Fic: That's What Friends Do - WhiCo

[katikat]

Title: That's What Friends Do
Author: katikat
Rating: PG-13
Genre and/or Pairing: Peter/El
Spoilers: Pilot
Warnings: None
Word Count: 520
Summary: Four years from now...
Notes: Beta'ed by elrhiarhodan, thank you :)


"So, what will you do now?" Peter asked after Neal's anklet was officially cut for the last time. It was a quiet occasion, just the two of them in Peter's office. Neal leaned down and rubbed his bare ankle. It felt strangely light.

"I don't know yet," he admitted and when he straightened, he smiled. "I think... I think I'll travel."

Peter narrowed his eyes. "Travel travel or travel travel?" he asked suspiciously.

Neal threw his head back and laughed. "Just travel, Peter, no shady business. I'm a changed man." When Peter didn't quit glaring, Neal's smile grew more gentle. "I mean it, Peter."

Peter looked at him a moment longer, then grumbled, "I hope so. I'm too old to chase you again."

Neal grinned. "Aww, Peter, don't sell yourself short. You're in your prime! Elizabeth's quite satisfied with your... performance of the... marital duties."

Peter groaned, closed his eyes and let his head drop. "Please, tell me you didn't discuss my love life with my wife?"

"You have nothing to be ashamed off, you... stallion," Neal assured him, mischievously.

Peter glared at him and Neal raised his hands in mock surrender. They both burst out laughing.

When Peter surpressed his laughter finally, he looked at Neal fondly. "Where will you go first?"

Neal shrugged, looking out of the window behind Peter's desk. "I don't know yet. Maybe... maybe I'll just board the first plane flying out of New York and see where it takes me. Or maybe I'll take the train and ride it where ever it goes. I really don't know."

"You don't have a plan yet? I thought that you would have your next step planned out in meticulous detail by now. You've had four years to think about it."

"I just want out of New York, Peter, I don't care where," Neal said, looking at him. "Four years I'd been cooped up in jail. And for the next four years, it was New York. I haven't left the city in eight years, Peter. Eight years!"

"Well, you had a two miles radius and we traveled the city every day for work, it's not exactly closed quarters," Peter remarked, voice heavy with irony.

"But it is," Neal answered earnestly. "It is when you can't leave. When you know that for the next four years you're forbidden to leave, even a cell the size of New York starts feeling claustrophobic and you can't breath. I just need out, out of my two miles radius, out of the city, out of the state. In here," he touched his temple, "I know that I'm free to go. In here," he touched his chest, "I still need convincing."

Peter nodded pensively. "Fair enough." After a moment, he asked: "What about our partnership?" His voice was guarded, not letting Neal know what he was thinking or feeling.

Neal smiled at him. It was an honest, open smile. "If you need my help, just call. You know my number. Call and I'll come. I promise."

Peter nodded again. They both knew that Peter would call and Neal would come. That's what friends did.

Sequel: Former Keepers and Unlucky Charges

Comments

[misura.livejournal.com]

This left me feeling all warm and fuzzy and grinning. A lovely look on what their friendship may have grown into, in four years' time.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *beams*

I hope that the show will last at least four years! And that Neal stays with Peter. I can see him wanting to try out his new found freedom - but I think that he would come back in the end...

[ursula4x.livejournal.com]

I hope by that time, Neal will come back, wanting to stay.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I think so too. Thievery itself is not as much fun as outsmarting other thieves!

[jellicle.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to confess something to you: It took me a long while to understand what WhiCo meant, even though you're always talking about it on Twitter. I guess I've beem a bit slow these days... :)

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Hehe. I know that some people abbreviate White Collar to WC, but I really don't like that when it's not necessary for shortness. I prefer WhiCo. You should try the show, it's really feel!good :)

[pennyplainknits.livejournal.com]

Aww, I like that they are finally admitting they are friends! And yes, I think Neal will come back for good, eventually.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

There was an amazing quote in the script sneak peek for 112 that got cut out of the ep itself where Peter said to Jones that he respected Neal. It was awesome. Too bad that it didn't stay in the ep itself. Oh, well...

And I also think that Neal would stay in the end!

[deepbluemermaid.livejournal.com]

Lovely glimpse of a possible future! And I like your insight into Neal's perception of NYC as a cell. He would be rather claustrophobic after all that time...

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :) I think that the biggest place would start to feel claustrophobic if you were forbidden to leave it!

[whitecollarfan.livejournal.com]

Nice! :) It does make sense that Neal would want to take trip out of NYC for a while, and that if Peter needed help he'd come back.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think that they would definitely come to each other's rescue. I think that they like each other more and more with every day 8)

[china_shop]

Awww, yay! This is so lovely! I adore the picture of them having become friends who can count on each other. <3

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think that Peter would miss Neal a lot, if Neal decided to leave now - not that he would admit it, of course! ;)

[dragonfly (from livejournal.com)]

Really nice. I enjoyed this. *g*

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad :)

[scifigirl.livejournal.com]

This made me giggly and gave me warm fuzzies. ♥

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Peter and Neal really are all warm-'n-fuzzy, aren't they? I just want to squish them silly XP

[luvspnl.livejournal.com]

I totally see Neal leaving NY for the first place fabulous, like Paris, hehe. He'd likely travel for a few months before coming home. :) Nice story!

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I also think that for Neal, Peter means home :)

[secretsolitaire.livejournal.com]

Aw, this is lovely. The ending is just right. :-)

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! There's also a sequel (http://katikat.livejournal.com/991789.html), forgot to link it :P