White Collar Fic - Adhesive (PG, Gen)
Title: Adhesive
Fandom: White Collar
Character(s): Neal, Peter
Genre: Drama, friendship
Pairing: Gen
Spoilers: Up to and including 2x09 (Point Blank)
Disclaimer: White Collar doesn't belong to me, this is solely for fun. No copyright infringement is intended.
Word Count: ~1000
Summary: Neal might be slipping through his fingers, but Peter is advocate and adhesive and anchor all wrapped up in one neat package.
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Adhesive
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Nothing sticks to Neal Caffrey (capers, clues, charges), and Neal Caffrey sticks to nothing (people, places, plans); this is Peter's initial understanding of Neal, developed when the FBI agent was handed Caffrey's case file all those years ago. He'd needed something more than the sparse bio to work off of, because he couldn't catch what he didn't understand and Neal never did intend on being understood.
It's changed since then, because Peter is a proper investigator and he shapes the theories to satisfy the facts, never twisting the facts to suit the theories. He wears a suit, but endeavours to make sure that is the beginning and end of Mozzie's conspiracy theories about his role as The Suit. He can't speak for all of law enforcement, he can't even speak for the whole of the FBI, but he stands for more than a symbol of power and authority when he wears that badge.
He didn't have it wrong, but he didn't have it right either, so he's not done yet.
Nothing sticks to Neal (motive, means, meaning) without his awareness and therefore, tacit permission. They both know bond forgery is a far cry from making the highlight reel. On one level, Neal accepts it because the victory is little but nonetheless valid, and he understands that any big plan is the end result of a collection of little successes. On another, Neal doesn't fight it because Peter had been systematically rather than singularly off-base in his original assessment of Neal, who sticks to the people he cares about with an unwavering dedication that Peter respects.
When it comes down to Neal or Kate, Neal or Alex, Neal or Mozzie, it's not a choice. Neal sacrifices himself because he needs to live with himself.
Take existing profile, account for best intentions, and Peter's view of Caffrey settles itself into something workable. It's easy to reduce Neal to a charming con man with a taste for fine art because he is on one level, no facades and no forgeries required. You lose layers in the simplification though, relinquishing motive the cost of retaining means.
Peter loses Neal to a world that Peter cannot follow him into, the situation taking a turn he hadn't predicted. Peter never lost sight of his charge, but he can't say the same for the big picture; Neal doesn't lie to him, but that isn't the same as telling the truth, and Peter's known that from day one.
His guard goes down when his gun comes up. Neal breached his trust when Alex stole the music box under his direction, and now Peter is breaching Neal's, holding a gun on his partner when he knows full well Neal wouldn't do the same if their positions were reversed. He's not in the wrong but it doesn't feel right.
But then again, he's not done yet.
Neal might be slipping through his fingers, but Peter is advocate and adhesive and anchor all wrapped up in one neat package. He finds Neal in words - look at me, Neal - with the lowered gun, the plea in his voice, the tactics he employs (tacks, tape, thorns) - this isn't who you are - because finding Neal Caffrey is what he does for a living.
Diana takes Neal (confined, confused, crestfallen) and Peter takes stock. They rescued a former FBI agent and arrested an ex-con and he feels unsettled. He feels nauseous, actually, just thinking about what they'd have had to do if Neal hadn't lowered that gun.
The cuffs come off when the three of them return to Peter's office (preclusion, prevention, Neal, please), where Peter grounds him with an order and a tracker and his friendship. Neal doesn't stick to much of anything, so Peter will stick to him instead, because when the charcoal is washed away, the papers are picked up, and the day comes to a close, Neal will eventually remember that Peter is something he can adhere to. Until then, Peter will duct tape everything he can (salve, solace, sympathy) to the partner who still flinches when Peter and Diana burst into his apartment with guns.
Peter talked Neal down and now Neal is firing him up, a simple phrase - I wasn't there alone - sending the situation into overdrive.
Diana finds Moz and Neal loses hope that Peter keeps safe, painstakingly gluing the pieces back together as they settle in for the long haul in a lonely waiting room of the hospital they rushed his best friend to, waiting for word on Moz's condition.
Neal Caffrey sticks to everyone that has ever mattered to him even when he shouldn't, and all the things that have happened to those people stick to him (disillusionment, despair, damage) until the tacky veneer that surrounds him grows slick and weary with overuse, allowing nothing further to stick to him at all.
He forgoes sleeping at hour thirty-six. Peter would think a decision like that to be marked by the beginning of hour one, but Neal is contrary even when he's trying not to be, even when he's trying to be something (composed) else, anything (hopeful) else.
Neal's decision (desire) is marked by his coffee run rather than a statement. They gave up words at hour twenty-eight of consciousness, when Mozzie went into surgery and Neal went into hiding. Peter has words - he'll find words, that is, when those become necessary (available), because that's his job.
It's his job to arrest criminals (friends).
Peter was wrong all those years ago, but he's correcting it now, right where he needs to be, an arm around Neal's shoulder and a word of hope in his ear. Peter chose to tie rope around their ankles and suggest they try out for the three-legged race, but Neal is the one who super glued them together. It's easy enough to pull on the bond when they aren't in sync; but that only results in pain, not separation.
The thing is, Peter doesn't happen to have the solvent lying around.
