comment_fic 436-440: White Collar/NCIS, Heroes, NCIS, Smallville, Harry Potter
Title: to them he is a mirror, but to you he is a room
Fandom: NCIS/White Collar
Disclaimer: not my characters; title from Richard Siken
Warnings: future!fic
Pairings: implied Tony/Neal
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 585
Point of view: third
Prompt: White Collar/NCIS, Neal/Tony + Abby, She's seen glimpses of the real Tony at times but the first time she meets Neal, she realizes just how much of Tony was still hidden
part 1
Tony's been grinning all day. Abby's watched Gibbs watch him, a confused look on his face. Ziva and Timmy keep exchanging glances, eyebrows raised.
"What's up, Tony?" she asks as she hacks into the bad guy's computer.
He smiles at her, and she's sure she's never seen him wear a happier expression. "A case brought Neal to town," he says. His smile becomes a smirk and he adds, "Neal and I could've been the best criminals in the world."
As Gibbs enters her sanctum, Tony settles back against the counter. Abby tries not to feel hurt that she has no idea who Neal is.
She's sure that he and Neal could've been the best criminals, if they wanted.
o0o
After the bad guy has confessed and everyone gone home, Abby settles back with her laptop and checks in on her minions. She's just gotten comfortable when her cell plays Tony's ringtone.
"'sup?" she answers.
"I'm taking Neal to my favorite cupcake place," Tony says. "Wanna join us?"
She sits up, closing her laptop and shoving it to the side. "Has Gibbs met him yet?"
Tony's laugh is beautiful and boisterous. "I'm pretty sure that would make the universe explode, Abs. Maybe tomorrow."
A voice murmurs, close enough to hear but not to make out the words. Tony laughs again, voice muffled as he says, "Later, Neal, I promise."
"I'll be there in ten," Abby decides.
o0o
Neal is gorgeous. Abby's used to working with Gibbs and Tony, but Neal is in an entirely different category. He looks like he should be in a painting somewhere, eating ambrosia with the rest of the gods.
"Miss Sciuto," he says, standing. "It is an honor to meet you." He lifts her hand to kiss its back and then bows, smiling all the while.
Tony shakes his head. "Tone it down, Neal. She's already inclined to like you 'cause I do."
"Tony," Neal shoots back, "I'm simply treating her as any gentleman should."
Abby laughs. Tony pulls out her chair and Abby says, "Thank you, kind sir," as she sits.
They stay there until closing, Tony and Neal explaining how they met and all the years that have passed since then. Abby can tell there's some sort of censure, and Neal says simply that he's an FBI consultant. Neither of them ever mentions his last name.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, Neal Caffrey," she says as they drop her at her apartment.
He doesn't react except to smile. "I should have known better, Abigail. Tony said you'd recognize me."
She pats his cheek. "I like Tony as is, so I'm glad you didn't lead him into a life of crime."
Neal kisses her cheek, then she pulls Tony into a hug, and steps into her apartment; she watches them saunter down the hall before closing the door.
o0o
Abby cuddles a stuffed penguin named Marvin until it's time to go in to work. She'd known Tony had secrets, but being best friends with possibly the best con man in America? Before she'd ever met Tony, he'd been invited to a life of crime by Neal Caffrey. Even she hasn't discovered his real name, and she spent an entire weekend a couple years ago following the trail.
And Tony… she could have never met him. He might have been a master criminal and lost to her.
Clutching Marvin tight, she vows to show Tony how glad she is to know him, then she goes to shower and get ready for work.
Title: known but forbidden
Fandom: Heroes
Disclaimer: not my characters; title from Anne Sexton
Warnings: future!fic
Pairings: none
Rating: PG
Wordcount:220
Point of view: third
Prompt: Author's choice; author's choice; God screamed and screamed, then I ate him.
Gabriel Gray used to dream about changing the world. When Gabriel realized that he was only special by stealing powers, he ceased to be and Sylar rose from his ashes, Sylar without regret or remorse, Sylar in a fire of rage and despair. And as Sylar, he collected dozens of powers, mastering them all, but then, then-
Even Sylar balked at destroying an entire city.
Things happened, though, and eventually Sylar lost that last tiny piece of a conscience. He learned how to steal the power without killing, and then ignored the lesson.
And now Sylar has an entire carnival of people to study, though Sylar doesn't know he's Sylar. He's Gabriel again, after having been Nathan, but a monster only sleeps for so long.
And Gabriel learns two dozen powers without even knowing it, and Claire reveals their existence to the world, and Sylar laughs, spreading his wings and roaring to the forefront, and Peter shouts, "Gabriel, don't!"
But Sylar gazes out of Gabriel's eyes, and there is no one in the world with the ability to stop him, for Sylar commands them all.
Even God runs from him now.
