Tread Carefully [TAG: ALLEN]

[ANTOINE BURKE]

At the sound of his office door opening Burke looked up from the paperwork he was reading while seated at his desk. He should have anticipated a visitor, he had called them after all, but still, some appearances must be kept and that included the illusion of mild surprise.

"Ah... Allen. Have a seat." He shuffled some of the papers back into their folder and set them down, gesturing to the seat before his desk. This hadn't been an interaction he had been looking forward to but that went for a lot of his dealings in his position of power. All were 'necessary' however. And he would quantify a brawl in a bar followed by one coworker picking up the other who threatened someone with her wand a necessary intervention. If anything, with Allen it was overdue. Ava could protest and cover up all that she liked but it would only go so far.

"How are you?"* You know... Since I forced you to go on leave. *Yes. Start casual. Don't get a rise out of him right away.

[Deleted]

Allen had prepared himself the best he could for the meeting today. He knew what this was for. And he knew what was likely to come from it. That didn't stop his nerves however. He and Burke often didn't see eye to eye on things, but there was typically always a mutual respect. Whatever bullets would fly today, he would take them for Krys. He took a deep breath, before opening the door to Burke's office.

"Burke." He obliged, taking the seat in front of Burke's desk. It was stiff. Too stiff. Allen was convinced it was done on purpose. He braced - his mind retracing the steps that had happened that day in Phil's bar. It was an unpleasant journey. Drunkeness. Yelling. Violence. Forced Alcohol ingestion. A wand being pulled. Krys screaming Allen's name. He wished he could forget. This meeting would ensure he did not.

"I'm doing well, actually. Thanks." Partially true. He was spending ample amounts of time with Krys. All it took was a traumatic experience to bring it to that point. "I trust we both know why we're here today Burke. Let's get into it - don't mince words. Not that I'd assume you would."

[ANTOINE BURKE]

At Allen's bluntness, which he should have been expected, he shifted ever so slightly in his seat before letting out a long sigh. So this was how it was going to be? Fine.

"Suspension without pay which you're already quite aware of." That had been the last week hadn't it? "The two of you can return the Monday after next but you should know it will be separately. We will be reassigning Miss Robin elsewhere. Edmonton will take over Head of Tech. Robin will most likely be moved to Counter Terrorism."

[Deleted]

Allen smiled. Not a grin, nor a smirk - but a smile. Confident, yet not cocky. "I'm sure you've put much thought into this, I can tell. And I thank you for doing so. I know you're not exactly a hasty man Burke." He shifted in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. "But I'm certain you expected me to tell you what I'm about to tell you." He shifted again, this time leaning forward towards Burke. "No deal - I do not accept your terms to return."

[ANTOINE BURKE]

He should have known that it would not be so easy. Allen would come in not wanting to 'play'. A man could dream that one day things would be easier around this office but it just wasn't the case.

"I am also certain that you know that your terms are not ones that this office is beholden to." He didn't smile, didn't flinch, didn't even blink his hands folding on his desk leaning forward. "You know as well as I do that a suspension and relocation is being very lenient Watts... considering the circumstances." And these circumstances just seemed to be getting worse and worse with every new bit of information.

"Miss Robin will actually be notified in a matter of minutes of the mentioned changes. There is no bargain to be had here."

[Deleted]

Allen brought his hands together in thought, breathing into him gently. Just like Burke. He was always the good guy. At least in his own eyes.

"Well Burke.." He shrugged. Ava told him this may be the case. Now he was living it. Sometimes she just knew how to call her shot. "..then I'm going to complicate matters for you further. And I do hope you forgive me for doing so." He separated his hands, holding them out in a partial shrug. "I resign effectively immediately. I know I'm leading the Gonzalez case.. and the Sutton case... and the Reims case... and the France/UK cross collaboration case, you know the one. And uh.." He had lost track of how just how many cases he had the lead on. High profile. Cases other aurors would kill to lead. He supposed it didn't matter anymore. They could have them. "Anyway, so now I trust that Krys Robin can retain her role as Head of Tech? Otherwise you're just pissing her talent away. Why keep her at that point?"

He held his hand out to shake, a last gesture to Burke in what he expected would be his final action as an auror. Saving Krys Robin. Still smiling. Still Allen.

[ANTOINE BURKE]

He wasn't sure he liked how calm Allen appeared before him. He should have expected as much though. Allen was a highly trained auror well versed in masking emotions (most of them) and it only made sense that he would use these skills even in dealings that didn't involve crime scenes. Though, with an outside eye, this moment probably mirrored that of an interrogation.

"Do you now?" Shit this man was smart. Burke knew he would be. He was rather fond of Allen despite the shit that he kicked up. Burke looked out for Allen in secret and less obvious ways. Like he knew the history of all the criminals and victims they ran into he also knew those of his team. The Watts' had a shit dad. Crappy mom. Just each other. Burke took it upon himself to be a bit of a guiding force for the man but how could he make this work now when the man was screwing up so royally?

