Notes: Welcome to the first chapter of Computers vs Paintings.
Copied from the intro to 'Spies vs Cons'
What would happen if Neal had a twin? There have been times when people have been found innocent of a crime because they couldn't prove which twin did it. As for how Bryce is alive, lets say Orion saved him (where was Orion while his son was fighting the Ring? Seriously?)
Basically, I'm going to write White Collar/Chuck crossovers featuring twins Neal and Bryce (Neal is older). Most will be one-shots which can stand alone (I hope). They will vary in length. Additional stories will be added at random. Feel free to post prompts of what you want to see; no guarantees though.
Story notes: This one is a little silly. Just having a bit of fun with the prompt.
FO – Face-Off
From Sammay on AO3
When Bryce finally gets the (very late) information that his brother is out of jail, he goes to visit him. However, since Bryce needs an in to the building, he decides to seduce a pretty, naive agent to get in.
He chooses Diana.
It really goes so badly.
Diana's morning routine was hardly complete without grabbing her morning coffee from the coffee place near the FBI building. The staff all knew her and gave her smiles and news as she waited for her order to be ready.
Some even asked about Neal and how he had been going. After all, the CI had done a few coffee runs for the FBI White Collar division and his ordering of a couple of regulars favourites hadn't gone unnoticed.
"It's amazing what someone can tell about you just from your coffee," a smooth voice commented from behind her as she reached for her order. Diana turned and was facing someone who looked like Neal Caffrey. His hair was longer and parted on the side instead of combed back but his face and eyes were almost identical. However, his outfit looked a well-fitted FBI suit and Diana had seen Neal sitting at his desk in his usual fancy suit-hat combo.
She knew it wasn't him, which became increasingly noticeable as he kept talking.
"Your blended coffee suggests that you like to try new things, that you're spontaneous and imaginative."
"Huh. You sound like a fortune cookie," she commented before walking to the door. She held a breath and then let it out in annoyance as footsteps sounded behind her.
He was following her!
"Excuse me!" he called out. She turned around with a frown to see him waving something in the air.
Her wallet.
She knew without a doubt that she hadn't dropped it. Hang around with Neal Caffrey long enough and you learn to keep track of things like your wallet. As long as no one tries to pick your pocket.
She raised an eyebrow as he walked over and said something about her dropping it. A hand on her arm and prolonged eye contact, she recognised the signs of someone trying to con her... romantically. She could call him out on his con or she could let him keep going.
It wasn't that she thought he would go away if she ignored him but, part of her had been hoping for it. Suddenly, she was very glad that Neal had stopped trying to flirt with her after that first incident.
Right at the entrance to the FBI building, she realised he just wasn't going to go away. The only attention she had paid to his words was for information gathering.
"Listen, James," and she really doubted that was his real name, "I'm a busy woman and I have no interest in whatever it is you're selling. So, here is your warning: stop following me or I will mace you." She pulled out the bottle of mace she carried for extra effect. Rather than walk into the building and have the guards restrain him, she walked down the street and doubled back.
And he was gone. She was very relieved.
"Hey, coffee shop beauty!" Her heart sunk. Really? Who had she angered to deserve this treatment? "Now, I didn't follow you so you can't mace me," he pointed out in a playful tone.
"I could just shoot you," she growled softly. He laughed, like it was a joke.
"I would love to see where you work. Please? I've never met an FBI agent before."
She knew that if she was straight and a little more naive, this guy's ploys would probably have worked. But he lacked the right curves and she had flirted with suspects as part of stings.
"You're standing in an FBI building." In fact, she was willing to bet he had been waiting in the lobby for her to enter.
He looked around and laughed warmly.
"Of course, of course! But I want to see where the agents work. Does it bustle?"
Bustle? Who used words like bustle? She bit down a snort of laughter but he caught it. He smiled.
"Made you laugh. You look much better when you smile." So corny. She looked around for help.
"Be that as it may, it is against regulations for me to take you up." A lie. But, if it got him off her back. "Goodbye." She turned to walk away and he grabbed her arm. Lightly but she'd had enough.
She pulled out the mace and squirted his arms. He jumped back like he had been shocked.
"Hey-"
"I have already said 'no'. Twice. Do you not understand the concept?"
"Um-"
"'No' means no, Mister James. Now, unless you want to be maced, let me go to work thank you."
He raised his hands and backed off. The position gave Diana an idea. If he asked about seeing where she worked one more time...
"Okay," he said complete with heartbroken sigh. "I would really have liked to see."
That counted, didn't it? Diana pulled out her handcuffs.
"Sure. On one condition."
Bryce did not need to call for help. He was a CIA agent and he could handle anything. Even the looks and giggles from FBI agents.
Stupid FBI.
"Geez, Bryce, what did you do?" Neal asked. He was grabbing a file for Peter, the only time anyone would allow him near his brother. Bryce had his hands cuffed to the filing shelves so that they were hanging above his head. Both his feet were planted on the ground but the emotional torture of every FBI agent (and his twin!) watching and laughing at him, far outweighed the physical torture.
"Nothing! I was just trying to get up here to visit you. And I decided to flirt with an agent on the way." He mumbled the last part.
"Well, that explains the 'flirt' sign hanging around your neck. Did Diana catch you flirting with your chosen girl or something?" Silence. "Bryce... it wasn't Diana, was it?" A nod. "You weren't persistent, oh who am I kidding?, you were persistent."
"It works with most people. Wear them down with kindness and smiles-"
"And if you even try to compare it to my current occupation, I won't go and convince Diana to let you go. She'll probably listen once she's done relating the story to her girlfriend on the phone."
Bryce muttered a curse. He never should have taken the deal.
"I'll let you see where I work, if you let me handcuff you while we go there."
Once he had been handcuffed like a criminal, she had dragged him up there, re-handcuffed him out of the way and placed the sign around his neck.
She then went to Neal for an explanation and Neal informed the office about his twin brother.
While Neal distracted Diana, Bryce was finally able to pick the locks. He pulled his arms down and tried to sneak out. He reached the elevator as it opened and a strawberry haired woman in heels stepped out.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Bryce, Bryce Larkin," he responded, ducking into the elevator. "And you are?"
"Sara Ellis," she responded as the doors shut.
"I just saw someone who looked like Neal leaving," Sara said as she walked into the FBI office. She had noticed Neal standing at Diana's desk so knew the person she had been talking to hadn't been him. "Is his name really Bryce?" Or was he another con artist?
Diana threw her arms up in frustration while Neal apologised for his brother's little display of escape artistry, even though he was proud of his brother.
