#yes this is the worse au where javert lives and Valjean does not

[oldbooksandnewmusic]

here's a little unfinished animation I originally started for valvert week, unfortunately, my computer literally ran out of storage for it so i can barely touch the file anymore without it crashing... hopefully you can all see the vision.

[mysunfreckle]

Oh, by all means, tho, write an au where everyone works in a library. Or maybe some of them work in a library, and the rest of them end up basically living there, and the ones who work there have to help them find everything and get books off the top shelf because Courfeyrac is too short for this nonsense, help him

(Thisturned out way sillier than I meant…)

The librarycloses at six. Javert’s first round is at seven, but he always starts with theoffices and outbuildings. He also walks rather slowly and makes a lot morenoise than he has to (or actually wants to) as a security guard. There’s a verygood reason for this, several actually. And yet, for all his efforts, two of thosereasons are making out against a bookcase when he finally reaches the firstreading room. Javert clears his throat pointedly.

Courfeyracand Combeferre yelp and break apart.

“What are you still doing here,” Javertasks wearily.

“Excuse me,”Combeferre says, slightly indignant. “I workhere.”

Javertglares. He’s well aware of that and that makes this so much worse. He’s used tothe place being disrespected by the general public, that employees would do thesame is highly disgruntling.

“He was…helpingme get a book off the top shelf?” Courfeyrac tries. He’s still out of breathand his curly hair is standing almost straight up.

“It’s afterhours,” Javert admonishes. “And you’re disrespecting the library.”

Now Combeferre’slooks genuinely insulted. There is never a book out of place around him. “Iwould never-” he starts, but Courfeyrac interrupts with an impish smile:

“We are in the romance section.”

Both youngmen bite their lips not to laugh in response to the look on Javert’s face. “Gohome,” he orders wearily and he walks on, shining his flashlight as far aheadof him as it will go. This time his tactics work, because by the time hereaches the language section, Feuilly is looking up from his book apologetically.

“Feuilly,”Javert says soberly. “Forgot the time again?”

“Yes, sir,”he says. “Sorry, sir.”

Javertsighs. “What is it tonight?” he asks.

“Arabic,modern standard,” Feuilly says, showing him the book.

Javertnods. Feuilly isn’t a librarian, he’s a bookbinder. Part of the team that looksafter the older volumes in the collection. He has a key though and Javert knowshe has no time to study during normal work hours. “Don’t make it too late,” hegrunts, continuing on his way.

“I won’t,”Feuilly assures him. When Javert turns the corner he lets out a breathy laugh.

“That was close,”Bahorel hums, crawling out from under the table where he hid just in time.

Javerthears the repressed laughter behind him, but he ignores it. He keeps walkinguntil he sees light shining behind another bookcase. A young, gentle voice ismurmuring words. Javert walks around the bookcase, lowering his flashlight.

Cosette,the daughter of the library director, sits up from where she was lying with herhead in her boyfriend’s lap. “Good evening, Javert,” she says cheerfully, whileMarius flushes pink and then pale for a second, fumbling with the book he hadbeen reading to her.

“Does yourfather know you’re here?” Javert asks gravely. “…with him.”

“Of course,”Cosette smiles sweetly.

“Very well,”Javert sighs. He glares slightly at Marius, but if Valjean is okay with this,Javert does not feel in a position to argue. He points his flashlight away fromthem an turns around, but before he can leave Marius speaks up:

“Um, misterJavert, I mean sir, perhaps…you shouldn’t go into the philosophy section?”

Javert turnsback to face him and gives him a dark look. Marius smiles nervously, butCosette hums in agreement and adds brightly: “I think that is very good advice.We…we can vouch for everything being safe and secure in the philosophy section.”

“And thepoetry section,” Marius adds hastily.

“And the poetry section,” Cosette nodswith conviction.

Javert letsout a deep sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose. This is beyond the line of hisduty as a security guard surely. “MissCosette,” he says. “Are you aware of exactly how many people are at this timestill in this library?” Cosette opens her mouth, but he raises his hand. “Don’t tell me,” he protests. He holds uphis arm and looks at his watch. “I will make my second full round of the premises in…two hours,” he saysdeliberately. “Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,”Cosette says, smiling brilliantly.

Javertnods, turns around and carefully chooses a route that does not only avoid the philosophyand literature sections, but that also does not retrace his steps. InsteadJavert walks the grounds outside the library checking the windows and sidedoors, not that anybody needs tobreak in. Clearly.