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[lupintrois]

The worst heists, in Lupin’s opinion, were the ones nobody knew about. Delicately, in the background of Zenigata healing from his wounds and Lupin gently romancing him into staying in bed, a war played out across France - an informant leaked here, a safe house exposed there, all so delicate and subtle that the media barely noticed it. Pawns were moving but neither man had worked up the aggression to shift their more powerful pieces as they tested each others limits. The key was using just enough power that Albert knew he meant business...and knowing that he’d take losses in the meantime.

Fine. Albert knew better than to try it all at once, anyway, with what Lupin held on him. The stress of it was frustrating, even so, and distracted him from planning anything more fun for his new situation with Zenigata...until things escalated to him planting suspicious data in the office of one of Albert’s underlings, and with an Interpol social event happening right down the hall Lupin decided to multitask.

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[zenigatcha]

He can't not do it, not when he's right here, aware of the scent that he's had up his nose for weeks now. It's comforting now, in a way, but also triggers that bloodhound alertness, the dogged persistence. Like Pavlov's dog, he's all but salivating at the idea of the chase -- it's just the trigger is a little mixed now.

"Your first Secondment, then? Or just visiting the facility?" he asks, falling into small talk. Still, the intensity he has is noticed, and people are looking at them a little as Zenigata all but crackles with energy until he remembers himself, where he is, and tries to reset himself with a long drink of whatever's in his cup.

[lupintrois]

"Just here for orientation, they're going to be stationing me in--" And Lupin weaves his elegant alibi before turning the question back on Zenigata, asking what he's been up to and about cases that he pretends he wasn't deeply, intimately involved in. It's such an ego boost listening to Zenigata talk about Lupin.

So much so that when Albert enters the room, "Wolf" almost doesn't notice at first.

[zenigatcha]

That's okay, "Wolf" is bus, but Zenigata is part of the cop pack. When he feels the ripple shift and the sudden straightening of spines, officers saluting their director, he follows suit -- hoping that Lupin has the sense to do the same. Then Yata signals him, and he's a few steps away talking to him, leaving Lupin wide open as Albert starts to do some meet and greet.

If he's surprised to see Zenigata up, hale and safe, it doesn't show. But he does go to him, smiling his faint and damning smile. It's very normal and polite chit-chat, with some gentle questions about Ami that are all very surface. Nothing looking for real info. Just playing the Normal Game.

Unlike Zenigata, he doesn't know Lupin by scent. It's been too long, with too much distance between them. He knows Lupin by body shape, by sound, by action. He doesn't cotton on until he's much, much closer to the man as he makes his rounds in the room. Zenigata does not attempt to get between them as Albert leaves him and his assistant behind to work the rest of the room. He just drinks his drink, waiting for something to happen.

What it'll be, Zenigata doesn't know. But he's got the calm of a tiger crouched and ready to pounce. An opening will come. He just has to see the shape of it to know if he should make a leap.

When Albert finally sees Lupin, though, really sees him, he just smiles. It's full of razors and hate, but only Lupin could see it.

"I don't think we've had the pleasure yet, officer," he says.

[lupintrois]

The sensible thing would be to flee. He's gotten done what needs doing, there's no need to stay, and he's on Albert's own turf.

Unfortunately, if he was a sensible thief, he'd just be Albert. Instead, he's Lupin.

"Sorry, who are you again? I'm usually so good with faces but yours escapes me." Lupin takes his hand and shakes it heartily, grinning in a banal fashion. You're forgettable, Albert. What could be worse insult than that?

[zenigatcha]

Trapped behind them, Zenigata watches them talk -- missing another person entering. Blaise, Zenigata's old friend, crosses the room with purpose to reach him. While Albert's smiling, so thin and wan, in Lupin's face, the two older men exchange quick words. Abruptly, Zenigata shoves his drink into Yata's hands, and follows Blaise out -- Yata chases after him.

"Your boss," Albert answers softly, just for them.

[lupintrois]

"Can't believe you enjoy these," Lupin grumbles back. It aches him to let Zenigata go, but if he chases the man that would show too much interest in front of Albert. He's defensive but he's not simping for the man like he's Fujiko.

It's not value that perks a thief's attention. It's seeing others yearn for it. With great strength of will, he turns back to the room and finds another hand to shake.

[zenigatcha]

There's welcoming chit chat with friendly cops from all over the world. They welcome him in with chit-chat and jokes, and one of the men finally says, "You sure held Zenigata's attention for a minute."

Two other people, a tall blonde woman and a short, dark haired man, give the speaker looks, before they deem him unworthy of discussion and return to speaking to each other.

"Don't mind them," the man continues. "They're his team, and they're very protective of their place on the ladder. Zenigata isn't going anywhere, poor fool, but he builds excellent cops. Failure's the best teacher, after all!"