Burke didn't budge at the offered hand. Made no moves to take it. Weighing his options. That smile. He would have been pissed off if he wasn't so impressed by the counter move.

"I had a feeling that this might come up." That was a simple way of putting it. "Tell me Watts... What do you think is a fair solution here? Not an ideal one but a fair one. In light of what occurred at the bar and outside of it." He eluded to a certain issue before allowing the hammer to drop. "We have been unable to reach Miss Robin at her home. We sent someone by the residence and she is not there. We would have all hands on deck except she is still sending owls with her daily work logs despite being suspended. Miss Watts at congress has also assured us she has seen her and she is fine." Leaning back in his chair he pressed onward. "You should know that Miss Robin is test running a tracking chip that she developed for members of our team in the event of kidnappings and hostage situations..."

His gaze never waivered. "She is currently test running the prototype on herself." Did he need to fill in the blanks? Though he wasn't muggleborn he was a halfblood and knew how to turn on her device in her lab. "I learned last week that it does, indeed, work." And he knew exactly where she was. He let that new information settle before leaning forward seriously.

"So I ask you again... What do you suggest that I do here?" Taking in a long inhale he leaned back in his seat. "I do know that if I could get ahold of Miss Robin I would instruct her that the chip works and she can turn it off now that the experiment is complete. I would also casually mention to whoever is with her to truly consider what could happen if they are not more careful. Of course this is all hyperbole..."

[Deleted]

Burke was good. Very good. It pained Allen to admit that sometimes. But working under somebody like that was oftentimes inspiring, even if they did butt heads at times. He was the only person, other than Krys Robin of course, that could checkmate Allen. "I do. It's time I move on to greener pastures if that's the case."

He retracted his hand at Burke's silent refusal to touch it. Krys Robin had been relaying information that Allen very much preferred she did not. He was surprised. And disappointed. And hurt. But he still loved her all the same. "So I guess that means the chess match is over then. You've toppled the king." He sighed, leaning back in his chair. Smiling still. He shook his head gently.

"You know, the night I found her Burke.. when I broke into her house.." He scratched his chin. It was still hard to think about. "She didn't even react to me apparating in her bedroom. A complete stranger. Like I was a ghost. Or a shadow. Did you know that? I never knew eyes could be so..hurt, Burke. They were like saucers, but they never even saw me." He looked at the ceiling. There was nothing there. Of course there was nothing there. "And so..I picked her up, and held her little body in my arms.. and she fell asleep. Her head was right here." He tapped his left shoulder. "Those moments in that house. The results of her parents' punishments that I saw.. forever altered my brain chemistry." He turned his head down, looking at Burke again. He leaned forward. "If you need to get a hold of her, it sounds like you already know where and how to contact her." He coughed clearing his throat.

"As for the repercussions.. I truly don't care what you do to me Antoine. Put me on janitorial. Beat cop work. I really don't care, I cannot effectively convey that clearly enough. But you cannot change her role. Please." It was the only time his smile faltered. "Please. Let her keep her position. Move me somewhere else. But please - please promise me you'll watch out for her when I'm not there throughout the day. And don't let people bully her while she's at work. And I'll make her feel better when she's everywhere but." It was a concession. One he was comfortable making. He didn't really feel like he had a choice.

[ANTOINE BURKE]

These chess analogies. Burke couldn't help but wonder if that was one, of many things, the two of them did to pass the time the last week and a half. He didn't want to think about the other potential things. That would just lead to more problems for the pair.

"No. I did not know that." He admitted quietly. If Allen wanted to unload on him so be it but he would have been foolish to think that Burke had forgotten the Robin case. He had seen her, questioned her father and had been unable to break him. He was just as much to blame for her return to that house and it was something he wrestled with every time he looked in the mirror just like the rest of the failed cases during his tenure. He never forgot. He didn't wish the same for Allen. Allen's life would be better. Burke would see to it.

"You are not the only one who cannot forget that night, Allen." He warned his voice somehow gentle yet firm all at once. "So please do not act like you are the only one in this building trying to do right by her." Shifting in his chair he stood turning to look out his office window. "Perhaps... another transfer would suit both of you better." Even if it was making it up on the fly now. "I've been meaning to make a new branch anyhow. Improve workflow." Ok. He was on a roll now. "Special cases. Shesterkin, your brother, McCree, with you at the head... A regular island of misfit toys." A light joke considering the circumstances. "For all intents and purposes we call it Special Cases." And to sweeten the deal and provide comfort for them all. "You'll need a Data Analyst." Before Allen could play savior again he interjected. "I hardly think Miss Robin will even register the potential role 'downgrade' at the promise of working with both Watts brothers." Perhaps one more than the other...

TAG: @allen