Archive of Our Own

“Perhaps Evil Vizier is going too far.”

“When talking about Nazi loot, you can never be too paranoid or too imprecise in your language.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Moz.”

“You know, we could have done it. He pulled it over on us again. I still can’t believe all of that just to have it all blow up.”

“Yeah,” said Neal distractedly.

The conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Neal. Mozzie. Lunch?” Asked Sara.

“Indeed,” replied Neal.

“I think I, um, need to make sure I’ve washed all of the Suit residue off my jacket,” said Mozzie as he began to scurry off.

“Later, Moz,” Neal called after Mozzie.

“You call me,” Mozzie’s voice carried up the stairs to Neal’s rooms.

“So,” said Sara as she turned back towards Neal.

“So,” Neal replied.

“You’re not quite up for lunch, are you?”

“I…” Neal looked up at her.

“You have had quite the ride.” Sara commented.

“You only know the half of it.”

“Will that be a problem?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Neal replied. “I do know that I want to share it with you. And to thank you. But…”

“Sh…” said Sara.

Unlike the last time they had sex, or rather, made passionate hot love in the steamy archives, this was going to be different. Neal was raw, that much she could see. He’d lost a mentor, his last connection with Kate and, of course, professionally, who wouldn’t be devastated by the loss of that much Nazi plunder. Seeing its beauty only to have it snatched away… she could only imagine. Adler was a little more complex, but she didn’t know what there was to know. And then there was Alex…

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked as she leaned over to kiss him gently.