If Lupin detects a note of derision there, he's not mistaken. Neither are the other two who just look at the younger cop with disdain.

[lupintrois]

"A guy makes a career out of being exactly where he wants to be, and you call that failure?" Lupin laughs, sharp edged, wishing he could just knee the guy in the balls. "Seems like he's happy. What's gotten your dick hard in your career lately, huh?"

God, he's...he's so done with people putting his man down. Still sporting his sharp smile he turns away and heads for the room he knows has an open window he can escape through.

[zenigatcha]

Zenigata's two underlings just smile, immediately pleased at hearing Lupin's defense. The other cop is left sputtering, protesting as Lupin dismisses him like the chump that he is.

Out in the hall, Zenigata is headed back in his general direction -- all but colliding with him as he turns around a corner. He stumbles a little, and then gives him a strained smile. "Ah, sorry to run out on you, but I've a call I must answer. Perhaps we'll speak later."

That's probably a hint that another window will be open later tonight.

Albert watches them from the crowd, the easy interaction, the confidence they both have in the thing they have. It'd be enviable, if it weren't so fucked up. He makes sure he's placed at Lupin's side once Zenigata is gone, and says, "I hope he isn't too upset when he sees the mess. But they did fuck up, and you know how I feel about that."

He offers his thin, watery smile and lets him go.

[lupintrois]

"You hiring crappy employees isn't my problem, Al. Say hi to your boyfriend for me." Usually Lupin is almost eager to sit and banter with him, like he's missed what they had. Not tonight, though. Tonight he tears free quickly and heads out, not bothering to look behind him. Albert will know this isn't like Lupin - nothing about this has been quite like Lupin.

[zenigatcha]

Albert just smiles thinly after him, watching him go. No, none of this is in line with Lupin that he knows. The Lupin that was so desperate for... well, everything. Greedy. Hungry. Craving everything he couldn't have and then some.

Later, the news breaks -- Japanese officer found dead. Watanabe Ichiro, on loan from Tokyo Metro, was found executed with a known informant. There's a brief detailing of his career, most notably that he promoted out of the Lupin Team to work under another Zenigata graduate: Blaise Desforges. Zenigata is hovering in the back at the hastily called conference, as Blaise Desforges -- the man who grabbed him from the meet and greet and Lupin -- speaks in a sonorous voice about the loss of officer Watanabe.

It's late when Zenigata heads home for the night.

[lupintrois]

Lupin wants to just sweep Zenigata away and sex him into not caring anymore about that stupid, petty little world of rules and hierarchy and not just being the most bright and exciting version of yourself that you can be. He really does. Unfortunately, he's still sensitive enough that he realizes that would only make Zenigata more dour.

So instead he's waiting back at the apartment with a bottle of wine and two glasses, pants still on, like he's a dignified type.

[zenigatcha]

It's just so simple and kind. It's little things like this that surprise him. One wouldn't think that Lupin has a thoughtful bone in his body, but there he is, ready with wine and good company. The grim lines set into Zenigata's face soften and smooth out, before he offers up a crooked smile.

"Thank you," he says without preamble, and greets Lupin with a kiss for his efforts. You should always thank someone when they do something nice for you. It's just good manners.

[lupintrois]

Lupin doesn't even press the issue with the kiss. He's a gentleman tonight! He pulls back again and pours the wine for them, his face softer than usual.

"Take a load off, Pops."

[zenigatcha]

Zenigata gets down to shirt sleeves: shoes, coat, hat and suit jacket going the way of the dodo. Tie yanked loose but left to hang, he's the very picture of a overworked salaryman. Then he access the wine glass, and settles onto one of the cushions at the kotatsu in his far less fancy Lyon appartment.

"So what were you doing at the Interpol offices?" he asks, without an ounce of upset. "Trying to clear out your files again? We've got backups now you know."

[lupintrois]

"You know it's no fun if I tell you all the secrets," Lupin teases, verbally appreciating the partial strip. He wants to take that tie and just yank it...down, dick. Later. Later, there will be rewards.

[zenigatcha]

It's always nice to have an appreciative gaze. "Santé," he says instead, and lifts his glass before he takes a drink off it.

He pointedly doesn't talk about work. He wouldn't even if it weren't Lupin, if it were-- God forbid -- his wife he was still coming home to. He has to process Watanabe's death. Especially in regards to what happened to him, earlier in the month. There's... there's a lot to consider. A lot that's going on. That's moving by unseen hands.

Lupin spoke to Albert, though. He saw that, right as he left. Something was clicking into place, something full of fraught feelings and happy memories with a thread of intense jealousy...

