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COMBEFERRE

[onewordmore]

PARIS, FRANCE | Thursday night, St. Stephen's Crown was stolen from the National Museum of Monarchal Histories. On loan from the Czech Republic national vault for a limited time in commemoration of the fall of the Habsburg Empire, the diamond-and-ruby-encrusted crown was revealed to be missing upon the opening night of the exhibit.

An AMIS officer who has agreed to speak upon the condition of anonymity has intimated that one or more alleged members of the Blondist burglary group quickly becoming known as the "ABC" may have been the primary culprit of this particular heist. In addition, he has confirmed that the thief's or thieves' target seems to have extended no further than the crown. Though a full investigation is still being opened at the museum, such modus operandi appears to resemble that of a particular Blondist ABC member known only by the call sign "Vir."

Commissioner Jean Valjean has yet to make a statement on the entire affair, but all Blonds are advised to cooperate in any and all investigations hereforth.

If anyone has any information regarding the St. Stephens Crown case, the ABC, or ABC member Vir, please contact the anonymous hotline at 01 7*** ****.

International visitors can access more information on the AMIS, the ABC, and the significance of one's status as Blond or Brunet at www.*******.gouv.fr.

NOT EVEN A MUSE ON MY LIST GOOD JOB XD HERE GOES COPS & ROBBERS.

[thereistheduck]

"The crown, really?"

There's a dryness that belays the exasperation in his voice as he sets the paper down. Curiosity, more than passionate displeasure. He's already learned to tame that, when it comes to this one; now if only he could learn to tame the headaches it caused him...

"If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were trying to make my life difficult."

Alas, he did know him better, and understood that it wasn't the case. Still, the theft left him in a bind, considering it was still one of the principle duties of a man in his line of work to, you know... actually apprehend robbers.

Why he'd taken Marcel up on his offer to do PT at the agency's profiling department, he'd never know. That was years ago now, and here he was, with a PhD, a medical degree, and a detective's badge; and only the first two of those things made sense to him. The latter kept him in the loop, and at the forefront of social movements, political sways, popular opinion... and at the moment?

Popular opinion was supporting vigilantism like this latest theft.

If he were honest out loud, he supported it too. Because he knew the cause, and for better or worse; he knew the culprit.

Folding up the paper, he set it down, sighed, and rolled back his shoulders a bit.

"They're just going to use it to fuel another campaign against 'your kind of people'." A hot media-phrase that he had no love of, and said with some disappointment. "So all I'm curious about is what you plan to do with it, now that you have it."

[onewordmore]

"It's symbolic enough."

He shrugged, perched on the edge of the window seat as the flashing lights whined down an alleyway, pale features fully immersed in those red and blue hues. Watching the dark heads pass by furtively (the lighter having already retreated to their homes at such an hour of unrest), the man known as Vir could not help but scowl a little at the windowpanes before turning back to the detective.

Blue flickered amusedly, and he smirked lightly. "And if I were?"

It had been nearly a decade of fighting for this moment that the journalist had taken on after years of segregation and oppression, deaths and arrests for nothing beyond the colour of their skin and hair -- the formation of the ABC, the articles, the pamphlets, the riots, the heists, all that networking. Good friends had been lost, common enemies conquered, unlikely allies made, and yet so little had changed despite all their efforts. The "Blonds" were still lesser, still subhuman, and poverty reigned amongst those unfortunate enough to have lost their ranks amongst the dark-haired elite.

It was disgusting.

"I don't believe the message has yet been made clear to all the citizens of France; there is yet more to go."

His safety wasn't a matter anymore; they were too far gone now to turn back. Besides, the Enjolras name had held him high enough in esteem for most to skip by him whenever these events occurred; he was careful, and the one time he had almost been caught?

Well.

Jehan had found himself his niche in giving back when he could, using his family influence to support his own innocence, as well, and their failproof plans to move in on the AMIS Task Force was going as well as they had discussed.

Though perhaps at some expense of attachment Alexis, at least, had not accounted for.

Moving toward where the other was seated, he ran his hands against those tense shoulders -- Rene was always so tense -- and murmured softly, "The time needs to be right."

[thereistheduck]

"The time for what, exactly?"

He knew the point that Alex was attempting to make. The reversal of powers, the limits of capital. The balance that needed to exist between law and citizenry that allowed for society to continue chugging along, at its pace. Only, its pace was too slow, had too many stops, too many bumps in the tracks for Alex; could Rene blame him? Not in the least. After all, his indignation had a righteous flavour to it; it favoured the oppressed, it attempted to raise all men onto equal pedestals.

