(no subject)

[road_to_calvary]

 
It has been a more prolonged stay than any anticipated, but Valjean, for one, has no complaints. He has been allowed to recover in peace, he has spent his days with Cosette, he has exchanged some words with Marius that hopefully means their past is now behind them. Cosette has spoken with her mother, Marius with his friends, and he with Javert. Things are ready to begin anew.

And so, this small family descends the stairs together. They look content, Cosette between her father and her husband, lighting the room with her angelic smile. Valjean steps back at the door to allow Marius to hold it open for her, and then takes the handle to insist he goes ahead. He casts one look around the bar before following them out to Paris. The door shuts with a quiet click.


(Across the room, Javert notices them leave. He drags his eyes from Valjean long enough to narrow them at Marius, and then glance around to see if the revolutionaries are watching him leave, or try to give him anything. Seeing none, he rises from his table. He settles his bill at the bar, to give the family time to vacate Valjean's apartment on the other side. That done, he opens the door, his shadow falling forward onto the empty bedroom of the Rue de l'Homme Arme. Without a look back, he is gone.)