Love is War (L.S.)

18

"The flight's gonna touch down on the fourth, mate," Zayn's deep voice delivers into the speakerphone. 

"I thought you were coming here sooner," Louis replies. He's sprawled out on his back on the hotel room bed. 

"There was an issue with the last job I did and the ISS wants me to come to fill out some NDA forms on the day I was supposed to fly out. So, I'm coming in on the fourth instead," he tells him. 

Louis hums and glances at the muted television that's playing a rerun of Love Island. "Alright, d'you need me to come to the airport or?"

"Nah, I've already organized a car. I'll see you at the hotel that night, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course."

There's a bit of silence before Zayn speaks again. "Lorne and Browski have filled me in on everything you've shared with them so far, but is there anything I need to know?"

"Not really...but, what happens if they decide to leave right after they've finished operation extraction?" Louis wonders aloud. 

"M'sorry operation extraction? Is that what they're calling it?"

Louis lets out a forced laugh. "No mate, that's just my nickname for it...um...just forget it. What happens if they leave, like, fly out of France that same night?"

"They won't do that," Zayn says, voice confident. 

"How can you be so sure?" Louis asks as he worries his bottom lip. 

"They've got to split up the jewels or sell them or do whatever it is they do with them. You're gonna be the one to find out for us, but whatever they do, they will do it in Montpellier. Trust me when I say that they'll be staying there for at least another month before they start running."

"Doesn't make any sense," Louis mutters. "They have a reputation for being so impossible to catch and yet, after stealing the city's most precious diamonds they'd spend a whole month in the same exact city?"

"Louis all of their resources are in Montpellier with them. If they leave and go to another country and try to do whatever it is they do with the jewels, we'd be able to track them and find them where they are."

"But what-"

"They're staying in France and so are you as long as they are." There's a finality to Zayn's tone. 

"Alright, alright, but just listen...what if by some bizarre, cosmic, insane reason, they decide to pack up and leave the same night?"

Zayn gives him a long, suffering sigh through the phone. "Well, you'll just have to go with them."

Louis rolls his eyes even though the other man can't see him. "My job was to come to Montpellier and infiltrate not follow a group of extremely calibrated deviants to whichever neck of the woods they choose to go to."

"You can't lose them, you know that Louis."

"I know," he says tiredly. 

"I've got to go the boss is on the other line. Try not to worry, mate. I'll see you soon."

"Yeah, bye Zayn," he says before ending the call. 

Louis switches off the television with the remote, turns onto his side, and buries his head into the pillow. He grows drowsy quickly and is eventually able to quiet his worrying thoughts as the comfort of sleep overtakes his mind and body. 

...

Someone is trying to break down his door.