Some pop culture references snuck in the previous chapter and this one, I don't even remember where they all came from.

I did leave some loose ends and some characters remained unbonded but this fic did take place in a three month period, I don't think it would've been believable if everyone found their soulmate within three months

'Are you trying to do the studying-thing again?'
'Well, technically speaking I am a student, what's in a name? But yes, why?'
He stretched tiredly, making noises of a tiny kitten. Courf was adorable, he knew it, hadn't shied away from exploiting it.
'Oh, no reason, you've just been prodding candles again.'
'I have not!' He objected while subtly slipping his coated fingers behind his back. Grantaire raised an eyebrow and looked at the desk, pieces of wax shaped in cubicles and heart lay on top of his closed book and the map with class notes was laying under his laptop.
'Courf, when you're watching videos on how to study and they suggest making habits like lighting a candle when you start like a proper Pavlov dog they don't intend you to procrastinate by playing with it.'
'I know! Just say it, I'm a horrible, awful excuse of a student. It's just…. There's so many foreign terms it is frying my brain just by looking at it.'

'How was it yesterday with that girl?'
'Nice, pretty great actually. We were both waisted but present enough to make it good. We bonded over not liking the pressure of bonds, free love and other vague hippie loose moral kinds of things. You had any fun?'
'Nah, it's just me, myself and I. You know, solo riding 'till I die.'
'How were Enjolras and Combeferre? Enj likes the occasional party but he wasn't really feeling it when I left.'
Grantaire barked a laugh. 'He had fun alright, but Combeferre though- Courf, are you positively sure you guys aren't meant to be?'
'Why would you ask?' Courfeyrac narrowed his eyes.
'Have you touched Combeferre at all since-?'
'I- yes, when I fell. Why?'
'Where did you touch him?'
'Courfeyrac closed his eyes, a frown appearing on his chizzled face while he replayed the memory that had been disturbing his dreams ever since.
'His elbow area on the right arm and his wrist area on the other. It might look messy though since I was falling.'
'It might, you didn't look?'
'Had to leave, remember?'
'Odd.'
'Odd, R? What is going on?'
'You've never worn a t-shirt since. Matter of fact, you even roll your sleeves a different way as of late. Now they always end under your elbows. So you show your skin and marks like you don't mind the marks or creating new ones. You give the impression of being open but you're hiding his, aren't you? You know you can't keep hiding them Courf, it's almost summer. We go on holidays together, you walk around shirtless half the time to show of the tan you acquired while on lifeguard duty to woo girls and boys on your free days.'
He did. Or at least he used to. He hadn't thought of it yet. He tried not to dwell on a great many things lately. Life was enough of a struggle as it currently was, he'd be sat on the couch with a truckload of ice cream if he would allow his mind to wonder about future problems as well.
He sighed and rolled up his sleeves. There was no use in hiding it for Grantaire, he was bound to see it anyway.
Grantaire didn't gasp or say much, just held his freckled muscly arm next to his own. There was a pretty turquoise colour with the transparency of an eyeshadow colour on his arm. Grantaire pressed Courfeyrac's mark but Courfeyrac focussed on Grantaire. His arm seemed childlike compared to Grantaire's. Scars from fights, past selfharm and cigarette butts hid under dark hair but their paleness stood out on his Mediterranean skin.

'Are you certain your colour is yellow?'
'Are you sure the grass is green? No wait, don't answer that. I'm not picking up a fight about colour with an artist again. Grantaire, I've left yellow marks on everyone.'
'Have you seen the marks you made on Combeferre?'
'As I said: no. He always wears long sleeves and at the time I panicked too much to look. Why do you keep asking? I'm not nagging about how you have to touch Enjolras.'
'You don't because you're a friend and you hate touching without permission since it means possibly invading someone's life.'
'Yeah, okay, that too.'
'I think I saw big golden marks on his arms on the spots you mentioned.'
Grantaire had touched them as well, asking if he could see the pretty colour whilThat would be e suggesting it would have been a great colour for Enjolras.
'That would be drawing the Apollo/Icarus parallels just a tad too far. I don't think Enjolras would fit the bill for gold though, based on what the government website says about the colours.'
Grantaire pretended obliviousness and asked what kind of amazing personality one would need to have to earn this expensive colour.
Combeferre kept drinking with Grantaire while the other remaining part of the group danced.
'I've never seen an unbonded person with such an opaque mark, have you?'
Comberre was drunk. He wouldn't be this directed if he wasn't either drunk, desperate or both. Is my mark on Courfeyrac as intense?
Grantaire couldn't lie so he had to watch Combeferre's heart shatter to pieces as he answered negatively. They both continued on pretending it wasn't about Courfeyrac.
'Perhaps you accidentally met your soulmate?' Combeferre shrugged.

'I know you care for him Courf, are you sure you are incapable of the four letter word?'
'Love has four letters. But then again, so has beer.' Grantaire sighed.
'Enjolras wants us at the protest regarding the rejection of the transgender professor at the biochemics department this afternoon. You haven't forgotten, have you? I heard there'll be a camera crew.'
'Probably some school newspaper looking for some angry student protest to film for their online platform.'

It wasn't, it was big. The boys had been so busy lately that they hadn't visited many news sites but almost every journal Enjolras had mailed had published an article about the problem. While they had been working on the document regarding soulmates the senate had announced they would be talking about the status, facilities and rights of trans people.
A huge anti-movement and a large group of sympathisers had shown up. Enjolras was glad so many had taken an interest and awareness about the topic had been spread. He'd been fine with this being a local small thing when Combeferre suggested he should pick the cases he wanted to put in a national or global context and not immediately blow every case of injustice out of proportion. Enjolras spoke well in front of a group but he didn't excel at keeping them calm. Not excelling being a complete understatement, he was great at rallying people and evoking very strong emotions which wasn't necessarily a great thing when speaking in front of a divided he crowd.
The group stuck close to the makeshift stage on which Enjolras stood. It wouldn't be the first time people came looking for a fight and after a few bad experiences they'd decided that they'd guard Enjolras to prevent him from being attacked or hitting back. They all had to stick to at least one other person in the group and run if they didn't see anyone else after two minutes. The less people got arrested or had to go to the hospital the better and the longer they stayed, the bigger the odds.

