Disclaimer: I don't own anything, please don't sue me :s

Takes place between season 1 and 2. Tom's missing or dead, I don't know yet.
Lizzington of course.
The rating will go up later.

Thanks Ripperblackstaff for your help! Love you!

Chapter 1

"The man is known as The Barber," Red announced walking in the Post Office, perfectly at home.

"Reddington, thanks for joining us," Ressler greeted, irony deep in his voice. "Will you enlighten us on this new Blacklister?"

"Hello Donald! Nice to see you too!" he said joyfully. "He's crazy, really, even by my standards," Red smiled, sitting on a chair, his eyes on Liz. "Lizzie! How are you today? How's Tom? Oh yeah, sorry, you didn't find him yet," he said a lopsided smile on his lips.

"The Barber, Red," she cut his litany off.

She really didn't want to think about her husband, well former husband. She still didn't know where he was. She had been sure he was dead when she left the room after shooting him, but when the forensic team came to collect the bodies, he had disappeared leaving only a pool of blood behind him. She suspected he went to find Berlin.

"Yes, yes, you're right, as always. Focus on The Barber instead of a man who knows the layouts of this facility and your most intimates habits." Red said joyously. He was a pain in the ass when he was in this mood. "So… The Barber, really interesting man. Started his career as a waiter in Canada, then after many years of serving people, he changed the course of his life. He became a barber in a small town. That's when things went south. Nobody really knows what happen to him. His… partner died and he disappeared. A few years later, he reemerged in Bosnia, his skills with a razor blade for hiring, and I don't talk about a straight razor shave, even if his reputation in this matter is way under the truth," he explained, stroking absent-mindedly his cheek.

"And why him? Why now?" Ressler asked, eyes narrowed. Since Cooper was out for a while after his coma, Ressler was in charge of the team and seemed to take it at heart.

"Well Donald," Red started, his eyes never leaving Liz, "If you really want to know – and I'm sure you do – I'm his next target," he announced, shrugging.

"Wait! What?" Liz asked, her eyes burning holes in Red's. "How do you know he's been hired to kill you? And for how long did you know?"

"You know I haves the means to know any potential threats. As I said, there's always a price on my head – from both sides really – but I'm tired of this one," he smiled smugly, his head slightly tilted, eyes gleaming.

Liz closed her eyes at the explanation. He didn't even try to hide the fact he was using the FBI to clean his doorstep anymore. This man would be the death of her. But she had made a choice after the debacle of Berlin, and now she had to assume that choice, no matter what.

"We need more," Ressler cut in, breaking the link between Red and Liz.

"Of course Donald! Why don't you come for dinner tonight, Lizzie? I cook," Red said smiling playfully at Ressler.

The young agent shook his head at Reddington. He knew perfectly that when the man was in that mood, there was no way to make him change his mind.

"I can't…"

"Nonsense Lizzie!" Reddington cut her off. "You don't have any social life since Tom and I'm sure your Netflix queue can wait another day," he said adjusting his fedora on his head. "See you tonight," he added before leaving the room with his bodyguard.

"I'm gonna kill him, I swear I'm gonna kill him," Liz mumbled watching the Concierge of Crime walk out the Post Office.

"As annoying as the man is, we need him, Keen," Ressler said flatly before exiting the room, leaving Liz alone.

Liz closed her eyes and let her head bump on the desktop, sighing. Reddington was a pain in the ass, but Ressler was right, they needed him. After Berlin, she had made sure he was staying in D.C. to help them. She knew he had been about to leave when she caught him with Dembe in front of the safe-house he was using at the time, and she had asked him to stay. And he had, for her. She still didn't know why she was so important for him, but since he was the reason of the task force, she had to humor him. Even when he was his insufferable jerk self. And now she had to share dinner with him.

It wouldn't be the first time, of course, it was a habit of him, but even after many meals with the man, she still felt a little nervous about being on her own with the Concierge of Crime. It must be because of her training as FBI Agent or maybe his links with Sam and her youth. Sighing, Liz left the empty room and went to her office to start looking for their next target. Even if she wouldn't admit it, she was nervous for Red's safety. He was an important asset, without him, there would be no task force and she would be back behind a desk, profiling low ranking criminals for the rest of her life. She wasn't sure she could do it anymore.

And aside from being an asset, she was worrying for Red himself. They had learned to trust each other, to work together and to be honest they were pretty good at it. In a twisted way, Red was the heart of the team and by association, she felt important when he was with her. She couldn't define what her feelings were for Raymond Reddington, and it was scaring her.

When Tom had been around, she had resented Red's incursion in her life as an intrusion, but now, she felt flattered to be always the focus of his mind. She felt important, even loved sometimes when he looked at her like the treasure she knew she wasn't. She knew he was playing with her – that at least was obvious – but she couldn't help but feel her body react every time she spotted his fedora in a room.

She was screwed and she knew it. He had worked his glamour on her and she had fallen without even knowing it. They were like a planet and its moon always gravitating around each other but unable to touch. Elizabeth sighed again and started her computer, pushing Red from her mind, she had work to do and tonight would be a better time to worry about the strange game they were playing.

She spent hours going through old files and newspapers articles, looking for anything that may lead them to The Barber but in vain. Without Red, they were stuck and the bastard knew it. Turning off her computer, Liz exited her office and left the facility. She needed time to get ready for her dinner with Red. When she reached her car, she spotted an envelope on the driver seat. Unlocking the door, she shook her head and took the note. Of course it was Red, who else could have forced her car parked in one of the FBI blacksite without triggering the security?

'Dembe will pick you up at 8 pm. Red.' A smile spread on her lips at the theatrics he was using. He could have told her when they were in the conference room, but no, he had chosen to force her car and leave a note written in his smooth handwriting, in red ink. The man was a showman.

A smile on her lips, Liz settled behind the wheel of her silver Mercedes – courtesy of Red – and left work behind to get ready for the evening with a notorious criminal.

When she opened her apartment door, she knew something was odd. Someone had been here in her absence, she was sure of it. Gun in hand, she walked slowly in the lounge, ready to fire. She froze suddenly and lowered her hand, holstering her weapon, a smile on her lips. On the kitchen counter stood a lonely red rose in a small crystal vase she didn't remember buying. Against it another envelope waited for her.

She closed the distance and smelled the subtle fragrance of the flower before opening the envelope. 'No need to dress up, Lizzie. Red.' She laughed at that. Of course he had knew she would freak out about her outfit for the dinner. She never knew what to expect with him. Every time he set up an evening for them, they went to a different place, small diner with plastic tablecloth, five stars restaurant, the two of them at his place with take out, or a little feast for them and some guests cooked by a chef, she never knew what the evening would hold in store. And to be honest, she loved it.

Leaving the note on the counter, she took the rose and went to her room; it would be lovely on the window ledge. She then went to the bathroom and after a short shower, opened her dressing and started to go through her clothes to find the perfect casual outfit for the night.