That nausea he had when they'd announced the diamond was traveling to Manhattan was back, twenty fold. Neal was beyond talented at hiding, well, everything, but it was almost enough to make his head spin when Peter appeared beside him so suddenly. Glancing between 'Michael' and the new arrival, it was clear the rest of the team from the Smithsonian was waiting to hear his response.
Clearing his throat, and hoping the sweat trailing down his back was not also on his brow, Neal managed a coherent reply.
"This isn't just glass, it's a pure diamond created through thousands of years of compression and heat. It may be former dinosaurs though." There's a chuckle around the group that 'know' him. "And, the left really is best due to the hours the museum operates and the fact that the sun sets in the West but these windows face East."
Right. So hopefully that explanation was enough. Enough to make Peter go away, since apparently he wasn't prepared to arrest him just yet. Some part of Neal wondered if Peter was just stringing out the collar
( ... )
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
( ... )
The fact that Peter was able to get through to Neal really made him feel good. He smiled, finishing his beer and throwing some money down on the bar to cover them both. It wasn't that he thought Neal couldn't pull off the job. Far from it. He just knows that if Neal wants to come back, one more job isn't a good thing to have on his record
( ... )
Neal stood still that moment Peter's hand lingered. He'd missed him far more than he was willing to put into words. Closing his eyes, Neal savored the moment. Soon he'd be back in hiding. Everything was going to go back to where it was before and just like that bottle of wine he'd obsessed over, Neal would find something new to be fixated on. A dream and a wish he could return to his life before, with his only hope being trusting Peter.
Once before he'd told the older man that he was the only one he trusted, and he'd meant it. If there was anyone he was willing to hold out for, it was Peter. Puling back on his jacket and adjusting his glasses, Neal almost hated to go back to being Michael Stanton. He just wanted to be Neal Caffrey, parter and friend to Peter Burke. He missed him absolutely terribly, even if he hadn't shown it like he should of.
"I..." Neal shifted a little. "It hasn't been easy for me either."
Said softly, it was another moment of honesty too.
Clearing his throat, and hoping the sweat trailing down his back was not also on his brow, Neal managed a coherent reply.
"This isn't just glass, it's a pure diamond created through thousands of years of compression and heat. It may be former dinosaurs though." There's a chuckle around the group that 'know' him. "And, the left really is best due to the hours the museum operates and the fact that the sun sets in the West but these windows face East."
Right. So hopefully that explanation was enough. Enough to make Peter go away, since apparently he wasn't prepared to arrest him just yet. Some part of Neal wondered if Peter was just stringing out the collar ( ... )
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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."
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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.
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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 ( ... )
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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 ( ... )
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Once before he'd told the older man that he was the only one he trusted, and he'd meant it. If there was anyone he was willing to hold out for, it was Peter. Puling back on his jacket and adjusting his glasses, Neal almost hated to go back to being Michael Stanton. He just wanted to be Neal Caffrey, parter and friend to Peter Burke. He missed him absolutely terribly, even if he hadn't shown it like he should of.
"I..." Neal shifted a little. "It hasn't been easy for me either."
Said softly, it was another moment of honesty too.
"Right. Let's get those phones."
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