A boy in the crowd saw a familiar flash of red hair. He got closer. It was the boy from the tube with the eccentric clothes. His arms were completely covered, the spot where he thought he'd seen his name was particularly dark. Did he not wish to find his soulmate? Did he mind the ugly writing? It wouldn't be strange considering the gorgeous drawing and elegant writing that made him a living piece of art.
He'd thought someone with a handwriting like that would be sweet and gentle but he looked nothing short of passionate and had this ferocious look in his eyes like he would fight anyone who dared interrupt the blond speaker.
He took a deep breath and nodged and shoved until his blazer hit the ground. He got even closer and tried to showcase the name. It was quite selfish and inappropriate to solve romantic struggles during a protest about things that actually mattered but if he let the boy slip through his fingers this time he had no idea how he'd find him again.

The ginger was too enraptured by the speech but a curly haired boy winked at him and nodded reassuringly before moving over to the ginger. He was hugging him and whispering in his ear. His heart sank. Did he have a boyfriend? He didn't want to tear a relationship apart, he didn't even want his soulmate if it came at that expense.
But than why would the other boy wink?
Jehan looked around, eyes meeting those of his apparent soulmate. He was taken aback by how he was almost exactly his type. Messy brown hair, strong jaw, striped pants and dress shoes. He recognised his calligraphed name on his arm… His arm.
He hadn't even noticed at first but one arm was a prosthetic from the elbow down and the hand of his other one missed a few fingers. That explained a lot. His next feeling was curiousity: how did this boy – though he wasn't really a boy, he probably had a good couple of years on Jehan's nineteen year old self- know that Jehan was his soulmate? He had everything covered, literally.
Then the dread washed over him. How must he feel! What kind of impression must it make on him to see his mate all covered up? No, Jehan decided, he wasn't going to feel guilty. He knew when he started covering up that the chance of meeting his soulmate would decrease just like the chances increased of his soulmate pouting when they met. He had decided he didn't mind. He wanted his privacy, he liked writing beautiful poetry on his skin and letting Grantaire draw on him early in the morning when Courfeyrac was still sound asleep.
'Hey.' 'Hye.'
'I'm Jehan.' 'I know.'
Jehan bit his lip. 'I… I'm sorry, I don't know yours I'm sorry.'
Wild Hair got nervous and took a step back. 'No wait, not like that. I'm sorry, I can't read it. I have no idea who the name belongs to.'
'Me, I recognised my handwriting when we first met. I'm Nicholas.'
'We met before?'
'Yeah, we met in the tube. You were getting out while I was getting in. I thought I'd recognised my name and now I came here for the protest and recognised you.'
'You're British? I'm sorry, your accent sounds a bit off and no one uses the word tube around here.'
'Moved here two years ago.' The conversation felt a bit forced but at the same time very natural. 'Would you like to touch?' 'Yeah, I'd like that very much.'
They bumped arms and were blown away by how bright the purple and red looked. Red, he had another red mark now. Nicholas had seemed friendly and adorable but Jehan was really curious when he would get to see some of the other sides of his character the red promised.
'Oh my god, I didn't know a colour could be so-'
'No!'
A shot rung. A deadly silence fell over them. Jehan turned around. A bullet hole on the wall Enjolras had been standing in front of but Enjolras wasn't to be seen.
Then hell broke loose. People were fighting and running and the police officer who seemed only to patrol this small area was there immediately.
A shooting? Somebody was seriously so against whatever Enjolras said that they had attempted to kill him? Jehan ran for the stage. He only saw the group retreating out of a corner of his eye. He glanced and counted heads. They were complete. He grasped Nicholas' hand and ran, trying not think about the warm tingly feeling that spread from his hand to his heart.
Once they were in the clear Jehan looked at his phone. Combeferre and Enjolras' place
'Hey, I'm – well, my friends are going to the flat of a friend of mine. I really need to go and see them. I now it must be super weird and uncomfortable to just follow a random stranger to a strange place and I won't ask that of you, I'd just really like your number.'
'You can have my number, but I am willing to go.'
'You are?'
'Yeah, I just hope you're not a psycho who wants to kill his soulmate. Leap of faith.' He rubbed his thumb over Jehan's hand and Jehan almost melted. How could a hand gesture feel so intimate and right? Was this the bond? Was this attraction? He felt a poem bubbling up but supressed it. Really not the moment.
'Leap of faith', Jehan repeated with a smile.
The mood in the flat was better than was to be expected. Everyone was scared but mostly pissed that anyone had dared to shoot Enjolras. Courfeyrac was raging about freedom of speech, boorish conservatives and gun laws. Combeferre was talking to a shaken Musichetta and Bahorel, Marius and Feuilly were discussing safety measures and how sad of a world it was they lived in.
Cosette, Bossuet and Joly were discussing the affair over drinks, looking so mad they'd throw the glasses at the first person they'd see. Cosette was apparently very involved with activism, mentioning famous protests and protests she'd witnessed.
Bahorel was the first to notice Jehan. 'Thank god! You came out unscratched as well, we lost you there for a sec and who's the boy?'
Musichetta and Combeferre looked up. 'This is Nicholas and he's my soulmate.' 'What! No way, one hell of a timing I gotta say! Well, no time like the present, welcome', Bahorel laughed. Combeferre and Musichetta smiled. Cosette's group drifted closer. 'Hey, Nicholas. Long time no see!'
Nicholas turned towards Bossuet, a genuine smile tugging at his lips. 'You've got to be kidding What a coincidence!' The two of them hugged.
'We missing something?' Feuilly inquired.
'This chap and I went to high school together.'
'We were awful. We ended up in the hospital so much they suggested buying a stamp card.'
'Still sorry for your fingers though, you already had only one good arm to start with.'
' It's okay, you can really stop apologising. The firework was a bad idea.'
'A terrible idea really, by then you must have known Bossuet and his luck', Joly laughed. 'Yeah, well, I was overestimating yours and mine.'

