AN: Still just doing this as stress release, no funding here. Just a random thing that popped into my head years ago now.
Chapter 18
Marius had disappeared for a good hour; only larger voices could be heard descending the stairs without the people accompanying them. Javert's stare was steady in the observations, Valjean was more nervous with his eyes darting around the people around him; the Baron singularly glared at Javert as did some of the patrons already in the bar. Valjean would occasionally narrow his eyes at them although Javert seemed unaffected by them. What did seem to affect Javert was an unexpected familiar person entering the public house, the patrons seemed immune to the presence of this person as if expecting him. Valjean had never met this officer, but he could easily tell that Javert, and the unknown male were surprised by each other's presence in the establishment they were currently in.
"Well, I'll be damned. Javert?" Javert winced slightly being called out. He grunted affirmatively towards the man. "Javert, it's good to see you; although I have to wonder what are you doing here?"
"Rivette, good to see you're progressing well." Javert spoke as if he hadn't just finished his sixth pint. "A business meeting with an old friend and his associate if you're so interested. I thought tag along in case of emergencies." The Rivette fellow nodded but said nothing else before heading towards the stairs. Javert's eyes followed him briefly as he noticed a folder partially hidden by Rivette's sleeve. Javert called out to him. "Rivette, if you see the Pont-Merci heir up there do tell him I said to hurry up. I don't have all night." Rivette turned subtly to stare in shook at the Inspector, he seemed to ease slightly as he realised it was a social of sorts visit rather than official business, regardless he'd known Javert long enough to know that those two things usually were interlinked. Rivette cleared his throat before answering Javert.
"I will mention it, Inspector." His movements up the stairs were somewhat unsteady as if wanting to escape Javert's gaze.
Valjean turned to Javert in concern. "What was that about?"
"Rivette and I have worked together before, it would have been uncomfortable if we had noticed each other and ignored each other. We both needed to be sure of the other's intentions. Did you notice the stack of papers he was trying to hide?" Valjean shook his head. "Luckily, I did, he's informing these revolutionaries of police who may or not be sympathetic to their cause in the end."
"Is that good or bad?" Valjean sounded concerned as his eyes dated upstairs to where the Pont-Merci boy was.
"That depends on how we use this information. Chevalier may be interested to know of how many local Parisian police may side with these ideals."
"Hopefully he'll arrest them." The Baron whispered grumbly into his own drink which had barely been touched. Valjean and Javert snorted at this statement knowing well that the Secretary of State would be more than happy arresting the king over the revolutionaries; especially if it aided Paris and France as a whole. Javert looked around Valjean at the Baron.
"I think you maybe surprised who arrests who in the end. Things are not always as clear as you would like them to be." They were silent with each other for another half an hour before Marius reappeared from upstairs, he seemed pale but otherwise not too distraught; having been introduced to an officer who was not Javert. Beside him was a blonde-haired male barely older than a boy himself, at least to the three older men. Javert noticed he had a similar stack of papers, the ones Rivette had earlier. Javert gently nudged Valjean's side who looked at his with a questioning gaze, Javert's gaze fell on the papers the blonde was holding openly likely indicating to the Inspector that it was beneficial news for them. Both Valjean and Javert knew that patience was not the Inspector's strongest asset, but it was one he needed to be in this moment. The blonde glared at each of them, placing additional venom into his address of the Inspector and Baron Pont-Merci, seemingly more confused by Valjean then anyone else.
"So, why are you three here?" He finally settled his venom onto Javert.
"Well, I wish to help you. If of course you'll let me." The blonde scoffed.
"How could you help us Inspector, saying that I did indeed let you." Javert smirked, revealing that he knew what was on the papers the blonde was holding.
"Hypothetically, I could check those names that Rivette gave you; he would not lie to you as he believes in your cause, but some others may not. You need to know who could turn on you if it benefits them; if something goes sideways let's say." The blonde paled, clearly concerned by how observant the Inspector was, he'd heard the rumours certainly but never seen it himself.
"How do you know about that?"
"I've known Rivette for some time now. Likewise, I know my mentor has had men tailing most of you for months now…" The Baron interrupted Javert, spluttering into his drink choking.
"Why would you tell the boy that?" The blonde glared at the Baron before turning a more confused glance at Javert.
"The Baron makes a valid point; why tell me that? Who is your mentor to have us followed on a whim?"
"I would not call it a whim as such, since he is the Secretary of State…" Again, Javert was interrupted by the Baron.
"Why are you talking of these things…" Javert glared harshly at Baron Pont-Merci who wisely fell silent. Javert sighed before continuing talking to the blonde.
"I do apologise about the Baron; I was hoping he may fund your ideals more openly with some re-education obviously. He will listen eventually."
"Enojlas. You may as well call me that, Inspector, if you could find our real supporters in these names. I would be grateful."
