I've been here, I've been there // Honey, I been somehow everywhere

[conning]

Neal isn't really sure what's going to happen when the Admiral sends them home. To his home. Where by now, somewhere in the world, Kate is alive and healthy. It's strange to think of her somewhere unknown and not feel the immediate need to go find her. To save, protect, avenge her. It's also strange that even knowing she's out there, even seeing proof, Neal can't shake the guilt of killing her, either. It feels like things should have shifted, that some monumental internal change should have taken place. He still feels the things he always had, but with new knowledge counter it.

It's all swirling in his brain when Norton meets him in his cabin. Still roiling there when Neal squeezes his hand and tells thin air that they're ready.

It snaps to background when, on his next blink, Neal and Norton find themselves in the conference room of the FBI's New York City White Collar division, and Neal is still holding Norton's hand. The door from the office floor swings open and admits a small flood of people in the forms of Peter, Diana, Jones, and... Mozzie?

All four of them stop dead, seeing Neal and a stranger at the far end of the room, plus whatever Norton chose to bring. Neal stares at all of them, bemused.

"I knew it! I told you." Mozzie says, pointing at Neal. He glares at Peter and company in triumph.

Peter's jaw works for a moment before he takes a deep breath, clearly trying to focus on being relieved instead of furious. "Neal. Who's your friend?"

Comments

[conning]

“I’m really glad you’re here,” Neal says. He almost says it loud enough for Keller to hear, but decides to keep it quiet at the last moment instead. It’s not about making Keller jealous, not that statement. It’s about Norton being here when Neal needs someone he knows is on his side.

I love you, he thinks, like if he thinks it loudly enough, Norton will know without him having to say.

“You done, or should I come back later?”

Neal loosens his hold on Norton, turning so he can have an arm around the other man’s waist when he answers Keller. “You’re more than welcome to leave and not come back.”

[pharadyne]

"Couldn't let you face this alone." He didn't know it'd be exactly this, but it was inevitable that returning home to deal with everything that had happened would be hard. It's why Norton hasn't done it himself yet.

And knowing how very bad Neal is at violence made Norton certain he needed to come along just in case violence was needed to protect Neal. Which, with Keller making an appearance, it seems increasingly likely that they'll reach that point sooner or later.

"You've extended your invitation for Neal to join the Pink Panther club, and he's not interested, so if there's nothing else you can go now. Shoo." He flicks his hand loosely at Keller in dismissal.

[conning]

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."

[pharadyne]

Norton holds onto Neal as he watches the door Keller just walked out of it, eyes narrowed with suspicion. The tension Keller had brought with him remains, even with the man himself gone.

"Bit of a crinkle in an otherwise perfect night." He says it before he thinks about it, but it really was a more perfect night than any he's had in a long time. His thoughts skitter nervously around that notion for a few seconds before settling on his usual modus operandi of just enjoying the moment.

"We shan't let Keller spoil it." He takes Neal's face in his hands to raise his head up so he can kiss him.

[conning]

Neal relaxes into the kiss, lingering in it, one arm going around Norton's waist and the other gently playing with the little hairs at the nape of his neck.

God, he wants to do this. He wants to sink back into this, be warm and safe and wrapped up in someone who cares about him.

But there are people he cares about that need to know what's going on. He breaks the kiss, resting his forehead against Norton's. "I should call Peter. He needs to know that Keller is in the city. The last time he was here, he kidnapped Peter's wife."

[pharadyne]

Norton sighs softly in disappointment. But Neal's right, Keller's a threat and he needs to keep his focus. "Golly. Burke will be on the warpath when he hears."

Which is might be good for them. Maybe dodging Burke will keep Keller busy enough that he won't have time to pester Neal. Although that's probably optimistic. From what Neal has told him about Keller, the man is good at multitasking.

"Tell me about the Pink Panther gang. Didn't want to ask while Keller was here."

[conning]

“Yeah. Last time was my fault, as was Keller kidnapping Peter himself, so I can’t imagine he’ll be delighted with me either.” A moment more to brace himself, then he straightens, giving himself a few extra seconds to study the colors of Norton’s eyes while they’re this close.

