Fic: Better Safe Than Sorry (White Collar, Neal/Sara)
Title: Better Safe Than Sorry
Fandom: White Collar
Characters/Pairing: Neal/Sara
Rating: Teen
Word count: 527
Summary: Sara had learned long ago that not all risks were worth taking. Neal Caffrey was probably one of them.
Notes: Written for runthecon, for theatregirl7299's prompt "On the edge of what felt safe."
Sara had learned long ago that not all risks were worth taking. Neal Caffrey was probably one of them.
But here she was, lying beside him in bed. It felt more determined than fumbling around in an archive.
"Admit it," he said. "I'm not the first charming alleged thief you've met."
"Oh, no. You're not the only con man with a deceptively handsome smile."
Neal grinned. "Handsome, huh?"
Sara gave him a soft shove. "Don't start."
She had been meaning to tell him that this was the first time she'd done this. She didn't mix business with pleasure, and though she loved the thrill of chasing thieves, she'd learned long ago that bad boys were more trouble than they were worth.
But she didn't want Neal to get cocky because he thought he was the exception to the rule.
They had been lying together, naked under the sheet, for a half hour. Neal looked sleepy, and it made his eyes appear less calculating. It was uncomfortably intimate.
She was trying to think of a graceful way to excuse herself when he said, "Would you like something to drink? Coffee?"
"Not coffee. I'll never get to sleep."
She didn't know if she would be able to, anyway. She didn't think she could shut off her mind.
"Wine?"
She hesitated, and was about to say she needed to go. But then she changed her mind and said, "Okay."
Neal got up. Before he pulled on a robe, Sara admired his firm ass. While he walked barefoot over to the wine rack, Sara leaned over the bed and reached for her clothes, which were pooled on the floor.
"Moz drank my riesling, but I have a bottle of chardonnay."
"That's fine." Sara pulled on her dress and reached behind to zip it. A thought occurred to her. "Mozzie doesn't live here, does he?"
"No, he doesn't live here...."
She got the sense he was leaving something out, and she wanted to ask how much time Mozzie spent not living in Neal's apartment.
But it didn't matter. It wasn't like she and Neal were in a relationship. If there was anything Sara was good at, it was protecting herself. Sometimes that meant keeping distance.
Neal uncorked the chardonnay and poured two glasses. He handed one to Sara and their fingers touched.
The chardonnay was too sour for Sara's liking. She took small sips, acclimation herself to the taste.
"Listen," she said, "just to be clear, I don't expect a commitment from you."
Neal's smile wavered. "That sounds ominous."
"No, no.This was...fun. I just think we should be honest with each other. Otherwise, we'll start wondering where things stand, and we might feel pressured....Let's just keep things simple."
Neal clinked his glass against hers. "To honesty and keeping things simple."
"Are you capable of being honest? Or keeping things simple?"
Perhaps that was harsh. But it wasn't exactly unfair. There was nothing simple or honest about Neal Caffrey.
Neal didn't appear wounded. With a small shrug and a smile he said, "Don't worry. I'm not planning on breaking your heart."
"Oh? And who says you could?"
"Certainly not me."
"Then we're good."
Fandom: White Collar
Characters/Pairing: Neal/Sara
Rating: Teen
Word count: 527
Summary: Sara had learned long ago that not all risks were worth taking. Neal Caffrey was probably one of them.
Notes: Written for runthecon, for theatregirl7299's prompt "On the edge of what felt safe."
Sara had learned long ago that not all risks were worth taking. Neal Caffrey was probably one of them.
But here she was, lying beside him in bed. It felt more determined than fumbling around in an archive.
"Admit it," he said. "I'm not the first charming alleged thief you've met."
"Oh, no. You're not the only con man with a deceptively handsome smile."
Neal grinned. "Handsome, huh?"
Sara gave him a soft shove. "Don't start."
She had been meaning to tell him that this was the first time she'd done this. She didn't mix business with pleasure, and though she loved the thrill of chasing thieves, she'd learned long ago that bad boys were more trouble than they were worth.
But she didn't want Neal to get cocky because he thought he was the exception to the rule.
They had been lying together, naked under the sheet, for a half hour. Neal looked sleepy, and it made his eyes appear less calculating. It was uncomfortably intimate.
She was trying to think of a graceful way to excuse herself when he said, "Would you like something to drink? Coffee?"
"Not coffee. I'll never get to sleep."
She didn't know if she would be able to, anyway. She didn't think she could shut off her mind.
"Wine?"
She hesitated, and was about to say she needed to go. But then she changed her mind and said, "Okay."
Neal got up. Before he pulled on a robe, Sara admired his firm ass. While he walked barefoot over to the wine rack, Sara leaned over the bed and reached for her clothes, which were pooled on the floor.
"Moz drank my riesling, but I have a bottle of chardonnay."
"That's fine." Sara pulled on her dress and reached behind to zip it. A thought occurred to her. "Mozzie doesn't live here, does he?"
"No, he doesn't live here...."
She got the sense he was leaving something out, and she wanted to ask how much time Mozzie spent not living in Neal's apartment.
But it didn't matter. It wasn't like she and Neal were in a relationship. If there was anything Sara was good at, it was protecting herself. Sometimes that meant keeping distance.
Neal uncorked the chardonnay and poured two glasses. He handed one to Sara and their fingers touched.
The chardonnay was too sour for Sara's liking. She took small sips, acclimation herself to the taste.
"Listen," she said, "just to be clear, I don't expect a commitment from you."
Neal's smile wavered. "That sounds ominous."
"No, no.This was...fun. I just think we should be honest with each other. Otherwise, we'll start wondering where things stand, and we might feel pressured....Let's just keep things simple."
Neal clinked his glass against hers. "To honesty and keeping things simple."
"Are you capable of being honest? Or keeping things simple?"
Perhaps that was harsh. But it wasn't exactly unfair. There was nothing simple or honest about Neal Caffrey.
Neal didn't appear wounded. With a small shrug and a smile he said, "Don't worry. I'm not planning on breaking your heart."
"Oh? And who says you could?"
"Certainly not me."
"Then we're good."