"Javert. I am off duty after all…" There was a series of small, hidden chuckles from around them at the bar. Javert glared at the closest locals, before turning back to Enojlas. "I am aware that my reputation is difficult for you to stomach but I am more complex than most seem to realise. A wolf does not always stay with its birth pack." Javert held out a hand for the papers. Enojlas seemed unworried handing over the pages to Javert, until he snarled at one of the names.
"What is it?"
"Vidoc."
"You know him?"
"I've been trying to arrest that menace of ages."
"He's an officer, why?" Javert sighed unwilling to admit the truth he knew about one of the officers he once respected. Vidoc had a similar past as Javert, seemingly he turned out all right as well; that was until someone like Javert paid attention to him.
"He's also an underground criminal mastermind." Javert rubbed his face, Valjean stared at him, perplexed by the crossover.
"He's what? A law-abiding Inspector of Paris by day and at night a criminal mastermind, you cannot be serious?" Javert blinked at Valjean.
"I know it sounds insane, but he is less subtle at night. I have seen it several times, but he always cleans up after himself there is never any evidence that even I can find. In Paris…" Javert sighed heavily. "…my skin is against me; you know how long I've been this rank; how long I've been doing this job? That does not matter here, none trust the gypsy's son. Even with Chevalier backing me since I left prison at fourteen." Enojlas chocked, clearly listening in on the pair, despite them speaking directly to each other.
"You? In prison?" Marius stood off to the side of Enojlas coughing loudly trying to get to the blonde to stop talking, he just waved Marius off. "What put you there?" Javert sent an extremely harsh glare the boy's way, he shuddered finally realising he had put his foot very firmly in his mouth. Javert ground his teeth.
"Being born." Enojlas seemed to shrink under the Inspector's gaze, he muttered an apology, blushing slightly. Javert turned his attention back to the papers carrying on as nothing had happened. "There are another three who are only in it for themselves; if you're lucky they will be stationed with higher ranked officers who do agree with you and then should hopefully follow orders. Vidoc maybe a disagreeable person but he does wholeheartedly agree with your ideals, and there are two more officers outside of Paris who feel similarly. It could be beneficial to you to prove this is not a city issue but wider felt, as in national. For that to work you will need this to be properly above board, you will need actual funding preferably from the Pont-Merci's, but Valjean could do as well; all three perhaps?" Javert questioningly looked to Valjean, who gingerly hovered his hand over Javert's shoulder knowing full well didn't like his space invaded.
"I'm in already old friend, if this makes a better France; I'm all for it."
"Who are you Valjean?" Enojlas put his curiosity towards the middle older man in mayoral finery. Javert answered for the pale Valjean.
"He's a mayor, and a pardoned criminal; and someone I trust completely." Valjean looked quite heartfelt towards Javert.
"You trust me?" Javert rolled his eyes at the man. The Baron stared dazed between the two men.
"He's a pardoned criminal?" Javert gaped at the Baron.
"How did you miss that; it was the talk of the town for weeks."
"Even I knew that." Javert and Valjean both looked intently at Marius, neither aware that he had known that. He shrugged at the pair of them. "Cosette told me when we first arrived." Javert nodded, while Valjean grimaced. "I didn't ask what you might have done if that helps." Javert continued nodding, Valjean seemed to slump into the seat he was perched in; Javert groaned.
"They don't need to know if you don't want them to."
"We've come this far we might as well." Valjean cleared his throat before continuing. "Theft. It was theft." The baron seemed to choke on air as Marius sighed at his grandfather's reaction to this news. Javert glared at the Baron, which was becoming the standard response to something the Baron said. "It was along time ago and I consider myself a different man now…"
"You're the same man Valjean, you've just found peace that's all. I certainly did not help in that regard, did I?"
"I suppose you could have eased off sooner certainly; but that was not the, you of before. The you of now is certainly more compassionate to his fellow man."
"You don't have to be so sentimental about it, I'm still an ass." Valjean chuckled lightly.
Enojlas stared between the two men as the baron had but his eyes moved to the ceiling before whispering something to Marius, who shrugged.
"Only if, you're sure?" Enojlas nodded as he turned to the barkeeper.
"Would you mind calling our usual down?" The barkeeper grunted at being asked to fetch the rest of the group. "We have gotten completely off topic. Firstly, Javert who are these officers from outside Paris who might aid us on a national field; if Valjean is willing to loan us the funds…" Valjean cut in pleasantly.
"I'd be more than happy to grant you the funds rather than a loan. If it suits your position more." Enojlas seemed genuinely surprised at the offer of a grant meaning they'd not have to pay the man back. The baron breathed in sharply, about to speak, but Javert cut across him.
"Baron, please for the sanity of all of us here. Do Shut Up." There was a round of applause from the stairs as the rest of the revolutionaries appeared from upstairs.