It looks like Neal's just stuck with him.
Fin
Fandom: White Collar
Character(s): Neal, Peter
Genre: Drama, friendship
Pairing: Gen
Spoilers: Up to and including 2x09 (Point Blank)
Disclaimer: White Collar doesn't belong to me, this is solely for fun. No copyright infringement is intended.
Word Count: ~1000
Summary: Neal might be slipping through his fingers, but Peter is advocate and adhesive and anchor all wrapped up in one neat package.
-
Adhesive
-
Nothing sticks to Neal Caffrey (capers, clues, charges), and Neal Caffrey sticks to nothing (people, places, plans); this is Peter's initial understanding of Neal, developed when the FBI agent was handed Caffrey's case file all those years ago. He'd needed something more than the sparse bio to work off of, because he couldn't catch what he didn't understand and Neal never did intend on being understood.
It's changed since then, because Peter is a proper investigator and he shapes the theories to satisfy the facts, never twisting the facts to suit the theories. He wears a suit, but endeavours to make sure that is the beginning and end of Mozzie's conspiracy theories about his role as The Suit. He can't speak for all of law enforcement, he can't even speak for the whole of the FBI, but he stands for more than a symbol of power and authority when he wears that badge.
He didn't have it wrong, but he didn't have it right either, so he's not done yet.
Nothing sticks to Neal (motive, means, meaning) without his awareness and therefore, tacit permission. They both know bond forgery is a far cry from making the highlight reel. On one level, Neal accepts it because the victory is little but nonetheless valid, and he understands that any big plan is the end result of a collection of little successes. On another, Neal doesn't fight it because Peter had been systematically rather than singularly off-base in his original assessment of Neal, who sticks to the people he cares about with an unwavering dedication that Peter respects.
When it comes down to Neal or Kate, Neal or Alex, Neal or Mozzie, it's not a choice. Neal sacrifices himself because he needs to live with himself.
Take existing profile, account for best intentions, and Peter's view of Caffrey settles itself into something workable. It's easy to reduce Neal to a charming con man with a taste for fine art because he is on one level, no facades and no forgeries required. You lose layers in the simplification though, relinquishing motive the cost of retaining means.
Peter loses Neal to a world that Peter cannot follow him into, the situation taking a turn he hadn't predicted. Peter never lost sight of his charge, but he can't say the same for the big picture; Neal doesn't lie to him, but that isn't the same as telling the truth, and Peter's known that from day one.
His guard goes down when his gun comes up. Neal breached his trust when Alex stole the music box under his direction, and now Peter is breaching Neal's, holding a gun on his partner when he knows full well Neal wouldn't do the same if their positions were reversed. He's not in the wrong but it doesn't feel right.
But then again, he's not done yet.
Neal might be slipping through his fingers, but Peter is advocate and adhesive and anchor all wrapped up in one neat package. He finds Neal in words - look at me, Neal - with the lowered gun, the plea in his voice, the tactics he employs (tacks, tape, thorns) - this isn't who you are - because finding Neal Caffrey is what he does for a living.
Diana takes Neal (confined, confused, crestfallen) and Peter takes stock. They rescued a former FBI agent and arrested an ex-con and he feels unsettled. He feels nauseous, actually, just thinking about what they'd have had to do if Neal hadn't lowered that gun.
The cuffs come off when the three of them return to Peter's office (preclusion, prevention, Neal, please), where Peter grounds him with an order and a tracker and his friendship. Neal doesn't stick to much of anything, so Peter will stick to him instead, because when the charcoal is washed away, the papers are picked up, and the day comes to a close, Neal will eventually remember that Peter is something he can adhere to. Until then, Peter will duct tape everything he can (salve, solace, sympathy) to the partner who still flinches when Peter and Diana burst into his apartment with guns.
Peter talked Neal down and now Neal is firing him up, a simple phrase - I wasn't there alone - sending the situation into overdrive.
Diana finds Moz and Neal loses hope that Peter keeps safe, painstakingly gluing the pieces back together as they settle in for the long haul in a lonely waiting room of the hospital they rushed his best friend to, waiting for word on Moz's condition.
Neal Caffrey sticks to everyone that has ever mattered to him even when he shouldn't, and all the things that have happened to those people stick to him (disillusionment, despair, damage) until the tacky veneer that surrounds him grows slick and weary with overuse, allowing nothing further to stick to him at all.
He forgoes sleeping at hour thirty-six. Peter would think a decision like that to be marked by the beginning of hour one, but Neal is contrary even when he's trying not to be, even when he's trying to be something (composed) else, anything (hopeful) else.
Neal's decision (desire) is marked by his coffee run rather than a statement. They gave up words at hour twenty-eight of consciousness, when Mozzie went into surgery and Neal went into hiding. Peter has words - he'll find words, that is, when those become necessary (available), because that's his job.
It's his job to arrest criminals (friends).
Peter was wrong all those years ago, but he's correcting it now, right where he needs to be, an arm around Neal's shoulder and a word of hope in his ear. Peter chose to tie rope around their ankles and suggest they try out for the three-legged race, but Neal is the one who super glued them together. It's easy enough to pull on the bond when they aren't in sync; but that only results in pain, not separation.
The thing is, Peter doesn't happen to have the solvent lying around.
It looks like Neal's just stuck with him.
Fin