Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started as a normal, if slightly boring, day at the office. They had no interesting cases to solve and so they were stuck on mortgage fraud. Peter sighed quietly as he filled in his backlogged paperwork. He looked up to see Caffrey doodling on one of the napkins he brought back from his usual coffee run. Sometimes Peter wondered how much of Caffrey was real. In moments like these, his face completely relaxed whilst drawing, Caffrey seemed much younger than twenty-five. It was as if a mask fell off him and with it years of his age. With a silent admonishment to himself, Peter got back to work.

It is no surprise that when agent Ruiz walks in, to speak with Hughes, both Peter and Neal look up to see what’s happening. Through the glass doors they can see Ruiz and Hughes arguing about something. Neal looks at Peter with a light smirk on his face.

“Reckon Ruiz is in trouble?”

“Probably not, last I heard they got a new lead on his case.”

“The one with the missing children?” Asks Jason slightly bitter, if he was back home he could’ve done a lot more for them than Ruiz can. It frustrates him that he can’t go off on his
own anymore. Peter had been more determined the past week to make him feel included in the team. Unfortunately, that meant that he barely had time to follow up leads to find the children. If it wasn’t Peter bothering him than it was Mozzie. If Jason didn’t know better, he would think that they were trying to deliberately keep him home. Though neither of them know Jason’s real job or even name. Not that any of that helps with the guilt.

“Yes, organised crime is up in arms over them. One thing that can get that office moving is anything to do with children.” Answers Peter, most of his attention still on Hughes and Ruiz. Neal hums slightly, also transfixed on the two behind the glass doors.

To their surprise Hughes comes out of his office and beckons Neal and Peter to come up. They look at each other a bit surprised, before they get up. Neal picks up his fedora and twirls it leisurely with a slight smirk on his face as he walks through the office to Hughes.

“Show off.” Teases Peter good heartedly.

Jason responds with a few chuckles and an even more elaborate twirl of his fedora.

“Caffrey, Burke.” Greets Hughes. “Ruiz’s team found a potential lead, but he isn’t talking.”

Ruiz snorts. “Oh, he is talking alright.”

“So if he’s talking what is the problem?” asks Jason.

“He is talking, but he isn’t saying anything worthwhile. It’s like we are going in circles with that damn guy. He kind of reminds me of you.” With that answer Jason goes still and the room’s temperature seems to drop a few degrees. “I sincerely hope you weren’t comparing me with a kidnapper.”

“Get of your high horse, Caffrey. I was just saying he is talking his way out, much like you seem to be fond of doing.”

“Enough, Ruiz actually proposed you would help with the interrogation.” Intervenes Hughes before Peter can do so himself. Jason raises his eyebrows at that and looks at Ruiz surprised.

“I want to get the bastard caught and find the children as fast as possible. I may not like you, but the wellbeing of children is more important than my goddamn pride.”

“What can I do to help?” Jason asks charmingly again, of his earlier fury not a trace to be found. Peter looks a bit suspiciously at him and he’s not the only one. Jason notices it and gets a bit annoyed. “Children’s lives are at stake, do you really think I would refuse?”

“Look at that a criminal with a conscience.” Ruiz sneers scathingly. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Why do you need Neal?” asks Peter trying to deescalate the situation.

“Because he is good at getting information out of people, even if he learned it through less than legal means.” Jason has to hold in a snort. He learned it on the streets and later with Robin. “You want me to interrogate him.” He says drily.

“Yes.” Answers Ruiz reluctantly.

“Peter, I want you and your team following the interrogation.” Says Hughes.

“Yes, sir.”

Not long after Ruiz, Hughes, Peter, Diana and Jones are watching the suspect behind a one way mirror glass. The suspect is an unassuming middle-aged man wearing a green jacket and somehow wholly unconcerned with the situation he found himself in. Neal and Ruiz enter the interrogation room taking a seat and staring him down.

“Back again, agent Ruiz?” He asks with a grin on his face, as if he finds the situation amusing. All the while leaning back in his chair, throwing a ball up and down.

“Put the ball down, mister Eilees.” Demands Ruiz.

“You’ve even brought a friend.” Eilees continues as if Ruiz didn’t say something. He looks at Neal with something akin to surprise. He catches the ball and doesn’t throw it up again and stops leaning back in his chair. “Aren’t you an interesting one.”

“I’m sure not half as interesting as you.” Something about the man made alarm bells go off in Jason’s head.

“What’s your name?”

“Neal…Caffrey.” Eilees’s eyes go wide for a split second and he tilts his head to the side. The infuriating grin back on his face.

