As I Collide, I See I Am a Paradox // White Collar

FORTY-TWO

when things around causes pain
and you find the way hard to tread,
hold your head up and walk again,
and remember the warmth of my breath.

~

Winchester, London
April 15, 2005
Jayson's birthday
Heist Day

It is a universally acknowledged truth that a hungry woman can be more dangerous than a gorilla with chainsaws for hands. Kira was starving — Neal decides to put off eating when they arrived in London so they could go over their plan again. Tonight was about one thing — the cipher.

"After the party, after everything's done, we'll all meet back here at ten." Neal said. Where was here? Here was in Winchester, London. Here was at Jayson's house where he said — no promised them — was safe. And so here they were, discussing their plans. "Agreed?"

"What if one of us doesn't show up?" Jayson asks and his footing shifted uncomfortably, "You said it yourself — you guys have ninety seconds to get out. So, if one of you doesn't make it out, what's the plan?"

Everyone looked to Neal, but he said nothing. This worried Kira and from Mozzie's expression, it worried him, too. She knew what they were both thinking, but would never say.

Not in front of Jayson.

But she could say it. He needed to know. He needed to know this part of the game.

"Then, assume we're caught. Forget about us." She said with only the smallest nod and she saw him stiffen as if, somehow, he just realized how terrifying this is. He's a little late to the party. "Go on with your life." She said seriously, then her stomach rumbled loudly, causing the tension to lower. She blushed at the sound.

Jayson seemed to be awestruck by the words alone, but he was getting better at hiding what he was thinking. He closed his mouth and then cast a hard gaze to Neal, "Is that all?"

Neal paused and then nodded, "Yeah, go eat." He said and everyone dispersed. Jayson was the first one out the door and it took Kira some serious running to catch up to him. "Hey." She said as she came beside him. Her stomach rumbled again and reminded her of food, but she needed to talk to Jayson first.

"I don't really want to talk right now." He said and she stopped, "That's fine." She said and saw him stop in his tracks, too. Her words surprised him, no doubt. "But I just wanted to give you this." She pulled out, from seemingly out of nowhere, a small, rectangular box. It was metal and had a little lock on it. Jayson thought the box was cute, but his curiosity was strong, "What's in the box?" He asked.

"Open it." She said to him as she held it out. Jayson tilted his head in protest at her. But she simply tilted her's in response and said with enunciation, "Jay, open it." He gave in this time and unlatched the lock on the small, rectangular box. And then he opened it slowly. Kira saw the slightest sliver of confusion of his face as he reached his hand inside and lifted up a pocket watch.

But not just any pocket watch.

Edmund Stone's pocket watch. The pocket watch she, Neal, and Mozzie stole way back when. And here it was in his hands, so light, so ancient. He sort of admired it. His gaze lifted to Kira and then it shook from left to right, "What? What is—"