Les Chats du Guerre

5: What We Want

"So you told him then?"

You curled up on the sofa, sipping some tea from a worn mug before you nodded.

"And it wasn't as awful as you imagined, right?" James retorted with a grin, and you smiled a little. "So...you want to work out some signal to get me out of the room whenever you two...."

"It's not like that," you replied automatically. "I was interested. Past tense."

"So I suppose I imagined all those looks you've been giving him for the past few days, hmm?" James countered with a smirk.

"James...." you began tiredly.

"This isn't Newfoundland, [Y/N]. He isn't about to run off to be with someone else," James replied as he sat down beside you. "In fact, from I've seen he doesn't want to go anywhere you're not."

"Him finding me attractive and him genuinely caring about me are two completely separate things," you reminded him, and James sighed.

"You know, it is possible for both to be true," James teased you, and you worried your bottom lip. "Don't overthink this."

"I'm...I'm not you Jim. I don't just leap into things headfirst without thinking about it," you replied quietly.

"Trust me. The worse that can happen is that it all ends in chaos and ruin," James retorted with a chuckle. "But then at least you tried, right?"

"It's...I don't think it's worth it," you countered hesitantly. "Nothing that could happen would be worth it."

"True. But then you would spend another two years going 'what if'," James replied as he nudged her shoulder. "You're interested in him. He's interested in you. Pretty bloody obvious what the next step is."

"I'm not..." you began defensively, James giving you a look that made the words die on your lips. "This is a job. He's my client. You know how Marie gets about these sorts of things."

"You helped me in Switzerland," James replied. "So I'll help you here."

"Help with what?" A familiar voice asked suddenly, causing you to look up in surprise to see Sam standing in the doorway.

"I'm going to keep looking through the files, I think the two of you should follow a lead we might have," James declared as he stood up. "The trio might have worked actively in Cambrai for a period of time, smuggling goods for the Germans."

"So you want us to go there then?" Sam asked as James pulled out his cell phone.

"It isn't too far, there's a train that takes two hours to get there," James explained as he scrolled. "Leclerc has a contact that will be able to help you, I've already called him."

You saw a certain sparkle in James' eyes as he looked at you, and it made your stomach twist at the realization.

The bastard was trying to get you and Sam alone together. You half expected James to say he'd also booked a hotel for the two of you.

"He has a flat he owns that currently has no tenants, he told me he's happy for the two of you to stay there for a few days if necessary."

You gave James a panicked look to which he smirked, and you wanted to throttle him.

"Sounds good. So when do we leave?" Sam asked casually.

"Why are you so confident we'll find something?" You asked skeptically, and James shrugged.

"There's no harm in exploring your options, is there?" He retorted with a certain smile that betrayed mischievousness.

You half-expected 'Matchmaker Matchmaker' to start playing.