Archive of Our Own ^beta

“I hate New York.” Tim grumbles as someone once again tries to run into him and then moves past him without saying anything. Lucy laughs and loops her arms with him pulling him close.

“You know LA is just as—” She starts 

“Son of a bitch!” Grey grumbles from ahead of them. “Watch where you are going you idiots!” Luna wraps her arm around his waist and whispers to him. Lucy laughs and Tim keeps his grip on her so she doesn’t move away from him. 

They were in Brooklyn, New York for a conference and they were trying to get to the 99th precinct but it was very hard with all the people and the potholes. 

“We could just taxi.” Says Angela. 

“And be murdered?” Celina pipes up. “No thanks!” 

Tim is grumbling under his breath and he hopes that they get to the precinct soon, so he could be inside. 

“My google maps says it’s straight ahead.” Aaron says. Tim is doubtful but they follow Aaron and sure enough they are standing in front of the building. 

They head up and go inside, they are meeting with someone named Captain Raymond Holt. When they get to the bullpen, it’s oddly quiet for a police precinct. Tim frowns as he sees what looks like the captain’s office. 

Grey leads the way and knocks on the door, there’s some shuffling around inside and then the door opens to reveal a brunette man with slightly curly hair.

“Hello.” He says. “May I help you?” Tim peers around him to see a black man sitting at the desk looking like he was writing something down.

“We are from LA- Mid Wilshire.” Says Grey. “Uh we are suppose to meet with a Captain Holt?” The man in front of them nods.

“Detective Jake Peralta. Sorry we are just in the middle of the annual Halloween Heist.” He says. “Captain the LApeople are here!” Tim is confused annual Halloween Heist? 

Captain Holt looks up from his desk and gestures them all in. “Welcome to the 99.” He says. Tim raises his eyebrows.

“Captain!” A short man runs into the room. “Hitchcock and Scully flooded the bathroom again and Terry is behind it!” Another man runs into the room. 

“That’s a lie!” He says and then turns to Tim and the others and gives them a big smile.

“Sergeant Terry Jeffords!”

“I’m Sergeant Wade Grey.” Says Grey holding out his hand. “Tim Bradford. Lucy Chen. Angela Lopez. Nyla Harper. John Nolan. Celina Juarez and Aaron Thorsen.” He says pointing to each of them.

“What is this Halloween Heist?” Lucy asks curiously stepping slightly in front of Tim.

“Oh!” Says Jake. “We do it every year and basically we hide something and everyone has to find it and steal it and whoever has it at the end of the night—”

“Is the best human slash detective.” Finishes the short man. “Charles Boyle.” Captain Holt is studying them all. Jake has a mischievous grin on his fast which reminds him of Lucy when she wants him to do something that’s out of the box for him.

“Why don’t you guys join in?” Says Jake.

“Oh no—”

“It will be fun!” Says Boyle. “Mid Wilshire vs the 99!” 

Tim looks around at his friends thinking there’s no way they will agree to this but they are all grinning widely. Lucy tugs on his arm when she sees his face.

“Oh come on babe! It will be fun!” She says. Jake grins at her, and then goes to the door. 

“Amy! Rosa! Get in here!” He yells out to the bullpen. Two women come in and raise their eyebrows at Jake but don’t say anything. 

“Mid Wilshire crew this is Amy Santiago and Rosa Diaz.” Says Jake. “These guys are going to join us on the heist.” He gestures around them room. 

“So what exactly happens on this heist?” Angela asks.

“We hide a cummerbund.” Begins Holt 

“Belt.” Corrects Jake. “Normal people call it a belt sir.” Lucy coughs out a laugh.

“Anyway.” Says Amy rolling her eyes at Jake but she has a fond expression on her face much like Tim has with Lucy. “We hide it and then steal it from each other and since it’s teams this year we will steal it from you guys.” 

“We are so going to win.” Says Aaron. 

Rosa raises her eyebrows at him. “You have never played how do you know—”

“We are a good team.” Says Lucy shrugging. 

She loops her arm with Tim’s. “Tim and I are very competitive.” 

“With each other.” He mutters. But he tugs her closer nonetheless. 

Jake laughs. “Well we have been doing this for years. So I think we have it under our belts.” 

“Cummerbund.” Corrects Holt. “Well let’s get started.” They all walk out of the office Tim still slightly confused at how this is police work. 

“Alright Captain Holt please hide the belt.” Jake says. Holt looks like he wants to retort but he just rolls his eyes and climbs up on a ladder placing the belt in the vent. “You have until the end of the night to claim the cummerbund as your own! May the best station win!” He says and then they all scatter. Tim glances up at the vent and wonders why he can’t just grab it. 

“That would be too easy.” Says Celina coming up besides him. “Come on.” But before they can move the lights go out and there’s strange music and then the lights are on again and vent is open. 

Well damn 

The Mid Wilshire gang hurries off wondering where the 99 could have hidden the belt. They wonder through the unfamiliar station, and just as Tim is turning a corner with Lucy by his side Jake jumps out in front of them. 

“Hello!” He says and Tim looks at him suspiciously.

 “What—”

“Tim!” Lucy tugs on his sleeve and he sees the belt laying on the ground. Tim dives for it before Jake knows what’s happening and then they are both running off with Jake cursing behind them.

They gather with the rest of their friends trying to figure out where to hide the belt. 

“We don’t know this prescient.” Grumbles Nolan. “They do.”

“That’s it.” Says Lucy. “We just need to hold on to it. Pass it around. Put it down and make them think we have hidden it.” She takes it from Tim easily and holds it closer. 

