Your Uncle's Partner -Chapter 8
Pairing: Phillip 'Flip' Zimmerman X Reader(fem)
Main summary: Your uncle introduced you to his partner a few years ago when you moved to Colorado Springs and after a while you've been trying to stomp out the feelings that keep trying to pop up. The wheel of fate starts rolling faster and that task only seems to get harder since the training of rookie Ron Stallworth in your records room.
Chapter summary: A normal lunch with your uncle turns awkward when he tries to get into the problem with you and Flip. You're also presented with the opportunity to suggest Ron for field work.
Notes: I have a few days of work coming up and can't wait to writeeee
As always this will be cross posted to AO3.
*Header and dividers are made by me, please do not use!
You’re roused harshly from your sleep by the sound of your phone ringing from the night stand beside your bed. You blink blurrily at the clock trying to gather your bearings. Who the hell is calling at 7:34 in the morning on a damn Saturday?
“Hello?” You ask groggily.
“Creek, it’s Briggs. I’ve thought about what you said.”
You sit up quickly and throw your blanket to the side. “Oh?”
“You’re going to meet Ron out front of the station and bring him to Narcotics at 12pm. Understood?”
“And wear street clothes.” He hangs up after adding that tidbit.
A mixture of excitement and nervousness flooded your veins, this was really happening. You hoped to whatever higher power that he didn’t fuck this up. Deciding there wasn’t really any point in trying to go back to sleep you get ready for the day.
Padding over to your dresser you pull out a simple pair of denim bell bottoms and a plain white velvet shirt to tuck into your pants. It’s supposed to be a bit cooler today, should you bring a jacket? Heading over to the closet you filter through your light sweaters, cardigans, and shawls. Your fingers stop on the old flannel that Flip had given you along with the looney tunes shirt. The dark green and black fabric slid slowly between your fingers as you traced the sleeve. He hadn’t worn it too many times before giving it to you stating it just wasn’t his color preferences. If Narcotics was taking the case then it wouldn’t hurt to wear it. Not many people would be at the office on a Saturday anyway.
“You’re late Ron!” You hiss at him as you turn inside to walk toward the Narcotics room down below.
“I know, I know.” He pants following after you. “What department is on this?”
“I imagine Narcotics since we’re using that room?”
The two of you look like a pair of idiots speed walking through the station and turning corners like you're being chased. You’re glad you ended up wearing a comfortable pair of boots. Tugging the door open you motion rapidly for him to go.
“Down the stairs, it’ll be the first door on the left.” You grumble as he passes by.
You shake your head as Ron hustles down the stairs and goes through the door you directed. It wasn’t like it would make a difference if it took you a few extra seconds. You use the time to take a few deep breaths.
As you open you hear him apologizing to Chief Briggs, the former shooting you a brief disgruntled look. He points for you to stand next to Ron. Your uncle looks at you in confusion but Flip seems to not have noticed you’re here yet. Your eye twitches slightly when you realize Narcotics definitely weren't the ones taking the case. You straighten the flannel sleeves and slip your hands into the front pockets of your jeans.
“We have limited time so I'll be quick. The black radical Stokely Carmichael is giving a speech tonight at Bell’s Nightingale.”
You see Ron look at you from the corner of your eye. Maybe it was racists afterall to suggest him? Hopefully he wasn’t too mad at you.
You turn towards him. “That’s the theater downtown.”
“Yeah.” He nods his head once at the clarification.
You can see Flip’s head whip up and to your direction at the sound of your voice, he looks at your uncle in confusion and only gets a shrug in response. He must've taken this as the point to sit upright and be a bit more serious. Apparently we all were left in the dark in some ways, you still didn’t even know why you needed to be here. Briggs continues on with his briefing without missing a beat.
“Carmicheal is a former high muckety-muck with the black panthers. As far as I’m concerned. FMI Director J. Edgar Hoover was dead right when he said the Black Panthers are the greatest internal threat to the security of these United States.” He stands up to sit on the desk in front of the desk before you two. This Carmicheal joker, former panther or not, they say he is a damn good speaker. And so we don’t want this Carmicheal getting into the minds of the good black people here in Colorado Springs and stirring them up.”
Ron walks forward to the Chief but you decide to stay where you are.
“Ron, your assignment is to go to this speech tonight, infiltrate this bunch of subversives and just monitor the audience reaction to Carmicheal’s speech. You ready?”
“Born ready.” Ron assured him
Briggs turned to address you. “You’re gonna be off Monday, I need your super brain.”
“You’re gonna be at the ticket counter selling the tickets and checking ids-”
You start to feel irritation creeping in as you cross your arms. This was not something you needed to be here for let alone miss Monday.
