Chapter Text
There is a curious phenomenon about classic books, about how the credited authors didn’t write them, but rather found the text in an unusual place. Cervantes brought El Quixote from a ragpicker, les trois mousquetaires were found by Dumas in a similar fashion.
Esteemed readers, this story is not different.
Valjean found the book in a seemingly regular worn down box, mixed with several other trinkets that clearly had not be packed with care.
“This box came in a few months ago” The shopkeeper said “Some bloke got evicted from his apartment and the housekeeper sold their things to me to pay for the last month rent”
Noticing the strange look in Valjean’s face, he added
“I’m an honest citizen, so I waited for a bit to see if they came to get it, but they did not. Inside it’s the only book I have with the characteristics you are searching for, monsieur…”
Valjean was skeptic but didn’t miss his cue
“Fauchelevent”
The shopkeeper nodded
“Monsieur Fauchelevent, believe it or not, that notebook you are holding is actually a fairytale of great caliber, the first chapter comparable to the ones brought from other countries”
Valjean’s hands inspected the box. There were two razor blades, an old code penal, an astronomy almanac with crops seasons, and some beaten up notebooks.
“I fail to understand how any of this is what I asked for”
“Ah monsieur Fauchelevent, as most things, it is all a question of perspective.”
The shopkeeper turned around one of the notebooks
A simple cover, similar to a leathered black diary. A person such as you and me maybe wouldn’t have given it more than a glance. But there was something in it that made Valjean entertain the shopkeeper a bit more. The comment about perspectives and hence appearances, had hit close to home more than he would have liked
“Better than Grimm, you said”
“I’m not the most knowledgeable in these matters, but yes”
Valjean took a look around the shop. At the cobwebs in the corner, the legs of the furniture getting gnawed by mice.
He ended up paying for the whole box of belongings as an act of charity. Valjean was thinking about gifting Javert the razors, they seemed good enough quality, he just had to clean them again.
Valjean arrived to an empty home and sighted. It would stay that way until the evening, but still he couldn’t get used to the silence
Valjean left the box on the table and got the book out. It was dusty, the cover faint from use.
He opened it and on the first page, it read:
"The honest thief, a classical fairytale of impossible love and adventures, by Jacques Lenoir"
Valjean couldn’t help but thinking it was a bit pretentious to call your own book a classic but he guessed that both love and adventure were things Cosette’s child would appreciate hearing as a good night story for the days she would stay with him (or them if Javert didn’t go through with the warning of not wanting to interact)
The Pontmercy were going to take a trip to the coast, and they couldn’t bring their child because she had a bit of a seasonal cold. Nothing grave, fortunately.
They would bring her this same evening, and he had to be ready for the arrival.
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A few hours later, there was a knock at the door.
"Cosette, I..." Valjean stopped before continuing talking as behind the door was not Cosette but Javert
The inspector, or well, ex-inspector now, had a mildly sour look that indicated he had found the misunderstanding amusing.
"I am not that similar to you daughter, am I?" He said, as a way of greeting
"I definitely can not imagine you calling me papa" Valjean said, letting Javert in
"Bah, you and your..." he waved his hand and went straight to the hanger to get rid of his hat and the coat
"Are you waiting for her? I will go" Javert said, without stopping to make himself comfortable. He would deny it, but over the years following his...fall, Valjean's home had become his as well, even though he tended to disappear at times
"She's coming with little Fantine, Javert."
Now, that made him stop mid taking out his boots. The sock had a hole in it,Valjean noticed, and he made a mental note to fix it later
"Javert, had you forgotten about it?"
He casted his eyes down
"No" he lied "I was aware of it, obviously"
"Well then, I'm sure they will like to say hello when they arrive. So don't go hiding in your room or anything of the short"
Javert grumbled but said nothing. Valjean knew that deep down he appreciated them, even Marius
Eventually, they knocked at the door, and this time Valjean could hug the person behind. Cosette was holding a sleepy Fantine while Marius was carrying several bag with belongings and only could give a nod.
Valjean grabbed the bags without effort and carried them inside
"Fantine is very happy to spend time at grandpa's, aren't you? But the poor dear is extremely tired...Good evening Javert" She said, not being surprised in the slightest that he was there
"Good evening, madame Pontmercy"
Cosette turned to Valjean
"Is there a reason why he is grumpy today?"
"None that I'm aware. We were just preparing for dinner"
"I see"
Little Fantine sneezed in that moment and she woke up. She looked around here with big eyes and smiled when she realised where she was. She wanted to go down to the floor immediately.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she took off to the little routine she liked to do whenever she visited the house
Which consisted in checking behind the sofa, grabbing one big book with pictures and then try to read it until one of the adults took pity of her and tried to explain the engravings in it. That task often ended up in Javert's care
"She is already like home. Aren't you going to say goodbye to your father?"Marius asked, with the fake look of a kicked puppy, although that wasn't very difficult
"Bye bye papa" she said, not interrupting what she was doing
"They grow up so fast"
Valjean could see that Javert was about to say something improper to Marius, fortunately before he could, Cosette said
"We have bathed her already, and it's good you haven't eat yet because we have brought some soup. You can to take care of here so her cough doesn't get worse. Make sure she wears the hat to bed. The doctor said that's were most sickness comes from"
They talked a bit more, and then they bid adieu. The fiacre had been waiting for them.
Valjean closed the door and he left out a breath. Now he had just to explain it to Javert
"You know my friend, it will be just for two weeks. You won't have to..."
He stopped, as the sight had left him mute.
Javert was helping Fantine to understand the picture book, glasses on and in a soft tone. The image alone was enough to make his heart ache with a longing he couldn't identify
Valjean left the living room without making a sound, not wanting to disturb them. He grabbed the pot of soup and started heating in on the stove.
Yes. They will be alright