you're so pretty in the city where you're nothing to anyone

[frith_in_thorns]

Give me an interesting word, a canon, and (if you like) a character. I'll write you a ficlet.

(I guarantee to fill the first five prompts, after that I will still do my best but historically I fail a lot.)

Posted at http://frith-in-thorns.dreamwidth.org/126819.html with

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[frith_in_thorns]

Diana had been suspicious of the phrase"team-building activities" from the start. Her consolation had been that the rest of her team and most of the office had been equally sceptical, with the exception of Neal, who had apparently heard nothing but "away from the city for three days". (At least he had been properly appreciative of the strings Peter had had to pull to allow him to be included.)

But then, one by one, everyone else had come around, or at least had become resigned.

Traitors.

Clinging to the rock face, Diana squeezed her eyes shut and tried to take deep breaths. She was soaked through with the spray from the underground waterfall. Caving. Whose stupid idea had this been? She was going to hunt them down and murder them. Slowly.

"Diana, are you all right?" a familiar voice called from just above and to the side of her.

She had thought things couldn't get any worse, but she'd been wrong. "Go away, Caffrey," she snapped, still with her eyes closed.

Instead, there were scrabbling noises which told her he was climbing down to her position. "Are you stuck?" he asked.

"No."

He made a disbelieving noise.

"Look, I don't like heights, okay?" She regretted the admission the moment it had burst out of her. Why had she just handed Neal that kind of ammunition?

He was silent for a moment. "I can guide you up," he said.

"Thanks, but I can manage."

"Move your left hand along. There's a better ridge for gripping there."

She still wanted him to go away, but in the meantime she did as he suggested. There was indeed a more secure hold there, and she curled her fingers into it gratefully.

"Open your eyes, but don't look too far up or down. Seriously, I'll help you."

With considerable reluctance, Diana obeyed. Neal told her where to move her hands and feet towards, and somewhat to her surprise the water-slick rock became much easier to climb.

She was startled to abruptly reach the top. Peter reached down a hand to pull her over the edge, and she gratefully clung to him. Neal wriggled up beside her.

"I am never doing that again," she said, fervently, moving as far away as possible from the drop.

"Come on," Neal said, cheerfully, "Didn't you enjoy that just a little?"

"No," she said, unhooking her water bottle to take a long drink. She badly needed it.

Peter patted her on the shoulder. "Tomorrow we're going quad biking."

She brightened up. "That's much better."

Neal sidled closer to her. "I didn't know you don't like heights," he said, quietly.

She glanced away from him. "It's not exactly something I advertise."

"Well, I thought you managed pretty well," he said.

She shot a sharp look at him, searching for sarcasm, but he seemed to be actually being sincere. "Thanks?" she said, cautiously.

He smiled cautiously back.

"And, hey, thanks for the help," she said. She might be reluctant to admit that she had needed it, but credit was still due. "You were a pretty good instructor."

Neal beamed at her, his expression unexpectedly shy. "You're welcome."

Who knew? Maybe there was something to this team-building idea after all.

[leesa_perrie]

Loved it!! Diana is strong, but even the strongest person has some sort of phobia *hugs her*

Neal was great in this too! Thank you! :D

[pipilj]

Aww poor Diana. Loved the fact she was so unwilling to admit any "weakness". It so like her.