“What does she have to do with this?” Flip cuts him off skeptically.
Frowning you say “I’m afraid I’m not following along.”
“If you assholes let me finish-” That’s not really fair considering he did the same but you decide to bite your tongue. You make a show of zipping your mouth and hold up your hands . “I need you to make sure that no one under eighteen gets in and I want you to write down everyone who gets in and their information. Name, date of birth, and address.”
Realization dawns on you that this is probably going to be a massive migraine for you. Depending on how many people you have to do this for you will most likely need Monday off after all.
“Wouldn’t it be suspicious if she’s copying all their info down?” Ron asks, confused.
Uncle Jimmy makes his way over to the three of you. “She just has to see it once to remember it.”
“She can’t forget anything.” Flip chimes in still on the couch, he won’t even look at you.
“No shit?” Ron turns to you with a shocked expression. “That’s how you know all that random stuff.”
Flip scoffs in response to Ron’s question. He slowly stands and stretches before joining the group finally.
“She’s the smartest person I know.” Jimmy's chest puffs up with pride.
“Can we not right now?” You ask awkwardly.
“Enough chit-chatting. You four need to go over the plan and then get mic’d up. Young Creek take the rookie over to interrogation room 2, Old Creek get whatever intel you need to go over, Flip get the wires sorted out.” Briggs makes a shooing motion with his hands after the four of you make various agreements.
Jimmy heads out the door first with Ron following, Flip behind him, and you at the end. Your breath catches slightly as Flip stops to hold the door open for you. The thought of how things used to be stirs up a strange anger deep in your chest. Mumbling a thanks you can’t help but catch his eye as you pass him.
Once you are all heading in the different directions Ron breaks the silence.
“So, old Creek? Am I finally getting to meet the family?”
The silliness of the question causes a short laugh to bubble up. Leave it to Ron to break the tension.
“You are indeed! 'Our Creek' is my Uncle Jimmy.” You beam happily.
“So that means the other one is the infamous partner? Luce did describe him as “a mountain of a man’.” He rubs his chin in fake thought.
You sigh as you tugs the door open for the interrogation room, the two of you make your way inside. You don’t bother to close the door all the way since they’ll be back soon. It looks like they had pre-set up the room. Normally it only had one or two chairs on the officer side but there were four. You could only assume they thought Briggs would be here with them instead of you.
“I walked right into that didn’t I?” You ask as you take a seat next to him
“You two are going to be the death of me I swear.”
You place your elbow on the table and rest your head in your hand. You can’t fault her for wanting to get gossip from her brother but sometimes you wished they would relax.
“It doesn’t matter. I -uh, took some of Lucinda’s advice actually.” You shift awkwardly in the seat. You continue when Ron gives you a look to continue. “I have a date coming up with someone from her work.”
The door slams open causing Ron to do a quick 180. You already knew Flip was brewing into a temper tantrum from his earlier actions. It’s not like you were expecting to be here today though.
You hadn’t been expecting Jimmy yet but were surprised to see him trail in behind the pissy Flip. You don’t bother to move your head from its resting position as you address them.
“Uncle Jimmy, Zimmerman. Are we all set?”
Jimmy sets down the papers and asks “You didn’t have any idea you were getting dragged into this did you?”
“None whatsoever. This morning I was told to bring Ron down and that was it, had no clue I was staying until right then. I actually assumed Narcs were on the case since I was taking him there.”
The four of you spend the next few hours going over all the intel and the plan of action for the night ahead. At some you call into Charlie’s so Flip can run over but most of it is spent in that little interrogation room.
“Hun, you’ll have to head over earlier with us to meet up with the manager at Bell’s and get set up. Once you're done just find your way over to us again. Ron you’ll meet us over there once it’s closer to time, don’t fuck up the mic between then.” Jimmy explains the last leg of the plan.
Flip is off to the side setting up and you realize that there are actually two. You had assumed it was just Ron getting one. You didn’t really see the point in having to wear one yourself but if that’s what the chief wanted you’d just have to do it. You just stay seated until it’s your turn.
Flip motions him to stand in front of him. It was a bit amusing to see him sitting so that he could reach Ron better. Ron pulls up his top shirt to expose his undershirt for the microphone.
He sighs before asking “Any chance this thing fucks up?”
You grimace at the question.
“Ohhh, fuck yeah.” Flip responds.
Jimmy answered this time. “Just stick to the game plan.”
“Uh… improvise.” Flip says as he sticks more tape down the wire line. “Like Jazz.”
“Like bebop.” Jimmy starts mimicking his music choice which makes you chuckle.
“This isn’t some big bust. We just want some intel. That’s it.”
