Requested by Outsiders Anon: "HmMmMmm what about uhhh the well known Jean Valjean from Les Miserables of whom I am a very big fan of his character arc of "stealing bread then becoming a businessman". Get this, what if Jean stole Y/N's bread?! 🥺🥺 - les mis anon 😩. (If I accidentally said something offensive or I'm supporting a dodgy character I'm going to cry I swear 👀💔)
{please note that I will still be calling your outsiders anon cause thats how my brain works, but thank you very much for going to look at my other interests thats honsetly just so <3333333 you really didn't have to}
{okay so, the only slightly dodgy thing about this is that in the Brick Jvj is like 40 be the time we meet him, cause he spends twenty years in jail and was jailed at 20, but I firmly believe in Young Hugh Jackman in Oklahoma as young jvj, so we're going with that}
prejail!Jean ValJean x reader (sort of? its not like overly out there)
trigger warnings: some swearing, mentions of violence, me silently schreeching acab, angst
premise: you, the village baker, have done your best to keep the prices of your goods low, so low in fact, that you are even finding it hard to put food on the table, and yet someone still finds himself so desperate as to steal from your display case. Much to your suprise how ever, it just so happens to be the one person you'd never expected
{is this high concept? am I reaching here? I really don't even know anymore, this week feels like a bad acid trip}
{Also, anon if you want more ideas/ideas for ideas, if your going to keep with this, which i would again like to say ITS OKAY TO STICK TO THE OUTSIDERS, check the les mis tags on tumblr, or les amis}
You'd been asleep, as most of the people of the village would have, at such a late time, and with such a storm threatening to spill over the mountains.
But the crashing of glass, had been so loud, you bolted straight out of bed.
It took you a long moment to fumble for a match to light a candle, but as soon as it was lit you hurried from your room, and down the stairs, already hearing the shouts of neighbors.
Downstairs, you found the front room of the bakery a mess of shattered glass, torn paper, and varying pieces of bread or pastries.
"(y/n)? (y/n) dear are you alright?" Someone called from outside.
You looked around at the mess frantically shouting, "A thief! Toulouse send for the police!"
It didn't take long for the officers to swarm the bakery, asking you questions before filing out, promising to find who had done it, and leaving you to clean the mess you'd been left with.
~~
Daylight was shining, and people were about on the streets by the time you'd finished sweeping up shards of glass and trying to figure out how much you'd lost.
There were still a few loaves in the back, plus the dough you'd left out to proof, but it couldn't possibly be enough for the demanding hands that always appeared on Sundays, not to mention enough to keep for yourself.
"Oh lord, how am I meant to get back from this?" You mumbled staring up at the ceiling.
A knock at the side door pulled you out of your thoughts, and you hurried to open it, finding the police chief standing there, "How may I help you monsieur?"
"We have caught the thief. He's currently being held whilst the council decides his fate." The man reported, "A man by the name of Jean Valjean."
Your eyes widened, no, that couldn't be, he was your best friend- hell you were only a step and half away from courting for gods sake! He wouldn't do that. He couldn't. Just a few days ago you'd gone for a walk together around the village- he'd brought you flowers-
"I need to see him." You decided quickly.
"Are you sure about that? He did in fact steal from you-"
You shook your head, cutting him off, "I wish to see him."
~~
Reluctantly, the man had taken you along to the courthouse, and down through a maze of rooms until you got to where Jean was being held.
He was sat up against a wall, hunched over, looking defeated, and as soon as you stepped through the door, his head whipped up, "(y/n)!"
You took in a shaky breath, "Jean..."
He stood up quickly, "(y/n) you've got to understand- I had- Jeanne's children- my niece- the little one- god (y/n) they were all going to starve!"
"You didn't have to steal it!" You yelled, "There could've been other ways that didn't involve jailing!"
"Like how? Lord knows neither she nor I had the money! There was no other choice!"
"You could had asked! You know I would have given you all you needed and more Jean! I wouldn't have charged you! You knew this!" You snapped.
Valjean's shoulders drooped as he realized the gravity of your words, "(y/n)- I-"
You shook your head, "I'd've done everything I could to help. You could've said something. I thought- I thought we were close enough for that."
He remained quiet, staring down at the dirty floor.
"Apparently not. I- Your going to go to jail, and its- it might not end up well- it could be just the same as a death sentence. Good luck," You sighed, blinking back tears, as you turned to the door, "Oh and, if you would've asked me- for courtship I mean- I would've said yes."
"(y/n)-"
But you were walking through the door, away from him.
"If you get out okay-" You called back brokenly, "Try to find me. I might be long gone, but I'd like it if you tried."
