Drabble: The Simple Things (ADAD #30)
Title: The Simple Things
Author: QWERTYfaced
Fandom: White Collar
Wordcount: 200
Rating: G
Characters: Peter Burke, Neal Caffrey
Genre: Drabble, gen
Notes: For my A Drabble A Day personal challenge, and whitecollar100's Challenge 24 - Silver. Thanks, reve_silencieux! We're nearly (officially) done!
Summary: Happiness doesn't have to be complicated.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. All characters and settings belong to their respective copyright holders, not me. Which is why I don't have a DeLorean hovercraft yet.
"You know, you're like a child sometimes."
It's something Neal's heard said often: in exasperation, in amusement, in condescension. He opens his eyes, and sees a trace of all those things in Peter's expression.
Not for the first time, he wants to explain: children and con artists both know that good things are ephemeral. Every lollipop, every amusement park ride-every thrilling scheme and every passionate kiss-must come to an end.
Adults like to build illusions of stability, to spend their whole lives chasing happiness. But what he knows is that happiness is quicksilver. You can't trap it, build it, or hold onto it.
All you can do is enjoy it while it's there. You must acknowledge its rarity to fully appreciate its value.
He wants to explain. But at the same time, the park bench is beguilingly warm, and all his horizons are briefly cloud-free. It is a perfect moment, and far too good to spoil with philosophy.
Instead, he looks at the cone in his hand, then smiles disarmingly at his friend.
"It's good ice cream, Peter. Enjoy it."
And he takes another bite, closes his eyes blissfully, and turns his face up towards the sun.
"Mmmm..."
Author: QWERTYfaced
Fandom: White Collar
Wordcount: 200
Rating: G
Characters: Peter Burke, Neal Caffrey
Genre: Drabble, gen
Notes: For my A Drabble A Day personal challenge, and whitecollar100's Challenge 24 - Silver. Thanks, reve_silencieux! We're nearly (officially) done!
Summary: Happiness doesn't have to be complicated.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. All characters and settings belong to their respective copyright holders, not me. Which is why I don't have a DeLorean hovercraft yet.
"You know, you're like a child sometimes."
It's something Neal's heard said often: in exasperation, in amusement, in condescension. He opens his eyes, and sees a trace of all those things in Peter's expression.
Not for the first time, he wants to explain: children and con artists both know that good things are ephemeral. Every lollipop, every amusement park ride-every thrilling scheme and every passionate kiss-must come to an end.
Adults like to build illusions of stability, to spend their whole lives chasing happiness. But what he knows is that happiness is quicksilver. You can't trap it, build it, or hold onto it.
All you can do is enjoy it while it's there. You must acknowledge its rarity to fully appreciate its value.
He wants to explain. But at the same time, the park bench is beguilingly warm, and all his horizons are briefly cloud-free. It is a perfect moment, and far too good to spoil with philosophy.
Instead, he looks at the cone in his hand, then smiles disarmingly at his friend.
"It's good ice cream, Peter. Enjoy it."
And he takes another bite, closes his eyes blissfully, and turns his face up towards the sun.
"Mmmm..."