But was it right to do so by tugging one man's column down, to pick one's own up? Or was it more a matter of sending enough flares out to show that the levels had been one and the same, all along?

It was the difference between violence, theft, and bright red opinion painted against the town and temperance, patience, debate. Calm, vibrant strides versus a spint headlong.

His heart was in the right place, but Rene worried about his execution of that right.

"You can't keep it up forever, you know."

It was rhetorical. He definitely knew, and Rene wasn't in the habit of chastising; only highlighting.

Sitting back, relaxing against those hands, he let his own drop away from his face and gave an appreciative glance up paired with a fleeting smile.

"It may be best to lay low for a while. I take it back, for now; I don't have to know what it is you have planned." Because he had a feeling he already did. "Only, that you won't go into it without keeping me updated. Nothing foolish Alex. Please."

A beat, and then, smiling again, "You could lay low here. The only one who investigates here is Marcel; and he generally sticks to the fridge." Sometimes the couch, in his more dramatic moments.

[onewordmore]

And there would only be a deeper pressure there, an immediate acknowledgement of the eighty-two knots in that neck alone.

Rene wasn't stupid; he knew Alexis better than anyone ever had, which came from an understanding beyond their silly game of cops and robbers, those years learning each other's tics, each other's strengths and weaknesses. He didn't have to ask to already know, and it was perhaps a little terrifying -- if exhilarating.

Living on the edge is what he had become addicted to over time. It was more than a plan; it was a compulsion. If he were to believe in fate, this would be it. This was what he had to do. Alexis had been born for this sole purpose.

Yet all good things must come to an end. He hummed his assent at that rhetoric; no, it wasn't the first time, and it certainly would not be the last time that he would be hearing those words again.

Perhaps this was why this phase of the plan was so much more important than he had first lent it to being. He would have to thank Jehan next time they were to meet.

"I'll do my best." Because Alexis would not make promises he was not sure he could keep.

"Where better than the home of the very man assigned to hunt me down?" A brow raised and a bit of a grin, as his lips brush against Rene's ear in thanks. "Only so long as it doesn't make your life difficult, mon cher."

[thereistheduck]

'His best' was a worrying formality, rather than a good word of promise. But beggars couldn't be choosers, and he knew it was as honest as it was best and final.

So it would have to do.

Closing his eyes as one of the knots were worked out, mouth flickering at the edge at a jolt of pain followed by the soothing over of a thumb, he agreed, "Yes, well. I think if you'd have told me the entirety of your plot, it would have made my life more difficult." Which was another reason why he hadn't entertained it, after all. That was too dangerous, for both of them. One day it would not be, and one day he would ask it and mean it, and they would talk about it; all of it, the entire plan of action. And on that day, Rene had a feeling that whatever Alex chose to do, he'd join him.

Today wasn't that day. Too iffy, too dangerous for them both.

"But having a live-in cook? That makes my life easier." He joked, a warmth spreading over his expression, half attributed to that mouth hovering near to his ear, and half to the playful change in tone. He felt a brand of second-hand embarrassment and a gentle hum of excitement at the title. "If found out, I can always say you kidnapped me and kept me under house arrest. Your hands are at my throat, after all."

And he was very glad of it. He'd been trying to get that kink out all week.

[onewordmore]

"Relegated to kitchen duty, hm? Well, at least we have amassed plenty of takeout containers for you to artfully disassemble and reassemble. I'll be sure to cook for four, then; perhaps we can send some off with your friend Marcel, invite him over, even."

A playful nip at his neck there, shifting to push those released toxins out and away from Rene's core before moving onto the next bundle of knots and isolating one.

One day, perhaps, he might be able to speak his mind. But for now, playing house seemed easy enough to handle.

"'AMIS Detective Kidnapped To Own Home.' Has a nice ring to it, though I doubt the infamous Enjolras would be delegated to such a blase topic, wouldn't you think?" Teased, with warm fingerprints tracing carefully near pressure points. "Besides, you like it a little rough, don't you? The least bit of fun for such a prudish journalist."

They could certainly bring the kinks out, if that's what Rene had been craving all week.

