Eye of the Tiger|Athos/Javert;;

[NINA TENARDÍZ]

Detectives Javert and la Fère were regarded as two of the best in New York. They had been partners for a substantial number of years now, and hardly ever failed a case. Maybe it was how alike they investigated things, maybe it was because they'd known each other a long time--no one could quite figure out why. They figured that they were best friends, so team work came easy.

They'd be wrong.

Javert especially had never been one for working in a team. Actually, the most they did together was part ways, collect evidence by themselves, then meet up again to compare; and, of course, they went out on important calls together. But the two men were brilliant as their own person; they didn't have to rely on one another. That's what made their work more substantial; they bulked it up.

Others saw them as a bit unorthodox, but still, every day they brought something good to the table, something substantial, even if they brought with it some dangerous accusations. Every day, they unlocked some sort of new door and lead an investigation into a new light, one step closer to solving it.

Today...was not one of those days.

"Well, that was a dud." Javert pulled into a small side-alley so that the nose of the police car was facing an open street; people walked by, lights flashed, cars drove by. The detective put it in park and glanced over at his partner.

He was right. They had just been called to detain a drug dealer that they'd busted, been given an address where he would be at a party. He wasn't, and they had ended up crashing a high-class shindig. It wasn't pleasant to think of how the captain would react to this news.

Now all they could do, though, was wait in the car and listen to the radio until they got another call.

[athos]

Zero homicides. Zero suspicious fires. Zero robberies. Zero kittens in trees. 

Javert spoke the truth when saying today was a dud. Athos was bored out of his skull, and he even managed to interpolated a few naps between breaks. As for now, he was leaning back in the passenger seat with his feet on the dashboard and his arms outstretched behind his neck. Every few minutes, he'd yawn and salute the people who'd pass by the Tahoe, more out of tedium than being polite. 

When his legs began to lose circulation, he removed them from the dashboard and sat upright. He clicked open the compartment box and pulled out a pack of Dunhill cigarettes. Athos flipped open the carton and pulled out a cigarette before sticking it in the corner of his mouth. He stuck out the pack to his partner as an offer. Pulling out his silver Zippo, he lit the cigarette and exhaled a cloud of smoke. 

"Well, that's the truth," replied Athos, replacing the pack in the compartment box. "Might as well stayed at the station and write up some reports. Then, we would actually being productive and get some work done." 

In his opinion, he would've remained in the vehicle, because writing reports was far more boring. At least here, he had company and someone to talk to. His old friend, the honorable Javert, was the most company he could ask for. It was seldom that Athos socialized and even more seldom did he frequent in friends's company. He much preferred promenading the city in search for crime and disorder to take care of. 

Javert hadn't even be able to catch one kid toeing the thin line between the law and disorder. It was rare that this would happen, Javert's sharp eyes could catch anything from an attempted mugging to a petty shoplifter. Athos was just as capable, but not as experienced. Today was simply not one of those days.

[NINA TENARDÍZ]

Javert grunted in agreement, his cigarette between his teeth as he lit up. Usually, he only smoked when he was proud of his work, but today had been so utterly disappointing that even he needed a booster.

He sighed, looking out the windshield at a group of people who were prancing out of a bar. Lord only knows what they were up to, and probably nothing good.

"You think smoking in the car counts as smoking in public?" he asked, glancing at Athos. He hated that particular law that had been forced on him, but, of course...he would follow it. He wasn't quite sure about it himself, but he knew Athos would understand that he needed to know.

Athos was the only person Javert found any sense in talking to, which was too bad. If people were more sensible, they'd be more pleasant to be around. One would think Javert would enjoy speaking to his superiors, but that wasn't the case at all; he found that they didn't do their jobs as well as they should, that they were loose when it came to the law. Or...at least by his standards. Athos was an exception, by just a slip. He had mercy, but within whatever reason he'd set up. That was getting there.

[athos]

"You think smoking in the car counts as smoking in public?" 

