rareslash | The Usual Suspects ficlet

Some time ago, I re-watched The Usual Suspects and started wondering how much of what we see on screen is Verbal’s story, and how much of it is Kujan’s imagination.

And that that inspired me to write a ficlet about Agent Kujan’s thoughts during the interrogation:

Author: i.c.k. (

a_phasia)
Fandom: The Usual Suspects
Rating: PG, probably.
Pairings: McManus/Fenster and McManus/Keaton are kind of implied. And there is the implication of an implication that Kujan has a very personal reason for hating Keaton.
Summary: It's entirely possible that Agent Kujan is projecting his obsession with Dean Keaton on McManus.
Author's Note: Thanks to

lasarus for beta-reading and encouragement.
Disclaimer: Not mine.

For a moment, Kujan is surprised that Fenster would try to run without McManus.

He was never really interested in the rumors about those two (the only rumors he cares about are those concerning Dean Keaton), but there’s one thing everybody knows: Fenster and McManus stick together.

Doesn’t make sense that one’d leave without the other, Keyser Soze or no Keyser Soze.

The he realizes that this must have been Keaton’s doing, as well. To what purpose Kujan doesn’t know, but that’s what Keaton does: play people against each other. Kujan has seen it all before.

Dean Keaton can make you believe in him, all the while waiting for the right moment to fuck you over.

The cripple fell for it, and so did McManus, obviously.

They worked together in the past. And now Keaton played hard to get and McManus just couldn’t resist. Had to get Keaton on his side. Didn’t realize that it was all part of Keaton’s scheme.

Kujan feels almost sorry for Fenster.

If your partner falls for Dean Keaton’s tricks, running seems like the smart thing to do.

And that must have been Keaton’s plan. He needed McManus, but Fenster was in the way. Probably saw right through Keaton’s little charade.

Oh yes, Kujan can see it clearly. Keaton playing reluctant, but not quite unapproachable. Gone straight, ha. And that gets McManus really hot. He can’t resist the challenge. And Keaton gives in, of course. And McManus thinks that he has won. And there is a new kind of intimacy—looks, touches, maybe they whisper together so that the others can just not quite make out what they’re talking about—that shows everyone that McManus and Keaton are a team, partners.

After the debacle with Saul and final meeting with Redfoot, Keaton’s hand would been on McManus’ shoulder, then on the small of his back. Soothingly, reassuringly, as if to say, It’s gonna be okay, just trust me, I’ll take care of you.

And Fenster would have stood back in the shadow of the pagoda, realizing that he has just lost his partner.

Maybe there was a even fight before Fenster left. Don’t you see what he’s trying to do? It’s a set up!

But McManus wouldn’t have listened. You think I care about your jealousy? I trust Keaton with my life!

Because that’s what Dean Keaton does: He destroys lives.