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

Chapter 8: In Which Elaine Makes a Friend

Suddenly, everything clicked into place. No wonder my father had made a face. He had spoken of Jean Valjean for years. I had to warn Enjolras that he was dealing with a criminal. My father had spent years searching for this man. To my knowledge, he was highly dangerous.

"Enjolras?"

"Yeah?" I paused, looking down towards the street. The boys had left and only Valjean remained outside. He was crying and praying softly. There was no way that man was a hardened criminal. That was my father's opinion. If he did anything, there must have been a reason. For years, my father had lied and manipulated me. I was done letting him control my life. Instead, I changed tact.

"Thanks for everything," I said, leaning my head on his shoulder. He put an arm around me.

"Of course, Elaine."

We stayed like that for a few minutes until Enjolras got up.

"I'm gonna go make sure Grant hasn't burned down the place. Good night, Elaine."

"Night," I replied.

I stayed on the roof for a few more minutes until I headed down. Valjean was still sitting outside muttering prayers under his breath.

"If I die, let me die. Let him live, bring him home," Valjean cries. I sit down on the sidewalk next to him. "Bring him home. Bring him home." I see how he looks at the sleeping Marius and know he's talking about Enjolras's right hand man.

"You knew my father," I state plainly after a few moments. He looks at me the way a father would look at his daughter or an older brother would look at his sister; with care and concern. I realize it's the same way Enjolras looks at me.

"Javert?"

"Yes." Valjean licks his lips and nods, nervously. "I didn't like him very much, either." Valjean chuckles. I want him to say something. I just want him to say something. Explain why he killed him. Explain why for years, he was all my father talked about. "Still, he was my father. It's sad to know I have no relatives left." This gets a bit of a reaction.

"Look, Elaine, is it?" I nod and he continues. "I'm going to be honest with you. Just please don't tell Enjolras or the other boys. I need them to trust me in the coming fight in order for me to save Marius." I looked at him strangely.

"How do you know Marius?"

"I'll get there. Earlier today, I didn't kill your father." I don't know how to respond. "I shot into the skies and released him."

"Why?" is all I can say.

"Years ago, I stole a loaf of bread to save my sister's son. Javert, well, he was always about the law. Everything was black and white for him. In his eyes, I had stolen and I needed to be punished. I went to jail for years before I was finally let go. He has pursued me ever since."

"But you were desperate. And even so, you served your time," I said. Valjean shrugs.

"Your father had a different opinion."

"So how'd you end up here?" I ask. He goes on to explain how he escaped and adopted his daughter, Cosette. He explained how she fell in love with Marius before they had to run from Javert.

"I just want him to survive, for her."

A few minutes later, we left the street. Valjean had gone one way to bed and I headed upstairs towards my bed. I ran into Enjolras. Something inside instinctively told me to hug him.

"Hey, you okay kiddo?" he asked, concerned as he hugs me back. "Something wrong?" I debated on telling him about Javert. I still don't know what to think. He's alive, but that means he can still hurt me. However, Enjolras is here. And he promised it would be okay. So, I shook my head.

"I'm going to miss you, Enjy."

"I'm right here," he says, puzzled.

"Thanks for everything."

"Of course, Laney. Are you sure everything's okay?" I nod. I just had this feeling that something was going to happen. I couldn't lose Enjolras.

"Yeah. Good night, Enjy."

"Good night, Elaine."

Little did I know, that would be the last time we would ever say those words to each other.

AN:

Almost to the final battle! Only a few chapters left. We're probably around 2/3 of the way through the story.

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ImTurtled