“What do you know about Emma Doran?” Ruiz interrupts the odd staring contest with his next question.

“Less than you I suppose.”

“Specifically.” Grits Ruiz through his teeth. The man had a gift for pissing him off quickly.

“Her name is Emma Doran. She’s a child.”

“Where were you on the night of third of October.”

“I was at a party.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere in the woods, I’m not sure if it is on any of your maps.”

“Mister Eilees, you are currently suspected of having been involved in the kidnapping of six children between the ages of four and eighteen. Do you have any idea where the children are?”

“The children are safe.”

“So you do know where the children are.”

“No, I don’t know where the children currently are.”

Neal interrupts the interrogation. “Currently, so you do know where they were.”

“Well Emma was playing the park.”

“Ha, so you admit that you were stalking her in the park.” Crows Ruiz triumphantly.

“You told me she was at the park, less than an hour before.” Eilees says still throwing the ball up and down. Ruiz pinches his nose and takes in a deep breath.

“Their parents are concerned about their whereabouts. I’m going to ask you one last time, where are the children?”

“The children are safe.”

“Safe? You abducted them!” Ruiz shouts, slamming his hands on the table. Eilees doesn’t move an inch, unconcerned in the face of a furious FBI agent.

“Safe from what?” Asks Jason, staring Eilees down. He stares back at Jason, as if the answer is obvious to him. With a smile that are more teeth than anything else he answers with a single word. “Adults.” The alarm bells in Jason’s head are now accompanied with flashing lights screaming danger.

“You do realise you are an adult yourself. You took them from their parents.” Interrupts Ruiz again, frustrated with the little progress they’ve made. Eilees finally tears his gaze away from Jason to glare sharply at Ruiz.

“They were given a choice. The children are safe.”

The puzzle pieces fall together at last for Jason and he quickly responds to Eilees. “Thrice promised.”

Chapter Text

The puzzle pieces fall together at last for Jason and he quickly responds to Eilees. “Thrice promised.” Ruiz looks at him in complete befuddlement, unknowingly copying the gazes of his fellow agents behind the mirror. Eilees smiles at Neal, the first genuine one since he arrived in the interrogation room. “Like I said, you are an interesting one.” He looks to Ruiz again. “The children are given the choice, mayhap you should ask yourself why they wouldn’t want to stay.”

“So you just randomly approach strangers and ask them if they want to come with you?” Sneers Ruiz condescendingly.

“Only the children.” Answers Eilees mockingly.

“Children according to whom?” Asks Neal.

“To the laws of this country, everyone under eighteen.” He gazes at Jason specifically when he says those last words. Jason tries not to let them see how much those words unsettle him. He can’t help but fear that the fae knows that he also would be counted as a child under the laws of this country. No matter what he went through.

“How can we trust you to tell the truth?” remarks Ruiz. “We just have to believe you at your word that the children are given the choice. That they can decline your proposition.”

“I do not lie. If you don’t trust me ask your friend.” He nods at Jason, who is glaring daggers at him. Again the FBI looks as one man at Neal. All the attention is on him so they don’t notice Eilees got free until they hear the shackles falling to the floor with a clang. Everyone looks at Eilees again and they are helpless to do anything but watch as he throws glittering dust at them. Somehow it manages to get through the mirror. Before their eyes the walls bleed down until they are standing in a glass cage with a single door. Through the windows they can see a green meadow with apple trees, it has an otherworldly appearance. Children of all ages are laughing and playing.

“As you can see the children are safe and happy.” Eilees voice appears out of nowhere, the FBI and Jason look frantically around them to find the source of the voice. “If you want to go back, just open the door.” Ruiz immediately runs to the door and tries to open it. It doesn’t budge. Eilees laughs mockingly. “You didn’t think it would be that simple, did you? No, to open the door you’ll need a key. Specifically, that key.” A key appears floating in the air, a few yards away from the glass cage. Before Ruiz can open his mouth to antagonise Eilees again, Hughes takes control of the situation.

“How are we supposed to get the key?” He asks calmly.

“The child of course, children can walk freely through the glass. Though you’d have to convince him to help you adults out first.”

“Is there any way you could be convinced to let us go?” Asks Hughes.

Eilees is silent. He is long gone.

“Neal, what the hell was that?” Asks Peter furious. It was almost as if Neal understood what Eilees was talking about. Not to mention the thrice promised thing. “Do you know him? Is he a meta?”

Jason inhales quietly, he probably isn’t able to go out here without spilling a few secrets. “No, I don’t know him and he isn’t a meta.”

“But he is something, isn’t he?” remarks Diana.

“He is a fae.” Everyone looks at Jason with visible disbelief in their eyes.

