Chapter Text
He needed coffee. Really, really needed. He was ready to sell his mom for one. Not that she was still alive, but anyway. Okay, no, cancellation. His mother isn’t the greatest mother in the world. Or at least good. But he loves her. He guess so. Deep inside. Now, cancellation.
Neal Caffrey wearily leaned against the wall of the elevator that was taking him to the white-collar office.
But maybe the higher powers will accept his internal organs as payment for coffee? He still has a lot of it and a mug of coffee is worth his kidney ( after all, he has two of it, so one can be sacrificed ). Or he can ask Con or Bart to bring him one. It will obviously be cheaper. Will it blow his cover? No one will even notice…
The bell of the elevator roused him from his reverie.
Okay, more concentration, Tim, you have a case.
Neal Caffrey went out the the elevator with a smile. The office was whispering with interest and a little tension, but he ignored it as he headed straight for the conference room. Peter had warned him this morning that they had a new case.
Neal opened the door. Directly across from him sat the Batman, who turned at the sound of the door opening. But Neal's attention was completely captured by the takeaway coffee. Peter said something to him, but Neal just didn't listen. He knows that B drinks black coffee without sugar or milk, just like him. Life-giving drink.
Neal murmured “Hey, B”, covering the distance in a few steps and grabbing the cup.
He took a sip and…
“What the fuck? Why are you wearing this, Nightwing?”
The laughter came from the side of the screen.
Neal was late. They already started the meet. They had a case involving one of Gotham's villains - the Scarecrow - so they had to ask the Justice League for help.
They were now sitting in the conference room with the Batman. He was quite intimidating. Peter would never admit this to anyone (not even to himself), but he flinched when he heard the Batman growl for the first time.
“I found out that the Scarecrow works with local drug dealers…”. The unidentifiable voice from the screen, who introduced himself as the Oracle, continued with information on the case.
Why didn't the Justice League just take this case away?
The sound of the door opening drew the attention of everyone in the room. Neal came in, looking a little disheveled and very tired - the shadows under his eyes were even bigger than they had been yesterday, and yesterday it was quite impressive. Did he sleep at all?
“You are late, Neal” said Peter, but Neal didn’t even notice it.
He murmured something, that Peter didn't hear, came to the Batman and grabbed the cup.
Peter tensed, watching the vigilante's reaction, ready for protecting his fool partner . But he looked.... soft? What?
“What the fuck? Why are you wearing this, Nightwing?”
Neal looked frustrated and totally betrayed.
The laughter came from the side of the screen.