Ryan was sitting at a table by the window. His eyes slowly moved around to the people walking around. Even though he didn't want to be on the case, he was still going to do his job the best he could.

"You alright?" Ryan looked up to see Brendon taking a seat across from him. He frowned when he saw the younger man holding a cup of ice cream and a spoon hanging from his lips.

"You've got to be joking." Brendon pulled out the spoon and gave a wide smile.

"What?"

"You're eating ice cream. Are you serious?"

"Well, we are in an ice cream shop and I don't joke when it comes to my ice cream." Ryan wanted to roll his eyes when Brendon ate a spoonful of ice cream, let out a dramatic moan and rolled his eyes up.

"We're supposed to be working, not eating ice cream."

"I am working," Brendon defended.

"By eating vanilla ice cream." Brendon feigned a gasp and pushed aside his cup.

"First of all, how dare you assume I would eat something as boring as vanilla. I'm all about rocky road." Ryan rolled his eyes. "Second, we're undercover aren't we. Wouldn't it be more suspicious if we didn't buy ice cream while we're in an ice cream shop?"

Ryan let out a small laugh and looked back out the window. Brendon took a victorious bite from his cup. It wasn't silent long before Brendon spoke up.

"Do you not eat ice cream?" Ryan turned back to Brendon staring at him curiously.

"Can we take this case seriously, Urie?" Brendon held his hands up in surrender.

"It's only a question. If you didn't want to answer, you could've said so. Then it's safe for me to assume that you deprive yourself of the slightest joys in life. That's fine by me," Brendon finished with a shrug and looked outside. When he let out a loud sigh, Ryan couldn't help to laugh.

"Deprive myself of joy. Is that what you think?" Brendon looked at Ryan.

"I didn't believe it before." Brendon shrugged again and smirked. "Now, I don't know." Ryan shook his head in amusement. He knew what Brendon was doing and had to admit it was an entertaining game.

"I haven't had ice cream in a few years, so if that's the definition of joy, then I suppose I do deprive myself." Brendon's eyes widened in surprise. He jaw was almost hung wide open.

"You haven't had ice cream in years?" Ryan nodded, smirking. "What's wrong with you?" Ryan shrugged with a small chuckle. "Why'd you stop?" Ryan tilted his head in thought, a small smile still on his face.

Brendon was leaning slightly forward, waiting for a response. Ryan debated if he should even give an answer to any of the questions at all. Brendon's eyes were wide with curiosity and were concentrated on Ryan. The older agent sighed and looked out the window.

"It's about I don't know seven or eight years." Brendon let out a dramatic grasp.

"Eight years. I don't think I could ever go that long." Ryan smiled and looked back at Brendon who was looking down at his now empty ice cream cup.

"I was with my sister." He looked down at the cup then back at Brendon's face. "Mint chocolate chip was her favorite. I was always more simple."

"Don't tell me." Brendon groaned and shook his head in disbelief. Ryan laughed softly and nodded his head.

"Vanilla," they said in unison. Brendon had on a grin and nodded for Ryan to continue.

"We always went out for ice cream together. It was kinda like our thing." Ryan smiled as he recalled the memory. Brendon must've gotten impatient when Ryan didn't speak for a while.

"So how come you stopped? Does she not like ice cream anymore?" Ryan shook his head and looked back out the window. Brendon watched him, waiting for him to say something. When he still didn't, he spoke up. "Ryan?"

"I don't really see her anymore," he replied in a monotone voice.

"Why not?" Ryan stayed silent, not looking away from the window. Brendon let out a small, breathy laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Did you guy have some type of falling out and you swore off ice cream for all eternity because it reminds you of her?" Brendon joked. Ryan shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Stop," Ryan said softly.

"Who cares about her. You shouldn't stop your own pleasure based off another person." Ryan shook his head subtly.

"You wouldn't understand." Ryan's voice was a little stronger.

"I've gotten arguments with my family before and we managed to get over it eventually. I bet your fight wasn't that bad and you guys could patch things up and then you cou-"

"Enough!" Ryan slammed his hand down on the table, effectively shutting Brendon up. The other agent flinched and sat back in his chair. He dropped his head and began fidgeting with his fingers.

"Now, if you're done pestering me about my personal life, can we get back to the case." Brendon nodded, knowing it wasn't an actual question. As Ryan turned back to look outside, Brendon glanced up at his partner.

Ryan's body was stiff. His hands were clenched on top of the table. His jaw was tightened, showing his obvious irritation. As annoyed as Ryan looked, Brendon could see the hint of sadness lingering in the man's hazel eyes. He doubted that either of them would focus on the case at that moment.

Brendon was right. They didn't spend much more time in the ice cream shop. They were soon back at the hotel, not exchanging a single word. Ryan went straight to his bed with the case file. Brendon stood awkwardly by the door.

He kept his eye on Ryan as the man flipped through the various pages in front of him. Brendon knew it was just a way to ensure he wouldn't be bothered. Both had that file memorized front and back at this point. There wasn't much to look at.

Brendon wanted to apologize for causing Ryan's mood changed, but knew the other agent wasn't up for any kind of communicating. With a sigh, he opted for taking a shower and went into the bathroom. Once the door shut behind him, Ryan looked up at the door.

When he water started, he moved to his bag and began pulling all his clothes out. When the bag was empty, he stared down at the old case file that was hidden underneath his clothes.

He looked over at the bathroom door. With a sigh, he covered the folder with his clothes again and moved back to his bed. He sat, staring at the wall across the room. From the shower, Brendon began singing a random tune, partially distracting Ryan from his thoughts.

Ryan shut his eyes and leaned his head back on the headboard. He let Brendon's singing keep him from overthinking too much. It didn't stop all his thoughts though. Ryan let out another sigh. This was going to be a long case for both Ryan and Brendon.

---

A/N:

I just heard Truce by Twenty Øne Pilots and it's so good. I don't really listen to them, so this was a discovery for me. Planning on learning it on the piano so I'm excited.