“A fairy, really Caffrey. And we are supposed to believe you?”

“Do you have a better explanation, Ruiz?” Neal replies frustrated, he knows that they probably don’t believe him.

“It would explain a lot, actually.” Diana looks at the others. “In the stories the fae used to steal children, particularly abused or neglected ones. This definitely looks like fae magic to me.” Diana gestures around her, placing her palm on the glass.

“How did you know?” Asks Peter. “You knew before he did his magic that he was a fae.”

“His name.” Jason simply says as if that explains everything and it does.

Diana is the first one to get it. “Eilees. Seelie.” The rest still looks confused. “Fae can be classified into multiple categories. You have the Seelie court and the Unseelie court. Both fae are dangerous, but the Seelie are generally more benevolent. They cannot tell a lie, so they just speak in half-truths. There are certain rules to deal with the fae.”

“How do you know so much about fae?” asks Jones curiously.

“My grandmother is Scottish, she used to tell me folklore tales.”

“You said there are rules for dealing with the fae.” Asks Peter with a sigh. He didn’t think there would ever be a time where he would say those words seriously. This is way out of their jurisdiction, the Justice League would be better equipped to deal with this.

“Don’t eat or drink anything. Never say thank you. Don’t tell them your full name.”

“Ruiz did you give him your full name?” demands Hughes a tiny bit stressed.

“No, I just went by agent Ruiz.” He says in relief. Suddenly, as if they come to the same conclusion at the same time. They turn as one to Neal.

“Fuck, Neal.” Peter looks concerned at him. “Diana, how bad is it?”

“I- Bad. I’m sorry, Neal. According to folklore they can control you if they have your full name.”

“Is there anything that can stop it?” Peter looks hopeful at Diana. Apologetic, she shakes her head. Damnit Neal, Peter isn’t going to lose one of his best friends to a damn fairy. There must be something they could to help him. He glances at Neal concerned for his friend. To his surprise Neal is taking it all in fairly calmly. If Peter didn’t know him better he would almost say Neal is feeling guilty. That would be a first. “Oh you have got to be kidding.” Peters swears. “Neal Caffrey isn’t your name, is it?”

The others look surprised at Peter than at Neal. “No, it isn’t. Sorry, Peter.” Peter pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “God damnit, Neal. Any other secrets I have to know?” He says sarcastically. Jason winces, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll find out his age after this. The wince doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone. “Right, I’m not dealing with this right now. We’ll talk after we get out of this. Think you can pick the lock?”

Chapter Text

Jason untenses his shoulder, he could procrastinate the conversation for a while. “I can try, but chances are that it only opens with the key.” He walks to the door and inspects the lock, it’s an old, big lock. In theory it means that it will be easier to pick, but since they are dealing with fae Jason doubts it very much. “Does anyone have something long and sharp?” He asks around, dreading the answer. One by one they deny that they have anything on them. Jason curses softly and glares at the lock. He can try to pick the lock with his dagger, but he is meant to be a non-violent criminal. On the other hand, he can just leave it for what it is and go for the key. However, the rest will know that he is a minor. It’s a lose-lose situation. Jason curses again and grabs his dagger, if there’s a chance, he will get out of here without revealing his age he will take it.

Peter looks in concern as Neal, not Neal, inspects the lock. He scoffs as Neal, his friend, his CI asks for something sharp. It’s not like he normally comes to work with a plethora of lock picking materials. Peter watches as Neal stares at the lock in contemplation, sighing as he seemingly reached a decision. Neal reaches towards his leg where his anklet sits.

“Is that a knife?” Exclaims Peter, baffled, he stares at Neal. “Neal, you’re supposed to be non-violent criminal.”

“Actually, it is a dagger.” Diana and Jones stare with open mouth at Neal.

“I don’t care if it’s a goddamn rapier, you’re not supposed to have a weapon.”

“I knew we couldn’t trust him. Once a criminal always a criminal.” Sneers Ruiz.

Jason turns around in frustration and glares at Ruiz. “Well, it’s a good thing I have it otherwise we would have no chance at picking the lock.” He turns back to the lock and tries to pick it with his dagger. It’s not ideal, but he has done more difficult locks with worse tools. With a crack the dagger breaks and Jason curses loudly.

“Shit, Neal are you hurt?” Peter asks in concern, although he is still frustrated by him.

