to our too often denied livingston
title: anxious
Summary: Linus wonders how did Livingston become a thieft
Rating: PG
Note: in progress. reviews welcome
Livingston literally jumped from surprise as the door opened and Linus entered the room.
Since the beginning of the job, it has always been difficult for Linus to stay in the same room with Livingston. The other man's anxiety and his restlessness only increased his own and made him feel so clumsy and insecure that Livingston presence was barely bearable.
“Hey, it’s only me” Linus said, in what he hoped to be a perfectly calm and reassuring voice.
“hum.. yes. Hi.” Livingston’s head dropped back to his notes immediately and Linus could almost feel the waves of anxiety he broadcasted through the room. How, and even more *why* this guy became a con artist was above him.
On the day he decided to ask Basher - yes, because Linus felt that talking to him was easier than to the other guys of the crew, even if he couldn’t get what his answer meant most of the time - the later answered:
“Russ’ did it.”
And as Linus showed no sign of understanding he pursued.
“He dragged Liv’ into the game. Y’get it? ”
Silence. Basher sighed.
“Liv’ was working for some kind of security firm at time, and this painting from Europe was to be exposed in a Boston gallery for a few weeks. Liv’ had installed all the video system and was paid for sitting on a chair with nothing to do but watching the monitors eight hours a day with two other guys.”
“mm…”
“And one day he came back to the hotel room the firm rented for him because, you now, he’s not one to rent a room in a hotel. Anyway, Rusty was there, sitting on the edge of the window, Liv’ told me, his legs out of the room and for a good five minutes, Liv’ just couldn’t talk or move because he was too damn scared that Russ would jump and crash on the floor.
Well, Russ told me he was actually staying at the first floor, but Liv’ was scared anyway. So when he noticed Liv’ was there Russ jumped back into the room and talked Liv’ into it.”
“Talked him into what?”
“Stealing the painting. Are you listening or what?”
“And how, I mean… he accepted? I mean, he is so … frightened. About everything”
“Rusty never talked you into doing something, right?” Basher smiled, “Nay, it’s a lil’ bit more complicated than that. Russ asked a few questions about Liv’s job and if it was somehow possible for someone in the monitor room to switch from a real time video to a taped one and then back to the real one without anybody else noticing. And Liv’ said it was possible indeed. So Russ said he would go and steal the painting on the next day at 4 pm during opening hours - and during Liv’s shift - and he needed someone to do that for him.”
“And he did it?” Linus was bluffed that Livingston had given into it so easily.
“Nay. Let me finish, we come to the greatest part of the story. Next, Liv’ asked if it was illegal and Russ just stared at him and answered ‘Only if you get caught’. After that, Russ just mentioned how much it would be paid and when Liv’ asked if Russ wouldn’t run away right after the job without paying him, Russ said Liv’ just had to trust him and made his way out - by the door, not the window. That’s it.”
“But he didn’t agree, did he?”
“No. That’s what’s so great about it. Liv’ never mentioned he would do the job and Russ never gave a guaranty for the payment. Anyway, the room the painting was in was to be opened to the public only two days later so the room would be empty, but not the gallery. On the next day Russ went to the gallery - and if you want my point he was scared to death that Liv’ would fail him - entered the secured room, stole the painting and made his way out in the middle of the day. All the customers have seen him go in and out the security area, but they must have thought he was from the gallery staff for they never mentioned it to the cops afterward.”
“And Livingston switched the video?”
“What do you think? This guy is just great, you know. He even changed all the other camera orientations so that none would catch Russ entering the secured room.”
“And none of them had a guaranty about what the other would do.”
“That’s it. You know, I’m not sure Liv’ would have done it otherwise. I think the reason he did it was he just wouldn’t leave Russ get caught.”
“But they didn’t know each other before Rusty broke into his room, did they?”
“Of course not. But Liv’ isn't one to let you down if he can help it. Russ must have guessed, and decided to risk it.”
Somehow, Linus suddenly stopped feeling nervous when around Livingston. And he started to conceive a real adoration for both of the guys. For those men who would take all the risk for their trust in loyalty.