Happily Ever After AU - for conning

[abrightboy]

From here

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[conning]

Neal chews on his lip. "I can't request her personal effects. Not as a suspect. Even if I was direct family, I doubt they'd give them up while the case is open."

He gets up to pour a drink. "Either we steal it, or we close the case."

[abrightboy]

“Do you want me to just have them arrest your dad?” Malcolm asks innocently.

[conning]

Neal misses his glass, splashing a little scotch on the counter. "That's not funny."

[abrightboy]

“Well, he’s the only plausible suspect at this point, so I guess we’ll have to steal it,” he points out.

[conning]

“Or find another plausible suspect.” His voice is a lot sharper than intended. He takes a deep breath and pours himself a generous glass of scotch before getting something to wipe up the spill.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm frowns faintly.

"What's the matter?" he asks. "James has been acting weird and suspicious since he broke in here."

[conning]

"That doesn't mean he's the only possibility." He takes a sip of the alcohol, then knocks it back, then stares at his empty glass. Then presses the glass against his forehead for a moment before he turns around to pour another.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm's frown deepens.

"Did I say something wrong?"

It's all just fact.

[conning]

Neal massages the bridge of his nose, forcing himself to try and relax. To stop treating everyone around him like some kind of enemy or threat. Malcolm is the only person who isn't one.

"No," he says softly. "No, I'm just. Wired."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm tilts his head, his gaze assessing.

“It’s more than that. You’re irritated. Offended.”

He knows Neal’s stress reactions better than most people’s.

[conning]

Neal squeezes his eyes shut, talking himself down from snapping at Malcolm to let it go. “What if he’s innocent? What if all the lying, all the suspicion and tricks, what if he’s been running so long he doesn’t understand how to do anything else any more? I could… I could help him.”

[abrightboy]

“He’d like you to believe that,” Malcolm tells him. “That plays right into his hands.”

[conning]

“Can I believe it tonight?” There’s something small and lost in the question.

[abrightboy]

“You can believe it any time you want, but I think you know better. Eventually, you have to accept what he is,” Malcolm points out.

[conning]

“Which is what?” It’s more accusatory than he means to be. “A con man?”

[abrightboy]

Malcolm blinks at him.

“A murderer,” he reminds him.

[conning]

That pulls him back to earth the rest of the way. He squeezes his eyes shut again. “Right… If he did it.”

That last part is feeble even in his own ears. He goes over to Malcolm and wraps himself around the smaller man. “Tell me what to do.”

[abrightboy]

“…Just… be careful. Don’t get too caught up in his illusions, okay?” Malcolm advises.

[conning]

Neal nods again, then steps back, dragging in a deep breath. "So... how are we going to steal that locket?"

[abrightboy]

“Can Peter get it without compromising himself?” Malcolm asks. If so, it’s the simplest way.

[conning]

Neal bites his lip. "Maybe. But, Malcolm... I can't... I don't want to ask him to steal. That isn't what he does."

[abrightboy]

“Then you’re going to have to go in to work and find an opportunity to do it yourself,” Malcolm tells him plainly. Their options are limited.

[conning]

He nods, throat feeling squeezed.

"I'm so tired of stealing from the people who are supposed to be good guys," he mumbles into Malcolm's hair. It's alarming to realize that's true.

[abrightboy]

“Collette’s not a good guy,” Malcolm points out. “She tanked my career. On purpose. And she won’t find Ellen’s killer. I will.”

[conning]

"I definitely didn't mean her. Her, I'm happy to disgrace." He has no qualms about saying it either. "I trust you, not her. I just... I don't want to do it any more. I don't want to be the bad guy any more to the people who think there are only two sides."

He exhales softly. "I don't know what I'm even saying."