“I’m fine.” Jason waves him off and grabs his other dagger. Peter sighs loudly and counts to ten in his head to stop himself from shouting at Neal. What doesn’t he get about being a non-violent criminal? Peter can only watch as that knife also breaks and Neal gets another one from somewhere. How many does he have on him? He shares a look with Diana and Jones who share his bafflement. Ruiz is glaring at Neal. Hughes doesn’t display any obvious emotion, Peter can’t read for the life of him what he is thinking. After the fourth knife, sorry dagger, breaks Neal seems to give up. “I don’t think this is going to work.”

“Caffrey, you do realise that when we get out of here. We will need to talk about the knives.” Says Hughes calmly.

“Yes. I know.” Jason sighs in resignation.

“We should never have trusted him.”

“Ruiz, enough.” Hughes admonishes him.

“No, we’re locked up with a violent criminal. Who is probably in league with that faery.”

“You do realise that fae hate adults.” Jason remarks.

“Then why did he call you his friend?” Ruiz steps closer to Neal, stepping into his personal space.

“This isn’t the first time I met him.”

“What?” shout the inhabitants of the room at the same time or some variation of it. The only one who doesn’t shout is Hughes, he just looks at Neal with an indiscernible expression on his face.

“He approached me when I was a child.” Peter looks at him with pity, probably remembering what Diana said about abused kids. “He told me there was a place where I could be safe and no adult could come.”

“What made you say no?” asks Diana.

What was he supposed to say? ‘Ya know, stranger danger and all that. Don’t set yourself up as the perfect traffic victim. “Stranger danger.” He ends up saying.

“Neal-” Begins Peter softly, but stops when he sees the sharp look Jason throws at him.

“Anybody any ideas to get out of here?” Intervenes Jones, before the silence can become too awkward.

“Get one of the children to help us.” Suggests Ruiz.

Jason snorts. “As if they would help us. Most of them were likely abused and wouldn’t dare come near us.”

“Just because you are a criminal, doesn’t mean that they are.” Sneers Ruiz.

Jason is not impressed, not one bit. “You do realise most of them have probably committed crimes?”

“They were children trying to survive. They weren’t like you, stealing for joy.” Ruiz’s voice gets just a tick louder to indicate that Jason is successful at riling him up. Out of the corner of his eye Jason sees Hughes preparing to intervene. So he quickly fires back an answer.

“So you would forgive me for my crimes if I would be a child?” asks Jason, a bit curious to what the man would say.

Ruiz glares at him. “If you were a child, yes.” He looks as if it takes great difficulty to drag these words out of his mouth. “It would obviously be a cry for attention.” Immediately Jason’s dislike of the man rises up again. His paintings aren’t a cry for attention, he can take care of himself. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on
your point of view, before Jason can do something he will regret later Hughes steps in.

“Let’s all calm down for a moment. It does us no good to keep arguing as if we are children ourselves. Ruiz. it’s a good idea, but this room seems to be invisible for them.” Now that Hughes has pointed that out it seems really obvious. None of the children even glance at them. Running very close to the windows, but never hitting them. It is as if the room is in a different dimension. Well, an extra different dimension.

Jason paces through the small room, careful not to touch the glass panels. He has a sneaky suspicion that they would make him fall through them as if they wouldn’t even be there. Diana seemingly gives up and sits down, head leaning against the glass. It doesn’t take long before Jones sits next to her in a similar position. As if that gives a cue, the others sit down as well. With a sigh Jason sits down in the middle of the room. He looks ruefully to his daggers, they were some of his favourites.

Chapter Text

“Any other ideas?” asks Jason a bit defeated, he wants to get out of here as fast as possible.

“There has to be a way out.” Everyone looks at Diana, a bit surprised by the conviction in her voice. “I’ve told you that the fae can’t lie, he said we could get out if we used the children.”

Suddenly, Peter sits up straighter. “Actually, he didn’t say that. He said that we would have to convince the child to help us. Child, not children.”

“We have to convince a specific child to help us.” Contemplates Jones. “How do we know which one is the one we need.”

“Eilees said him.” Remarks Diana.

Jason quietly inhales, he suspected it would come down to something like this. In the safety of him mind he curses the seelie again. Did he have to mess up everything? Everything was fine. No League of Assassins, no Batman, no Jo-. Nope, not going there. He spent so long working out the perfect plan and it worked. Frame himself for the bond forgeries, make a deal with Peter and he would be hidden. No one would think to look for him here. Hell, B still thinks he’s dead. The perfect hiding place. He isn’t about to compromise that, there has to be another way to get out of here.

“So what, we just have to wait until this child appears and ask him to help.” Jones says frustrated raking his hand through his hair.

Suddenly, they hear a childish chuckle echoing through the room. “He’s already here, he can hear everything you’re saying.” Eilees says with a sing-song voice. “And yet he hasn’t helped you, he doesn’t trust you. Doesn’t trust adults to help him.”

