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The night was ending, students going home after their long hours of studying, the young and the old undoubtedly laying down, bracing themselves for another long day simply surviving. Two law students were headed home to do just that, lay down. The walk was quiet, the monotonous feel of their study session had exhausted both of them past the point of conversation; however, it wasn't uncomfortable for these students.
The students in question, Enjolras and Combeferre, walked the Parisian streets with a content silence; knowing both of them were more prepared for exams than before - and for these two, that was enough to warrant no discussion. Soon, a new companion appeared behind them. Leaping up to grab the long blonde hair tied into a low ponytail with nothing more than a red ribbon was a cat. Combeferre tapped his companion on the shoulder, a small snicker passing his lips.
“It appears we have company.” he remarked with a chuckle.
Enjolras glanced over his shoulder curiously, only for a small smile crossing his own lips at the curious feline.
A small cat, with a bell on her collar. Fluffy strands of brown hair poked from beneath the collar as she stopped with the duo. The cat looked up at the two with wide, saucer-esque eyes. Her fur was primarily brown, while stretching from the cat's chin down to her chest was a white splotch.
Enjolras noted she wasn't a stray, her fur brushed and clearly tended to. The cat was tamed, seemingly. She nuzzled into Combeferre’s hand - who was now kneeled onto the uneven pavement with his hand scratching beneath that white patch beneath the feline's chin.
“Is there an address on the collar?” Enjolras quirked an eyebrow, eyeing the cat with a mix of fondness - but perhaps worry was creased in that eyebrow too. It was far too cold for a cat to be roaming free, and the last thing Enjolras wanted was for anyone to miss their cat so late at night.
“Hm.. Rue Plumet.” Combeferre turned the tag towards him, the bell a permanent reminder of the cat's insistent demanding nature for affection from these two students.
“Rue Plumet? That’s not far from here, is it?
“Not far at all.”
The plan was settled without words - return the cat then return to their dorm.
The issue remained, however, was getting the cat to follow the pair for an extended distance. An issue that soon found its own solution - Enjolras’ curls. Thick and bouncy enough for the small feline to mistake as ribbons: A toy.
With a reluctant sigh, Enjolras undid his hair from his ponytail, fluffing them out and shaking his head. As anticipated, the cat begins to jump and try to pounce the curls from the ground. No words were exchanged as they began to walk, the cat prancing behind, frequently jumping to try and reach those yellow ribbons. At every intersection, Enjolras walked a few paces behind Combeferre so the cat would make it around the corner without getting lost. Cats weren't stupid, but their direction wasn't the keenest at points.
Arriving at Rue Plumet should've been anticlimactic, but the property was beautiful - so beautiful, in fact, it elicited the smallest gasp from Combeferre.
The garden was well kept, flowers in bloom, the trees casting a shadow over a single stone bench. Intricately carved, yet looked ancient. Moss begins to grow up the sides - a stone placed on the seat of the bench, a letter from beneath it. Enjolras and Combeferre paid it no mind.
The gate was cracked wide enough for a small feline to slip through, clearly the owners were worried about their poor cat. Enjolras creaked the gates open, pacing through on his tip toes. Combeferre padded close behind, ushering the cat to the door.
Upon reaching said door, Enjolras rapped against the wood. Despite the late hour, someone answered the door. A tall girl, her dark brown curls draped over her shoulders. She quirked her eyebrow at the two men standing at her door, before glancing down - her expression immediately changed.
“Cecilia! Oh, my dear Cecilia!” She cried, bending down to pick up the cat like a baby, cradling her to her chest. The feline meowed, making biscuits on the girls nightgown. Enjolras and Combeferre were both smiling at the reunion.
“Thank you both, Monsieurs! I’m Cosette- I, truly, from the bottom of the heart, thank you for finding my dear Cecilia.”
Combeferre was the first to reply, his voice even and measured.
“Why, of course. No mademoiselle should go without her pet cat.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
“I’d be heartbroken if my cat got out so late,” Enjolras chimed in, his hands going into his jacket pockets.
“Oh, Monsieurs! You must let my Papa thank you, could you wait here for just a moment?” Before either man could respond, she vanished inside the two story home, leaving the door open behind her.
Enjolras turned to Combeferre, his voice low and steady; however, a hint of amusement crept into the controlled tone.
“So, we're already meeting her Father?”
“I suppose so.”
***
Meanwhile, inside the house - Cosette had knocked patiently on her Papa's bedroom door. Whom, just behind the door, was pulling himself out of a deep slumber for his daughter. Her Papa, Valjean, opened the door, rubbing his eyes away from the weariness of the night.
“These two nice gentlemen found Cecilia, Papa.”
Valjean cracked a smile, shaking his head.
“They did?”
“Mhm, and if you don't mind thanking them for me,” Cosette wasn't even allowed a chance to finish as Valjean had begun down the stairs.
“Of course, Cosette.”
Returning to the bottom of the flight, Valjean is met with the sight of Enjolras and Combeferre talking amongst themselves. Valjean cleared his throat, his hand resting over a greying mustache. Enjolras and Combeferre snap to Valjean immediately, halting in their conversation to greet him. Enjolras stuck out his gloved hand - gloved for the cold, of course.
Valjean took his hand, giving it a firm shake.
“And who might you two boys be? Students, I presume.”
“Yes, Monsieur. We both are.”
When the hands were dropped, there was a beat of silence, and despite this silence - the thankfulness was evident in this elder man's gaze on the two boys. In the back, you could hear the giggles of Cosette playing with Cecilia before her Father returned to the house. Then, Valjean spoke:
“We are greatly appreciative of you finding her and returning her to us.”
Enjolras spotted the grace of a smile on Valjean’s face, and he couldn't seem to stop the smile back as a response.
“Of course, it was the least we could do.”
He clasped his hand on Combeferre's shoulder, shaking him gently. Combeferre; meanwhile, swatted the blonde's hand away with a chuckle.
“It's hard not to bring a cat with such a loving owner back home.”
Valjean nodded, peering into the night sky.
“You two boys should go home, it's quite late. Authorities get more picky this time of night.”
He gestured to the streets, causing Enjolras and Combeferre to glance back through the gate. They nodded in confirmation.
“Yes, Monsieur.” Enjolras nodded in response, giving a wave as Combeferre finished their shared thoughts.
“We'll be on our way, have a good night, Monsieur.”
With a final wave, the two students turned and left the land. Valjean closed the door when the boys closed his gate - grabbing a spare ball from the doorway and bringing it into the living room. Valjean tossed it and watched with mild amusement as the cat chased to catch it.
As the students walked back to their apartment, the air was quiet around them - but the emotions were light. The interaction had left both boys not so stressed as before. The conversation that follows was about nothing yet everything possible. The once exhausted night had come to one of reunions and love.