[thereistheduck]

"To invite Marcel over is to invite an end to the couch's usefulness; because he'll toss himself onto it, face first, and refuse to be peeled off until after he's whined about absolutely every single one of his relationship problems." Which, as they involved one of Alex's friends... "...Or lack thereof."

A smile, warm but curt, and he tipped his head up to get him in better view, a bit of hair falling loose. A brow raised a little, in time with the tilt of his lips and was gone just as fast.

"Are you prudish? Your vocabulary would suggest otherwise." Among other things. "If you're going to be rough, move onto my shoulders, won't you?" Suggested, putting aside the newspaper with a double-fold, replacing it onto his desk.

[onewordmore]

Alexis nodded knowingly, as Jehan was not one for an easy relationship, forbidden or otherwise. The younger thief knew how to keep himself entertained, to say the least. "You are lucky that he only steals the utility of your couch; I've known others far more dastardly who have claimed the entirety of bedrooms, closets and all."

A gentle sloping of shoulders. "I cannot speak for the journalist, whose words are mightier than his actions."

He moved his hands obediently to Rene's shoulders, though not without first pressing that last knot out with an extra wicked click.

"As for myself? I prefer to think actions speak louder than any artfully crafted word."

[thereistheduck]

"I think he's long since given up on the closet, to be honest."

Came the easy retort, amused by his formality of speechE (especially for someone who claimed action before words.) Before, with a hiss, he squinted at both the noise and the sensation of that knot dissipating. Ouch.

"I'd prefer thinking put ahead of both. Think before you speak, think before you act. A lesson worth learning."

For this one here? Most definitely.

[onewordmore]

Poor Marcel. "He, too, is lucky, then."

Didn't mean Alexis couldn't still be beautiful with words. He smirked at the pained response only long enough to pull his hands back in to kindly massage out the soreness there again in slight apology.

There are eyes rolled there, for the chiding tone is obvious enough. "Sometimes thoughts cloud our minds far better than they illuminate them; it is something you must have learned at least once during your time pursuing us."

Me, really, he meant.

[thereistheduck]

"Better the cloud than the storm, one might say. Thinking never got a man killed, unless he did it too loudly." A little ghost of a smile here, mildly teasing; after all, some of the philosophers he most respected fell into the category of being killed for their revolutionary thoughts.

Giving an appreciative hum at the more soothing touch, he closed his eyes, relaxing finally.

"Let's talk about something less emphatically illegal. If you please."

[onewordmore]

"Better drown out that storm at the top of our lungs then." With a wry smile back. The martyr before the cynic, action over inaction; who could sit by and twiddle their thumbs in the midst of all this?

Kinder, then, with his massage, as Alexis's long fingers ran through Rene's hair.

He tugged lightly on that chestnut brown to tilt the other's head back a bit. Smiling down at him fondly. "Demanding today, aren't we?"

[thereistheduck]

"I did say please." He reminded, tone calm and even. That was the medical graduate in him, rather than the interrogator. His bedside manner had always been leaps better than his grilling methods, and there was a sort of very low melody to his voice; he almost never raised it, almost never became impassioned in his speech (but for when something truly delighted him; and then he was speaking more to himself than anyone who might be listening.)

"Two lions roaring only manage to drown out any points in the argument, Alex. Eventually, yell loud enough, and two adversaries sounds exactly the same." Cautioned, peeking an eye up at him, as his head had been tilted back again. "And for the record, you're a little overbearing today."

Said with a kind edge; he didn't mind. He liked the other man's passion, even if he did find it sometimes worrisome. Just like he likes his massages, even if they were sometimes painful.

[onewordmore]

And it must be said that Alexis had the tendency to surround himself with people who also spoke prettily, and he very much liked it that way, too.

"Mmm," was all he would get by way of a response, however, and a continued massage, albeit one that was slightly distracted, if relaxing.

Alexis had been a little more on edge lately, especially since they were nearing the end of the initial phases, since the subsequent ones were to be far more dangerous -- even more so now that there were non-Blonds involved, as well. It was easy to be branded an apologist and treated just as badly, and Rene did not need that in his life.

"Sorry, cher. There's been a lot on my mind lately."

[thereistheduck]

"There's always a lot on your mind, and you do not have to apologize to me about it."

He assured. Rather, he'd prefer if Enjolras shared it, though he would never press for it. If that came, it would come in its own good time, and that would be that. In the meanwhile, he would stay where he was, and they would be like this; on the edge of something great and terrible, with their own complimentary thoughts and actions put to the test.