Everybody immediately tenses up, trying to locate the fae. Just like before they don’t see him anywhere. Jason has to admit that the words that the seelie spoke have an effect on him. It’s not that he doesn’t trust them, but rather that they would treat him like a child. His sentence would be declared null and void considering he’s still a minor. They would probably sent him to foster care. They wouldn’t trust him anymore. He doesn’t want to lose this life. It’s the happiest he’s been in years.

Hughes’ voice drags Jason out of his musings. “Child, can you hear us?”

No answer. The FBI agents look surreptitiously around, trying to find some kind of sign that Jason isn’t willing to give. He still has some idle hope that another child would answer, but he knows deep down that his luck isn’t that great.

Peter tries this time. “Look we’re FBI, we can help you. But first you have to be brave and help us, can you do that?” Again, there’s nothing, but the sounds of playing children.

“How old are you? What’s your name?” asks Ruiz. The questions continue in a similar manner. The only one who doesn’t ask any questions is Jason not seeing the point in it.

Suddenly, Jason hears a voice in his head sounding suspiciously like the seelie. ‘My, my, you really don’t trust them, do you? You know, once you’ve passed the barrier they can’t get to you. You’ll be safe.’ Jason scoffs internally and thinks back ‘And be stuck forever in the fae realm forever, no thank you.’ He gets the mental equivalent of a sharp grin back. ‘If you wish you could return to this room anytime.’ Jason doesn’t have a good answer for that and settles for saying nothing instead.

Peter doesn’t know how long they’ve been in this room, but the sun has begun to set and the dusk darkens the landscape. Giving it an eerie look that make his hairs stand on the back of his neck. To his surprise Neal seems to be the only one not effected by the feeling. Although Peter can see that his friend is tired, but still standing up.

“Neal come sit down, you’re no help if you wear yourself out.” Peter pats the space next to him in a silent invitation. Highly reluctant Jason approaches the spot and sits down, careful to not actually touch the glass. “Why do you think he won’t help us?” asks Peter quietly.

“Maybe he doesn’t trust law enforcement?” Jason replies with minimal sarcasm.

“Would you have helped?”

Jason hesitates, as Robin he would’ve helped in a heartbeat. As Robin his identity would’ve been protected, and he could easily get away from them. Before Robin, he would’ve also helped, but only once he was sure they weren’t traffickers, and he could get a clean getaway. Both conditions that have been met in this situation. But now? Now, he just doesn’t want to lose what he has. Jason still has some naïve hope that this situation can be resolved in another way.

“Neal?”

“I-It would depend on my age, and if I didn’t have to encounter any of you after the fact.”

“So, the child is probably afraid?” Concludes Peter.

“Can we stop calling him a child?” It comes out a bit sharper than intended and gathers the attention of the others who sent curious looks his way. “We don’t know how old he is.” Liar, liar. “And besides no child likes to be called a child.” The conversation falls still after that and the quiet sounds of the nature’s nightlife lull Jason slowly to sleep. Peter looks at Neal as he feels a weight settle on his shoulder, the younger man has fallen asleep or so it would seem. As Peter studies his face he sees the tension, that has been steadily growing stronger since they’ve arrived in this realm, disappear. Once again, Peter is reminded by how young his CI looks when he is asleep. Peter rests his head against the cool glass, closes his eyes, and thinks of Elizabeth. He wonders if she’s scared by his disappearing act or if they get back out there no time will have passed at all.

Peter wakes back up with the rays of the morning sun shining in his eyes. Neal is still peacefully sleeping against his shoulder; Peter is a bit surprised he hasn’t fallen off during the night. A quick glance around the room show that the others are already awake and stretching their muscles.

“Morning boss.” Says Diana softly, careful not to wake Neal up.

“Morning.” Peter replies.

“It seems we are not the only ones already awake.” She gestures at the outside, where there are children playing. It was a lot less than the day before. Most of the children are younger ones, but there is one girl who seems to be fourteen or fifteen, sitting rather closely to the room looking at the sunrise. The infernal key glitters in the sunlight as if it is mocking them.

“Does it not seem strange that I’m not hungry or thirsty?” Remarks Jones.

“At least we won’t starve this way.” Replies Ruiz rather pessimistic. “Shouldn’t we wake sleeping beauty up?” He gestures at Neal, who seems to be waking up from the loud noises Ruiz makes. Neal groans quietly and leans backward to go back to sleep. To everyone’s surprised Neal falls through the glass as if it never existed in the first place. Peter quickly puts his hand against the glass to find out if it has magically disappeared. His hand finds the slightly cool glass. Peter looks stupefied at his hand and then at Neal. Absentmindedly Peter registers that Neal’s clothes have changed, he is now wearing a red hoodie and jeans.

