A/N: Allo! This be me, Kira-Chan, the illustrious author!

Ehm.....Well, I have nothing much to say, except that I am completely surprised that this story has made it this far (And all the way to ch. 16 in my written version. O_O)

Yay!

Also, it kinda feels like Kiera and Courfeyrac switch emotional places for the next few chapters. Which is kind of entertaining at times. :)

Anyway, still not owning anyone.

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Chapter 12: One Step Closer

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"For once, it's not me running around looking for a job!"

Kiera laughed as she and Courfeyrac wandered down the streets of Paris. As it was nearly the middle of May, the weather had warmed considerably, and the streets were crowded with Parisians out enjoying the sun. Kiera and Combeferre had been paying all of the expenses while Courfeyrac tried desperately to find a job. Kiera offered to get one at the factory, but they both knew that that would never be enough to support the both of them. She also made the offer to leave and get her own apartment again, but he shot that down automatically.

"I still can't believe how hard this is..." Courfeyrac sighed, to which Kiera laughed sadly.

"I told you that when I was out looking the last time. And this will be considerably harder, considering how much you would have to make if you sincerely wish to continue supporting the both of us."

"I told you, you don't have to leave. Now, if only Feuilly wasn't busy..." he muttered. "He'd be a ton of help."

"Just hush and keep on walking, we're almost there."

They walked in silence until they came upon the building they were searching for. It was a large house, where they had been told the man of the house was in need of a well-learned clerk. And, as an added bonus, he was rich, and paid well. But this being the fourth they had tried in this single day alone, they weren't too optimistic.

"Well, nothing for it, I guess." Kiera sighed, to which Courfeyrac replied.

"Let's just get this over with...."

…..........................

"Congratulations on getting your first job!"

"Merci, mon ami!" Courfeyrac said to Joly, and laughed in relief. "I am still simply agog! Ah what luck, what happiness...and what wages!"

"Ten francs a day..." Kiera said, smiling. "We can have enough for everything, and then some!"

"We can get you something nice!" Courfeyrac said jovially.

"But how are you going to juggle your school on top of work?" Enjolras inquired, and Courfeyrac mellowed slightly.

"I....I'll manage, I guess. My new boss did say that I was excused to go to my classes, and be there when I am not."

"That sounds like a lot of work, Courfeyrac." Combeferre said worriedly. "Are you sure that you will be able to handle this all at once?"

"I believe I can manage." Courfeyrac replied crisply. "Must you always sour my mood?"

"But you do need to watch yourself." Kiera said. "Make sure you don't overwork yourself."

"Thank you, Mademoiselle Hypocrite."

Kiera sighed, shaking her head.

"I could have gotten a different job, Courfeyrac; you know I have experience, and I am not currently attempting to graduate from college."

"You work enough already." Bossuet said. "More than any woman should. You should be at home, watering the flowers and cooking Courfeyrac's dinner."

"Sounds like fun..." She grumbled sarcastically. "But I think I'll pass."

Everyone laughed as more wine was poured and the night grew old.

…................

The next morning found Kiera and Courfeyrac both heading off to work. It was a Saturday, so Courfeyrac had only one lecture class that evening.

"You don't have to drop me off everyday." Kiera sighed. "You make me feel like such a child."

"You are only Seventeen years old, Kiera."

"In other words, I am a young woman." She replied. "Hell, anyone who lives on the streets here quickly cross into adulthood."

Courfeyrac just nodded distractedly, his mind on the day ahead of him, and the many after it. He was nervous, having never needed to have a real job before. He was going to school for law, and he had never planned on working until he had completed his schooling. But nothing ever went as planned, he had now realized. He had never considered his father disowning him, never imagined a girl such as Kiera waltzing into his life. Life was full of surprises; and that was why it annoyed him.

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"Courfeyrac...."

"Five more minutes, Maman...." The student muttered at Enjolras. It was later that evening, and the two of them were the only ones still left in the café. Kiera had left hours ago, but she had left him asleep at the table, mostly because there was no way she could could carry him home. Enjolras sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair.

"Courfeyrac, get up,s'il-vousplaît."

"Non n'aime pas..." Courfeyrac mumbled, and Enjolras sighed.

"S'il-vousplaît, Nicolas, you need to get up."

"Wha...?" The dark-haired student blinked open his eyes. "Where am I? What happened to Kiera and the others?"

"They left awhile ago. You should get home, Nicolas" Enjolras replied, "Before Kiera gets worried."

"You haven't called me that in a while..." Courfeyrac smiled wearily. "You never use our first names anymore."

"I suppose it just...isn't very formal." Enjolras sighed. "It's just not the way it used to be, Courfeyrac."

"I know..." Courfeyrac said sadly. "Well, I better head home and catch what sleep I may. Bon soir, Apollo."