"Never thought I'd see the day that the fearsome Inspector Javert agreed with us on something, even if it is telling Marius' grandfather to shut his face."
"Grantaire, go easy on the Inspector. He may be one of us more than we thought. The list from Rivette is not completely accurate, with Javert's insight we can tell which cops will aid us more than others. Inspector?"
"I thought I already had?"
"For me, certainly. Them, no. Again, if you please."
"I dislike repetition just so you know, but fine. Vidoc should not be trusted. Goldman, Trevelyan and Morduch are out for themselves; they will drop you if it benefits them. The rest should be fine if you lot don't do anything too stupid."
"And the two from…"
"In Montreuil-Sur-Mer; there is a Constable of some rate Hazlemere…"
"That Constable is…" Javert's glare at the Baron, who was still attempting to talk around Javert, was sinister.
"Be careful Baron. Insult my Constables and WE will have issues; am I understood?" The Baron seemed shaken by Javert's tone. Enojlas coughed warily bringing the Inspector's attention back to him.
"So, the other?" Valjean looked at Enojlas himself interrupting whatever Javert was going to say.
"Is him; surprising I know." Enojlas looked at the papers, his eyes widening slightly; he seemed to be quietly speaking to himself as if acknowledging that not everyone could lip read.
"But this is good, there are more like minded officers than not. Maybe with enough, we could do this." Javert seemed taken aback by the smile from the blonde. "You came to help us, didn't you?"
"Perhaps. You still have to be worried about the national guard they are loyal to the king. Should the king push his power too far, then these officers would be better use in uniform than out of it protecting the Paris people. The secretary will arrest guardsmen if they have not followed the letters of laws; the king needs to ask permission to mobilise them after all." The Pont-Merci heir grinned at Javert.
"That is useful news, we had no idea of that."
"It is not published information certainly; many guardsmen keep uniforms at home in case orders arrive at odd hours."
"Although most guardsmen only have one address." Valjean added sheepishly, Javert looked to Valjean confusingly.
"You have a uniform?" Valjean nodded. "Even those who have been pardoned are not supposed to…" The Inspector sighed, shaking his head. "You lied on an official document, didn't you?"
"I have several times remember." Javert ground his teeth together.
"You really pick your times to tell me things; and the whole Madeline issue only counts as one."
"I doubt you think of is as such."
"We digress again," Javert waved off Valjean, turning back to Enojlas. "This will still be dangerous regardless of an open political agender. Kings tend to want to keep their powers, if not directly than in their own dynasties. It does not always work having one family in charge of mixed peoples in a single landmass if they do not learn over time. Nor listen to said peoples in their domain."
"I appreciate the warning Inspector, but we shall be fine." Javert growled, fists clenched.
"Youthful arrogance will not save you from the guillotine should this fail. We all need this to work if we are to win."
"You think they'd kill us?"
"I know they will. To the guardsmen any enemy of the king needs to be neutralised be them a cop or child; they will have their orders. They will kill their own people for the king, I need you to know and rightly fear this danger. If you don't feel fear, you will die; that is the world's way." Enojlas and Marius stared at Javert.
"We need a new plan then."
"Officially register as a party for the people with new democratic ideals and a new leadership structure. Make a riot not a rebellion; you can not appear armed even if you are. I can teach you ways…"
"Gypsy ways?" The Pont-Merci Baron snorted before glaring at Javert, who bared his teeth at the blatant insult. Valjean tried placating him with a gentle hand on the tense Inspector's shoulder.
"Indeed, there are some clan ways; and some convict ones if you prefer." Valjean narrowed his eyes menacingly at the Baron, daring him to speak further. Enojlas looked sadly at Javert as if never seeing the man behind the uniform, which most people had not, unless they were particularly lucky. Depending on the situation, more likely irritating.
"Perhaps out world is more complex than I had realised. We are all men with ideas, hopes and dreams; seemingly even Javert has a heart under the uniform of his station." Javert snorted.
"The world has slapped me in the face for my own ignorance before, perhaps learn the lesson before it is taught to you the hard way." Enojlas seemed to understand the wiseness to listen to the Inspector for once since he was being purposefully blunt with his honesty.
"All of this will still be dangerous, we understand that." Javert smirked somewhat blatantly ignoring the Baron.
"This may indeed be more dangerous than your violence/ I shall leave you to your planning; the less I know the better." Javert looked at Valjean. "Perhaps you should discuss that grant, I'll get the Baron back hopefully without having to gag him." Javert gave a wolfish, sinister teeth bared grin directed at the Baron. Marius sighed, completely understanding the Inspector's point; some people did not want to learn.
AN: Another chapter done people, just two more to write, edit and post. And then done; finally, the end is coming. At long last, am I right.