Fic; I am Neal, Chapter Ten
Title; I am Neal
Author; swirlsofblue
Fandom; White Collar
Rating; NC-17
Character/Pairings; Peter/Elizabeth, Neal.
Warnings; Flashbacks involving abuse, slavery.
Word count; 620 (this chapter)
Summary; Based on a collarkink prompt; Neal was kidnapped and it takes Peter a minimum of 5 years to find him. By the time he does, Neal's had 5 years to be broken down and turned into the perfect house/sex slave with regular punishments. This is the tale of Neal's recovery.
Author's note; Follow the links for previous chapters: chapters 1 - 6, chapter 7, chapter 8, chapter 9.
The next day Neal was less worried as he sat in his small hiding place, Peter was letting him stay here for his good behaviour, it meant Peter and Elizabeth were happy with him. He hadn’t gotten in trouble, maybe there was no big plan for punishment, maybe they just thought he had done a good job. Neal chastised himself for clinging to hope so readily, but hope made the most sense. He had been here for weeks and why have that much of a build-up to punishment, when they could’ve given him several beatings and still ramped up his anxiety levels.
No one asked him to leave so he happily stayed where he was, less nervous about getting in trouble for it; this was his reward he would enjoy it while he could. There was a light now and he used it to read one of the books Elizabeth had left for him. All of the books seemed quite dull though, too full of cheer.
***
After spending a few hours a day in the small room under their stairs Neal seemed a lot better, more confident. But Peter and Elizabeth were still wary, there was a long way to go and any small thing might set things back. Peter can’t help watching as Neal walks from the dining room to the living room, shoulders slightly hunched, but at least he isn’t feeling the need to hold up a façade of chipper glee as much as before. It seems as though Neal’s coming towards them for an instant before he veers off and busies himself folding the unfolded laundry, they say nothing of it. Neal’s looking down into the clothes basket when a small miracle happens.
“Can I go and stay in the closet for a while?” Neal whispers, almost as if hoping he isn’t heard.
But he is heard and both Elizabeth and Peter have to stop themselves from gushing at Neal for being able to ask the question.
“Yes Neal, go ahead,” Peter says, impressing himself with how sedate he manages to sound.
***
Elizabeth is busy preparing menus when it first bubbles up inside of her. She pushes the feeling back down, working from home takes organisation and she has tasks to get done. But it just comes back up burrowing small orbs of sound out of her until she’s uncertain whether she’s laughing or sobbing hysterically. Her blue ball-point clatters onto the table and she presses the pads of her fingers into the sheaf of papers before her, stopping herself, or bracing herself, or getting ready to break down entirely.
Peter is suddenly behind her, half embracing her and half the chair she’s on.
“Hey,” he says gently, comfortingly. She wants to laugh but readily accepts the hug, she leans in and his hands slide over her shoulder blades.
“This is ridiculous. Just when everything was going so well.”
“Yeah, you’ve given yourself a break and now you’ve got the chance to decompress, this is normal,” Peter says.
“I know, I just, I wanted everything to be sort of okay for once. I’m just so fed up of all of this. I don’t want to be the strong one anymore Peter. And I know, I know you’re being brilliant sweetie, I couldn’t ask for more…”
“But it’s just that I rely too much on your wisdom for the final decisions. I look to you to tell me whether what I’m doing right,” Peter states simply.
“Yeah,” Elizabeth breathes out in bittersweet relief.
“I’ll have to do something about that then,” Peter states, matter of fact.
El finally allows herself to relax properly in Peter’s embrace, tears quietly slip down her cheeks and she lets them.
Author; swirlsofblue
Fandom; White Collar
Rating; NC-17
Character/Pairings; Peter/Elizabeth, Neal.
Warnings; Flashbacks involving abuse, slavery.
Word count; 620 (this chapter)
Summary; Based on a collarkink prompt; Neal was kidnapped and it takes Peter a minimum of 5 years to find him. By the time he does, Neal's had 5 years to be broken down and turned into the perfect house/sex slave with regular punishments. This is the tale of Neal's recovery.
Author's note; Follow the links for previous chapters: chapters 1 - 6, chapter 7, chapter 8, chapter 9.
The next day Neal was less worried as he sat in his small hiding place, Peter was letting him stay here for his good behaviour, it meant Peter and Elizabeth were happy with him. He hadn’t gotten in trouble, maybe there was no big plan for punishment, maybe they just thought he had done a good job. Neal chastised himself for clinging to hope so readily, but hope made the most sense. He had been here for weeks and why have that much of a build-up to punishment, when they could’ve given him several beatings and still ramped up his anxiety levels.
No one asked him to leave so he happily stayed where he was, less nervous about getting in trouble for it; this was his reward he would enjoy it while he could. There was a light now and he used it to read one of the books Elizabeth had left for him. All of the books seemed quite dull though, too full of cheer.
***
After spending a few hours a day in the small room under their stairs Neal seemed a lot better, more confident. But Peter and Elizabeth were still wary, there was a long way to go and any small thing might set things back. Peter can’t help watching as Neal walks from the dining room to the living room, shoulders slightly hunched, but at least he isn’t feeling the need to hold up a façade of chipper glee as much as before. It seems as though Neal’s coming towards them for an instant before he veers off and busies himself folding the unfolded laundry, they say nothing of it. Neal’s looking down into the clothes basket when a small miracle happens.
“Can I go and stay in the closet for a while?” Neal whispers, almost as if hoping he isn’t heard.
But he is heard and both Elizabeth and Peter have to stop themselves from gushing at Neal for being able to ask the question.
“Yes Neal, go ahead,” Peter says, impressing himself with how sedate he manages to sound.
***
Elizabeth is busy preparing menus when it first bubbles up inside of her. She pushes the feeling back down, working from home takes organisation and she has tasks to get done. But it just comes back up burrowing small orbs of sound out of her until she’s uncertain whether she’s laughing or sobbing hysterically. Her blue ball-point clatters onto the table and she presses the pads of her fingers into the sheaf of papers before her, stopping herself, or bracing herself, or getting ready to break down entirely.
Peter is suddenly behind her, half embracing her and half the chair she’s on.
“Hey,” he says gently, comfortingly. She wants to laugh but readily accepts the hug, she leans in and his hands slide over her shoulder blades.
“This is ridiculous. Just when everything was going so well.”
“Yeah, you’ve given yourself a break and now you’ve got the chance to decompress, this is normal,” Peter says.
“I know, I just, I wanted everything to be sort of okay for once. I’m just so fed up of all of this. I don’t want to be the strong one anymore Peter. And I know, I know you’re being brilliant sweetie, I couldn’t ask for more…”
“But it’s just that I rely too much on your wisdom for the final decisions. I look to you to tell me whether what I’m doing right,” Peter states simply.
“Yeah,” Elizabeth breathes out in bittersweet relief.
“I’ll have to do something about that then,” Peter states, matter of fact.
El finally allows herself to relax properly in Peter’s embrace, tears quietly slip down her cheeks and she lets them.