White Collar Ficlet - Joy In The Morning

[elrhiarhodan]

I wrote this a few months ago for the lovely photoash , for her prompt "Late Morning."  The new title is shamelessly borrowed from Betty Smith's mid-century novel.

Joy In The Morning

Neal finds perfection in the morning light that streams into his apartment. It's a rare thing for Peter to sleep in, particularly here in his bed, but Elizabeth's visiting her sister and there's no reason for either of them to rush to get up. Except for the light.

It streams through the skylights, pouring across Peter's skin, turning him into a gilded, recumbent god of love and justice and Neal reaches for his sketchpad and a box of pastels.

Swiftly, before Peter wakes, Neal lays down lines of flowing color, capturing the dormant power of muscle and bone, the tight curve of ass and hips and waist, the formidable strength of Peter's broad shoulders and arms - all highlighted by the filtered light of the late morning sun.

Comments

[shea.livejournal.com]

Please do write that. I remember how beautifully you wrote El as a "sex fairy." Your "New York, New York, It's a Hellva Town" fic is still my favorite of yours. It's tender and sweet and just pure sexy without any hard play. The risks all existed in their three way relationship, and it was divine!

I can't remember the name of the episode, but it was S1 where Peter was staying with Neal because his electricy was out, but I believe since then that they've been letting more of Bomer's personality inform the character. He's a sweet, gentle loving man (references your icon), and to lose the love of his life, gay or straight, he would need someone to comfort him and Peter's it, since Mozzy is so obviously his equal and friend. Peter is the one to keep him grounded. He's the one he can learn a better way from.

This show seems to say "fuck you" to gender roles so I will too. Peter loves Neal like he loves Elizabeth. Peter likes Mozzy. He adores Diana, but he loves Neal, loves the beauty and the emotions and the mystery of him. Wants to protect him.

What was it said in that last episode, "If it was you wife in danger of being kidnapped, wouldn't you keep her close?"

El's safe on the green screen in San Francisco, but Neal's the one whose life was saved by Peter because Peter's love made him hesitate to get on that plane. That has to be powerful stuff to Peter. I can't see Peter not making love to him as if he were a cherished loved one whom Peter needs to tie to him to keep him safe.

Peter's an intelligent but simple man. Simple not in a stupid way, but straigth forward. He's very masculine. He protects what he loves with everything that he's got.

Fuck I love this show!

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you so much for loving New York, New York - your comments were one of the reasons why I ended up finishing it (although technically, they still have plenty of opportunities to get the seksi on between the Park and Riverside Drive).

You're thinking of Home Invasion - and I have to agree. HI wasn't my favorite episode - the writing was choppy, but the canon it provided was breathtaking. Particularly the way Peter keeps pushing at Neal's personal boundaries. A lot of fic has Neal as the needy seducer - which is hot...but I get really, really (ahem) excited when it's Peter that's making the running. (I probably should save this exegesis for my reply to your posting).

You're right about Peter - his wants and needs are simple. He's unconflicted - Neal's his to love and protect, and god forgive anyone who gets in his way (there's a great interview with Tim @ ComicCon about what Peter would do if someone tried to take Neal from him - UNF is pretty much the only word for it).