Thanks, Javert || Adopted by the Barricade || A Les Mis Fanfic

Chapter 1: In Which Elaine Runs Away

Growing up in Paris with your dad as the local inspector might seem awful. It also might seem like a breeze. And I mean yes, it was pretty easy. We always had money and a roof over our heads. However, my father was quite a stickler for the law and was always busy. I was supposed to be asleep in my room right now, but here I was, peering through the railings in the stairs as my father talked with another policeman. Let me rewind and explain how we got here.

Over the past few....well, I don't know, a while, my father had become more distant and preoccupied with his job. I had seen him in the town square today, searching for someone, or something. He had seemed troubled lately and I was worried that we were in danger. So, at dinner tonight, I had asked my father what was wrong. It probably wasn't a smart question in retrospect. It was one of the first nights in a while my father was home for dinner. Don't get me wrong; I love my father dearly, or at least I thought I did. He had sighed and responded,

"It's none of your business."

So, being the naturally curious child I am, when I heard a knock on the door late at night, I snuck to the edge of the stairs to listen in.

"Inspector Cole," I heard my father say.

"Inspector Javert," the other man greeted. They sat down at the table. I recognized the other voice and I was pretty sure Inspector Cole was one of my father's good friends. They got right into business. "So?" Cole asked.

"I was at General Lamarque's funeral. The schoolboys protested there and then retreated into town to build their barricade. I did as I told you yesterday and stayed noncommittal in an attempt to gain information. I will tell you one thing, though. Those boys have heart. They won't give up easily," my father's deep voice rang out. I had heard talks of revolution, but my father had confirmed it was true. I didn't entirely agree with what my father stood for, but what choice did I have?

"Was he there? Valjean?" Cole asked. I had heard that name before when I had eavesdropped on Cole and my father in the past. To my knowledge, Valjean was a dangerous convict who had somehow escaped my father for years. This made it sound like my father had found him in town again, but he had slipped away.

"No."

"Come on, Javert. You've been searching for years. You need to let it go," Cole reasoned.

"No. I can't. Just when I thought I could live my life without the thought of Valjean looming over my head, I saw him again." They were silent for a few minutes, or moments, I wasn't sure. Eventually, Cole stood up and my father led him out. They lowered their tone as they said goodbye and I tried to lean closer to hear. Just as Cole shut the door and left, the worst thing happened. The railing snapped and I almost fell over the edge. "Hey!" my father barked. He grabbed his sword in the candlelight and pointed it at me. "Who's there?" I raised my hands in surrender.

"It's me," I whispered, wondering what had gotten into his father. He relaxed and leaned his sword against the wall.

"Come here, Elaine," he said, sharply. I tipped toed down the stairs, nervously. "I can't deal with you meddling in things you don't understand." He slapped me across the face and I looked at my father with hurt eyes. He cracked his knuckles and glared down at me. "I have enough going on." He fiddled with his baton, loosening it from his belt. I wasn't sure what he was going to do, but I didn't want to be around to find out. I ran out the door and down the street. I could hear my father following, the door slamming behind him. "Hey! You get back here, you little-" he was cut off when he was met at a crossroads. I was hiding along the side of a building in the shadows, waiting for him to walk past. Eventually, I heard him leave and I let out a breath.

Flipping my hood up, I crept out and wandered the streets. I had nowhere to go. Eventually, I came across a barricade, similar to what my father had described to Cole.

"Enjolras! Marius! Visitor at the barricade!"

AN:

I'm back. It's Les Mis time.

--ImTurtled