Aftermath
Word Count: 710 Words
Warnings: None
Ship(s): None
Rusty has some fun with Linus and Danny when they return from getting the pinch.
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Danny is livid.
Rusty can tell from the moment he steps out of the van. The thin-lipped grimace, heaviness to his step, the way his eyes skate over Rusty without a second glanceāthat isn't like Danny at all.
For a minute, Rusty thinks that they didn't get the pinch with how uptight Danny seems. Add that to the way Linus slinks out behind him, slamming the van door shut like something inside was chasing him, and it seems like a sure-fire mission fuck-up.
But as they draw closer, Rusty's read on the situation starts to change. Nothing in Danny's eyes cries for helpānothing says you better start thinking. In fact, Danny doesn't look like he's thinking much at all, besides maybe a distant echoing string of curses. And Linus? He looks like a dog that's been caught gnawing on the sofa. He must've found something real interesting on the pavement, too; his eyes never leave it as he blindly shuffles after Danny.
As they enter the hotel, Rusty has the passing thought to ask Danny what exactly had happened. He thinks better of it, though. There would be better times to ask.
In the elevator, for one. That would be much more entertaining.
So he settles for a casual, "Hey," sucking down the last spoonful of ice cream like he can't tell anything is wrong. The lack of questioning seems to settle Danny's apprehension at least, even if he glares at Rusty's snack like it personally insulted him.
It's a quiet, awkward moment as Rusty follows the pair to the elevator, tossing his empty cup in a trash can on the way, taking his time to really savor the moment. He waits patiently as they all shuffle in, watching as Danny and Linus stick to complete opposite sides of the little room.
Only once the doors safely shut and the elevator begins to move does Rusty finally ask: "So, you boys have a nice trip?"
Silence.
Neither Danny nor Linus answers, Danny clearing his throat in a clear signal of don't ask, as Linus shuffles uncomfortably.
"Come on," Rusty goads. "No takers?"
Again, silence.
"Tough crowd."
Finally, someone bites. "Why don't you tell him, Linus?"
And?
Silence.
Rusty turns to look over his shoulder at Linus, who is currently in the process of trying to burn a hole in his sweater with his eyes. "It's- I just- I messed up." He relents with a shrug that, while masquerading as casual, makes him look like a teenager who got caught out past curfew. "I made a mistake, ok?"
"Yeah?" Rusty prompts, but Linus just shrugs again.
On Rusty's other side, Danny jams his hands in his pockets. "He got caught by security after I told him to stay in the van." The eyeroll is audible in his tone.
"Oooh, caught by security, huh?" Rusty laughs wolfishly, turning back toward the door. It's not like Linus is going to look at him anyway. "Yeah, that's a bad one."
"Yeah," Danny grunts. "A real bad one."
"Come on, guys!" The loud ding of the elevator reaching its destination undercuts Linus's cry. "I get itāI messed up, we've established that! Can we let it go now?"
"Let it go," Danny scoffs, half to himself, as the doors slide open. He wastes no time pushing past Rusty and out into the empty hallway. "He almost cost us the whole job, and he wants to let it go."
As Rusty follows close on Danny's heel, he turns around to Linus with a grin, his arms outstretched as if to say you see how it is. "Guess that's a no."
"Come on!" Linus starts again, but Rusty doesn't stick around to listen; he's sure this won't be the end from Linus or Dannyāor anyone else in that van, for that matter. Sticking around for Linus's incoming spiel does not sound like his idea of a fun evening.
Instead, as he heads out of the elevator, he calls back to Linus with a laugh, "Maybe if you hurry you can get Saul on your side before the other guys get back." This, Rusty decides, is going to be a fun evening.
For himself, that is, certainly not for Linus; but that's all that matters.
