Neal gives a very, very soft little chuckle at Norton's dismissal, knowing how much it's going to piss Keller off. Knowing it'll make Keller even angrier if Neal doesn't counter what Norton says or turn around. Knowing how addicted to his masculinity Keller is, and how it's going to rankle to have someone with Norton's manner taking the lead in this whole situation.
He has the odd thought that he and Norton work well together, not just together, but actually working.
Neal hears the now-empty beer bottle clunk hard onto the table. He hears the chair scrape unnecessarily as Keller gets up, hears movement and the whisper of the veranda door being opened. Of course Keller can't actually leave without one more volley.
"I'll be in touch, Neal. Think about it. It's the Panthers. You love history so much, well. Be part of it. We need one more man, and you? You know you're one of the best."
The door closes harder than it needs to and Neal's shoulders sag a little in relief. He drops his forehead onto Norton's shoulder and exhales. "This was not a turn I expected tonight to take."
no subject
He has the odd thought that he and Norton work well together, not just together, but actually working.
Neal hears the now-empty beer bottle clunk hard onto the table. He hears the chair scrape unnecessarily as Keller gets up, hears movement and the whisper of the veranda door being opened. Of course Keller can't actually leave without one more volley.
"I'll be in touch, Neal. Think about it. It's the Panthers. You love history so much, well. Be part of it. We need one more man, and you? You know you're one of the best."
The door closes harder than it needs to and Neal's shoulders sag a little in relief. He drops his forehead onto Norton's shoulder and exhales. "This was not a turn I expected tonight to take."