White Collar Ficlet - Closer Than Blood (WC100 - 039 - Blood)

[elrhiarhodan]

Title: Closer Than Blood
Prompt: White Collar 100 - #039: Blood
Author: elrhiarhodan
Rating: R
Characters/Pairing: Peter Burke, Neal Caffrey, Elizabeth Burke(Peter/Elizabeth/Neal), Mozzie
Fandom: White Collar
Spoilers: Under the Radar, All of Season 3
Warnings/Enticements/Triggers: None
Word Count: 300 Exactly!
Summary: Mozzie is angry at Neal’s reconciliation with Peter, Neal seeks to console him.

Set after Concealed in Plain Sight. 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 | SECRET 2 |

______________


Neal needed to talk with Peter. Not just about what happened this morning and what happened to him all those years ago - but about what happens next. While they’d been chasing McGuinness-Humbolt ghosts, Pavel Czerny had been playing them all for fools. But it was impossible to talk with him without Elizabeth in earshot - she wasn’t leaving them alone.

Not that he minded - but it was hard to keep secrets when your wife, the person you were trying to protect, was determined not to let you out of her sight. Neal actually wondered if Elizabeth knew there was something going on, and was intent on figuring it out.

Neal shook his head - no, that wasn’t possible. But this stasis was killing him. So he went to Mozzie.

“So, you’ve forgiven the Suit?” There was more than a touch of bitterness in the question.

Neal didn’t say anything. Mozzie’s disapproval about his relationship with Peter and Elizabeth was something he’s lived with for a while.

“I need information.”

“You’re just going to let him ride roughshod over you? You have a spine of Jello and I’m disgusted.” Mozzie had a few more choice words about the situation.

“He’s forgiven me for much worse, Moz.”

“Don’t be such a moral relativist.”

Neal lost his patience. “He was trying to protect me - not steal a billion dollars in art that belonged to the Russian government.”

Moz turned white. “That was uncalled for, Neal.”

He didn’t care if he crossed an uncrossable line. “I’ve forgiven Peter. Elizabeth’s forgiven him. He needs our help.”

“I’m not part of your happy family, Neal. I never will be.”

“Damn it Moz, that’s not true. You’re my …”

“Your what? Your patsy? Your two-legged search engine?” He flung those words like acid.

“No, Moz. You’re my brother.


FIN

Comments

[coffeethyme4me.livejournal.com]

FANTASTIC!!!

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

Oh Moz!

One thing, you kind of made the whole thing into a hyperlink.

[sugakane-01.livejournal.com]

*warning, long rambling comment is long and rambling*

You know...even though Mozzie was harsh, I have to say I see his side of things. Even in canon (imo) Neal is a little too quick to turn the other cheek (case in point, in the pilot when Peter makes that incredibly insensitive remark about Kate when they're in the car talking about Peter and El's anniversary) One of the things that makes Mozzie so dear to me is that he's ride or die Team Neal...and it's Team Neal as is, not Team Neal as long as Neal _ *fill in the blank with condition of choice* or until Neal _ *fill in the blank screw up of choice*. He's thrown himself into the line of fire countless times and literally taken a bullet for the guy. I honestly don't think Neal appreciates that, or Mozzie, nearly as much as he should. Plus...as much as I dig OT3, I think if push came to shove, Peter and El would be at a table for two and Neal would be sitting alone at June's with yet another empty bottle trying to figure out what went wrong, while Mozzie sat at the table setting up the chess board.

But as always, brilliant work and I love the complexities of all the relationship dynamics that are playing out. And I DO think El's sensing something is wrong. Mrs. Suit is no dummy and she knows her boys...I think someone as sensitive and intuitive as El knows when something is off but she's not pushing for now...sooner or later though she's either going to ask or they're going to tell.

[damietta.livejournal.com]

THIS! I think in canon this is going to have to come to a head (mon frere), too. Mozzie needs to feel a part of the family as well (I'm not talking OT4, but a part of the love).

I am very interested how YOU see Neal and Moz healing in the 'verse.

[rabidchild67.livejournal.com]

D'AWWWW!!!! I'm making high-pitched noises here. Like a dolphin. Or a humpback whale.

I love this so.

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

No, Mozzie, don't turn against Neal!

[ladygray99]

YES! That really is Mozzie's place. The brother who gets him into and out of trouble and helps him even when he doesn't want to. And for Mozzie who was a never adopted foster kid being called a brother implies being a member of a family and that's got to mean a lot.