Save me
Eponine sat near the bank of the Seine, tilting her head back and listening to the flowing water. With her eyes shut and a small smile across her lips, anyone walking by would have thought she was perfectly content with her life. And in a way, she was. After years and years of emotional agony, she had finally managed to get over her best friend, Marius Pontmercy. She opened her eyes, smiling at the stars. A bridge was to her left, and pushing off the ground, she walked towards it, humming to herself. She was nearly at the bridge when she spotted a figure. Freezing, she watched the person walk slowly and heavily, stopped at the rail and staring down into the river. Curious, Eponine dared to step closer, carefully staying hidden in the shadows. She was shocked to discover that the man she was watching was Inspector Javert, the most hated inspector around. He was still staring, his face hardly lit by the street lamp. Edging closer still, she could see that his face was etched with sorrow, his eyes cold and hurt. A single tear slipped out, and Eponine felt empathy for this poor man. How many times had she herself walked alone, crying in the night? Still obviously unaware of her presence, Javert stepped closer to the rail, and then stepped up onto it, shaking. Eponine panicked, and did the last thing she ever thought she'd do.
"Inspector?" Javert looked around wildly, stepping down quickly and setting his face into the stony expression Eponine had seen so many times.
"What is it, girl? What business have you being out at this hour?"
"Just goin' for a walk. And yourself?"
"That's none of your concern." Eponine bit the inside of her cheek and turned away. What was I thinking, even bothering with him? But then she remembered that single tear…
"Are you all right, Inspector?"
"What do you mean?"
"You look… lost. I don't mean anything by it, it's just I know what it feel like and I…" she trailed off, carefully watching his face for a reaction. While his expression remained the same, his eyes grew softer, kinder. Javert was rather caught off guard by someone genuinely seeming to care about him.
"Yes, mademoiselle. Thank you for your concern, but I am fine." Eponine smiled warmly at him. She had only heard him use such a kind tone when addressing people of authority; people he respected.
"I'm Eponine." She extended her hand. Javert stared at it like it might attack him, and then gingerly took it in his own.
"Inspector Javert."
"I know who you are," she laughed, dropping his hand and stepping closer. She stepped up on the rail, leaning over and staring out at the city. Javert started, taking a step forward as if to catch her. She turned and smiled at him.
"Beautiful, huh?"
Javert was remained awkwardly silent, not sure what to make of this girl and her friendliness towards him.
"Indeed. I come here almost every evening."
"Time to think or something?"
"Yes, I suppose." He stared out at the river, aware of Eponine watching him.
"Inspector?"
"Yes, mademoiselle?"
Eponine laughed. "Oh, stop with that. I'm not no Mademoiselle and I never will be. You can just call me Eponine." She stared, waiting. Javert remained silent, so she pressed on. "Why do you come here alone? Don't you have any friends?"
"I haven't the time for them. Nor the patience."
"What do you mean?"
"In my experience, mada… Eponine." He paused. Her name felt foreign coming from his lips. "Friends are nothing but people who expect everything from you and give nothing. They can hurt you if they choose, and they do. I do not subject myself to such things in order to keep my sanity." Eponine was smiling at him, staring into his eyes. Javert found it unsettling, for normally he was met with frowns and eyes full of terror. "What?"
"I've never heard you say so much before. You have a nice voice."
Javert was thankful for the cover of the night, because for the first time in a long time, he felt his cheeks become flushed.
"Why are you here?"
Eponine's face fell, and Javert regretted his words, regretted making her smile disappear.
"Have you ever been in love, Inspector?" Javert shook his head, watching as her eyes filled with tears.
"It's hard. I used to come here every night for so many years, just to cry and to think about him." She shook her head, wiping away the tears as they fell. They left streaks of white down her face. "I guess its habit now. The crying too." She laughed bitterly, and Javert surprised her and himself by reaching out and gently placing his hand on her shoulder. She stared at it, then at him, her eyes soft and searching. Javert gave her a tiny smile, and Eponine liked the way his eyes smiled too. They both noticed that their gaze held for a bit too long, and Javert hastily removed his hand, both of them turning crimson and staring back at the river.
A comfortable silence had settled over the two, and before long the sky began to grow lighter. Eponine turned, staring at Javert. His features were so soft, and the surly snarl that normally could be seen now seemed as if it could never cross such a face. As for Javert, he was surprised by the things he was noticing about Eponine. Her dirt-streaked face seemed to hold some innocent appeal to him, and her eyes drew him in so that he found it difficult to look away.
"I've got to get going. My father will… worry." Tears came to her eyes at the thought of having to return home again. There was nothing there for her. She moved to step down from the rail, and Javert stepped forward, offering his hand for support. Surprised, Eponine softly rested her hand on his. "Thank you, Inspector."
"Javert."
"Thank you, Javert." They stared, bewildered and caught up in this new relationship. Reluctantly removing her hand, Eponine walked away, forcing herself not to look back.
"Good night," Javert called. "…Eponine." Watching the strange girl depart, Javert mentally shook himself. Turning in the opposite direction, he walked towards the headquarters. A long day stood ahead of him.