(no subject)
Title: Death Becomes Us
Author: strokemybow
Fandom: Les Miserables
Pairing: Valjean/Javert
Rating: G
Notes: AWW TEH SONGFICS. And I haven't written fic in a WHILE. Plz be gentle.
/Kiss today goodbye/
Valjean submitted to the warmth of the brilliant white light, the calling of his name, the hand that touched his face. He wondered if this was death, or a mere dream. The last thing he remembered was leaving a letter detailing his life in Cosette's hands and falling asleep. Just before he closed his eyes, his ears perked as he heard a soft whisper of two voices; one male, one female.
/The sweetness and the sorrow
Wish me luck the same to you/
As he walked barefoot on a golden path towards a towering gate, the voices grew stronger. Something urged him to push the gates in and there he entered Heaven. It wasn't like he had imagined. He had thought of Heaven as a place of white pillows, shining sun, and the presence of God. What he saw was entirely different.
What he saw was Paris.
/And I won't forget what I did for love
What I did for love/
His bare feet were cold against the cobblestones. His trousers were damp around the hems. Valjean was taken aback by the vision of an empty Paris. No one inhabited the place. No revolutionaries; no beggars. No street artisans. Completely bare.
Suddenly the voices came back to him. The male voice was soft and sad; the female's was strong and bright. The convict wandered the streets in curiosity, trying to find the origins of the voices. He couldn't recognise, exactly, who they were.
Until he saw a church.
/Look my eyes are dry
The gift was ours to borrow/
Valjean warily stepped into the congregational hall to be met with the sight of Fantine in one of the pews. Intrigued, he rushed to her and stared down at the woman in awe. He couldn't seem to muster the strength to say her name, so she said it first.
"Welcome to Heaven, Monsieur Valjean."
"This is Heaven?"
She nodded. "Oui. You are here because of your achievements and great heart that you had in your life. You cared for my daughter with the love of a father, you had a heart of absolute gold, and you righted your wrongs. You deserve to be here."
/Wish me luck the same to you
But I won't forget what I did for love
What I did for love/
"Fantine.."
Fantine cut him off. "You have many questions, and I have limited answers." For the first time, she looked up and smiled at him. "You know.. I prayed for you. I prayed for your soul, for your safety. And.. and I prayed that, one day, we would be together."
Valjean's jaw worked silently. He couldn't find an answer to her statement, and let her continue.
"I knew it could never happen. Me, a lower class woman, and you, a mayor. I promised myself that I wouldn't give in to my affections. I couldn't possibly have that hope." Fantine's smile fades. "Could you have loved me, Valjean? Could you?"
/Gone
Love is never gone/
Silence passed in agonizing minutes.
"No."
Fantine turned her head and bowed it. Immediately Valjean felt regret and pain. "Fantine, I loved you as a person, but I don't know if I could have ever loved anyone as someone special to my heart."
"I doubt that," Fantine whispered. "Go, Valjean. Go and wander this Heaven. Maybe you'll learn something."
And she was gone.
/As we travel on
Love's what we'll remember/
It seemed to be hours as Jean Valjean wandered the streets of Paris. Everywhere he went he was met with silence, with loneliness. His shoulders fell as he walked up a path to a bridge overlooking the River Seine. His eyes were cast down and he didn't expect to hear a very, very familiar, deep voice addressing him.
"You made it, I see."
Instantly his head snapped up and eyes locked on the seated figure of Javert. Javert was decked in his signature great coat, one leg crossed casually over the other. From what he could see under the open coat, Javert was wearing exactly what he had been dressed in when he saw him at the barricade. Long grey locks were down from the usual tight ponytail, almost shadowing the man's face. Valjean stood tall.
"Yes, I did."
"I'll bet you're surprised to see me, as well."
Valjean blinked. "A little bit. Every man has a right to go to Heaven, despite what he does on Earth. If he is forgiven by God, then the man must be good in his heart."
"Do you know why I committed suicide?"
"No."
Javert casually flipped his hair back with a flick of his head. "I did it because I had to. I had such a deep feeling - disappointment of myself - and I couldn't live with it." He rose and tilted his chin up and stood at attention, like he would in front of authority. "You realise how wrong but so right I was, don't you? I pursued you through my lifetime. I had to capture you and put you to justice. It was what was right in my mind, in the law. How could I allow a convict to run free? You stole a loaf of bread, and with it you stole your freedom and your peace of mind. I was not going to cease my chase. I did, obviously, when I was touched by God."
He paused, studying Valjean's emotionless face. "Can you imagine, Valjean, a coldhearted, stone-faced man such as myself falling in love?"
/Kiss today goodbye
And point me toward tomorrow/
Valjean shook his head, his eyes still fixed on Javert's. It was an honest answer. A dry laugh left Javert's lips.
"I thought not. Contrary to popular belief, I was capable of it." He tilted his head a bit to the side. "You were my obsession. I was taken by your perserverence and your courage. I was taken by your humility. I was determined to bring your world to a crashing halt. I spent many a sleepless night thinking about it. About you. I prayed to God that I would find you." Javert's stance became more relaxed as his shoulders fell slightly.
