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

[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).