“Let’s spread out.” Angela says. They do and Tim really doesn’t want to be separated from Lucy but he goes the opposite way looking over his shoulder as his girlfriend disappears from sight.

“You got it bad for her huh?” Says a voice and Tim jumps when he sees Boyle standing in front of him grinning. “Man if I had known you two I would have hooked you up like I did Jake and Amy!” 

“Uh..” Tim starts but then Jake comes around the corner.

“Ignore him. He did not set me and my wife up. We figured it out on our own.” 

“Took long enough.” Mumbles Boyle. “What about you two?” He asks Tim

“I uh.. we uh went on an undercover op and—”

“So did Jake and Amy!” Boyle says excitedly. Tim looks around awkwardly not sure what to say.

“Bradford!” Nyla comes up behind him and it looks like she wants hit him over the head. “They are trying to distract you! Come on!” Tim follows Nyla glancing over his shoulder at Jake and Boyle who are standing and smirking.

It goes like that for awhile and Tim thinks they actually have a chance at this until Terry jumps out at them somehow steals the belt.

Tim glances at his watch. It’s one hour to midnight and he was determined to win. 

Best human/detective or whatever.

He gathers his friends into the break room making sure the 99 wasn’t watching. 

“We have to steal it and then hide it.” Says Angela. “I found the perfect place. The men’s restroom.” 

“Wait—” Says Grey. “But—”

“Trust me two weirdos name Hitchcock and Scully flooded it and you do not want to go in.” She says shuddering. “I don’t even think they will want to go in.” 

“Weirdos?” Questions Aaron looking amused.

“Just imagine Smitty but two of them.” Says Angela and everyone shudders at that thought. 

“Alright.” Says Tim. “Who wants to put it in there?” 

No one says a word. “I will.” Says Lucy and Tim looks at her horrified.

“Baby no!” He says quickly. “I don’t want—” But Lucy puts a hand on his arm to stop him.

“Tim, I cleaned Smitty’s trailer okay? I’m good.” She says and Tim has a lot of questions but he just nods.

“Please be careful.” He says. She just laughs a little and squeezes his arm.

 “You guys distract them. They all seem to like to talk. I will steal the belt and place it in the men’s room.” Lucy says. Everyone nods and they all head out. Tim takes a deep breath as he approaches Jake. 

“Hey. So tell me..” He starts. Jake turns his face curious and eager. Behind him Tim sees Lucy move and grab the belt which is laying on the desk. She’s running before anyone notices and then it’s chaos. He runs down the hallway and watches as Lucy slips into the men’s restroom.

Everyone skids to a halt, and their eyes are wide as they stare at the door.

 “Why—”

“She’s—”

Tim is smiling smugly behind them and Jake turns to him shaking his head. “Do you know what goes on in there?” He asks and shudders. 

Lucy emerges a traumatized look on her face. “Well it’s done.” She says. Everyone stares at her a bit perplexed on what to do next.

“Thirty minutes to midnight.” Says Holt. “Who is brave enough to go in?” 

No one moves, no one speaks they just stare at the door horrified.

“We are going to lose.” Says Rosa. “We are actually going to lose.” 

“Stand guard.” Lucy tells Tim. “I need to go.. cleanse.” Tim snorts but nods. 

Everyone else stands still and Tim knows someone else will have to go in and get it. He does not want Lucy to do it again. 

But just at that moment she comes up behind him wrapping her arms around him. “Hey.” She mutters. “I have something to show you.” She takes his hand and leads him down the hall. She pushes open a door to a small room. 

“Diaz says it smells like farts in here.” She says. Tim snorts but then he gets a whiff of the room and realizes with horror that it does. 

Tim pauses at the doorway as Lucy goes in and reaches for something behind the couch. She pulls out the belt and his jaw drops. 

“How..” he begins and she smirks at him.

“I didn’t actually put it in the bathroom. I hid it under my shirt and I found this room earlier so…” 

“God I love you.” He says and she skips over and reaches up to kiss him. 

“Love you too baby.” She says. And if they weren’t in a room that smelled like farts, he might have locked the door behind them. 

“And I love this relationship.” Says a voice behind them. They both jump to see Boyle staring at them with an eager expression on his face.

“I don’t even care that we lost.” Says Boyle. “This love is real.” 

Lucy buries her face into Tim’s chest and he just shakes his head. 

***

“Well played Chen.” Says Jake. “We need someone like you at the 99!” Tim tugs Lucy close and her fingers dig into his waist. 

“Thanks.” She says taking a sip of her beer, a sash across her body. Best human/detective. “But I’m happy where I am.” 

Jake nods. “Well this was a lot of fun.” He says. And it was fun, it was a weird at first but it definitely was worth it. 

“I can’t believe you went into the men’s restroom.” Says Rosa. “That take a strong stomach.” 

Lucy laughs and looks up at Tim, her eyes sparkling. “It was worth it and besides I cleaned Smitty’s disgusting trailer.” 

“Why?” Asks Jake curiously. 

Lucy bites her lip and looks at Tim again. “When we started dating, he was my superior and so it wasn’t  appropriate and so he took a desk job for me.” 

Jake whistles and Boyle looks starstruck. “And so I hated seeing him miserable and—I did a five player trade and got him into metro. And so I had made a deal with Smitty and well—” 

“Oh my gosh please tell me I will be invited to the wedding.” Says Boyle. “This is amazing!” 

Lucy laughs. “You should hear how we met…” 

Tim shakes his head as he looks down at Lucy, watching her talk and having a good time. He thinks of the ring in his pocket that’s he’s going to get out tonight. He thinks of everything that led up to this moment..

And it was worth it

It was all worth it.