Lizzington. AU, Red is still the concierge of crime, and Liz is an active criminal profiler. Ressler is still her partner during their infrequent field work. Red and Liz still have a history. Red and Liz meet in a coffee shop one afternoon, while Liz is reading reports. Liz has no idea who she's meeting because of one small difference; she's blind.
I am absolutely falling in love with this fic and I hope you do too. Thank you for reading!
Disclaimed, as always.
Chapter 1
Liz sat on the uncomfortable outdoor patio of the coffee shop down the block from her apartment. She had a new file to go over and a profile to create, but chose to indulge in the smooth bitterness of her caffeinated drink before she even attempted to crawl into the mind of a serial killer.
She was nearly done and lamented her return to reality when she felt the air near her change. She rustling of clothing announced her visitor long before his "Good Morning, do you mind if I sit here? It's so beautiful outside and all of the other seats are taken."
She shivered at the sound of his voice. The vibration and timbre combined into the most hypnotizing sound she'd ever heard.
"Miss, do you mind?" What? Oh. She forgot to actually answer the question.
"No, sure, you're fine. Sit. Sit." Sit and talk to me please. Your voice is…orgasmic. It felt as if she'd heard it before. It was safety. It sounded like…home. Wow, Liz, you need to get out more.
"Thank you. The light hits the trees so spectacularly from out here. The shadows they cast look like Tolkien's great Tree Ent's threatening to exact vengeance on the masses. Because if there was ever a time where trees felt the need to fight for their planet, it's now."
She couldn't completely hide the bitterness from her tone when she replied "I envy you your whimsy, but I wouldn't know."
He seemed surprised. "You haven't read Tolkien?"
She smirked "I've read all of Tolkien's novels, I just can't take advantage of the view. I'm blind."
He coughed, choking on his drink. Oops "I didn't mean to catch you drinking. Sorry. I thought it was self-explanatory. I'm sitting here with a bunch of papers in braille and I have a cane propped up next to the table here. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
"No!, God, no. I was just surprised. I was enjoying…the view, and would have noticed if I wasn't so distracted by the absolute beauty of it all.
"I should be the one apologizing. My name is Red, how can I make it up to you?"
He was charming and sounded genuinely contrite for his blunder.
She laughed "Red? Your mom have a thing for Crayola? Or let me guess, you're a ginger?"
His reply was dripping with amusement "Of course not, on either account. I no affiliation with the crayon, nor do I steal souls."
He was so funny, her face hurt from laughing "My partner would be offended by that soul-stealing comment. And I'm Liz, by the way."
"Your partner? As in domestic?"
"Yuck, no. I mean no, he's not my spouse. I work for the FBI, he's my partner."
He sounded worried for her "You work for the FBI? As an agent? How can you? You're-"
"I know I'm blind, but I was not always blind nor am I incompetent. I have trained in fighting for almost fifteen years. I assure you, I can take care of myself."
Once again, his words were apologetic, low "I didn't mean to imply that you were somehow less than…I just…how long have you been blind, if I may ask?" He was at a loss for words, it seemed.
She whispered "It was…I was a teen."
"Someone tried to hurt you." His voice was low, dangerous now. It made her shiver.
"Not exactly."
He sighed, as if hoping for a different answer "The FBI is accommodating of your…god, I am curious, but I don't want to offend you."
She laughed again "On the contrary, I find your honesty refreshing. Usually everyone tiptoes around me like I have some infectious disease. And yes, they are a government agency so they do what they can, I suppose. I have a higher security clearance than usual because everything I have is in braille. It also doesn't hurt that I am good at what I do"
He was still serious "What do you do with the FBI, Liz?" His voice was like manna from heaven. She definitely needed to get laid.
"I am a profiler. The FBI gives me the case files on cases of which they have no suspect and I create a profile based on the information so to narrow down the search and catch the bad guys. I have a ninety-five percent rate of success."
The smile was back in his voice "Sounds impressive. Do you have a dog?"
He really was curious. "In this city, the seeing-eye dogs go to those that have troubles caring for themselves. The very young or the very old. I could always privately pay to have one trained, but I am a mere public servant with an addiction to books, and let me tell you; books in braille are anything but cheap. I will admit that one would have come in handy quite a few times while out in the field. Suspects see me as easy pickings, being a poor, blind girl, but they only make that mistake once. It do have to take an occasional hit if they are particularly stealthy, but like I said, they learn quickly. Those that don't usually end up in the hospital."
His laugh was low, but amused "I can't help but think that the ginger isn't very good at his job if someone got close enough to hit you."
She could tell that he was upset and the danger she's been in. Is he attracted to me? "He doesn't stick to my side all the time, I am a competent agent or I wouldn't be in the position I'm in."
She wanted so badly to get to know him better, but her watch vibrated to let her know she needed to get into her office "Red, I would love to sit here and talk all day, but I have a question. You can refuse, but I am also curious and well, I was wondering if you'd let me see you? I mean, touch your face."
Her awkward request was met with silence "I'm sorry, but I just wanted to get to know the person I was speaking with and I know it sound strange-"
"Yes." His voice was huskier, a rumble of sorts.
"Oh…Ok."
He leaned forward towards her and took her hands. His hands were calloused, but not like a man that works with his hands daily. His thumb and forefinger had heavier calluses. Archery? Shooting? She was more and more curious by the second. His smell was heaven. He smelled like sunshine and cigars. She tentatively reached up, cupped his face in one hand and ran the fingers of the other along the planes of his face.
He was older, but not too old. He had frown lines and smile lines. His face was serene, slightly smiling.
As her fingernails glanced his hairline by his sideburns, he groaned slightly and turned his head into her hands. He froze a moment later though. She couldn't help but feel disappointed that the moment was lost.
She withdrew her hands.
"Do you come here often?" she asked, unable to avoid leaving any longer.
"I can, if that's what you want." He sounded pleased that she wanted to see him again.
"I do, but I really must go. The ginger will throw a hissy fit if I'm late." She packed up her things to the sound of his laughter. She loved the sound of his laugh.
"I'll see you here tomorrow then. Same time, Lizzie?"
"Let's make it a half hour earlier." She wanted more time with him.
Raymond 'Red' Reddington watched Elizabeth Keen walk away with so many conflicting emotions, he had no idea what to think.
There was anger, he had no idea that she was blind. This entire time he could have been using his resources to make things easier on her. Someone within his organization dropped the ball. He'd find out why.
There was lust. When she ran her hands over his face, her touch so gentle, so curious. He wasn't expecting to find himself attracted to her. He hadn't seen a picture of her since she was a child until yesterday. That picture was her official FBI ID badge. It didn't do her justice. She was gorgeous. The most beautiful part was that she had no idea. So completely unaware of all the heads that turned as she walked away.
There was awe. She had overcome so much, yet persevered and even thrived in a field where having such a disability was unheard of.
There was fear, she was putting herself into untold danger day after day and he couldn't do anything to keep her from getting harmed.
Most of all, there was tenderness. She was beautiful, witty, strong, soft, a bit prickly, and extremely intelligent. Talking to her was a balm on his damaged, broken soul.
He called Dembe to pick him up. There was much to be done before tomorrow.
Tbc…
A/N: Let me know what you think!