Jehan approached Courfeyrac who was listening with amusement. 'Hey, where are Enjolras and Grantaire?'
'Talking thing over in his room.'
'Them? Talking? As in laying their cards on the table and having an honest conversation?'
'Yes?'
'And you didn't appoint anyone to monitor them?'
A beat.
'Should we have?' Courfeyrac asked innocently with slight panic in his eyes. 'I mean, we wanted to give them privacy and their conversation was long overdue… But speaking of… Given their history of fighting and dancing over each others emotions it might not have been the greatest of plans.'
'Why privacy though? What has changed that they suddenly wanted to talk?'
Courfeyrac stepped a bit closer, lowering his voice: 'It was Grantaire that saw the shooter and pulled Enjolras down. Not a second later the bullet hit the wall. Grantaire was all covered and Enjolras has Grantaire's colour splattered all over him at random bare spots.'
'How bright is the colour?'
'Soulmate bright, I know it. Just as dark as Musichetta, Joly and Bossuet's.'
'Oh.'
'Even Enjolras couldn't be oblivious to the fact that it were no average marks.'
'Poor R, I hope Enjolras, somewhere deep down there, doesn't completely despise the idea of soulmates.'
'Poor Enjolras you mean. R was looking incredibly pissed. He left just as bright marks. Meaning that he has just as much impact on Enjolras as Enjolras on him. He spent all this time thinking Enjolras hated him or barely liked him while it is public knowledge that R loves him. Enjolras must have R's name, he must have known and he chose to withhold that information from him. He chose to keep R thinking that even in a life designed around soulmates his love was one sided.'
'Grantaire has every right to be pissed though.'
'I care about Enjolras. R can be really horrible when he's angry and Enjolras is bad with emotions. He's as stubborn as a mule and has the emotional capabilities of a stone. He only knows Grantaire considers him attractive and he's in denial over the truthfulness of a bond not chosen by him and his partner. He probably things telling R was taking away his freedom of choice and that he couldn't have a relationship because other people are still struggling and suffering. You know him, he wouldn't want to be in a relationship in which he would neglect his partner because of his causes. Neither would he want to neglect his causes for a relationship. We might think it's possible to do both, but he might not.'
Jehan frowned, shaking his head. Enjolras could be so exasperating sometimes. He really loved him, but if that was true his way of thinking was so so wrong and so incredibly flawed.
'It's just so stupid.'
'He's right though. Courfeyrac has the amazing ability to guess exactly why someone acts the way they do.'
Courfeyrac jumped, clasping his hands over his heart. 'Combeferre, you startled me.'
'You know, Ferre?' Jehan asked.
'I do, he told me.'
'You told me you didn't.' Courfeyrac felt betrayed. His one best friend kept secrets from him and the other chose not to tell him as well.
'Not immediately. He only told me a week ago.'
'Why didn't you tell me?'
'I thought Enjolras would tell you. Besides, it was not my story to tell.'
Combeferre did keep secrets like no other, but not from him. His eyes pricked and a lump started forming in his throat. Is this what they had come to?
'Fine, I mean. Of course. I would hate it when people leaked my secrets as well. He had every right to keep it silent it's just… Well, you do understand you're out of the betting pool right? You had much more information than the rest of us.' He tried to smile but his joke fell between the three of them and vanished into nothingness.
'It's not because I know two people are supposed to end up together that I can exactly predict when it will happen. Nevertheless I agree, I was the only one aware of Enjolras' sentiments on the matter and guessing when a one sided love turns into a reciprocated loving relationship is much harder than predicting when two men who love each other will get .'

together

'Who wins the bet than?' Jehan wondered.
'Marius. Marius does.'
'Marius was in the bet?'
'Yeah.'
'When did he guess it would happen.'
'Within the month. All the other guesses started at July, most even later.'
'Hey Marius, come over here if you please? Bahorel, Feuilly, you can come as well.'
'If they come out of that room a couple, you have just won five hundred.'
'What- really? Cosette and I can go on so many dates together with that amount. Or we could go to Russia so I can finally speak it for real.'
'How did you know it would happen so soon though bro?' Bahorel asked.
Marius meekly smiled. 'The odds that a soulmate bond is one sided is incredibly small, like being struck by lightning small. Considering that and knowing that he'd see his soulmate every week I guessed it wouldn't take long. You can only spend so much time next to each other while hiding the truth and refraining from any touch.'
'Kid has a very solid point, I'm frightened sometimes by how equally oblivious and clever he can be', Feuilly sighed.
'I'm standing right next to you, you know? And should I take that as a compliment or?'
'Take it however you like. I still don't know why we decided this would be a bet with all the money going to the winner instead of dividing it under the participants based on how accurate their guesses were.'
'Because everyone was completely convinced they would win at the time', Bahorel explained.
The other conversation ended so they all sat down and chatted over a couple of drinks. Feuilly and Joly left because their shift would begin soon, Musichetta, Bossuet, Jehan and Nicholas left because the first couple had a private date night planned and the other couple thought a dinner would make a great first date.
As the door closed Bahorel looked at his watch. 'Okay, they've been in there three hours now, I'm gonna go up and listen in. Check if they at least haven't killed each other.'
Combeferre looked like he wanted to protest but Courfeyrac shook his head.
'We need to know.'
Bahorel reappeared grinning from ear to ear.
'They're not killing each other alright, au contraire mes amis, were they boy and girl I'd say they're making life.'
'What! No way!'
'I'm rich!'
'You're what?'
'We had a betting pool', Combeferre explained.
'And you participated? I expected better from you.'
Marius started stammering, looking for an excuse. She'd only known him for a day and he was already ruining it.
'How much?'
'Five hundred.'
'Nice job, well done sweetie.' She pecked him on the cheek making him turn red.
'We should leave, shouldn't we? We should give them a bit of privacy when they come out.'
They agreed and went to a local pizzeria. Things were comfortable. The horrible events of the afternoon disappearing with alcohol, pizza and laughter.
Combeferre seemed happy, he talked and laughed just like the rest of them. It had been a while since he saw Combeferre happy. Almost a month. A month had passed and they hadn't had one moment alone, he hadn't made Combeferre laugh once and Combeferre had kept secrets from him. It was so unlike their usual behaviour.
Even worse was the fact that by avoiding Combeferre he'd also accidentally avoided Enjolras who had obviously been in dire need of a friend who understood human emotions. Combeferre did but he was a strong advocate of "only listen, never comment or critique". Courfeyrac didn't, Courfeyrac called Enjolras out on his bullshit. Courfeyrac told Enjolras how other people's minds worked.
He tried to ignore the problems between them. He ignored the lump in his throat every time he realised he was losing his best friend. He wanted to focus on the now, on this precious happy moment. He took out his phone.
'Hey 'rel, look over here.'
'No man, you there with your phone again? Man, I never look great on camera. Doesn't do me justice.'
'Too great a beauty, camera can't take it is that right?' Courfeyrac grinned.
'Exactly right.'
When Courfeyrac's grin grew even more so that it threatened to split his face in two, Bahorel lowered his proudly raised head in suspicion. 'You're filming this aren't you you little shit?'
'I might.'
He quickly hid his phone and blew Bahorel a kiss. 'How you wound and taunt me, I don't know how I survive.'
'Well, you know what they say about weeds right?'
Bahorel looked at Marius who blew his own joke by turning red. 'Too stubborn to be destroyed.'
Bahorel laughed.
'If I'm weed than our dearly beloved Courfeyrac must surely be a rat. Likes to live in cities, can be found in the gutter and is the cause of all misery.'
'Excuse me, I'm not in the gutter that often. I have to be really properly drunk. And correction: all medieval misery. Times long gone, not so accurate anymore. Now I'm incredibly useful, always working my butt of to help find safe cures and pretty make-up for humans.'
'For now, soon you'll get rights to go back to your ratty existence thanks to the ban on animal testing', Cosette smiled.