Enjolras sighed, but replied with a smile.

"Bon soir, Nicolas."

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The next week went by in more of the same fashion. Courfeyrac was once again falling asleep at the café more often than not, his work on top of school and everyday life appearing to tire him immensely. Kiera was worried, and she told him so, but he simply waved it off. They were fighting more and more often, Courfeyrac's tiredness only adding to his temper, as well as hers. After one such fight the second week, Kiera had marched out in anger, deciding to attempt to calm herself by taking a walk in the Luxembourg Gardens. It was there that she happened upon a particularly dreamy Marius.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Marius."

It took him a moment to recognize the girl in front of him.

"Hm? Oh, bonjour, Kiera; I almost didn't recognize you, all dressed up like that."

"I don't have to work today." She replied, slumping onto a bench. "But Courfeyrac does. I won't see him again until late tonight. Stubborn ass..." She added moodily. Marius sighed as well, sitting beside her.

"Ah, yes, Bossuet told me everything. I imagine it's hard on the poor man."

"It is." She muttered. "Which has made him really short-tempered lately. I just don't understand that man."

"I don't think anyone truly does, Kiera." Marius said ruefully. "He's an enigma himself; but I think that's maybe why he's so popular..."

"Or it could be that every single bloody thing is a joke to him." Kiera sighed again. "I don't want to fight with him, but I know there are ways that I can help as well."

"As you said," Marius said, standing up, "He is a stubborn ass. Ábientôt, Kiera."

She just nodded in response, staring at the sky, going over in her mind what had just been discussed.

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"Bon soir, mes amis...."

An exhausted Courfeyrac wandered into the café two days later for a meeting. Enjolras and Combeferre were the only ones missing, since it was an earlier meeting and they were just finishing class. Courfeyrac decided to take advantage of this and went over to his usual corner table with Kiera and Feuilly. As he leaned wearily onto the table, Kiera stared, her green eyes so full of worry that he felt guilty. Although, perhaps this was a bit of a comeback for doing the same to him....Not that he thought of it in that way. Or did he? His tired mind could not comprehend such complicated thoughts these days. He had been yelled at many times the past two weeks for falling asleep or zoning out in class. Just as he was now.....

He snapped awake what seemed seconds later at the sound of hushed voices. The first thing he noticed was that it had gotten dark , and Enjolras and Combeferre had sat down at their table, conversing quietly with Kiera and Feuilly.

"What's happening?" He yawned, stretching his arms. Enjolras looked up from the sheet he had been writing on.

"General Lamarque has fallen ill, and rumour says he may not last long. The time is close."

"Really?" Courfeyrac said, sitting up straight in shock.

"Oui, mon ami." Combeferre sighed. "All of the groups have agreed. Should he die, his funeral will be the sign, our signal to begin."

"Merde..." Courfeyrac breathed. "So soon..."

"Tell me about it." Kiera replied, and he glared at her.

"Let's not start this again. You know I won't let you, and that's final."

"And you have no power over me." Kiera replied curtly. "End of discussion."

"It sure as hell is no-"

"Please don't start with all this again." Combeferre moaned. "There is too much to be done without inner-group fighting."

"Sorry..." Kiera muttered.

"I...me too, I guess..." Courfeyrac said wearily. "I suppose I haven't been a very friendly person lately..."

"You've been working very hard." Enjolras replied, going back to his scribblings. "We understand that you have been doing a lot lately. Hence why we let you sleep."

"But all of you have been doing most of the planning whilst I have been sleeping." Courfeyrac objected. "I'll have no bloody idea on what we're doing!"

"You should be worried about more important things." Feuilly said. "Such as taking care of yourself and Kiera."

"I'm doing just fine, thank you very much." Kiera said in response. "He doesn't have to go and worry about me."

"Except for that little accident at the factory a few days ago." Feuilly retorted, and Courfeyrac blinked in surprise.

"What accident?"

"It's nothing" Kiera mumbled, glaring at at Feuilly. "I just sprained my wrist, not even that badly. Dear God, you worry too much!"

"You get hurt too often." Enjolras replied. "And it worries us more when you don't tell us things."

"It's not that big of a deal!" Kiera snapped. "I don't want everyone to be so god damned worried."

"Then do not come to the barricade!" Courfeyrac snarled, and everyone turned and glared in exasperation. "What? You all know that that's why we get worried! It's not about any of these smaller accidents!"

"Courfeyrac, just shut the hell up!" Kiera said snappily.

"No I won't! I don't want you to die, dammit! I lo-!" He choked off the last word, then, grabbing his book bag and coat, dashed out of the café, calling back. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm-I'm going home to sleep!"

His four friends were left behind, staring in his wake before turning back to glance at each other.

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