Neal got through the glass.

The glass that only children can go through.

Neal is a child.

Chapter Text

“What?” asks Ruiz completely stupefied. It reflects the rest of the FBI’s thoughts very well. What just happened?

Jason opens his eyes and sits up. To his surprise they are all staring at him as if he has grown a second head and sprouted wings. He backs up slightly further into the room. “Do I have something on my face?” He tries to charm them, but it falls completely flat. Peter opens his mouth to say something but closes it only to open it again and to close it when he can’t think of anything to say. Peter reminds Jason vaguely of a fish.

“How old are you?” asks Hughes seemingly out of the blue.

“Twenty-five.” Replies Jason slowly. They are still staring at him strangely and Jason quickly tries to remember everything that happened since he woke up to figure out what he did to justify this reaction. His eyes fall on Peter who’s still standing with the palm of his hand against the glass. The puzzle pieces quickly fall into place after that. “Shit.”

“Neal?” asks Peter a bit out of breath and he makes a motion towards Jason. As if that breaks the spell, Diana and Jones also come closer. Ruiz is still standing completely still as if he can’t comprehend the situation. Jason backs up further into the room feeling a bit claustrophobic. They know, fuck, fuck, he keeps chanting in his mind. His shoulders rise defensively, and he doesn’t take his eyes off the team. Peter calls his name again and steps forward with the palm of his hand open towards him. Jason eyes dart towards the key, his secret is out. He can grab it now without trouble. Jason backs up further, not taking his eyes off them. Peter’s eyes widen slightly as he figures out what Neal is going to do and runs forward. “Neal-”

Jason goes for the second time through the glass and Peter can only watch helplessly as his hands hit the glass. Not wanting to see the disappointment is Peter’s eyes, Jason looks away and pulls his hood up. Only now he notices his clothes have changed, his hoodie smells like his mother. Jason had forgotten what she smelled like, but the scent still calms his immediately. His hands go automatically to the right side of hoodie where he can feel raised stitches from when he ripped it when he was five.

How was this possible?

His hoodie got destroyed in Ethiopia, how can it be here? Even the tell-tale weight of his switchblade is in his pocket. Suddenly, Jason notices one large difference, for all accounts it is his hoodie, except it is too big. He had it since he was four, so it shouldn’t be able to fit him anymore. Not only was he able to wear it, it is also slightly too big, just like his hoodie always was. Briefly, Jason wonders if he can keep it if he gets out of here. Right, he has to get out of here. With determinate steps he walks towards the key. Jason stretches his hand out to grab it.

This is almost too easy.

The key moves easily and Jason stuffs it in the pocket of his hoodie next to his switchblade.

“Jason?” He turns around quickly in surprise of hearing his name called.

“Liv.” Her name falls breathlessly from his lips. She hasn’t changed a bit since he has last seen her.

“Hiya, esé.” The fourteen-year-old grins.

“How-?”

“I was tired, and this place is maravilloso. I’m so glad ya’ve found it.”

“How did ya know it was me?”

“Please, I could recognise ya anywhere. ‘Specially when ya’re wearing that hoodie, hermanito.”

“Not so little anymore, I’m bigger than ya.”

“Ha, I’m still older and faster.” She twirls around his knife which she had pickpocketed when he wasn’t paying attention. “You’re getting slow.” And with these taunting words she turns around and runs away, which she has done a hundred times before. Jason can feel himself starting to smile and runs after her.

They used to do this when they were younger. She met him when he still lived with his parents, but he spent most of the time in the streets when his father was home. Liv taught him how to survive on the streets. She made a game out of it; she used to pickpocket whatever he had in his pocket and run away with it. He could get it back if he caught her. When he was ten, she disappeared suddenly. Laughing out loud he followed her; this was the most fun he had in years.

Meanwhile the rest of the team were still in shock in the glass room, watching as Neal went to get the key. They could scarcely belief that Neal Caffrey is a minor. They’ve let him go undercover in dangerous situations; he’s been shot at even. Hughes rubs his forehead; this is a complete shitstorm. “Burke, did you have any suspicion that Neal was younger than we thought he was?” He demands.

“I suspected that he maybe lied about his age, but I didn’t think he was still under twenty.”

“He did act younger than I expected from him sometimes.” Adds Jones hesitantly.

