of your post for making a mistake?"

He jumped, shocked to hear the mayor raise his voice. Before he could reply, Mayor Madeleine took a deep breath and calmed. In a quieter tone, he inquired, "Why did I punish you the first time Javert?"

Confused, Javert jerked his head. "What do you mean monsieur?"

"Exactly what I asked. Why did I spank you?"

"Because I deserved it, sir."

"No," Madeleine said, shaking his head, "because you wouldn't accept my forgiveness otherwise. However, given your recent actions, I wonder if you ever accepted it."

Javert had no answer for him. Instead, he cast a forlorn look at the floor. The mayor sighed, and the sound stabbed him in the gut.

"Why did I spank you the second time?"

He winced. Surely the mayor would not ask him this about every previous punishment!

"I endangered myself by acting recklessly."

"Tell me, how is that an offense that would lead to you losing your job?"

"My negligence could have resulted in my fellow officers being injured and the criminal escaping."

"If they had been with you," Madeleine reminded him. "They were not and you were nearly killed as you apprehended the murderer."

Actually, Mayor Madeleine apprehended the murderer after saving Javert's life. But the mayor was right that at the time Javert had been alone.

"Yes, monsieur."

"I told you to not act recklessly to endanger your own life, Javert. Of course I expect you to consider the safety of your fellow officers, but I also expect you to consider your own. In the altercation two days ago, what were you thinking before you acted?"

"That Martin needed to be stopped before he killed someone. I was the closest and in the best position to act."

"Were you alone that day? Was the risk unnecessary or somehow preventable?"

Javert chewed on his lip. "I was not alone and at the time the risk seemed necessary to stop the man. Whether or not it could have been prevented, I do not know. None of us were expecting so much trouble."

"How, then, did you disobey my instruction to not act carelessly in regards to you own life?"

"I—," Javert opened and closed his mouth, absorbing what Madeleine had just talked him through. "I didn't," he said at last. He closed his eyes. Oh what a fool he was!

"You didn't," M. Madeleine agreed. Then he asked, "Why did I spank you the third time?"

"I deliberately provoked you by being insubordinate," Javert said, wincing even as admitted it.

"Why?"

Javert sighed. "Because I was—envious of the attention your daughter received."

Madeleine nod approvingly. "So tell me, Javert, what did you do to over the past few days?"

It was a terrible blow to his already battered pride to admit. "I acted rashly in my duties and took unnecessary risks."

"Why?"

This was the hardest part. "I was...I…I was afraid. I did not think you would—" Javert hung his head, desperately willing the tears in his eyes back. "I did not believe you would forgive me," he finished in a small voice.

Madeleine lifted his chin, forcing eye contact. "No matter what you may do, or how angry I am, I will always forgive you, Javert."

Javert trembled, unable to wrap his mind around it. "I am not worthy of your mercy," he whispered.

"Oh Javert. The Good Book tells us no one is worthy. Not a single one. Forgiveness is a gift freely given out of love. Who am I to deny you forgiveness when I too was forgiven?"

He couldn't answer, too overwhelmed by emotion. How could this be? It took a long minute for him to compose himself enough to speak. "Will you still…?"

"For endangering your life the past couple days, yes, I will."

It was a relief to know his transgressions would not go unpunished.

"But I will not punish you for every error you make, Javert. This is reserved for the worst offenses, which I will determine, not you. For such minor mistakes, it is enough that you acknowledge it, and strive not to do it again. That does not mean going to extremes," M. Madeleine said, sternly.

That was a bit harder to swallow. All his life, Javert had believed in absolutes. To be given mercy, to be allowed to fix his mistakes was something he had never believed possible. Now, he wasn't so sure. Mayor Madeleine said it was possible, said the Bible's Law commanded it. But what of the law? What of justice? Justice left no room for forgiveness. Justice must be tempered by mercy, he recalled Madeleine saying. If not, were not they all, even the earthly lawmakers subject to punishment? If there was no hope, what was the point?

"I…I understand."

Madeleine nodded. "I am glad to hear that. Now, I think, is time we finished and put the matter to rest."

He knew what that meant. Carefully, Javert took of his uniform, folding it neatly before going to stand at the mayor's side.

Madeleine gently tugged Javert over his lap, tugging down his underpants a moment later. The cold air made his back prickle again. But this time, Javert did not feel fear. Perhaps a little trepidation of the coming chastisement, but nothing more. He understood now that Madeleine forgave him, cared about him, and was not going to cast him aside however much he deserved it. That reassurance let him lay across the old man's knee with a confidence he had never had. Madeleine patted his back, and it almost felt like a proud acknowledgement of his lack of fear.

The first stern smack fell and he winced. Confidence or not, he knew he would have a very sore backside by the time this was over. Madeleine did not disappoint and began to deliver a very hard, thorough spanking. Sweat mixed with tears on Javert's face as the punishment went on. He gasped as several stern smacks struck the under curve of his bottom.

He was shaking when Madeleine stopped. "Stand and bend over the desk."

Javert meekly complied. He heard the older man pull out the switch. Then he heard the strap.

"You will receive five licks with each the switch and strap, Javert. Understood?"

"Yes Monsieur Mayor," he replied. Javert braced himself for the coming blows. A large, rough hand stroked his back.

"I am proud of you, son."

He was reeling from Madeleine's words when the first lick landed on his backside, searing the already reddened flesh and prompting a surprised yelp from the inspector. The mayor was using the switch first. Again, the switch descended, striking a little lower than before. By the fifth stroke, Javert was sobbing.

"Almost done," Madeleine reassured him gently, once more rubbing his back.

Javert heard the mayor put aside the switch and pick up the strap. He hiccuped fortifying himself for the last licks. There was some more rubbing of his back and then the first blow fell. His backside already aflame, Javert couldn't suppress a howl as the heat intensified with that stroke. By the third stroke, he was sobbing with all his heart. The last two fell quickly. He cried out as each one landed and collapsed, boneless, over the desk.

He was pulled upright then, into M. Madeleine's arms. Javert hid his face in the older man's chest, seeking the warmth and assurance he had come to associate with Madeleine's embrace. Madeleine rested his cheek on Javert's head, strong arms holding his close. One big hand stroked Javert's back and the other rested on the back of his neck, caressing lightly.

It was like heaven. Javert felt safe, assured that Madeleine was there and would not abandon him.

More importantly, he felt loved.

So there it is. This concludes this particular fic I think. Missing scenes and all. Any suggestions for more? I could be persuaded to continue.