Athos smiled, knowing too well what Javert meant. It was hard for his friend to break even the pettiest of laws, and let alone, disregard them completely. However, this smoking rule was quite silly. It being a habit, just like any other bad habits, was one's own personal decision. Perhaps more concern would be held, if someone's life was in immediate danger, but when it's your own health at stake, Athos believed that it was his own choice whether to endanger it or not. 

Though the mayor didn't seem to understand that, really. "If this is public, then I don't know what isn't," he replied, gesturing the interior of the vehicle. "The windows are closed, and I don't think it's affecting anybody." 

Sighing, he rested his intertwined fingers rest on his chest, and no longer paid any attention to the cop radio. "New York normally doesn't make me miss Louisiana," he said, "but on nights like these, I prefer to be at my Mémère's and sampling a li'l shrimp étouffée." He exhaled again with a wave of nostalgia. He knew his attempt at small talk was weak, but it was better than letting the boredom drive him crazy.

[NINA TENARDÍZ]

Javert took a drag at his cigarette, deciding that what Athos said was logical; he wasn't bothering anyone, and that was why the law was put into effect in the first place, so it must be alright. He snorted a bit and said flatly, "I think I'd rather be sampling shrimp étouffée at your Mémère's too."

He eyed the police radio a moment and then took another drag, looking back up. He was bored as well, and it would be just his luck if they missed the first action of the day because the police radio wasn't turned on. He knew that Athos needed a break from his work every once in awhile, though, and so humored him.

Javert, arms crossed and looking like he was falling asleep, watched out the windshield as a young couple danced by the car, kissing. He just blinked, not moved at all by this act. He hadn't ever been one for romance, much less to understand it. To him, it just seemed like an instinctive ritual, and one he didn't have to take part in. So he didn't. Athos, on the other hand, he knew had taken girlfriends when he was a young man. But then, Athos had always been far more loving and, to be honest, ...human... than his friend. Or at least in the public eye.

He smirked a little and said, "Valentine's in coming up," in a tone of voice that made it obvious he was making fun of Athos' previous attempts at small talk.

[athos]

When he was younger, Athos had been quite the philanderer. He bounced back and forth between girls, and enjoyed chatting them up. However, it all changed when he'd met Anne. Such a beautiful woman, and she turned out to be, well, quite unchaste. It made him cringe to think whether she ever did love him or only married him for the money. Since then, he hasn't ever approached another woman with romantic intentions. It was all such a waste of time. 

Come Valentine's Day, Athos would enjoy a bottle of bourbon by a crackling fire and listening to music. Classical, as per usual. He'd have Grimaud-- his dog --at his feet and every once in a while he'd lean over and scratch his head. That was about as romantic he was going to get on a day meant for love. He wasn't intentionally trying to be so bitter about it, but it was traditional for him. 

Javert, on the hand, never bothered to even lustfully glance at a woman; let alone romanticizing them. Athos found him smart this way. "And so?" he replied, rubbing his elbow. "Are you planning something anytime soon?" Of course he wouldn't be. "I think you should. It must be lonely at night sleeping in that minuscule apartment of yours." The apartment was roughly less than half the size compared to Athos' penthouse.

He knew that Javert would refute this. Romance was hardly a word in the man's vocabulary, and women were trifles that he did not mess around with. Trifles, mere trifles. However, the company of law is the only love Javert will enjoy. At least, if he kept on with this attitude, he'll die a lonely man. Athos liked his friend too much, and Javert never took time off for 'alone time'.

[NINA TENARDÍZ]

Javert began to laugh, looking almost cruel. "All I do there is sleep. How can that be lonely?" The thought of cuddling was far out of the detective's reach, let alone sex for pleasure. Sex was for procreation and babies were something wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Henri had been lucky that Javert put so much respect in him--that was the only way he talked him into watching Athos in the first place.

"Besides," he said, looking Athos straight on and lowering his cigarette. "I'm already married. She's a lovely woman and her name is Justice...blind though she is." Javert cracked a smile and took another drag. He didn't need Athos' pity over his current, lonely situation. Mainly because he wasn't lonely at all. The only thing in his life was his work and that contented him perfectly.