(Gabriel Gray dreamed of changing the world. Sylar reforms the world to his whim, and when God protests, Sylar cuts open his head to see just how the Creator works.)
Title: southern migration
Fandom: NCIS
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: future!fic
Pairing: Gibbs/Tony
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 470
Point of view: third
Prompt: Tony/Gibbs, 10 years to build something and 10 minutes to destroy it
Tony isn't sure when he fell in love with his boss, but he wakes up one morning and knows he is. They've been working together for three years and he doesn't say a word to anyone about it.
McGee joins up, Kate dies, Ziva moves in, Vance takes over-Tony never says a word to Gibbs and suddenly, it's been ten years since he was a cop in Baltimore and he was the only one who could keep up with the biggest bastard at NCIS. The only who thrived with Gibbs' version of tough love.
Ten years watching and wanting, fantasizing and dreaming, wishing... ten years of Abby telling him to go for it and Ducky rambling on about when he was a lad and native tribes in Africa and the mating habits of unladen swallows.
And it's something stupid, when it finally happens. Another last-minute escape, another almost-wasn't survival, and Gibbs burst in and Tony's covered in blood (not his) and Ziva's calling the all-clear and McGee is coordinating with the locals, and it's nothing new.
But this time, when Gibbs helps Tony to his feet, Tony leans into him and kisses him. Right on the lips.
And Gibbs just stands there, supporting his weight. Gibbs doesn't kiss back.
Tony had always known he wouldn't.
Gibbs tells him softly, "No, Tony. I'm sorry."
Soon as he's healed up, Tony puts in for a transfer. Vance sends him to Miami, gives him his own team, and Tony tells his agents to call him DiNozzo or Tony, never Boss.
Abby cries, Ducky tells him to be safe, McGee looks at him with wide eyes, and Ziva kisses him goodbye. Gibbs shakes his hand and says, "You'll do."
A month later, Gibbs shows up at his apartment. Apologizes, asks him to come home. And Tony had spent ten years in love with the man. Something that deep, it doesn't go away.
Tony kisses him, and Gibbs kisses back, but it's not enough, not anymore. There are baby agents depending on him, three ops in the works, and a city where it never snows. He's got a life now, a life that doesn't revolve around Jethro Gibbs. It doesn't hurt when he wakes up anymore.
Gibbs tells him softly, "Okay, Tony."
Another month later, Gibbs comes back, wearing a terrible Hawaiian shirt and says, "I retired. Moved to Florida."
Tony looks at him and says, "No, you didn't."
And Gibbs smiles, says, "I was proud and afraid. I'm sorry." He holds out his hand. "Jethro Gibbs, retired special agent. I'd like the chance to get to know you."
Ten years in love with this man, sure nothing would ever happen. "Tony DiNozzo," he replies, grabbing Gibbs' hand and clutching him close.
Jethro tastes like hope fulfilled and Tony pulls him into the apartment.
Title: absolution is not mine to make
Fandom: Smallville
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: future!fic
Pairings: post-Lex/Clark
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 275
Point of view: third
Prompt: Clark/Lex, after the rift and Lex's death, Clark finds poetry Lex wrote (choose any angsty poem about love and loss and pretend Lex wrote it)
On his thirtieth birthday, Clark Kent checked his mail and found a letter from Lex. He stared at the plain white envelope and then looked around, expecting a trap or a trick or even Lex to be standing down the street, years after his death.
He checked the envelope every way he knew how before stepping into his apartment to open it. Just in case, he didn't want anyone else caught or to witness whatever Lex had to say from beyond the grave.
The letter said, in Lex's handwriting,
Clark, I knew it was all too good to last. Good things have never been mine to keep.
I would ask forgiveness, but whatever I did, I'm sure I don't deserve it, especially not from you.
Goodbye, best and dearest friend I've ever known.
Clark stared at the words, reread them, and stared some more. Then he moved on to the second piece of paper, scrawled more messily than the short note.
hit bottom I did
nowhere left to fall
but you
you pieced me back together
healed me saved me
and that is something I can never repay
say not goodbye
do not leave me
never leave me
please don't leave me
I cannot become who I was
you have changed me
you have saved me
stay and I can care for you
stay and I will love you
forever and ever unto the end
stay with me
stay with me
cling tight and dream of what could be
you have saved me
never leave me
Clark crumpled the paper and turned away from the table, eyes welling. "Bye, Lex," he whispered, letting the note and poem fall.
Title: a flash of green
Fandom: Harry Potter
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: AU
Pairings: none
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 42
Point of view: third
Prompt: Voldemort/Harry; He'd do Slytherin himself proud
Light wizards are easy to kill, too noble for anybody's good, so sure that being on the side of right will save them. That's why Voldemort came so close to winning so many times.
Harry is not a light wizard.
avada kedavra
o