White Collar Ficlet - Concealed in Plain Sight (WC100 - #044 - Secret)

[elrhiarhodan]

Title: Concealed in Plain Sight
Prompt: White Collar 100 - #044: Secret (2)
Author: elrhiarhodan
Rating: R
Characters/Pairing: Peter Burke, Neal Caffrey, Elizabeth (Peter/Elizabeth/Neal)
Fandom: White Collar
Spoilers: None
Warnings/Enticements/Triggers: None
Word Count: 300 Exactly!
Summary: Elizabeth takes pleasure in their reconciliation, but she only sees what Peter and Neal chose to reveal.

Set after Conspiracy of Solace. Continues the Danger Series, which is now a single entry on AO3.




THE DANGER SERIES:

TARGET | HUNT | CASE | FILE | BACKGROUND | INTERROGATION | WITNESS | HOME | HOME 2 | FAMILY | FAMILY 2 | TEAM | UNIT | UNIT 2 | PAPER | CLAY | PAINT | INK | CHECK | CASH | CREDIT | LOAN | SAVINGS | GOLD | WIFE | SILVER | GLASS | PARTNER | BACKGROUND 2 | CLUE 2 | TRACK | BOYFRIEND | BOYFRIEND 2 | LOVER | FAMILY 3 | DIAMONDS | CREDIT 2 | WIFE 2 | LOVER 2 | PAINT 2 | FAMILY 3 |PAINT 3 | LOVER 3 | TIE | INNOCENT | WHISPER | SKIN | SECRET |

______________

Elizabeth woke up to an empty bed, but it still retained the warmth of its recent occupants. She had a vague recollection of shushing Peter and Neal and was sorry for that, because it drove her husbands away, out of this sanctuary.

She got up, washed up and went to look for her men.

El found them, curled up on the couch in the great room, whispering to each other. Neal was stroking Peter’s cheek and Peter had his face tucked into Neal’s shoulder. They didn’t see her standing there, and she watched, wishing she could hear what they were saying.

Neal wrapped his arms around Peter, a gesture of comfort, forgiveness, and her heart sang. It was going to be all right. She had worried - even though Neal had told Peter he’d forgiven him, she didn’t know if they’d ever recover the intimacy, Peter’s need for touch, Neal’s own craving for the simple contact that proximity brings.

It seemed that they had.

Satchmo busted her, trotting in, looking for breakfast and a morning walk. Her husbands looked up and she couldn’t quite decipher their expressions.

She kept her tone casual. “Everything okay?”

Neal smiled, but it was one of his con man grins, the ones she never trusted. “We’re good.” He looked at Peter for confirmation. Her husband nodded. “We’re very good.” Despite the false smile, El could see no discord or deception between Peter and Neal, and she supposed that’s what was important.

“What happens now?” She hoped against hope that this interlude in lotus-eater land would be coming to an end.

Peter didn’t say anything - he looked from her to Neal. Neal stared back.

“We’re still not safe. If anything, the danger’s greater - for all of us.”

“So, we can’t leave here?”

“Not yet, but soon.”

FIN

Comments

[coffeethyme4me.livejournal.com]

Bittersweet, that moment. This is lovely. Your text is blue like a link, though. ?

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you so much - that's just the mood I was looking for.

And I had forgotten to close a tag. Fixed now.

[yamx]

I love it. Sweet, but with so much hurt around the edges.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you so much for your continued support. Knowing I have a regular audience gives me inspiration to keep writing.

[damietta.livejournal.com]

I love that Elizabeth can tell which of Neal's smiles are real. I know that Matt does an exaggerated smile when he's being insincere (as Neal), but I would imagine to someone who doesn't know him well it is hard to discern.

[elrhiarhodan]

You are right - and while some of them are obvious - the ones he used on El in On Guard were definitely on the suspect side, but that's only because we've made a study of Matt Bomer's mouth.

[ursula4x.livejournal.com]

Great scenes!

[elrhiarhodan]

Good to see you - I've missed you a lot. Is everything okay?

[rabidchild67.livejournal.com]

Squee! Just consumed the last three installments in as many minutes.

I find it so interesting that El knows something is up here. You could have taken the easy way out and had her not suspect a thing - the next scene could have been Neal making them all breakfast in bed, but you didn't, and that's such a brave story-telling choice. I can't wait to see where you take us with this!

(Please to have Neal really kick ass? Pretty please?)

[elrhiarhodan]

El is smart - that is a large part of the attraction to the character, and Peter understands that she's probably smarter - at least emotionally - than him.

And I can guarantee you, Neal will kick ass. Serious ass.

[ladygray99]

This is a really interesting one because we know everything El isn't seeing and if she found out she wouldn't have all these warm fuzzy feelings going. I actually think she should find out but I can fully understand why Peter doesn't want her to ever know.

[elrhiarhodan]

Peter's decision not to tell El is a coping mechanism - I don't quite know how it will play out, but she's going to need all her smarts and will and strength to deal with it.

[ladygray99]

Oh I totally get that. Most people who go through something like Peter did never tell. Especially not not the guys.

[jrosemary.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth is wise not to trust that smile of Neal's--but I'm glad Neal is protecting Peter's secret, maybe understanding that's what Peter needs to help him cope.

Another excellent installment!

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you.

Yes, Neal is protecting Peter - just as Peter protected him.

I think I need to flowchart Paladin and Danger'verse. Just to keep everything straight.

[ocmiss.livejournal.com]

Everybody's back together, hurrah ! \o/

Any plans on updating this (I want to make you work teehee).

Also, I just wanted to let you know that on your masterlist of Danger'verse, the link for this chapter leads to the wrong part (Conspiracy of Solace instead of this one).
Cheers !