“Why would he hide it? He could’ve gotten off with a year in juvie instead of four years on an anklet.” Asks Diana. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe he’s running from something?” Suggest Ruiz. They all look at him apprehensively. “No, hear me out. Maybe he ran away from something or someone, but he was scared they would follow him. So, he commits a serious crime and gets deliberately caught. If he was a minor that was caught it would create a lot of attention. Attention he doesn’t want.” Ruiz’s theory actually makes a lot of sense, especially because they can’t think of another plausible one.

“Damnit, Neal. Why didn’t he say something to us? We could’ve helped him.”

“Look on the bright side, at least we’ll get out of here.” Mutters Ruiz.

“We’ll deal with Neal after we get out of here.” Says Hughes, he looks in the direction of Neal who has almost reached the key. The girl Peter noticed earlier is approaching Neal without him noticing. Peter watches as Neal turns around in surprised. They are talking too quietly for him to understand what they are saying. He sees Neal release some tension, at least according to his body language. Peter watches in surprise as the girl runs away and Neal laughs. It isn’t a laugh he has heard before from Neal, somehow it feels more genuine.

He can only watch in bewilderment as Neal chases the girl, both are laughing. Peter can’t help but wonder if they’ve known each other before this. Neal normally isn’t this open with strangers. A look at Jones and Diana and it becomes clear they share his bewilderment. Neal and the girl are playing a weird game of tag and now it seems obvious now that Neal is still a child. Peter can’t belief he ever thought different as he watches Neal run around. Not once does Neal turn around and look at them. After a while it becomes obvious that both of them are getting tired, the girl walks in the direction of the glass room and lets herself fall down near the FBI team. Neal joins her and sits scantily a few inches away from the glass. He sits so close that Peter can almost touch him if the glass wouldn’t be in the way.

“Ya got quicker.” The girl says with a teasing smile, a bit out of breath.

“Or ya got slower.” Neal teases back with a grin on his face, in an accent Peter hasn’t heard before. The girl suddenly tries to grab something in her pocket, but her hands come back empty. “You definitely got better at that.” And she motions towards something Neal has in his hands. It’s a switchblade, Peter briefly wonders where he keeps getting those knives. Neal puts the knife away in his pocket, only to frown and pull out the key.

“Watcha got there?”

“A key.”

“No shit. What does it open?”

“I dunno. Feels like I’m forgettin’ somethin’.”

A horrible realisation dawns on Peter.

Chapter Text

“Can I?” Neal hands over the key. “Pretty.” She turns it over a few times in her hands.

“So ‘manita , how long will it give me?”

Peter can finally put a name to the girl’s face. Manita, it sounds Spanish. He wonders what Neal means with ‘how long will it give me’. He looks at Jones and Diana to see if they make something of it.

“Maybe money?” Suggest Jones.

“It’s a bit of weird phrase then.” Answers Diana.

“You got a better idea?”

“No. Honestly, it worries me more that Neal seemingly has forgotten that we exist.”

Dark looks are thrown around, but before they can continue their discussion Manita answers Neal’s question. “Two, maybe three weeks if ya ration it.” She hands the key back. “Please tell me ya’ve managed ta stay outta the gangs.”

“I ain’t stupid. Stayed wide away from them. Got eventually out of the city.”

“Really? Didn’t think ya would ever leave, it’s not the best, but it’s still home.”

“Imma head back, one day.” Neal stares at the horizon, probably thinking about his mysterious home.

“So, where were ya?”

“New York.” He hesitates a bit. “Wit’ the FBI.”

“The hell? You working wit’ la hada now?”

“Got caught, I’m workin’ wit’ them as a criminal informant.”

Manita studies him carefully. “Ya didn’t get caught, ya let yourself get caught. Jay, why?”

“Cuz, no one would think ta look for me there.”

“Then how did ya end up here?”

“They were investigatin’ missin’ children-” Jason suddenly hisses and grabs his head. “Fuck.” Liv carefully lays her hand on his shoulder like she has done a million times before.

“I had ta get the key ta open the door.” Jason stands up quickly, Liv’s hand slips from his shoulder, and looks wildly around him. “There was a glass room somewhere around here. I have ta go back.”

“Go back? Ya seriously want ta go back ta that world. Ta work wit’ the FBI of all people.”

“Liv-”

“No, when has law enforcement ever helped us?” She backs away slowly from Jason. “They are exactly the same as the others, if not worse. At least the others are honest ‘bout it.”

“Do ya really think I let myself get caught without checkin’ them out. They ain’t dirty.”

“Never thought I’d see the day where ya of all people trust la hada.”

“They ain’t bad people. A bit naïve maybe, but they try ta help.”

“But still.”

“I ain’t there anymore.”

