In the last few months, Neal had occupied himself with none other than his favorite pastime, scheming. The Smithsonian seemed as ripe as any place to try and it had something more famous than the majority of previous cons he'd managed to pull off. Mozzie was thrilled to be far and away from the prying eyes of the FBI in New York but that didn't mean he was any more happy about being in the District near the center of all that is FBI and suit holy. He'd made Neal promise, after this con they were done. Done and out of the States for good.
So, with the aid of some very fabulous forgeries, Neal got himself a job with the museum. With the aid of his charm way with words, he'd even gotten himself a nice position on the gem and minerals preservation team. For months he'd absorbed information and, after 'work', would help Moz with efforts to properly case, map, and plan the heist. It was a bi-centennial celebration year for the Hope Diamond. This meant it was on all kinds of display, cleaned daily for visitors, and sure to be put in a
( ... )
"Drippy candles?" And his face read Really? at that expression. Before he could help himself, he was smiling instead. This was so familiar and he suddenly realized just how much he was going to miss New York. The smile didn't falter as that thought crossed through, but he did feel that nausea again.
Best to swallow it down with wine.
He managed to be quiet long enough to listen and really watch Peter talk. That look he had? It always used to make him nervous when it was directed his way. Usually, something Neal really wanted to change or skip entirely followed.
"Okay, I'll bite oh holier than thou one with a name not on some Most Wanted list somewhere. Where are you so honestly working?"
Peter smiled and tapped his beer bottle against Neal's glass. That same familiar feeling was back and he loved it. They were bantering again. It was like they had never been separated. "Yes, drippy candles." He shook his head and took a sip of his beer
( ... )
Neal noticed it all and the nausea only worsened. His friend looked like he'd seen three years on his account. He really hated the Feds then. More than his usual contempt, Neal was having a serious problem with, as Peter had so eloquently said, the bureau betraying their best agent. None of the rest had ever managed to catch him.
Peter, in theory, had done it again even if he wasn't going to act on the actual chance of an arrest. There was no contest in Neal's mind.
"Hughes and the FBI are fools for letting you go." He said honestly. "And for--"
Okay Peter had said something again that threw his head for a loop. It wasn't often people could make Neal lose his eloquence but Peter sometimes had a knack for it. Registering that last bit, both Sara and the subsequent Peter going to the dark side. Those people wanted him as badly as the Feds had. Neal didn't look entirely thrilled.
"Okay that's a serious pay increase more than 'pays the rent' Peter."
"It happens, Neal. Not everything that we think about in life is a constant. Change always happens. I didn't think that the FBI would be that way. I thought I would be there forever, but change will occur. For me, it was at the FBI." He sighed, drumming his fingers against his beer bottle
( ... )
In that way, the difference in their ages showed. However old Neal was, he was apparently not old enough to handle change well. For a man who spent his life changing everything from his to his shoes, accepting that Peter had 'moved on' from the FBI was hard. In a selfish sense it meant that if he screwed up, even a little, he was done for. The FBI would probably put him in for life, or at least for all that time that he should have been in prison while helping Peter. This time? There was no Agent Burke to swoop in and save the day.
Something must have been registering because he managed to be quiet through every thing the other man had to say. There were appropriate nods and all that but apparently he was considering at least some part of what his friend was saying. No, it wasn't the end of the world but... Sterling and Bosch? Really? Couldn't he have found anyone else that didn't categorically hate Neal Caffrey to work for?
Sigh.
"I'm not here to steal it Peter. How arrogant do you think I am?"
In a way, maybe Peter didn't want to move on from the FBI. Maybe he was deluding himself. If Hughes called him today and offered him his job back, would he say no? He couldn't answer that question with certainty. And yes, Neal was a part of that decision. He hated thinking that if Neal stole that diamond, there was no way out for him. No leverage anymore. Maybe that was why he was pleading so hard, trying so much to get Neal to not pull the job. He couldn't be Neal's hero anymore
( ... )
The thought that he and Peter might never associate again, even in passing, if he stole that diamond was almost more than Neal could stomach. Some part of him had always assumed if one of his cons went horribly awry that Peter would be there. He'd fix it smooth it over, or do something else suit-y to give Neal the shot at going straight he'd always tried to provide. Not to mention, in all honesty, he missed his life in New York. He missed that view, June's singing, and yes even the crummy coffee that Peter was reminiscing about
( ... )
Before he could stop himself, Peter reached out and touched Neal's elbow. He had a sad, faraway look on his face. Though, he felt like he was reminiscing all by himself. "I was jealous. You wear the hat well." He smiled and pulled his hand reluctantly away. He didn't want to think of a life without Neal in it. Still, he wasn't about ready to join the crime life either. That just wasn't who he was. With Neal, he'd dabbled, his big toe dipping into that world. That was about as much as he could stomach. He smiled, thinking of the video footage he'd stolen for Neal when he was drugged.