'Yeah, missed my ratty existence. Those were the days man, freeloading on big ships, frequenting every house I liked without paying rent, pity my tenants always died but oh, collateral damage one learns to live with. Easy come, easy go, no attachments.'
'Is that the rat or Courf speaking?'
Courfeyrac gasped in mock hurt. He couldn't keep it up though and started smiling.
'I thought I was the rat.'
'Go have some experiment done to you.'
'Ferre could always experiment anatomy on .'
Combeferre choked on his drink. It was nowhere near a good joke, or even a plausible one. The anatomical build of almost every living creature was documented meaning he didn't need to dissect animals.
'I'm a docter, not a veterinarian.'
'Surely some things are the same?'
'In different locations and of different volumes yes. Though most creatures tend to have a heart. So you'd make a great study object.'
Everyone oohed and Bahorel high fived Combeferre.
Courfeyrac pouted.
'Are you talking about humans, rats or me?'
'Well, two of those species have hearts.'
'I feel shocked and betrayed, Auguste Combeferre. Methinks thou werest my freind.'
Combeferre couldn't hide a smile.
'Wasn't it you that claimed that friends showed their love by taunting each other?'
'You remember too well, oh bespectacled one.'

.

11:06 AM

CourfRockYa: I wanna see a movie
captainrogers: why don't you
R: hes askig who wnats to join him
CourfRockYa: you're a rotten crowd, I'm worth the whole damn bunch put together. I always tag along when you guys want to do something
CookFerre: which one?
CourfRockYa: dunno, civil war, xmen, jungle book
R: want them all #struggles
BoxClassHero: you typin in hashtags now R? another man has fallen prey
BoxClassHero: xmen and jungle book btw, already promised someone I'd go to cw with them
R: same, cw is a thing I've promised to watch with those two persons and only them
BoxClassHero: hehe
R: hehe

2: 03 PM

PeterPan: prioritising cap 'n x
Maricuddles: jungle book and xman
Cosette: ditto

captainrogers: Since when is she added to the group?
captainrogers: Not that you're not welcome, you completely are
SurrogateMom: xmen and cw
captainrogers: Jungle Book by the way.
JollyJoly: noooo, now we're gonna have to go to jungle book
Cosette: why?
CookFerre: Enjolras is oftentimes not the one with the most popular opinions when we're deciding on going somewhere, but since he so often skips because he always has things to do we immediately prioritise his opinion when he does want to go to something fun and social.
captainrogers: A theater is the polar opposite of social
Cosette: ever been to the movies with your partner Enjolras?
captainrogers: Never had boyfriend till now
R: arghfj
captainrogers: Grantaire why are you making high pitched noises?
captainrogers: He's lying on the ground
captainrogers: Is he broken? How do I fix this?
Cosette: stop typing and looking at him like you're some host of a wildlife show. ACTION

CourfRockYa: fools in love, isn't it sweet
SurrogateMom: when are we going dear?
CourfRockYa: I'm in the Musain atm so I'm gonna hang a poll in the backroom, since everyone comes here at least once a day ya all can come and choose a date.

R: its official zomg cantbelieve it… allm that time

'Guys, remember when we agreed to go to each other's gala?'
'As we did.'
'Well, mine's in three weeks. I know it's a short time notice but I wondered if you'd come.'
'Of course we will Marius, besides, three weeks is plenty of time.'
'I think he apologised in regards to us', Musichetta explained. 'One does not find a dress easily.'
'Marius, could I ask a friend to come? She hasn't been to a single one yet this year I think.'
'Which friend?' 'Eponine.'
'You know Eponine?'
'A long time. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised you know her. You two act so similar sometimes.'
'I went to high school with her, used to have the same employer.' Grantaire bit his cheek. 'Anyways, she's been to my gala.'
'Yeah? Than we must know her', Combeferre pointed out.
'The one with the black hair in the black high-low dress with sheer fabric and lace.'
'The one with the legs for days and the dangerous look in her eyes?' Combeferre guessed.
'That very one', Grantaire nodded proudly.
'Some people have a resting bitch face, she has a "just try anything funny and I'll fuck you up" face. She's sweet though, very protective of her friends.'
'Wouldn't call it sweet Cosette, you might mislead them. It's rather caring than sweet.'

It wasn't until a week later while Courfeyrac was furiously slamming his fingers on the keyboard of his laptop that he was confronted again with the subject.
Cosette brought four giant mugs to the counter of the Musain and shoved the other five away. 'So, who are you taking?'
'Who?'
'To the gala, Courf.'
'What gala?'
'Marius' gala, you promised to come remember?'
'Oh, sorry. I wasn't immediately listening. I was finishing my sentence. How fare you, dear Cosette? To answer your question I didn't think we'd require dates. Thought we'd go as a group.'
'We are, but next to Feuilly, Bahorel, Combeferre and you everyone of our group is in a relationship.'
'Weren't you taking a female friend?'
'I've matched her and Feuilly already.'
'I thought we were friends!' He abandoned his laptop and closed his hands around the mug that still contained coffee of the strongest blend. He pouted before bringing the mug to his lips.
'Yuck, turned cold', he explained while spitting the contents back in it. Cosette rolled her eyes and put the mug aside.
'Eponine can be quite… strong. I put her up with Feuilly because he's least likely to evoke something, he knows how to treat a date properly- you too, but she likes to have things her ways and in her time. You two might enjoy each other's company but you act too intimate, she needs to feel free. Feuilly's fine with everything, at least for one evening, they share the same snarky humour, they can fraternize about their tough jobs, the ridiculous fanciness of it all.'
'What fanciness? It's just a gala. It's a simple black tie and one glass of champagne and a picture before the high heels go off and people start to drink beer and dance.'
'You've been to gala's since you were a child Courf, your father's a banker and your mom an industrial engineer. You don't see it the way others do.'
'I know I'm privileged but it has never interfered with my ability to get along, I'm not a snob. Or at least I try very very much to avoid ever thinking or acting that way. If I have aced that way please tell-'
'No Courf, it's not that. Some people are simply more comfortable around people who've been through the same things.'
'Okay, I guess.'
'Would you mind going with Combeferre?'
'Combeferre, why would I go with Combeferre? I mean, we're friends and all but-'
'Because I thought I'd be fun to keep the group as small as possible with everyone knowing each other. A friends date is not so bad, is it?'
'No, it isn't. You're right. If Combeferre agrees, it's fine with me.'
'Perfect! Oh and Courfeyrac, Marius failed to tell but it's masquerade themed.'
'Nice, I believe I've got a mask laying around from another one so I'm good.'
'Great. I'm so glad you agreed.'
'Why wouldn't I agree? Ferre is my best friend along with Enjolras. You know they call us the triumvirate, don't you?'
'What, you go around killing and battling each other?'
'What?'
'Just teasing, I minor in history and this semester I have a class about antiquity', she giggled before pressing a kiss on his cheek.
'I know doll, they all call you the triumvirate. I must say though, besides the protest I haven't noticed much of the three of you acting like triplets. But Marius says it had to do with all the disrupted dynamics after the soulbonding. But it'll be better now that all problems are off the table and almost everyone has found their mate or partner, right?'
'Yeah, totes. I'm really glad everyone figured their stuff out ya know? You could feel the tension sometimes.'
'See you around, Courf.'
'Laters! Tell Marius I said hi.'
'I will!'
Once she was out of side he let his head fall in his hands. He pulled his hair.
He had to get his shit together. Otherwise what was supposed to be one of the easiest and most fun dates of his life would turn out to be the most awkward one. He ordered a coffee with a teeth rotting amount of cream and syrup while mulling over several options.

Nobody was surprised by his change of behaviour, probably because he'd only been behaving oddly for a month. His friends were used to Courfeyrac swapping places for meetings on end. He oftentimes sat beside someone he realised he'd given a bit less attention the weeks before or someone who seemed like they needed a companion to cheer them up.
Sometimes Courfeyrac was this overflowing vessel of ideas and sometimes he really didn't know how to contribute. This strongly varying pattern never made it conspicuous when he did intentionally remain in the back of the room both literally and figuratively and the same disinterest was shown when he sat beside Enjolras right in front of Combeferre during the meeting that evening. He'd composed a long list of points he wanted to talk about regarding topics Enjolras would discuss. When those moments came, Combeferre noted everything down, objecting and agreeing an incredible amount as per usual. God, he seemed so happy and relaxed for once Courfeyrac wanted to keep that look on his face. It just felt so right to have the three of them at the top of the table again discussing everything. He met Cosette's gaze from across the table. She smiled at him, raising her shoulders. 'Well there I have it I guess."
The meeting ended with Enjolras and Grantaire bickering about a very minor detail.
'Your point might be good but that word just has to be changed.'
'Why, it's the correct word.'
'It has a negative connotation. Yes, it can be used as a synonym but you'd better go for something a bit more vague. If people can interpret you might attract a bigger audience and the stronger and more radical it sounds the more people, even some who are convinced of the same thing might feel less inclined to support you.'
'R, come on. You're being difficult. And why didn't you tell me last night when I was adding this point?'
'I was trying to save the poor innocent pancake you were slowly killing. God, I went to the bathroom for like, two minutes and you already ruined it sweetheart. We'll really need to work on it. It isn't that hard. Combeferre makes great progress.'
'Combeferre makes great progress at what?'
'Cooking and baking of course, he did take up that offer for private lessons.'
'Really?'
'I figured it might come in handy in the future', Combeferre shrugged.
'Don't worry though Courfeyrac, nobody makes Italian like you, except maybe me. If I'm allowed to be on equal footing.'
'You totally are, R', Courfeyrac grinned.
'Pun noted, fashionboy.'

'Jehan, tell me how handsome I am.'
'You do know how Narcissus found his end, right?'
'C'mon.'
'Dazzling Courfeyrac, like a nineteenth century dandy. Now don't go picking up underage Adonislike boys.'
'Jehan, do try to be a bit more subtle when you're reciting a burns list.'
'I'm sorry, can't help myself.'
'You're a wicked tease for someone who looks like they came from heaven.'
'I didn't come from heaven but I did scratch my knees a couple of times while crawling out of hell.'
'For some reason I believe you.'
'Of course you do, just look at me. The evidence is right there: I'm devilishly handsome.'
Courfeyrac sniggered and patted Jehan on the shoulder. His red hair was in a voluptuous bun. A venetian mask hung around his neck. It had been plain white but Jehan had managed to give it a batik look with five pastel colours and afterwards he'd decorated it with a silver and golden marker. It was truly terrific. Jehan wore the same three piece suit he'd worn when he dressed up as the Joker for Halloween.
Courfeyrac, having made a deal with Grantaire and Jehan that gala's could use some colour, wore a red blazer and pants with a a white shirt and black tie. Jehan said it made the auburn of his hair stand out even more. The venetian mask Grantaire had made for him two years ago fitted the look perfectly. Golden sculpted details, golden glitters, red and black. It was a piece of art. Literally, it had earned Grantaire an 18/20.
He felt nervously excited. He loved the look but it was one thing to stand out because of his personality and another because of his attire. But he would pull it off. He'd made almost every fashion statement there was to make except dresses and skirts. Though he would never wear jumpsuits again, the agony, he'd done it a couple of times. He couldn't wait to see the reactions.

The door of Enjolras and Combeferre's apartment was ajar and a lot of noise came from behind it. The living room seemed overly full. Girl strutting around, billowing skirts sweeping and rustling behind them, boys drinking and singing along with the radio. A loud argument about ties and an Enjolras at the brink of a nervous breakdown in black pants, two pairs of shoes in his hands and nothing else.
Grantaire's name was on one of Enjolras' upper ribs. It was artsy with lots of twirls and leaves. He didn't know names could be decorative. Jehan's was just a name, albeit sloppily written but Nicholas did have a very pretty version of Jehan's name. Enjolras' name looked pretty normal on Grantaire's back but his was very decorative apparently. But Bossuet, Musichetta and Joly all had normal looking names though Combeferre's name looked like the calibri 11 of soulmate marks. Would his name look weird? Did it have to do with how creative your soulmate was? Grantaire and Jehan were very creative, it could be. It didn't have to do with ego that much was clear already.
'Apollo, why the distress?'
'They're driving me mad. Absolutely mad. Everyone's shouting "wear this" "wear that" "do your hair this way" "no, that way!" I'm sick of it.'
'Come, I'll help you. You're right. They're a mad bunch.'
'I can help.'
That was when Enjolras finally focussed on the odd trio. 'R, you look… You look.'
'Less dishevelled than usual? I abandoned my "hobo woodchopper hipster unchique" as Jehan would call it.'
'I would? I still call it that way.'
'Gorgeous.' It sounded strangled.
Grantaire's mouth fell open but he couldn't form any words. 'Th- thanks.'
'Thank you for the offer, Grantaire. But you'll see him when he's ready. I'll make your mouth drop.'
'Please don't, he's already delirious every time he sees Enjolras for the first couple of seconds. You'll give the man a heart attack if you pretty him up even more than usual.'
'Well, he has challenged me by naming him Apollo. He's already a god, where do I go from there?' she laughed and pushed Enjolras through the hallway.
'Drinks?' 'Thanks, Nicholas.' The glass felt odd in his gloved hands but he didn't want to take them off since he'd probably lose them.
The organisers had imposed gloves out of respect for everyone's privacy. Besides, next to no one liked having hands that looked like a colourbomb exploded on them for the rest of their lives.

'Should have told me you would dress like that.' 'Why, would you give me a pretty red corsage?'
Combeferre rolled his eyes. 'No.' He was dressed in a two piece with a crisp white shirt and a thick light blue tie. He always wore his shirt collars pretty high lately. 'Would have brought my defibrillator to help the poor souls who would lay their eyes on you.'
'Not too late yet. Besides, that'd be completely useless. The second they wake up and look up they'll faint again.'
'We're going to pretend I'm handsome now?'
'Well you do have a pair of fine eyes.'
'Are you really quoting Pride and Predjudice?'
'I might.'
'Goofball.'
'Your goofball tonight.'
'Courfeyrac, meet Eponine- again.'
Courfeyrac's first thought was stunning, the next skinny. The dress was jet black and supertight with a split that stopped not four inches away from her hip. Her body was transparent lace except the cups. Her nose was crooked but her jaw strong. The red lips looked like a poison and invitation at the same time and the jet black eyes surrounded by black pencil, eyeshadow and liner just drew you in.
'Enchanté', he said and bowed.
'Finally, someone with proper manners.'
'Combeferre shook her hand. Her gloves reached up to halfway her biceps. Her cleavage was deep and her back was completely devoid of any fabric. Courfeyrac wondered where her mark was. And she didn't have any colours on her as far as he saw which made him a bit uneasy. He tried telling himself that almost 80 percent of all marks were on the arms but it didn't help.

When Enjolras did come out it became obvious Cosette had succeeded. His hair which usually gave him a Chris Hemsworth- Thor vibe, was curled loosely. The dark blue suit was obviously custom made designer and his tie was the same colour as Grantaire's suit. It seemed too coincidental that Enjolras, who never wore green, had a bottle green tie lying around his apartment. Oh, wait. He did recognise the tie. To be more exact, he recognised the tie pin with Ravenclaw insignia. It was a tie from Combeferre.
'Damn Cosette, you want to break me?'
'You like it?'
'hell, do I like it he asks? Can't he see I need a doctor over here!'
Which Marius took as his cue to shout: 'Is there a doctor in the room?'
'Present!' Joly and Combeferre laughed.
'Think we might need those defibrillators after all.'
Cosette was right about Eponine. She was funny, but sometimes she was incredibly serious. She'd slapped two guys who'd grasped her hips to dance with her and disappeared about three times. But she did dance with Feuilly and she did pose with them for pictures. She and Grantaire took off constantly to smoke. Enjolras almost broke a glass the tenth time it happened bearing a very sour look when Grantaire came back and tried to kiss him with the smell of cigarettes still clinging to him.
Combeferre and Courfeyrac had fun throughout and Courfeyrac enjoyed being able to carelessly touch and jest again. Somehow being more covered up made him feel more open.
'It's three o'clock and they still haven't played more than one slow number.'
'The DJ's will change in five minutes. Maybe they kept it until the overall cheer quieted down a bit.'
'Perhaps.'
Half an hour later they were still dancing together. The new DJ had a "three partner dances, one pop song or horrible 80's song" rule, which was fine by Courfeyrac. Just as fine as how soft Combeferre's suit felt against his cheek while a suit shouldn't be comfortable.
'am tired com'ferre.'
'So I notice.'
'What time is it?'
'Way to early for Courfeyrac to be tired normally.'
'How 's rest?'
'I can't see everyone.' He twirled Courfeyrac around.
'I can't see Bahorel, Enjolras or Grantaire. Bossuet is sitting on a chair at our table asleep. Everyone else is dancing. Well, Feuilly and Eponine look more like they're doing Dancing With The Stars but mostly dancing.'
'Damn, so I'm the first one to give up.'
'It's okay. You need your beauty sleep.'
'Yeah, it's tiring being this perfect', he mumbled smilingly against the soft blazer. He let his fingers trail over Combeferre's back to feel the fabric.
Combeferre inhaled deeply. 'Okay. I'm taking you home.' He twirled and danced, the room a blur of party lights, marble and dark wood, then he was suddenly sitting and leaning against a sleeping Bossuet.
'Wait here for a bit.'
Courfeyrac breathed in and sat up straight, rubbing his eyes. It was true that many of his friends were still dancing but there were barely hundred people left. The space felt empty.
'Okay, c'mere.'
Combeferre shoved an arm underneath Courfeyrac's and helped him up. 'I'm okay Ferre. I'm a bit more awake now.'
'The slurring disappeared.'
'I slurred? Damn, I definitely zoned out a bit there.' And he did again during the car ride. When he woke up he was still fully dressed save his shoes. His suit was all crinkled, that would have to be dry cleaned. He was glad though. Waking up covered in those bright blue marks would have been very uncomfortable and he would have to have the talk with Combeferre then. But he really couldn't afford soulmate distractions. They were only two weeks removed from exams and Courfeyrac was as prepared as any megalomaniac ruler for Russian winter.