"And you did find me." Valjean's voice and manner was soft. "You did, and you tried. I forgive you for it; it was just your duty."
"It was my duty, yes. It was my duty, my honor, and my life." Javert bit the inside of his cheek, turning his words over in his head.
"It was my love."
/It's as if we always knew/
"I beg your pardon?"
"You were my life, Valjean." Javert sidestepped the other man and walked to the bridge's railing. He gripped the smooth stone and looked down into the dark waters. "I grew to love you. I hated it. I didn't want to happen. But it did, and I don't regret a single moment in which I thought of seeing you. I had an overwhelming fear of death.. but when you let me go? It was inevitable. You were free from my grasp. I was free from the chains I wrapped myself in because I was ashamed that I loved you."
A great gap of silence. Valjean finally moved towards the railing and stood beside Javert to gaze down at the wate below. Javert's hands were gripping the railing with great strength; the man was trembling slightly.
What did he feel about that? What could he feel about it?
Was he in love, too?
/Won't forget
Can't regret
What I did for love/
Finally a warm hand covered a cold one in a firm touch. Valjean didn't move. Javert didn't speak. It was almost an understanding between them. But something needed to be said. So Valjean spoke.
"I forgave you for your actions. I forgave you for everything."
"Will you forgive me now?"
"No."
A lock of silver hair fell over the side of Javert's face, veiling his expression. Valjean reached over and pushed the hair back and buried his fingers in the silky locks.
"I won't forgive you for something we share together."
/What I did for love
What I did for love
Love is never gone
As we travel on/
Javert's head lifted up. Grey eyes met with dark blue. For the first time, the two men felt a mutual desire. A desire to love, a want for each other. Javert was the first to respond to this.
"You return the feelings?"
Valjean's lips curled into a smile. "I do."
"Then waste no time. Kiss me."
/Love's what we'll remember
Kiss today goodbye
And point me toward tomorrow
We did what we had to do/
The kiss was soft, gentle. A warm embrace was shared and the great coat shrugged off to be abandoned on the ground. Their touches were fleeting. Their whispers were feverent. This was only today. They had enternity to live together, now. As the sun rose in Heaven, Valjean and Javert sat on the bench, close in each other's arms. Javert was fast asleep, and Valjean looked over him and the sunset with a new light.
/Won't forget
Can't regret
What we did for love
What I did for love
What I did for love/
Love was grand.
Author: strokemybow
Fandom: Les Miserables
Pairing: Valjean/Javert
Rating: G
Notes: AWW TEH SONGFICS. And I haven't written fic in a WHILE. Plz be gentle.
/Kiss today goodbye/
Valjean submitted to the warmth of the brilliant white light, the calling of his name, the hand that touched his face. He wondered if this was death, or a mere dream. The last thing he remembered was leaving a letter detailing his life in Cosette's hands and falling asleep. Just before he closed his eyes, his ears perked as he heard a soft whisper of two voices; one male, one female.
/The sweetness and the sorrow
Wish me luck the same to you/
As he walked barefoot on a golden path towards a towering gate, the voices grew stronger. Something urged him to push the gates in and there he entered Heaven. It wasn't like he had imagined. He had thought of Heaven as a place of white pillows, shining sun, and the presence of God. What he saw was entirely different.
What he saw was Paris.
/And I won't forget what I did for love
What I did for love/
His bare feet were cold against the cobblestones. His trousers were damp around the hems. Valjean was taken aback by the vision of an empty Paris. No one inhabited the place. No revolutionaries; no beggars. No street artisans. Completely bare.
Suddenly the voices came back to him. The male voice was soft and sad; the female's was strong and bright. The convict wandered the streets in curiosity, trying to find the origins of the voices. He couldn't recognise, exactly, who they were.
Until he saw a church.
/Look my eyes are dry
The gift was ours to borrow/
Valjean warily stepped into the congregational hall to be met with the sight of Fantine in one of the pews. Intrigued, he rushed to her and stared down at the woman in awe. He couldn't seem to muster the strength to say her name, so she said it first.
"Welcome to Heaven, Monsieur Valjean."
"This is Heaven?"
She nodded. "Oui. You are here because of your achievements and great heart that you had in your life. You cared for my daughter with the love of a father, you had a heart of absolute gold, and you righted your wrongs. You deserve to be here."
/Wish me luck the same to you
But I won't forget what I did for love
What I did for love/
"Fantine.."
Fantine cut him off. "You have many questions, and I have limited answers." For the first time, she looked up and smiled at him. "You know.. I prayed for you. I prayed for your soul, for your safety. And.. and I prayed that, one day, we would be together."
Valjean's jaw worked silently. He couldn't find an answer to her statement, and let her continue.
"I knew it could never happen. Me, a lower class woman, and you, a mayor. I promised myself that I wouldn't give in to my affections. I couldn't possibly have that hope." Fantine's smile fades. "Could you have loved me, Valjean? Could you?"
