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“You talk too much. Your life is safe in my hands.”
Javert stared at the man standing across from him. This man, who he’s hunted down, arrested, chased for years. The man who occupied nearly every crevice in his mind.
“I don’t understand, Valjean.” was all he could mutter, looking up at the other from where he was sitting. How ironic was it, that he was sitting here, tied up and caught, while this convict walked freely in front of him. Why should he have the audacity to keep Javert safe?
Valjean paced a few times before sitting down on a crate in front of Javert, unspeaking. The criminal met Javert’s eyes, reflecting the candlelight around them with copper shines. An intense stare that the inspector was not unused to after all this time.
The silence was infuriating. With every second his opposite stayed quiet, he became more aware of the rope that bound his wrists behind him. It dug into his skin, scratching and irritating, and more importantly, giving the inspector no option for physical action. The man he’d been hunting was right here, and yet he was powerless to do anything about it.
“I’m not sure why you don’t just kill me now,” Javert spat. “I know you’ve wished for this every night of your condemned life, why not get it over with?”
His breathing was heavy, and his words echoed through the empty tavern he was being kept in. He stared at Valjean, who was sitting calmly. His relaxed demeanor was enough to heat Javert’s blood, anger filling him, but what made him boil was the look he caught in the convict’s eyes. The pity he looked down at him with.
“It’s only fair.” Javert’s voice quieted. He couldn’t understand his pity- his kindness, his actions- he couldn’t understand Valjean. “Why should you not wish for me to die? After so many years of chasing you down, of watching your sentence as 24601, I’ve tried to stop your… missions, your goals, whatever you may call them- countless times. Again, and again, and again. I’ve aimed to kill you. So why do you not feel any of that towards me?”
Valjean leaned back farther on his crate, looking at the inspector in full. The look of pity never left his dark brown eyes.
“Why do you think I should hate you for doing your job, Javert? You serve the law, it’s the law who seems to want me behind bars, and you’re just carrying out the orders given to you. I have nothing against you as a person.”
“Well, you’ve made a mistake in that.”
“You think so?”
Javert bit his tongue in his mouth. Truthfully he didn’t know if he actually thought that or not. Though his silence seemed to amuse Valjean. “Do you have things against me as a person?”
“Foolish question, you’re a criminal of the law.”
Valjean sat forward, putting his hands together. “Right… of the law. But you’re not the law. Just an enforcer. ‘Inspector Javert’ has had many things to say, but what about just ‘Javert’? Who are you outside of work?”
Javert quieted again. He glared at the other man. Why did he think he would have any right to ask him these things?
“I, Javert, don’t associate with thieves.”
He kept his gaze sharp. He wasn’t going to let Valjean try to get the upper hand in this situation. He watched as Valjean pulled out a dagger from his coat- a dagger he knew well. It was the same one the convict had used to fight against him before.
A grim, triumphant smile spread across the inspector’s face. “Finally. How right you should kill me with that.”
“I won’t be killing you, Javert.” he sighed.
Javert’s face fell back into the glare he’d been giving before. Valjean’s gaze switched between the dagger and meeting Javert’s eyes. “Like I said, you’re safe right now.”
“I don’t understand you.”
Valjean didn’t respond- only walked behind the tied-up inspector. Javert’s pulse quickened, feeling the cold steel of the dagger press against his wrists. But instead of the sharp pain he was expecting, he was met with relief. The ropes binding him fell to the ground, sliced by the familiar dagger.
Javert brought a hand in front of him, looking it over. A feeling of suspicion flooded through him- what reason would Valjean have to just let him walk away? After everything, the chance was right there- it would’ve been only too easy for him. Why would he let him go? Why keep him safe? Javert spoke the only thing he could think up.
“Do you expect me to owe you for this? You’ll be holding this over my head in the future?”
“Not at all.” Valjean stated simply. “I don’t expect anything of you. I’d just hate to see a man like you die in this way.”
Javert scowled. “You’ll always be nothing but a criminal. Men like you don’t change.”
The flickering candlelight gleamed through the tavern- every dim, every subtle movement of the flames showing itself on the wall. Valjean was looking off with an unreadable expression, seemingly mesmerized by the small lights. Javert, however, had his own gaze still fixed on the other man. “Once a thief, forever a thief.” The inspector muttered slyly.