.

A week later they held their last meeting of the school year. Courfeyrac's final paper wasn't due until the week after his exams. He had decided he wanted his paper completely done before they started so he could completely focus on his exams. Reality wasn't like that. In reality that ship had set sail when by the time may ended he still only had some six thousand words, appendices included. When the time came to throw a party to celebrate the end of the exams, Courfeyrac jumped by for two hours and immediately got back to work. It was awful. It was stressful and his back hurt like hell after being stuck in the same position for eight hours a day, four weeks on end.
The library was buzzing with students like him though and a couple of unfortunate students who had very late exams. They all looked drained, all their laptops surrounded by thermos and Styrofoam coffee cups. Almost all the guys had beards so Courfeyrac didn't feel too bad about his four days stubble.
It was nice though. Everyone suffering together in silence, smoking a cigarette from his emergency packet in the enclosed garden of the college building when he needed a break
'Hello, could you please? Courfeyrac?!'
'Oh, hi, Combeferre.'
'Are you still working on that paper.'
'Yeah, but I'm just checking the bibliography a final time. Can't believe I'm done already and I still have the whole afternoon to enjoy myself and two days to hand it in.'
'Courf, it's my shift in the library. It's ten o'clock. We're closing.'
'What?' He stood and turned around looking for the nearest window. It was almost completely dark. 'Oh man. Give me five more minutes?' 'Yeah sure, I'll be shooing away the others.'
He finished checking his last six sources and with a tired but contented sigh closed his laptop. Sending would be for tomorrow. He would send it around midday like a responsible student.
He packed his stuff. Combeferre was sitting on a chair behind the front desk checking his phone.
'All packed up?'
'Jup.'
He stood and locked everything.
'So, summer can finally begin for you.'
'Yeah, I'm so happy I'm done', he exclaimed before failing to suppress a yawn. They walked together as far as their paths matched.
'Get a good night's rest Courf.'
'Thanks, you too.'
The night was warm and Combeferre's smile was kind and Courfeyrac wondered why he didn't want to commit to the man he'd been in love with for so long. Because it was love, he realised, not some accidental crush on his best friend. If it were he wouldn't have been so afraid of hurting Combeferre's feelings. If so his heart wouldn't break each time Combeferre didn't smile. If it was a crush it would have passed by now instead of having an eternal sign of love in the shape of Combeferre's name around his wrist.

Courfeyraw was lying against the wall while sitting in a large old fashioned chair. Between his hands a triple caramel macchiato.
In front of him a book. He was still stuck at the same page as he was on twenty minutes ago. He'd only wanted to sit and relax but he was still too tired to start reading.
Combeferre walked in and spotted the miserable puddle of brightly coloured clothes against the wall.
Musichetta handed him his regular.
'Feeling a bit rested?' A male voice asked.
'Still on a caffeine IV I'm afraid', Courfeyrac sighed.
'May I?'
'Oh do.'

'Aren't you like choking? It's incredibly hot outside and even in here it's barely bearable.'
Their eyes met. He had this calculating look in his eyes. What is Combeferre looking for?
'You know what? You're right. It is way too hot.'
He unbuttoned his sleeves, rolling them up until they were above his elbows. Grantaire was right. At the spots Courfeyrac had touched him was nothing to be seen but gold. The purest opaquest gold.
Nothing around it came even close to yellow. Either he hadn't left a single mark at all or-
or his colour was indeed gold but he'd never forged an intense enough bond with anyone else to show the colour to the fullest.
Courfeyrac put down his mug, on his guard.
'Combeferre', he squeaked meekly.
Combeferre ignored him and brought his hand up to his collar. Courfeyrac bit his lip. He could only stare in awe. He had not counted on this. Hadn't counted on it happening now. He didn't know how he got here. But Combeferre looked incredibly determined and a tad scared.
Slowly more and more ink became visible. It seemed to loop around his neck starting at his clavicles.
An O with a smiley in it was staring right at him.
'Please say something', Combeferre pressed.
Courfeyrac hadn't realised he'd been staring at Combeferre's neck in silence.