Besides...

"How could I complain? I did say I admired the thinker more than the doer." So having a lot on his mind made perfect sense. It was better than having a lot on his plate. It meant a lull, for now.

[onewordmore]

He appreciated that most in Rene, his patience and his accepting nature. The longer Alexis stayed near him, the calmer he became; the AMIS detective complemented him well, even if he did not want to admit that the other was right on occasion and usually still moved of his own accord.

The last heist, even, had felt stale, didn't quite give him the usual rush; it was far too easy and hadn't accomplished much. That had had much to do with Rene's influence, really. The thinking, the planning, the worrying, really, which changed a lot about how Alexis viewed his own significance as both public figures -- celebrated Blondist journalist, and dangerous extremist their extraordinaire.

It was always Enjolras or Vir; it was never just Alexis anymore -- except with Rene, sometimes Jehan.

Quietly, "It'll be one more, maybe two, just to make sure. And then we wait."

He paused in both speech and massage. "It'll be safer then, for a little bit; you won't need to worry quite as much."

That false peace would not last for long, though. But hopefully Alexis would be able to get Rene out of there in time.

[thereistheduck]

That earned a soft snort, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. Safer, for a bit? No, Alex would toss himself into harm's way again, with and for good cause. Combeferre wasn't fooled by the eye of the storm.

And if he meant safer for himself?

"You won't be getting rid of me so easily."

He assured. He planned to quit the force, at this rate. To take up a medical position, at a volunteer hospital. Then he could be free with his opinions, and go to arms with Alex and the others.

There was really no alternative.

"And I will always worry. For you especially. But you may be the one who needs it least; I know you don't plan lightly."

[onewordmore]

The alternative would be to stand down and allow Alexis's plan to pass.

That is to say, Vir's plan.

"And for that I will always be grateful, Rene." A kiss to the top of his head.

[thereistheduck]

"Well, no one is asking you to say thank you; it's the right thing to do, even if I don't agree with how you go about it. You, that kid--" For safety's sake, always, he didn't name names. Not even within his own apartment, after seeing how easily it was broken into, tapped into. "--even that crazed one, with the uh-- hair. That does the thing. All three of you are up for who will take the fall for this. All of it. You naturally assume it will be you... I just wonder if you've prepared for the alternative?" He was so moral, in his own way; Rene didn't think he could prepare for it, not being the final martyr.

[onewordmore]

It wasn't even an option. As much as he would love to pin everything on let him take the fall for everything that transpired, there was no glory in knowing that the man would be given far more credit than he was worth -- especially after all the torment he continued to bring upon all of them. No amount of punishment dealt to him by the government would change any of that, either.

And Jehan… Alexis wouldn't be able to bear it, seeing his young friend in such bindings; he was a freer spirit than even himself, and he would never wish something like that upon such a good friend.

It was only logical that it be him. He was Vir.

"So much for 'less emphatically illegal'?" he teased lightly in response.

[thereistheduck]

"So much for that." He agreed, with the barest of smiles, sitting properly now, all tepid consideration and thought that left his now-opened eye mildly narrowed. Then, he blinked and shook his head.

"You know, they can make anyone Vir. Anyone. If they find out it's you, and you're ready to own it? They'll apprehend you, sure. And from behind bars, they'll have you watch someone else take the public fall. It's not the police; that isn't how we operate. That's all government. Media, falsified evidence..." His voice was soft, light. He didn't want it traveling far past Alex's ears. "So think about it. Getting caught won't work to anyone's advantage."

[onewordmore]

Sliding into the chair next to Rene, Alexis set his eyes and fingers lightly upon the article just where it spoke of his name.

As usual, he had a good point; it was easy to forget that those in his father's world were not the sort to be beneath stealing even this moment from him. They had certainly done worse in his youth; the chemical smell of hair salons still made him viscerally ill even after all these years.

His voice was soft in turn. "I'll figure something out."

[thereistheduck]

"I don't doubt it."

He just doubted it would be enough. That it wouldn't ruin him... and others.

And that he wouldn't think it was worth it, even if it did not accomplish anything. Effort, above inacton.

"...So. Chinese, you said?"

[onewordmore]

Leaning back in the chair and letting go of the topic at last; Rene had That Face on, and they weren't going to get into how infuriatingly correct he was.

"No beef this time, though; it was questionably mushy last time. Poultry maybe?"