Javert stood, stepping towards the other man. “What you want, you always steal. I don’t know what gratification you get from letting me leave, but it doesn’t right your wrongs. You’ll never be more than a criminal, Valjean.”
“You’re wrong.”
A strong force winded the inspector, causing him to stumble back. The musket that had been slung over the convict’s shoulder was now held in both hands, used to push Javert away with startling strength. “ You’ll always be wrong. ” Valjean’s words carried through the tavern, dealing another blow to Javert with the side of the musket, backing him up to a wall.
The echo of Valjean’s shout faded into silence, the only sound left being the shallow breath of Javert. Valjean took the chance to prop the weapon up further, keeping the inspector in place by the shoulders. “I don’t seek validation or approval from people like you. I don’t do anything to have others indebted to me. I don’t expect anything from you in return for this, Javert.”
His words cut through every vein in the inspector’s body, chilling him. Any response he wanted to make wouldn’t form- all he could do was scowl at the man pinning him to the wall. He knew he stood no chance to fight back, Javert wouldn’t be so stupid as to try. The lack of response seemed to allow the other to take a breath, releasing Javert from against the tavern wall, and pacing away.
Javert’s mind raced, finding himself once again studying the enigma of a man that stood in front of him. Every action this man took, every word he said- nothing made sense to the inspector. A convict such as him should have no right to be as forgiving as he was. He clenched his fists, nails digging into the palms of his hands. Everything about him felt wrong. Yet, Javert couldn’t bring himself to leave. To leave the tavern, to leave this barricade, to leave Valjean. And he loathed that.
“Why have you been chasing me all this time?” Valjean’s words cut through the air, surprising the inspector. Valjean hadn’t even turned to look at him, his focus remaining on the candles.
Javert’s scowl deepened. “You’re a criminal of the law. It’s my job.”
“It’s been thirty-six years since Toulon, and you’ve never found another job? Another man to arrest?”
It was only then that Valjean returned Javert’s gaze again. This time, with some sort of mix of amusement and disbelief on his face that sent Javert’s blood boiling. What did the other expect him to say?
“Of course I’ve had other duties to fulfill, but I haven’t yet brought you to court for fraud and resistance!” The lawman crossed his arms, straightening his posture. “Don’t flatter yourself thinking I’ve solely hunted for you specifically.”
Valjean loosely brought his arms up next to him, as if saying ‘I surrender’. “I didn’t mean to anger you, inspector, it was just simply a question.”
Javert bit his tongue. This man was taunting him, and they both knew it. And yet, no matter how many encounters they would have, Javert never knew how to deal with it. How did this runaway thief always act so calm with him?
“Nonetheless, I admire your dedication.”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, dedication to the law. And myself. I’m surprised you never handed the job off to some other constable after all this time. Like I said, it’s admirable.”
Javert pushed himself up from the chair he’d been sitting on, stepping towards his enemy. “I should arrest you, right now.”
Valjean looked up at him. “Why don’t you?”
Javert’s fist clenched at the tease. He snapped his attention away, to the floor beside him, and walked a few paces away. “You’re letting me leave here with my life. It’d be unrighteous to arrest you when you’ve given me that forgiveness.”
When the other didn’t respond, Javert turned to look back over his shoulder. Valjean sat there with nothing but this… irritating smile on his face. Instantly, Javert scoffed and looked away again. Everything about Jean Valjean frustrated him. He was kind and empathetic, always looking out for the people who needed it, and the strength to stand up to his foes. How dare this convict be given such… heroic qualities? And who did he think he was to give Javert all these conflicting emotions?
The man in question spoke suddenly, breaking Javert from his thoughts. “You should leave before any of the rebellion finds you still alive.”
Javert tapped a finger on his side in annoyance, unable to form any verbal response. He could only collect himself and head to the exit, feeling Valjean’s watch burning into the back of his skull.
The inspector stopped himself just before the doorframe. Hesitantly, he looked back to the other. This man, the cause of everything, all his troubles- standing there in the candlelit tavern, watching him go with a stern expression.
Javert opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. He couldn’t say anything while making eye contact with his enemy- so he broke it, turning to the outside.
“I would have liked to know you in another life.” was all he said. Javert inhaled, taking a breath of the night air. He got no response from Jean Valjean, and he didn’t need one. He didn’t even look back as he left the barricade.