Oh. Right. “They’re less of a crew than a… reputation? No one actually knows who the members are at any given moment, and it changes from job to job. There are rumors about who runs it, but they’ve never been caught. All anyone really knows is that they’re responsible for some of the biggest and most audacious heists in recent historical memory. They’re supposed to be responsible for the theft of over half a billion US dollars worth of luxury goods over the past ten years. One criminologist working in pursuit called them artists of their craft.”

That makes him smile a little, wistful, and he can’t help wondering what it would be like to work with that kind of team. “But they’re not violent. They never have been. No one has ever been killed during one of their jobs.”

[pharadyne]

"Sounds more like a private members club than a gang. White's for thieves." He cocks his head in curiosity, seeing that hint of yearning in Neal's expression. "Do you want to join?"

So long as a person isn't stealing from him or stealing world-ending alien technology, he's not too fussed about it. Any judgement he might have about it is from a low-simmering resentment of exclusive clubs in general--largely because in his experience they don't let people like him join--rather than the thieving aspect.

"I can see the appeal of proving to your peers you're one of the best."

[conning]

“You’re not wrong about the club thing.”

But regardless— “It doesn’t really matter if I want to. I’ve got the anklet and too much to lose.”

But god there is a part of him that wants to, so badly, and he’s no good at hiding things like that in moments where it really matters. “They’re responsible for the biggest jewelry heist in Japan’s history. They stole almost two million British pounds in gems and precious metals and jewelry from a collection display in the middle of the afternoon. Use a rumor that you ran with them well enough and you’d never be short on work.”

He doesn’t mean to sound like so much of a fanboy. He really doesn’t.

[pharadyne]

"Do you think Burke would let you join if you proposed it as a strategy to find out what Keller is up to?"

Neal says it doesn't matter if he wants it, but he clearly does, so now the trick is to find a way. If it ultimately also ruins Keller's plans, whatever they are, that's just gravy.

[conning]

Neal’s expression lights. “I’m sure he would.”

There’s another moment then, a flicker of realization and hesitation. “…Helping the FBI catch the leadership of the Pink Panthers might even be a big enough feather to force a deal to cut the anklet for good.”

[pharadyne]

"It would create a vacancy at the top right when you'd have the freedom to look for a new job. If that's something you'd want."

It's his nature to manoeuvre towards advantages, see opportunities.

"Or would you rather stay with the FBI, but as a free man?" He can see the appeal of that stability as well.

[conning]

"Once upon a time that would have been an easy question. Or a hard one." A pause. "I guess it's easy again."

It still takes him a moment to say more, and it still feels like an admission. "I don't want to work with the FBI ever again once I'm free."

[pharadyne]

"Would you want to be in charge of the Panthers? Once the current leadership is removed and you're free from the FBI?"

It's what Norton would probably do. But he'll support Neal's career goals, whether that's working with the FBI (off the table now) or running a criminal empire of top-notch thieves. Or quieter ambitions, like a seaside villa and occasional cat burglary.

[conning]

"I don't know." He's a little mystified by his own uncertainty. "I can't tell if I want that or just don't want to be beholden to anyone for a while."

[pharadyne]

"Understandable." He smooths a hand down Neal's arm. "Well, you have time to decide."

[conning]

Neal nods a little absently, taking Norton's hands in his and giving them a squeeze before he moves toward the kitchen to start coffee and work himself up to calling Peter.

"Keller and I used to play chess together." A pause. "He was better than me."

It's not something Neal would ever say to Peter, to pretty much anyone here, even Mozzie. Norton is safe to tell. It doesn't harm his reputation and he doesn't think it will make the man think less of him.

[pharadyne]

"I've never been very good at chess, to be honest. Too rigid, too many restrictions. As far as strategy games go, it's very stilted. I find card games much more fun. And I think it's a more accurate representation of real strategic manoeuvring. Multiple people, each with their own agenda, and luck potentially throwing all prior plans out the window for everyone at any moment. Also it's easier to cheat at cards."

He watches Neal work in the kitchen.

"I know you'll win this."

[conning]

Good god, he loves Norton Folgate, and he wishes he could just say it without the worry that it will be too much. Without the fear that Norton doesn't, or won't, or will run. He smiles at the coffee instead as he sets it up to brew, boiled water and a french press and a tiny bit of cinnamon and salt.

Then he comes back to Norton and puts his arms around him, pulls him close, and kisses him. "I've got MI-5's finest as backup."