'A smiley?'
Would his name look weird? Did it have to do with how creative your soulmate was? Grantaire and Jehan were very creative, it could be.
'Well, that answers that question.'
'What question? Courfeyrac, you're really keeping me on an edge here.'
' All of my personality reduced to a smiley?' He shook his head.
'I'm sorry Combeferre,' a slight panic rose to Combeferre's eyes as Courfeyrac said so, 'should have talked about it sooner. I just was so incredibly afraid I'd fuck it up.'
'I have faith in you.'
Their hands instinctively reached for each other across the table. All marks on Combeferre's hands got covered in an intense golden glow.
'I am gold, so it's true.'
'You didn't know?'
'No, I haven't left that kind of colour on anyone before.'
'Courfeyrac, may I please see my marks and name?'
'Oh, yeah sure.' Courfeyrac rolled up his sleeves. A tiny smile appeared on Combeferre's face.
'Is the name somewhere private? If it is, I don't need to see it, I won't ask that of you.'
'It's okay. It's hidden in plain sight. Really, it might have actually bitten you on multiple occasions.'
Combeferre frowned, his frown deepening and becoming incredulous when Courfeyrac started fidgeting with his watch.
'You have to be kidding me.'
There it was, the stripe of white skin a stark contrast against his otherwise bronze skin, the black letters small and neat.
'Why can't I say I am surprised.'
'It kinda suits you.'
'At least it's legible, that's more than I can say from most of my writing.'
'Well you are a doctor to be, you've got stereotypes to keep up. I mean, no one takes a doctor serious who writes well.'
Combeferre smiled at him with such affection it felt almost too intimate for a public space.
Courfeyrac licked his lips that had suddenly become very dry. Was this happening? Was he really getting into a relationship with his best friend? Why didn't he suddenly feel scared anymore? Why had he ever felt nervous? He was only excited.

'Pack your stuff, we're leaving.'
'Why?'
'Because I don't believe I'll be able to stop once I start kissing you and now that I know I can it's growing more and more difficult to keep my hands off you with every passing second.'

If you would ask Courfeyrac how the trip to the apartment felt he'd tell you he didn't remember anything except his belly making the weirdest kinds of turns and twists. He hadn't even fully closed the door behind him or searing hot lips were pressed against his. If it had been hot before, Courfeyrac was now really properly overheated. His heartbeat picked up while he threw his arms around Combeferre's neck.
Combeferre's lips left Courfeyrac's lips. He rubbed his check against Courfeyrac's stubble. The sounds he made were so arousing they should record them and sell them as Viagra.
'You were really teasing me with that beard Courfeyrac. That was just… mmm, taunting me.'
Courfeyrac mowled. That was when Combeferre's lips went lower and closed around his neck. Courfeyrac started popping Combeferre's buttons. If Courfeyrac was a tease for being too tired to shave than Combeferre was even worse because a button-up that fitted him so tightly couldn't have been anything other than deliberately chosen.
Combeferre let his arms fall down so Courfeyrac could tug it off. He felt ribs, , the dent of his spine, broad shoulders, muscle? He didn't know Combeferre worked out.
Not a second later Combeferre displayed said muscle when he scooped Courfeyrac up and effortlessly carried him to the bedroom.
Now goose bumps rose all over his skin. This was really happening.
He reached for Combeferre covering him all in gold. He looked like a golden statue with his aristocratic features and lean glittery limbs.
'I'm not moving too fast am I?' 'No, no n- just no. Come here.'

Combeferre stiffened when Courfeyrac put his teeth at the hem of his boxers. 'Whmat? Smuwtheng wong?'
'I've, I'm sorry. I didn't see my virginity being a problem but I do think I should mention I have no idea what I'm doing.'
Courfeyrac came up again.
'Combeferre, this is serious for you', Courfeyrac said while laying his hands on Combeferre's shoulders.
'Are you sure you want to have this all at once, at this speed?'
'I don't care. Honestly, I don't get the pampering, I don't want it. I just need a bit of guidance. Please, I don't want to slow down now.'
'If you are certain.'
'I am, I'm twenty-one and I've dreamt about doing this with you for years, please. Don't, don't make me feel like a child now. It's quite a turn off.'
'Oh no, wouldn't want that', Courfeyrac said trying to crack a smile.
'Let's see how we can avoid that.'
Courfeyrac lowered himself again pulling off the boxers and started nibbling on the inside of his thigh. 'So, you want to top or will I? Both are possible, bottoming might be better or it might not. The preparation can be unpleasant while I could even do it myself.'
'I'd I- Courfeyrac, could you please stop a second so I can think?'
Courfeyrac grinned and swept his tongue over his cock one more time before coming up.
'I'd like to top.'
'Than you will. Give me a couple of minutes.'
Once Courfeyrac was ready and had prepared Combeferre as well he grinned at Combeferre.
'Come on, even the sex talk of your parents must have told you about what will happen now.'
'Courf, please.'
'Sorry darling, couldn't help myself.'
Combeferre positioned himself and pulled Courfeyrac's hair at the same time.
'Show some respect, smileypants.'
A sound that really wasn't meant to be so high-pitched left his throat. Combeferre pressed his lips against his.
'You can come down a bit more. Slowly! Yeah, yeah. Okay, great. Oh man, actually terrific.'
'Less talking, more kissing.'
'As you wish', he sighed before letting his tongue slide across Comberre's lips. They opened slowly. He tasted like coffee and gum. Wait, the gum was still in there. That was simply too tempting.
Combeferre pulled back turning every lovely shade of red.
'Did you just steal my gum?'
Courfeyrac stuck his tongue out, a green gum lying on it. He took it and stuck it to the box of tissues.
Combeferre shook his head and buried his nose between Courfeyracs clavicles.
'Faster please.'
'What?'
'We're on a mission here, remember?'
They were lovely mess cracking jokes and teasing each other. Combeferre wasn't a natural, but he didn't have to be. The fresh lust and love didn't require much stimulation to get him to the edge. After making Combeferre come, Combeferre risked a trip downwards. Combeferre was able to take him whole and just after the third brush of his tongue Courfeyrac came shouting his name.
'Oh babe, oh com, oh ferre. Damn.'
Combeferre plopped down beside him. Courfeyrac crawled towards him and draped himself over Combeferre. His heart was beating fast as well.
'I love you, you know. I think I've been in love with you for quite a while now. I just didn't realise it myself.'
'I love you too.'

'Courfeyrac! Do you want us to be robbed? Why the hell didn't you lock the door? It was ajar! For fuck's sake!'

The End.