Comment-A-Thon Round 4

[kriadydragon]

Nothing special this time around, folks. Just the usual request and replying.

Authors, make a request using this format:

Prompt/Request:
Characters:
I would Like:
I Don't Want:

Writers, reply with a story.

Rules found here.

Comments

Untitled Pt. 1 (G)

[kriadydragon]

There area lot of unspoken rules when working on a team - unspoken because they don't need to be said, because they're obvious. For example - rule 1: always listen to Agent Burke. A no brainer. You always listen to your boss. You don't get fired when you listen to your boss. In the case of Peter Burke, you also listen because he knows more than you, and to listen is to learn a lot.

But if there had to be a written rule, let it be "don't mess with the con." In fact, it should be a written rule. Life would probably be a hell of a lot easier if it was, then copied and pasted all over the office.

It wasn't a no-brainer like the other rules. Too easy to misinterpret to be obvious. Outside agents see how Peter and Neal get along, and the first thought that pops into their head is "elaborate con." It's what Neal's good at, after all. What he's known for, and Diana can't really blame people for jumping to conclusions.

She can blame them for being a deliberate ass about it.

Diana had heard the scuttlebutt about Rice, about the danger she'd put Neal in, about how Neal played out his part despite the death threat hanging over his head in order to save a young girl. The office knew what Neal was capable of, that he couldn't always be trusted, but they also knew that, overall, he wasn't a bad guy.

But that was the white collar unit, who'd had a chance to get to know Neal beyond his police record. Outside agents were another matter. People like Rice, Ruiz, and, currently, agent Krepsky.

Krepsky didn't like Neal. Really, really didn't like him. You had to be blind and deaf not to know it - the way he made sure to bump into Neal's desk whenever Neal was drawing, the way he towered over Neal while Neal was getting coffee, plaguing Neal with asinine questions about his "alleged" crimes, the casual lines dropped to the other agents about Neal working his charm on Burke.

Small, innocent, innocuous, annoying - the kind of obnoxious taunting that's supposed to be above adults, that Neal should be able to handle. He can handle it, and does. Or tries to. But there are times, fleeting moments, where Neal looks a little nervous, a little overwhelmed.

There are times Diana catches Krepsky and Neal out in the hall, Neal cornered and Krepsky saying things; things that piss Neal off; other times, things that make Neal's eyes dart fast looking for escape.

The third time Diana catches them, Neal's looking for escape. Diana clears her throat, Krepsky looks up, startled, then beats a casual, indifferent retreat.

Neal relaxes. He plasters on one smile, one of his charmers. "Is it just me, or is that guy an ass?" It's not one of his better smiles.

Re: Untitled Pt. 1 (G)

[ultracape]

I hope this isn't finished. I'd love to see what happens next with this.

Re: Untitled Pt. 1 (G)

[kriadydragon]

It is done *wipes sweat from brow*