"Maybe you should take advice from yourself too, la Fère. You're a perfectly reasonable human being, and a rich one." He looked down at his cigarette, looking disinterested in the whole conversation. "Shouldn't be any trouble to land a date."

[athos]

Athos rolled his eyes. Of course, Javert would find some way to slip out of that one. He wasn't sure why he even cared whether the old man died alone or not. Well, he did know that he respected and honored the guy. Justice and law were tiring mistresses, but Athos didn't believe them to be satisfactory enough. Though, he did rather enjoy the thrill of being on the job and the rush of adrenaline he'd feel.  But, it was the only thing Javert has ever known.

At least, for Athos, he'd known love and experienced the wondrous joys of sexual pleasure and the feeling of being love. It had all been a false illusion, but it was something, nonetheless. Athos knew better to let himself be seduced or even tempted by another woman ever since then. 

"Surely you'd like to try it out for once," he said, "and maybe you'll find something you'll like. I remember seeing an ad for the Valentine's day matchmaker. Seems a little sketchy, but it's worth a try."

The thought of Javert on a blind date was quite amusing. 

However, he felt the humor slip away when the tables were flipped. He'd promised himself that he would never love again, but he wasn't sure how he'd tell Javert without having to explain the Anne thing. He wouldn't understand, and it was the only event in Athos's life that he kept hidden from his dear friend. Athos would probably have a lot of luck with the ladies if he did try. The keyword being 'try'.

"I don't..." He wasn't sure how to put it. "I don't do that anymore."

[NINA TENARDÍZ]

"Is it really worth a try, la Fère?" he asked with a snicker. "I would probably just end up making a bad impression on whatever woman I'm stuck with." Neither of them were too sure why he'd emphasized 'woman'.

It would be silly to say that Javert had never dated in his life. He had been informed a few times that ladies dug the sideburns, and that they were intrigued by someone who just didn't give a shit about them either way. He fit both descriptions, the second one especially in high school. He had never had a girlfriend, per se, but he had been out. He knew how the game was played, he just chose not to play along.

"You know, you act like I am such a lonely old man," he said, smirking over at his friend. "Here's a newsflash, kid: I am perfectly happy."

As "perfectly happy" as he could get, anyway.

Javert's smirk disappeared when Athos seemed to tense at the mention that perhaps he should try setting up a blind date. His brows pulled together as he examined him. Something was not right with this boy, but he couldn't place it. Had something gone terribly wrong in the time they'd been half-way across the country? It was entirely likely. But it didn't seem like Athos not to tell him.

"'Anymore'? Well, what have you got to lose, la Fère?"

[athos]

"Is it really worth a try, la Fère? I would probably just end up making a bad impression on whatever woman I'm stuck with."

Point taken at the former. The latter, Athos was unsure, but the thought still amused him. "You can't say something until you've actually tried it," he replied, and added as an afterthought, "Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l'amande." He puffed out a large cloud of smoke and waved it away. 

"You know, you act like I am such a lonely old man. Here's a newsflash, kid: I am perfectly happy."

This was true. Athos then decided to let the matter be, as he knew that Javert was content with serving the law and attending to its needs. It was no use fighting for a lost cause that did not want to be found. Women weren't a subject often discussed between the two of them, and Athos realized he preferred to keept it that way.

"Well, old man, you will die happily, I suppose." He paused and frowned.  "Though I presume on the line of a duty rather than naturally. Personally, I'd rather die more honorably - with my boots on, rather than going away peacefully in the night."

"'Anymore'? Well, what have you got to lose, la Fère?" Javert responded. 

Morbleu, it was rather frustrating to be friends and work with detectives. They catch every single syllable and any movement out of its place. "Nothing at all, but," he replied, "I simply do not think of those things. What with work always keeping us busy and too occupied for a stable relationship." He sounded false on his tongue and he knew that the lie wouldn't go undetected with Javert's sharp senses.