/Gone
Love is never gone/
Silence passed in agonizing minutes.
"No."
Fantine turned her head and bowed it. Immediately Valjean felt regret and pain. "Fantine, I loved you as a person, but I don't know if I could have ever loved anyone as someone special to my heart."
"I doubt that," Fantine whispered. "Go, Valjean. Go and wander this Heaven. Maybe you'll learn something."
And she was gone.
/As we travel on
Love's what we'll remember/
It seemed to be hours as Jean Valjean wandered the streets of Paris. Everywhere he went he was met with silence, with loneliness. His shoulders fell as he walked up a path to a bridge overlooking the River Seine. His eyes were cast down and he didn't expect to hear a very, very familiar, deep voice addressing him.
"You made it, I see."
Instantly his head snapped up and eyes locked on the seated figure of Javert. Javert was decked in his signature great coat, one leg crossed casually over the other. From what he could see under the open coat, Javert was wearing exactly what he had been dressed in when he saw him at the barricade. Long grey locks were down from the usual tight ponytail, almost shadowing the man's face. Valjean stood tall.
"Yes, I did."
"I'll bet you're surprised to see me, as well."
Valjean blinked. "A little bit. Every man has a right to go to Heaven, despite what he does on Earth. If he is forgiven by God, then the man must be good in his heart."
"Do you know why I committed suicide?"
"No."
Javert casually flipped his hair back with a flick of his head. "I did it because I had to. I had such a deep feeling - disappointment of myself - and I couldn't live with it." He rose and tilted his chin up and stood at attention, like he would in front of authority. "You realise how wrong but so right I was, don't you? I pursued you through my lifetime. I had to capture you and put you to justice. It was what was right in my mind, in the law. How could I allow a convict to run free? You stole a loaf of bread, and with it you stole your freedom and your peace of mind. I was not going to cease my chase. I did, obviously, when I was touched by God."
He paused, studying Valjean's emotionless face. "Can you imagine, Valjean, a coldhearted, stone-faced man such as myself falling in love?"
/Kiss today goodbye
And point me toward tomorrow/
Valjean shook his head, his eyes still fixed on Javert's. It was an honest answer. A dry laugh left Javert's lips.
"I thought not. Contrary to popular belief, I was capable of it." He tilted his head a bit to the side. "You were my obsession. I was taken by your perserverence and your courage. I was taken by your humility. I was determined to bring your world to a crashing halt. I spent many a sleepless night thinking about it. About you. I prayed to God that I would find you." Javert's stance became more relaxed as his shoulders fell slightly.
"And you did find me." Valjean's voice and manner was soft. "You did, and you tried. I forgive you for it; it was just your duty."
"It was my duty, yes. It was my duty, my honor, and my life." Javert bit the inside of his cheek, turning his words over in his head.
"It was my love."
/It's as if we always knew/
"I beg your pardon?"
"You were my life, Valjean." Javert sidestepped the other man and walked to the bridge's railing. He gripped the smooth stone and looked down into the dark waters. "I grew to love you. I hated it. I didn't want to happen. But it did, and I don't regret a single moment in which I thought of seeing you. I had an overwhelming fear of death.. but when you let me go? It was inevitable. You were free from my grasp. I was free from the chains I wrapped myself in because I was ashamed that I loved you."
A great gap of silence. Valjean finally moved towards the railing and stood beside Javert to gaze down at the wate below. Javert's hands were gripping the railing with great strength; the man was trembling slightly.
What did he feel about that? What could he feel about it?
Was he in love, too?
/Won't forget
Can't regret
What I did for love/
Finally a warm hand covered a cold one in a firm touch. Valjean didn't move. Javert didn't speak. It was almost an understanding between them. But something needed to be said. So Valjean spoke.
"I forgave you for your actions. I forgave you for everything."
"Will you forgive me now?"
"No."
A lock of silver hair fell over the side of Javert's face, veiling his expression. Valjean reached over and pushed the hair back and buried his fingers in the silky locks.
"I won't forgive you for something we share together."
/What I did for love
What I did for love
Love is never gone
As we travel on/
Javert's head lifted up. Grey eyes met with dark blue. For the first time, the two men felt a mutual desire. A desire to love, a want for each other. Javert was the first to respond to this.
"You return the feelings?"
Valjean's lips curled into a smile. "I do."
"Then waste no time. Kiss me."
/Love's what we'll remember
Kiss today goodbye
And point me toward tomorrow
We did what we had to do/
The kiss was soft, gentle. A warm embrace was shared and the great coat shrugged off to be abandoned on the ground. Their touches were fleeting. Their whispers were feverent. This was only today. They had enternity to live together, now. As the sun rose in Heaven, Valjean and Javert sat on the bench, close in each other's arms. Javert was fast asleep, and Valjean looked over him and the sunset with a new light.
/Won't forget
Can't regret
What we did for love
What I did for love
What I did for love/
Love was grand.