Cut and Run 1 - Cut and Run

side to check the situation. “He's gotta be three. He doesn't know any better."
    "He does now,” Ty countered as he turned back around and settled into his seat contentedly. Behind him a horrified young mother was holding her son's toes and gaping, wide-eyed and speechless.
    "You have absolutely no people skills,” Zane muttered, shaking his head. “No wonder you're sinking fast in the Bureau."
    "Yeah, I'm a real anchor,” Ty drawled as he leaned his head back and smiled. “I hear no one else will work with you."
    Zane's lips pressed together slightly and he didn't look up from his paperwork. “You should have your hearing checked,” he said flatly.
    "My hearing's just fine, Skippy. You were ‘promoted,’ right?” Ty asked sarcastically, giving the word quotations with his fingers without opening his eyes. “Hate to tell you, Sport, but being transferred to another division in the same level ain't a promotion. It's called shuffling the unwanted."
    "Reliable information, I'm sure, from someone on a landslide down the ladder."
    "We both seem to be on the slip ‘n’ slide to the gutter, Shuffleboard,” Ty observed happily. “Difference is, I don't give a shit,” he offered as he reached up and turned off the overhead light and adjusted the cool air blowing down on him.
    Zane didn't reply, instead closing his eyes for a moment to swallow down on the flare of annoyance. It was true. Ty didn't give a shit. But Zane did, which meant they were destined to be at each other's throats the whole time they were forced to work together.
    Ty merely snickered quietly, knowing he had hit a chord. This could provide some amusement after all, he decided, even if they did end up killing each other.
    Zane focused again on the notes. The rest of the flight passed in silence. Details about the deaths bounced around in his head, not really settling into any sort of pattern yet. He would dig the photos out and study them once they got settled. Maybe he could get a feeling for each victim.
    He glanced up when the seat-belt light went on, and he looked over at Ty unhappily. The other man had dozed lightly in expectation of the long day ahead, and Zane decided that Ty sleeping was him at his most charming. But now he had to wake him up.
    "Grady,” he muttered, voice clipped.
    "Not again, sugar, m'tired,” Ty muttered as he flopped onto his side and jostled them both in the cramped seats.
    Unamused, Zane pushed against the other man. “Grady,” he said more insistently. “Wake up."
    Ty huffed and opened his eyes slowly, looking around sleepily. “Hmm?"
    Zane looked down at him, mildly surprised by the momentary drop in the rough attitude. “We're getting ready to land,” he murmured.
    Ty groaned softly and rolled onto his back again. He stretched his arms high over his head, yawning as he turned his body slightly and reached one arm way out into the aisle. The air hostess who was making her last check down the aisle walked right into his hand and gasped as he grabbed her. Ty dropped his arms and twisted to look up at her. “Sorry, sweetheart,” he offered with a small, unrepentant smile.
    She huffed slightly and gave him a wry smile as she turned in the aisle. “I've had worse,” she murmured in response as she bent and slowly buckled his seat belt for him. “Put yourself in the upright position, please,” she said to him softly before moving away. Ty raised his seat obediently and grinned, watching her with a contented smirk as she turned and continued on down the aisle.
    While Zane silently envied Ty's free attitude and behavior, in the end, he just couldn't believe the man's gall. “How did you become such a total ass?” he asked, morbidly curious.
    Ty cocked his head and watched the woman until she took her seat, then turned to look at Zane. “I didn't mean to,” he insisted innocently. “C cups can get in the way."
    Zane's look was patently disbelieving. “I think you decide what a perfectly polite person would do and then do the absolute opposite. It's like it's your life's goal to be the Antichrist."
    "The Antichrist,” Ty echoed, laughing as he shook his head. “Yeah. I bet you were head of the Drama Club in school, weren't you?"
    "You didn't deny it."
    "And Lord knows I mean everything I say,” Ty responded with mock sincerity, pressing his hand to his heart and leaning closer to Zane earnestly.
    "You just have that look,” Zane confirmed, face stilled to passivity.
    Ty chuckled and turned to