Seriously, if you wanted to bang a guy who's a talented thief and schemer who's a crack shot, an expert manipulator and has ten percent body fat, I know a great guy in the French government to introduce you to.

Zenigata is certain they know each other now. But as he mulls it over, he takes another sip of his wine, before he says, "I'm ordering delivery. You want anything?"

It'll be a nice casual night, with drinking and food and not talking about the obvious problems.

[lupintrois]

"I could eat." He looks at Zenigata in a way that says he could be talking about sex but allows plausible deniability that he might also be talking about pizza.

[zenigatcha]

"I bet you could," Zenigata replies, voice dropping one octave into 'suggestive.'

He's still picking up the phone to dial up the local Thai place that he loves.

[lupintrois]

It's not that he doesn't want to screw. There's very little that puts Lupin off screwing. He just knows it isn't going to be what Zenigata needs right now...maybe later in the evening, but not now. Now he lets Zenigata soak up the warmth of him and soothes his chattering, giving space for the man to talk.

[zenigatcha]

Tom Yum and Pad See Ew ordered, Zenigata comes back around, uncharacteristically quiet, but not sad. Like flowers turn to the sun, he turns to Lupin.

"I know what you're doing," he says, though that could cover a lot of topics. "I was thinking, again, when this dust settles, we can chase that coin. So like I said, I don't kick up any more."

It costs him, but he took to what Lupin asked to heart. He won't risk himself. Today reminded him that there are consequences, and he's not the only one who pays for them.

[lupintrois]

Lupin takes his hand, curling up by him like a cat with his wine glass in his hand. "I know it's hard for you to stay out of trouble," he soothes, fussing with the man's hair. "It's only for a little while, anyway."

Hahha, pops, you really don't know. But that's for the best.

[zenigatcha]

"So talk theft," Zenigata says, as he gets comfortable. He is not content, but he is comforted. Lupin is here, and Lupin is even being -- or at least convincingly faking -- being empathetic and attentive. "I like hearing you talk about the bits and pieces. Not even to take it apart, but--"

It's terrible and awful, it hurts people, but the thing that build the crime as fascinating. It also has nothing to do with what's going on in his life right now, which is a rarity.

[lupintrois]

"Oh, you sweet talker." And Lupin obliges, purringly, describing his grand schemes to one of the few people who'd truly understand them. (Albert would understand them. But Albert wouldn't tell him how clever he was for them. Boring, pathetic man.)

[zenigatcha]

They're halfway through a second heist when the door bell rings; Zenigata checks the peephole, then carefully accepts the delivery and makes sure things go unseen.

"Come eat," he calls, and starts plating up. "You can--"

Well, they can get interrupted by the cellphone. Zenigata doesn't go in for fancy ringtones, it's just a standard trill. He speaks briefly, moving back into French to speak to someone named Claude, and wanders back into the bedroom as he says, 'that was fast. what were the results?' and closes the door behind him for a brief moment of privacy.

It's done in less than five minutes, and he returns, pocketing his phone, and grabs broad, flat Pad See Ew noodles for himself.

[lupintrois]

"Come on, don't be on the clock while we're having a nice night," Lupin pouts, sulking that he's not getting full attention. "Is it really that important?"

He knows it is. That's why he's asking.

[zenigatcha]

Looking up from under his heavy, bushy brows, Zenigata contemplates for a moment. Then he says, "Was ballistics. They matched the bullet I had pulled out of me to a gun. Belonged to the officer found dead today."

Then he slurps noodles right up, because this isn't gonna stop him from eating.

"Few things as bad a crooked cop," Zenigata said, wiping sauce off his face with a napkin. "I try and make sure my boys leave better than they came, but I guess I missed one. Or two. Not sure."

[lupintrois]

"Mmm." Not sure where he can fit a ribald jibe into a remark that dark. Lupin reaches for the food instead, stuffing his face to keep his mouth shut. "Sorry about that."

[zenigatcha]

Not much you can say.

"Guess you weren't kidding," he says in the most conversational tone, "about how big this is."

It's right there on the tip of his tongue. Lupin's not telling him a lot here. He knew something -- he knew something about Albert d'Andresy, knew enough to mimic him in pitch perfect tone, knew enough to hate him, to shit talk him, to...

To protect him from Zenigata? Or Zenigata from him? He settled on the latter. There was no love there, Albert wasn't someone Lupin woudl protect. Not unless they were tangled up so much that it'd reveal too much about Lupin...

Huh.

"Blaise Desforge was one of mine, too. Watanabe came up after him, and he moved to Desforge's team after that," Zenigata says, keeping his tone neutral. "Desforges works very closely with French authorities, he's local. I was sourcing information on Albert d'Andresy from him."

He put another wad of noodles in his mouth, slurping his food down before he added, "Hope he doesn't turn up dead, too."