His smile faded. Neal was outright lying to him. He was sure of it. Especially after what went down with the treasure. He felt like any feelings he was having weren't being returned. Like he was having this little conversation with 'Michael' and not his Neal. His Neal. The thought really stung. "Whatever you wish, Neal. Maybe if you say it enough, you'll really believe it
( ... )
The way Neal knocked back that wine was probably telling in and of itself. Yeah he was lying. Or something was bothering him. Whatever it was, for all his lies there were some tells that Peter could tell. Maybe others wouldn't have noticed and part of Neal hoped Peter didn't notice. This was just all too much. Damnit, Moz was right. They never should have come to New York.
Neal was actually listening to Peter's pleading, even if it didn't seem like it. Internal turmoil was almost unbearable and he wasn't sure he wouldn't throw up later
( ... )
Peter practically chugged his beer and ordered another. Sharing a look with Neal, he tipped the bartender well and made sure he kept it coming for both of their glasses. When his food arrived, he dug into to it. Mostly because he didn't want to drink on an empty stomach. He wasn't even really hungry, just that he knew he needed to eat so that he could drink. When he got home later, he was sure El was going to hate him. She might even make him sleep on the sofa when he told her everything
( ... )
There were at least two more glasses of wine ordered to go with the salmon something or another Neal had ordered and it seemed like burying themselves in food and alcohol was setting the tone for their lunch. So much unsaid and even more said that, in some ways, was kind of worse. At least the words Neal said because they were at least 30-50% lies
( ... )
Food and alcohol were a good lunchtime tone. They had done it before in the past. Though the last time they did, he didn't remember there being so much emotion and tension in the air. He sat there, digging into his food and thinking over what they were talking about. Peter was somewhat positive that the things Neal were saying were true, but he couldn't tell anymore where the truth ended and the lie began. And that hurt
( ... )
It wasn't as though Neal actually thought that Peter was trying to use his arrest to fuel a career advance. There just seemed to be no other way things could play out, at least in the narrow field of vision Neal had pared himself down to in the last few months. At first, he'd thought about it constantly. Time and again Mozzie had to tell him it was a fantasy more ridiculous than any of their planned heists. And now, well Neal believed it
( ... )
Neal had every right to be frightened. He was frightened. He was scared to death that this would not end well and Neal would go back to prison. It was why he had left the FBI and gone to Sara when she offered a job for him. Peter didn't want to see Neal in prison again. He really wanted to to think that he'd had an impact on Neal's life. There had to be some way to make it all right again. He smirked up at Neal, just picturing what Mozzie might say when Neal told him about all this. Oh to be a fly on that wall
( ... )
There was that moment's hesitation. Neal was listening and it wasn't just because he had to. Guarantees were made and, truth be told, he was already considering backing out of the con regardless. Peter had shown up and that didn't mean others might not too. This was now far too high profile for the city he was in. Well, it really was all along but running into Peter had gotten into his head
( ... )
So, with the aid of some very fabulous forgeries, Neal got himself a job with the museum. With the aid of his charm way with words, he'd even gotten himself a nice position on the gem and minerals preservation team. For months he'd absorbed information and, after 'work', would help Moz with efforts to properly case, map, and plan the heist. It was a bi-centennial celebration year for the Hope Diamond. This meant it was on all kinds of display, cleaned daily for visitors, and sure to be put in a ( ... )
Reply
Best to swallow it down with wine.
He managed to be quiet long enough to listen and really watch Peter talk. That look he had? It always used to make him nervous when it was directed his way. Usually, something Neal really wanted to change or skip entirely followed.
"Okay, I'll bite oh holier than thou one with a name not on some Most Wanted list somewhere. Where are you so honestly working?"
Reply
Reply
Peter, in theory, had done it again even if he wasn't going to act on the actual chance of an arrest. There was no contest in Neal's mind.
"Hughes and the FBI are fools for letting you go." He said honestly. "And for--"
Okay Peter had said something again that threw his head for a loop. It wasn't often people could make Neal lose his eloquence but Peter sometimes had a knack for it. Registering that last bit, both Sara and the subsequent Peter going to the dark side. Those people wanted him as badly as the Feds had. Neal didn't look entirely thrilled.
"Okay that's a serious pay increase more than 'pays the rent' Peter."
Reply
Reply
Something must have been registering because he managed to be quiet through every thing the other man had to say. There were appropriate nods and all that but apparently he was considering at least some part of what his friend was saying. No, it wasn't the end of the world but... Sterling and Bosch? Really? Couldn't he have found anyone else that didn't categorically hate Neal Caffrey to work for?
Sigh.
"I'm not here to steal it Peter. How arrogant do you think I am?"
Short answer. Very.
Reply
Reply
Reply
His smile faded. Neal was outright lying to him. He was sure of it. Especially after what went down with the treasure. He felt like any feelings he was having weren't being returned. Like he was having this little conversation with 'Michael' and not his Neal. His Neal. The thought really stung. "Whatever you wish, Neal. Maybe if you say it enough, you'll really believe it ( ... )
Reply
Neal was actually listening to Peter's pleading, even if it didn't seem like it. Internal turmoil was almost unbearable and he wasn't sure he wouldn't throw up later ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment