A/N thanks for your reviews and support.

Neal's POV

Berlin was a good city for him to hide out in. In the two days that he had been in the city he got rid of three tails. Dodging them had been easy as slipping through random alleys and using crowds to his advantage. His stalker was not so easily fooled however.

The brown haired man always appeared at random points. Always following him with experience that scared him. This was definitely CIA handiwork.

His eyes trailed over the city below him. The building he was standing on overlooked the market below. There were only a few taller buildings. None of them were as easy access as where he stood.

Neal leaned against the building as he looked down. There was an awning below him. It would hold his weight if needed.

Movement caught his eye and his breathe caught in his throat. Below him was a familiar black haired man. Bruce Wayne was looking discreetly across the streets.

He was in a tourist tshirt and shorts. There was a baseball cap on his head. It was a good disguise given that no reporters were hounding him. However it would not fool him.

Neal had to step away from the edge as Bruce's eyes shot up to his hiding spot. No doubt his adoptive father felt his gaze. He was going to kill Ra's the next time he saw the man. Letting Bruce know where he was foul.

Then again Ra's always had a better relationship with Bruce. Part of that came of Talia's love for Bruce. The other part of it came from Bruce being one of the best candidates for heir of the league.

His eyes scanned the other rooftops looking for his siblings. If Bruce knew where he was, he wouldn't come alone. Surprisingly there wasn't anyone on the rooftops or the street. It seemed Ra's had only given partial information. That meant Bruce was only doing reconnaissance.

Footsteps behind him drew his attention. Neal shifted his stance into a defensive one. A familiar brown haired man came out of the stairwell. His breathing was ragged no doubt having run up the stairs.

Hazel eyes hardened at the sight of him. The man growled, "Why have you been running from me, Larkin?"

Neal didn't relax his stance in the slightest as he growled back, "I don't know you. Even if I did that wouldn't he a good thing."

The man sighed, "Matthew Keller, your new handler. You wouldn't have heard of me because like you I was working to bring down the Ring. They pulled me out when you were shot the second time."

Neal growled, "That doesn't mean you weren't a member of the Ring. How can I trust you?"

Even as he said that he went through the list of rogue agents. Matthew Keller was not on that list. While that didn't clear him of suspicion it certainly helped his credibility.

Keller said taking a deep breath, "You have nowhere left to run. Let's talk about what I need from you and vice versa."

Neal gave him the best are you an idiot look he had. There wasn't a chance in hell that he would have come up here without a back up plan. He certainly wasn't going to be having any discussions with Keller. No if he wanted to be Neal's handler he would have to earn the trust required.

Neal grinned as he replied, "If there is one thing I have learned from my partner. There is always a way out. All you have to do is look for it."

Keller lunged for him but Neal had turned and jumped. A rush of adrenaline filled him as he dropped. His shoulder jarred painfully when he hit the awning. It slowed his fall so that he could roll off.

He grinned up at the stunned CIA agent. Never let anyone back you into a corner. Always have another way out that is unexpected and easily access.

The look of incredulity was satisfying for the upcoming con artist. Then the man disappeared and the chase was back on. Neal felt a brief spout of happiness. There was nothing like a chase. For once he was not doing the chasing. Instead he was the hunted and the thrill of it was intoxicating.

:Good luck to you, Keller. Happy hunting,: were his thoughts. He hoped their paths would not cross again.

Part of him knew that they would meet avaub. It was just the way things were. Neal wouldn't make it easy for the agent though.

Keller's POV

Chasing Larkin was a chore. Never before had someone given him so much trouble. Every time he would get close to cornering the agent he would disappear.

It was as if Matthew was trying to catch smoke with nothing but his hands. In Germany it seemed he finally caught a break. Larkin seemed less inclined to run around and more inclined to watch the city.

Matthew watched as the younger man stared out over the city. He made sure that he was hidden in the shadows.

Larkin stepped back avoiding someone on the street's gaze. Matthew made his decision then and stepped back down a flight of stairs. Then he ran full speed up them as if he ran up all the stairs.

When he burst through the door and Larkin. There was nowhere for him to go.

Mstthew growled, ""Why have you been running from me, Larkin?"

He honestly wanted to know. Why the other took off?

Larkin knew that all agents were given a handler in retirement. Someone to look after them and report anything they needed to know. So why run off?

Neal didn't relax his stance in the slightest as he growled back, "I don't know you. Even if I did that wouldn't he a good thing."

Matthew sighed, "Matthew Keller, your new handler. You wouldn't have heard of me because like you I was working to bring down the Ring. They pulled me out when you were shot the second time."

Things went downhill from there. Larkin it seemed had no intention of coming quietly.

When Matthew lunged at him he jumped over the side of building. It was six stories high!

What he saw surprised him. Larkin had landed safely on an awning and rolled off.

How had he known it would hold his weight? Better yet. How in the hell had he performed that without any hesitation at all? Not even he could do that unflinchingly?

The smirk he recieved was answer enough. This was not just any opponent. This was someone he had to put his entire being into chasing. Fine then. Eventually he would win.