Prompt: Could you do a story about Deeks being beaten hard by Callen to prove his loyalty and identity to a drug leader so he can intervene in the next mission? Please.
Deeks walked next to Callen, one hand tucked into the front of his jacket, constantly scanning the area for movement.
"You nervous, Max?" Callen muttered.
"Nope. Just being cautious," Deeks responded, flicking a gaze at Callen. Straying from his usual style for undercover roles, he wore a three-piece suit to go with his Russian accent.
"I have a bad feeling about this unplanned meeting."
"Just keep your snarky comments to yourself and we'll be fine."
"Aw, I thought that's what you liked about me, Dimitri," Deeks teased, smirking at Callen for a half-second.
For the last three weeks, Callen had played a Russian gangster named Dimitri Stolov with Deeks as his right-hand man. They'd slowly worked to gain access to a group selling bomb components.
It was longest amount of time either of them had spent working together, and the first op without Sam or Kensi. They'd clashed a few times over how to proceed, given their very different approaches to undercover roles. Fortunately, they'd mostly worked out their differences and come to a mostly happy medium.
"Showtime," Callen sighed, swinging open the door to a fortune cookie factory which swerved as the front for the Timothy Parham's illegal activity.
Deeks knew something was wrong almost immediately. Instead of just Parham and a few of his closest bodyguards as they'd agreed to, but at least 15 additional men who were clearly armed. More than Callen and Deeks could ever hope to fight off alone. Timothy Parham stood in the middle, dressed impeccably as always, his shoulder length hair pulled back in a tight not.
"This is not the casual meeting we agreed upon," Callen said, adopting a heavy accent. "What is this Parham?"
"I wanted to ensure your cooperation," Parham said simply.
"You have always had my cooperation." Callen spread his arms wide, disarmingly. "This is not the way to encourage it. I do not like being coerced."
"You forget that I'm in charge here. You and Max approached my business, asking for our services, making demands," Parham said. He took a couple steps forward, tilting his head as he looked Callen over. "You don't seem to realize that in your position, you don't hold any power."
"If you don't want our money, then we'll just find someone else," Deeks spoke up, shrugging negligently. Parham eyed him distastefully and nodded to someone behind Deeks. Before Deeks could react, a gun was pressed directly to his spine.
"On your knees," a gruff voice said in his ear as Callen objected loudly.
"I suggest you listen, Max," Parham said, speaking over Callen as he casually pulled a cigarette from his jacket pocket. He lit it and inhaled deeply. "Brody doesn't particularly like you and I think he'd enjoy shooting you."
Reluctantly dropping to his knees, Deeks glared venomously at Parham.
"There's no need for this," Callen insisted angrily. "Release my man now or the deal is off."
"No, that doesn't work for me. Either you show me that I can trust you, or I'll let Brody have both of you."
Parham grinned, pacing over to Deeks. He grabbed Deeks' hair, forcing his head back and held up the cigarette. He examined the lit end curiously, the glow reflecting in his dark eyes, as he slowly lowered it towards Deeks' face. It was so close, he could feel the heat on his cheek.
He'd had worse for sure, but just thought of feeling his skin burn while Brody held him in place, made Deeks nauseous. Inhaling slowly, he forced himself to stay completely still.
"Stop!" Callen ordered and Deeks saw him start forward out of the corner of his eye. One of the armed men grabbed his arms before he made it two steps and another two raised their guns. "What do you want me to do?"
Parham paused before answering, gaze focused on Deeks.
"Show me that you're loyal," he decided. "I think your friend needs to learn a lesson. You teach it to him or I will."
"That is ridiculous–"
"Then I guess your decision is made." He made a jabbing motion and Deeks couldn't stop himself from flinching when the burning tip coal grazed his skin.
"Wait!" With Callen's shout, Parham abruptly pulled away, leaving Deeks sweating. He finally released Deeks' hair and took a step back as Callen came forward.
He lifted an eyebrow and Deeks nodded in answer to his unvoiced question. Drawing in a short breath, Callen punched Deeks without any further warning. It rocked his head back and Deeks gasped as blood filled his mouth.
Grabbing the collar of shirt, Callen held up his fist and hit him repeatedly. After ten, Deeks lost count, the blood dripping from his nose and mouth making it difficult to breath. He heard Parham and several of his men egging Callen on, apparently enjoying the show.
There was a pause in the onslaught and Deeks tipped his head forward, letting a mouthful of blood fall to the floor. He didn't have to fake his pain as his head slumped and he peered up at Callen, silently begging him to finish it.
Breathing heavily, knuckles stained with Deeks' blood, Callen delivered a blow to his temple that made his head explode with pain. As he slumped to the floor, Callen caught him and whispered a regret filled apology.