Fic: The Rookie

[nieseryjna]

Title: The rookie

Rating: T

Characters: OMC, Neal Caffrey

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None

Word count: ~500

Gen bingo prompt: Old and New

Summary: There are many places where Old will beat New.
Warning: Not beta readed.. all errors are mine.

The intake process didn’t touch him too much. He followed the rules and whatever request the guard had. He knew what was at stake in the beginning, but he also knew after that he was on his own, and the only way to survive was to ensure no one touched him.

He observed everyone on the yard. Chose his target carefully, choosing it wrong would land him on the wrong side  and the whole prison experience would be thorougher than it should.

The man was old, gray almost white hair were glistering in late morning light. He sat at the bench in mixed company, but all of them were younger than him. He didn’t have a commanding presence either, so probably wasn’t someone he shouldn’t touch.

It might have been better to use different target, but he saw the old man stealing something from a pocket of fellow prisoner. He might get himself a friend if he returns the item to its owner.

Two birds with one stone.

He choose his moment carefully. The old geezer was left alone at the bench. An engrossed in a paper book he didn’t notice his approach. Grabbing at the washed out gray shirt he pulled the man up. The book fell with a thud, and the blue eyes looked at him with surprise, but without fear.

Those were the bluest eyes he ever saw in a person.

He got angry quickly, it was supposed to scare the old geezer. He pulled tighter, lifting the man high enough that he stood now on tiptoes. Before he could even open his mouth, a hand on his throat made it impossible to say anything.

A huge man, even bigger than his 6 feet, didn’t even look at him, instead taking a good look at the old man.

“You okay?”

The old man adjusted his shirt and brushed his book, nodding. He looked at his attacker with a slight smile and left, the other inmates stepping away from his path.

Oh shit. He might have make a mistake.

The giant put him down, letting his lungs to catch more oxygen.

“You’re new here?”

He nodded.

“He’s old here, very old. Don’t get near him again. Got it?”

He nodded again. “Who is he?”

“No one knows anymore, even the guards.” The giants shoulders moved slightly up and down. “But he can get you anything you need to live here comfortably, and no one will risk loosing that.”

The giant gave him a last warning look and left.

That evening, his first night in prison wasn’t anything that his friends from gang told will look like. He knew he wasn’t scared, but he didn’t know the reality of his life for next five years will hit him hard. It would be harder too, he knew. But someone left a saving gift under his pillow. Photograph of his girlfriend that he forgot to get from his wallet on intake.

There were indeed things no one was willing to risk loosing. Even him.