abrightboy | Happily Ever After AU

abrightboy

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From:

abrightboy

He wants to say that everyone doesn't know, but everyone who counts does. The whole family knows, except for her.

Finally he nods.

"Okay."

He turns and heads out of the hospital, reaching the sidewalk to hail a cab.

The weight lifts a little when he receives a text. A case. He looks at Neal. "We have a case."

He gives the taxi the address.

From:

conning

Neal holds Malcolm's hand all the way there. He can't think of anything to say. He wants to, though. It distracts him from their neighborhood--until they pull to a stop.

"...The Canmere Hotel? There's a case in the Canmere?" Neal spares a moment to think about how odd it is that he's perking up over one of Malcolm's cases, but he can't help himself.

From:

abrightboy

"I heard Duke Ellington used to stay here," Malcolm tells him as they get out of the car. He looks up at the building then heads inside, where JT is waiting for them.

From:

conning

"That's the tip of the iceberg," Neal says, and he regales Malcolm with celebrity history and art deco factoids until JT cuts him off to lead them to the body.

(Neal does not, fortunately or unfortunately, know about the Bowery Ripper.)

From:

abrightboy

Most people don’t; it’s a serial killer deep cut.

Malcolm walks over to the body as JT points out to Neal “not everyone shares your appreciation of architecture. He was an architect.”

“Stabbed in the eyes with the pointy circle thing.”

“It’s called a ball bearing compass,” JT supplies.

Malcolm looks at him curiously.

“I liked math class.”

“It’s his,” Dani tells them. “It has his initials engraved in it.”

“So the killer didn’t bring his own weapon. It was a crime of opportunity,” Malcolm points out.

From:

conning

Neal grimaces a little. "They wiped off the fingerprints. Whoever they were."

That's as long as he can stand to look at the body. He shifts his attention back to their surroundings instead, following Malcolm and the others as they try to catch the developer who owns the building--and catch Ainsley catching him instead.

From:

abrightboy

“Hey,” Malcolm says, stepping over to Ainsley. “How are you?”

“Busy,” she says brusquely. “Aren’t you?”

From:

conning

Neal does not like that reply. Or that tone. He barely keeps himself from picking a fight over it, and even then it's only for Malcolm's sake. Once she's marched away again and they're heading back inside to talk to the Bolsheviks, Neal gives Malcolms hand a little squeeze.

"How are you?"

From:

abrightboy

He shrugs expansively. “I’m…. Did she seem mad at me?”

From:

conning

Neal looks back toward the doors before they follow JT and Dani toward the elevator. He wants to say no, that Malcolm is probably worrying because of that morning’s talk, but…

“I’m not sure,” he admits.

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm doesn’t get a chance to answer before JT declares the elevator a risk and they get in, Dani remarking that she heard Malcolm was at Claremont.

“Oh. Yeah. Family stuff. You know, I catch killers for a living, but it doesn’t take much and suddenly I’m six years old, being scolded for playing squash in my mother’s solarium.”

“I think we need to work on your relatable metaphors,” Dani deadpans.

From:

conning

Neal grins at Malcolm, entirely charmed by the mental image. “What’s not to relate to in that?”

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm smiles at his shoes when Neal says that.

Dani gives him a flat look. “Who plays squash or even knows what a ‘solarium’ is?” she counters.

From:

conning

Neal gives her a bland, dry look. “You only speak one dialect of teasing humor, don’t you.”

From:

abrightboy

She chews her gum idly and just looks at him, unimpressed.

“It’s okay,” Malcolm says, waving it off. “I come across a little… elitist sometimes. I know,” he insists. He looks at Dani. “I know.”

From:

conning

Neal turns Malcolm’s face back toward him, kissing the other man. “You’re the least elitist rich person I know.” Still teasing, though not entirely. “…We’ll, except for June.”

The elevator dings and JT gets off, muttering “thank god” under his breath.

From:

abrightboy

That crease of stress was just starting to form in the middle of his brow, but Neal kisses it away. His remark makes Malcolm smile gratefully.

As they wander into the ‘Bolshevik’ den, it’s definitely a proper artists’ loft. When Wendel mentions the Bowry Ripper, Malcolm’s whole face lights up.

From:

conning

Neal loves it when that happens. Even if it is because of a serial killer, it’s still a very relatable reaction to interesting history.

They head back to the elevator. JT takes one look at the randomly-opening doors and takes the stairs. Neal watches him go with amusement. “He’s probably the smartest person in this group. Or at least had the best survival instincts.”

From:

abrightboy

“He’s a soldier,” Malcolm replies, like that explains everything. Maybe it does.

A woman pushing a wheelchair containing an elderly man are in the elevator. She tells them about a fight she overheard between the architect and the owner of the building. She thinks it was because the architect fixed the elevator.

Once outside Malcolm turns to Neal. “I have to go talk to my sister. I’ll meet you after? Are we going to your place or mine?”

From:

conning

Neal gives Malcolm another quick kiss. “Mine tonight? I’ve got the better wine selection.”

He rests his hands on Malcolm’s hips. “Call if you need me. Or text. If you need anything.”

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm smiles up at him, a hand splayed on his chest.

“I’ll be home by eight,” he promises.

But after talking to Ainsley, he returns to the crime scene because he has an idea.

He doesn’t get home by eight. Someone pushes him from behind and sends him toppling three floors down the elevator shaft.

From:

conning

Neal doesn't notice right away as 8pm approaches. He's painting, a miniature Goya, lost in the ~~hyperfixation~~ process.

He will though. Boy will he.

Malcolm will find Neal close at hand in the hospital when he wakes up, looking flustered, wearing a tux in dark jewel tones with a floral design. His bowtie is missing, his collar unbuttoned, and while Dani and JT are next to the bed, Neal is arguing with someone on the phone in the background. "I don't--I know it's not 'usual' for an artist to no-show his own gallery debut, Trudy, I'm not exactly a novice at this. I don't care. You can figure it out. Spin something mysterious and sexy and vague enough to drive people insane, you're good at that. No, you can't tell them--no! I'm hanging up."

He does.

From:

abrightboy

“You didn’t have to skip your gallery opening,” Malcolm tells him, holding an ice pack to his head. “It’s barely anything.”

“It’s a concussion,” Dani says bluntly.

“The doctor says I’m fine.”

“No, she said it could have been worse,” she corrects.

Malcolm looks at Neal. “You didn’t have to come all the way down here.”

From:

conning

Neal makes a dismissive gesture with the hand holding his phone. "There will be other gallery openings. Trudy will use this to build up my mystique or something." Clearly imitating a well-to-do someone's tone, he says, "Image is everything."

He stuffs his phone into his pocket, crossing back to Malcolm's bedside. Dani and JT step back as he moves in, giving each other an amused glance. Neal lifts a hand to Malcolm's cheek, the other going to gently hold the ice pack in place. Or help Malcolm do it. Whatever. "I'd rather be here."

From:

abrightboy

“Why don’t you take him home?” JT tells Neal. “We’ll go arrest the developer.”

“Excuse me,” Malcolm interjects, “but this guy tried to kill me. I’m not going to miss the part where we put the cuffs on him!”