The silence stretches on a bit, meanwhile Peter and his team are trying to process what they’ve just heard.

“Where’s this room of yours?”

“Somewhere ‘round here.”

“So what?” She scoffs. “Ya just gonna walk around here tryin’ to find an invisible room?”

“Got a better idea?” Jason turns around and walks in a random direction, coincidentally right past the room. Liv sighs and follows his direction. Within a few steps she walks in the room full of FBI agents who are staring open mouthed at her. She quickly backs out again.

“Jay? I found yer cops.” She shouts at him.

Jason turns back in surprise; he didn’t think that they would’ve found them so soon. Quickly schooling his features and steeling himself for the upcoming confrontation, he walks towards Liv and the glass room. Now that Liv has pointed out where it is, it is suddenly visible again. Liv is standing a few feet from the glass room, never taking her eyes of the inhabitants of the room. They are alternatively staring shocked at Jason and Liv.

Jason approaches them nervously. “So, I got the key.” Absentmindedly he notices that Liv has joined them in the room.

Peter just stares slack-jawed at him. Not saying anything. The rest isn’t any better, only Hughes is starting to look like himself again.

“Neal-.” Peter cuts himself off again.

Jason decides that Peter isn’t going to try to say anything else at the moment and focuses on the new problem. Opening the door.

To open it he has to turn his back towards Peter and the rest. Normally, it wouldn’t be a problem since he can predict their motions sufficiently. Now however, everything he knows is thrown out of the window. Jason has no idea how they will react.

A subtly nudge in his back reminds him that Liv is still here and has his back. Jason asks the silent question and Liv imperceptibly nods. He walks backwards towards the door, while Liv comes to stand between him and the FBI.

Hughes has recovered the quickest of them and begins to talk. At the sound of his voice both Liv and Jason tense up noticeably. To both their surprises he addresses Liv first. “Your name is Manita?”

“What’s it ta ya?”

“Just trying to get to know you.”

“Well, I ain’t interested in makin’ small talk.” She growls back.

Hughes holds up his hands placatingly. “Maybe we can track down your family, I’m sure they would like to know what happened to you.”

“The only family I have left knows where I am.” Jason tenses up subtly, before forcibly relaxing his shoulders again. By now he has opened the door and turned back to watch the tennis match between Hughes and Liv.

“If you come with us, we can help you. Get you settled in, go to college.”

“That shtick ain’t gonna fuckin’ work on me, I ain’t Jay. How ‘bout ya shut yer fuckin’ mouth an’ go back ta walkin’ the straight, while I’ll stick to the Narrows.” Jason snorts audibly, while the others look taken back from her foul mouth. At the sound of Jason, they look as one man at him. Jason tries to not look too amused with the situation. Walking the straight, while someone else is sticking to the Narrow is a common expression in the lower parts of Gotham. It’s a wordplay on the expression on walking the straight and narrow. To walk the straight means to be an outsider of Gotham and to mind your own damn business. Sticking to the Narrows means quite literally being a native of the Narrows or Crime Alley, two of the worst parts of Gotham.

Deciding to cut off the rising tension in the room, Jason opens the door and backs away again until he’s standing next to Liv. Ready to bolt in a fraction of a second.

“How about we ditch this place?”

That seems to shake them out of their trance they’ve found themselves in since Jason came back to the room. Ruiz is the first who moves and walks through the door that leads back to the interrogation room. One by one they got through the door, Peter walking through hesitantly while he keeps looking back at Neal. Only Liv and Jason remain, with an audience on the other side of the door.

“Are ya sure, ya don’t wanna come wit’?”

“Nah, I’m good here. Are ya sure, ya don’t wanna stay?”

“I-” Jason looks longingly at the green pastures. “I promised myself that I would head back one day, ‘sides I have unfinished business.” The look in his eyes turns ice cold.

“Ya would be safe here.”

“Since when have I ever been concerned ‘bout my safety?” He gets a raised eyebrow in response, and they awkwardly step away from each other.

Suddenly, Liv throws her arms around his neck and hugs him tight. She has only hugged him once before and that was when his mother died. Jason holds her tightly, hiding his face in her shoulder. It’s a bit awkward since he is so much bigger than her, but he doesn’t let her go. A lone tear slips past his eyes, and he know his eyes will be glassy if he lets her go. “Take care of yourself.” She whispers in his ear.

“I will. I’ll miss ya, ‘manita.”

“I’ll miss ya too, hermanito.” Reluctantly they step out of the embrace. Jason walks through the door towards Peter. He pauses midway to look back at Liv and sees the door shimmering before disappearing into thin air, taking the image of Liv with it.