Jimmy asks “And what if someone offers you a marijuana cigarette?”
The random question has you pulling a face and mouthing a 'what' to him.
“You mean a joint?” Ron asks.
“Yeah, Mary Jane.” Your uncle tries mimicking taking a hit but ends up choking a bit. “Excuse me.”
Ron puts his hands in his pockets and stares at Jimmy. “Soul brother, I’m already high on life. Can you dig it?”
That causes you and Jimmy to laugh. Your worry about the mission eases just a little. You watch Flip’s face contort with annoyance as the two talk a bit more.
“And if someone pulls a gun on you?”
Ron shifts uneasily at Flip’s question. “Will that happen?”
He shoves his finger gun in his face calmly. “Barrel of a .45 in your face, finger on the trigger. Now what?”
“Hey!” You stand up from your chair quickly and make your way over.
“Blood, get that gun out of my face. Peace, love, and soul.” Ron holds his hands up while keeping eye contact with Flip.
You and Jimmy eye each other uneasily at the little show.
“Gun is still in your face.”
You're glad Ron doesn’t back down from this. “I de-escalate… talk calmly, firmly. Find a way out of there ASAP.” He shoots you and Jimmy a searching look.
Flip seems satisfied with his responses for now. “Relax. We’ll be outside listening in, Creek will be right there at the booth in the beginning. Okay?”
“Got it.” Ron lifts his shirt to check the mic again real quick. “Ok, I got it. I’m gone.”
The three of you watch him make his way out the door quickly. You sigh and rub the back of your neck.
Jimmy turns to you happily saying "I like him.”
“He’s a good guy, Uncle Jimmy. He’ll do great tonight."
He claps you on the back. “I’m going to get these in the car and warm it up while you get mic’d up. Need anything for the road?”
You're tempted to ask him to not leave you two alone but swallow the sudden panic.
“Not that I can think of.”
He nods and takes the equipment with him. You roll your shoulders and decide to face the music and get this over with.
Sighing, you ask “You ready to set me up?”
He nods in response, motioning you just like he did with Ron.
“I don’t have an undershirt so it’ll just have to be above and I’ll wear my flannel until I get there to grab the uniform.”
He nods again which starts to piss you off. What a fucking child. He secures the microphone to your chest first before tearing off more for the wires. You hate that you watch his large lands as he works.
You barely manage to catch the mic after it detached from your shirt. The two of you look at each other in confusion for a moment before either of you say anything.
“Did you not stick it down enough?”
“It’s fucking tape, it’s one purpose is to stick.”
You roll your eyes at him as you attempt to stick it back on the velvet.
The two of you stare at each other again in stunned silence. What the hell was happening?
“Uh… maybe the mic is heavier than the other one?” You ask uncertainly.
Flip tries again with more tape this time. His brows furrow as he waits to see what will happen this time. Unfortunately it hardly takes anytime for the same thing to happen again.
“What the hell is your shirt made of?”
"Velvet?" You sigh and pinch the bridge of your nose. “I think we’ll just have to tape it directly to the skin this time. If you get the mic set I’ll run the wire down and tape that part myself.”
He grunt and turns away as you pull the collar down to expose some of your chest. You look away in embarrassment as he does it this time. His warm hands are steady as he holds the mic down while tearing more tape. You swallow hard as he smooths the tape down, he placed extra just in case. You hate that the feel of him touching your bare skin will be engrained into your memory now. Sometimes you really wished you had a normal brain. You grab the bundle of wires from him when he holds them out.
“Can you turn around please?” You didn’t mean for it to come out so shyly.
You watch as Flip gets up to stand next to the door. With him facing away you tug your shirt from your jeans so you can put the wire down. You wish you could keep it tucked in but that won’t work with needing to be wired, you're a bit annoyed that you couldn’t prepare better for this mission. With the last tape secured you let your shirt down from under your chin and smooth it back down and exhale deeply. It was a bit uncomfortable but it’d have to do. The moment you're done Flip is already heading to the door to hold it open.
“Flip, I could have been exposed!” You say startled at the suddenness, you almost dropped the recorder accidentally. Thankfully you don’t and are able to put it in your back pocket.
“You were fine. Let’s get a move on, we have to get you to the theater soon.”
You scoff in irritation at his words. How would he know you were fine? You could have still had your shirt up and been exposed to anyone who meandered by. You throw your flannel over your shoulder quickly.
“Give me a second to check my appearance.”
You walk over to where Flip was to look at and use the two sided window. Once you deem that your shirt doesn’t give away the hidden microphone you head outside with him.
Time to get this over with.
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This is kinda what I picture but I left it a bit non descript so everyone can imagine their own variation of it.
