Prompt: Can you do a fanfic where Roundtree questions about Deeks and Talia (inspired by the events of episode 19 of season 13)

A/N: I assume you meant both Talia's comment to Deeks as well as her treatment of Rountree. I hope this is alright. It's kind of a weird topic.

"So, uh, Agent Del Campo, you've worked with her before, right?" Rountree asked. It was a few days after the whistleblowing case wrapped, and things were beginning to settle down again. Rountree grabbed Sam's chair, rolling it around so he was facing Deeks.

"Oh, yeah, Talia," Deeks sighed. He looked off in the distance for a moment, more for effect than he was actually reminiscing. "We've definitely worked together before. I met her on terrorism case about," Deeks screwed up his face. "Seven years ago, give or take."

"Ok, so you know her pretty well?"

"Well enough. In a purely professional way, of course."

"Right. What's her deal?" Rountree said. "I couldn't figure out her angle the entire time we were together, and I still don't understand it completely."

"Yeah, Talia likes to keep people guessing," Deeks agreed.

"More like annoy them," Rountree huffed, leaning forward so his forearms were braced on Deeks' desk. "She kept calling me the wrong name. And not the same wrong name. Squaretree. Roundleaf. A different one each time."

"That sounds like Talia." Deeks chuckled, imagining Rountree's bemusement turned frustration and Talia's almost certain glee.

"And she kept making all these weird and borderline inappropriate comments."

"She didn't do anything to you, did she?" Deeks checked, sitting forward. The way Talia treated him was one thing, but Rountree was younger, less experienced, and not used to that kind of behavior from his colleagues.

"No." Making a face, Rountree scooted his chair a little closer as Deeks sat back, reassured. "Just lots of innuendos. Which I'm kind of used to from you guys, but it's usually between you and Kensi and not with outside agents."

"The thing with Talia is," Deeks started, pausing again to form his thoughts. "She likes to mess with people. I think it's her way of staying a step ahead, probably in part with the general environment she worked in for years. But also, she just likes putting people on edge and pressing their buttons."

His upper lip pulled up in a half-grin as he recalled his first encounter with Talia.

"The first time Kensi and Talia met was a disaster."

"I thought they were friends," Rountree said with a frown. "I heard Kensi talking about wishing they had a chance to grab drinks."

"They are now, but when they first met, Talia decided to turn it into a competition. She flirted with me, and took every opportunity to rub it in Kensi's face."

"Damn. I wouldn't want to get between that." Shaking his head, Rountree seemed to forget his annoyance for a moment as he imagined the picture Deeks had described. He flashed a glance at Deeks, looking like he desperately wanted to say something.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing I was just curious. Did you two…?" Trailing off, Rountree nodded suggestively while moving his hand vaguely in Deeks' direction.

"Did we solve crimes together and look great doing it?" Deeks guessed, which elicited an eye roll from Rountree.

"No, did you guys date?" he clarified.

"God, no. I like Talia, but we've only ever been friends. And even if I did feel that way about her, I was way too in love with Kensi to ever really look at another woman," Deeks told him with a shrug. Sure, when he first met Talia, he thought she was attractive, intriguing, and definitely annoying, but he'd never seriously considered it turning into more.

"Then why did you say "yes please" when she talked about giving you an inappropriate hug?" Rountree asked shrewdly. Deeks felt his cheeks flush ever so slightly as he recalled his off-the-cuff response.

"That was just to keep Talia on her toes. An inappropriate hug is really pretty tame for her, if I'm being honest."

"What else has she done?"

"I don't think you need to know that," Deeks decided, getting up from his chair.

"I could always ask Kensi," Rountree threatened lightly.

"Yes, you could. And then also risk incurring her rage at the mention of such a sensitive subject."

"Ooh, yeah, Kensi's good with the stun rods."

"Don't I know it," Deeks agreed. "C'mon, I'll buy you a coffee."

"And then maybe you can tell me about why you never go into detail about your wedding day," Rountree added with a smirk. Deeks paused, an arm across Rountree's shoulders.

"You know what, I think you'll do just fine against Talia. You've already got the annoying part down just fine."