Fic: That's What Friends Do - WhiCo
Mar. 1st, 2010 09:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
katikatTitle: That's What Friends Do
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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 byelrhiarhodan, 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
Author:
katikatRating: 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
