cookiegirl: (Default)
[personal profile] cookiegirl
*embraces f-list* Here is a tiny Christmas ficlet for you!

Title: Something Real
Author: [livejournal.com profile] cookielaura
Wordcount: 247
Characters: Peter, Neal
Rating: G, no warnings
Disclaimer: White Collar isn't mine
Summary: No prizes for guessing where Neal's spending the holidays \o/




‘Oh, I thought I’d come over at noon tomorrow, so that we can all have a lie-in but I’ll be in time for brunch,’ Neal says casually as they’re finishing up the final case-notes.

Peter is tired, overheated in the stuffy office, and fighting the beginning of a headache. ‘What?’ he asks, irritated and confused, without thinking.

‘Noon tomorrow, Peter, unless you want me to come earlier,’ Neal says, and he gives a dazzling smile that Peter instantly recognises as one of his many con-smiles. And now Peter’s on the alert because that never spells good news.

He sharpens his mind immediately and questions why Neal would be arranging a time to come over on Christmas Eve as if he’s already been invited to spend the day at the Burkes’, when Peter knows full well he hasn’t asked him to, and El has been too overloaded with end-of-year event-planning to even think of what they’re doing themselves for Christmas.

And Neal knows – must know, surely – that if he doesn’t have plans for Christmas then he could very well just ask to come over.

He opens his mouth to say this to Neal, and then shuts it again. Because that dazzling smile looks oddly brittle, as if it could splinter and shatter at any point, and Peter realises that Neal hasn’t asked because Neal couldn’t bear to hear ‘no’.

‘Noon’s good,’ he says. ‘Bring wine.’

‘Got it,’ Neal replies, and the smile shifts and solidifies into something real.

Date: 2012-12-23 08:59 pm (UTC)
sinfulslasher: (white collar peter reindeer)
From: [personal profile] sinfulslasher
*hugs the ficlet* Totally IC and just perfect! *hugs the boys*

*hugs you*

Happy Holidays!

(Tell Peter I'm coming over at noon, too! *g*)

Date: 2012-12-23 09:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] neontiger55.livejournal.com
Lovely little snippet. Loved that last line in particular and that Peter caught himself just in time ;)

Date: 2012-12-23 09:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] x-varda-x.livejournal.com
Aw so cute! Neal knows what he wants <3

Date: 2012-12-23 09:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] noiproksa.livejournal.com
Awwww, this is very cute!

Date: 2012-12-23 11:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tardisjournal.livejournal.com
Ohhh, very nice! I love how Neal's toothy smile (which I can picture very clearly!) hides the fragility inside, and how Peter catches himself just in time. This seems so very them. :)

I'm sure a lovely Christmas Eve will be had by all. <3

Date: 2012-12-24 04:40 am (UTC)
From: [personal profile] ivorysilk
Awww, this is so so sweet and lovely and perfect. I adore it!

*pets Neal, who doesn't just know he can ask* Thank goodness Peter understands!

Date: 2012-12-24 05:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] spankedbyspike.livejournal.com

That was really lovely... Sweet and precious... Awesome work!

Date: 2012-12-24 07:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pipilj.livejournal.com
aww this was so cute. loved that Peter cud see through Neal's facade.

Date: 2012-12-24 09:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daria234.livejournal.com
Wonderful fic!

Date: 2012-12-24 12:19 pm (UTC)
embroiderama: (White Collar - Neal & Peter handsome)
From: [personal profile] embroiderama
Peter's insight into Neal is just perfect here.

Date: 2012-12-24 01:32 pm (UTC)
kanarek13: (kiss Peter)
From: [personal profile] kanarek13
Awww... lovely!!! *cuddles the boys*

Happy Holidays! :D

Date: 2012-12-24 04:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
so sweet & a little sad. i love neal's dazzling smile and that he was willing to risk asking without asking.

Date: 2012-12-24 04:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyrose42.livejournal.com
My thought exactly,but you got there first! Very IC.

Date: 2012-12-24 06:35 pm (UTC)
leesa_perrie: two cheetahs facing camera and cuddling (Neal & Peter)
From: [personal profile] leesa_perrie
This is just perfect! Oh Neal *hugs* And Peter! *hugs him too*

Date: 2012-12-25 01:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lauracollared.livejournal.com
awwwwwww <3 it's perfect! *hugs it*

Date: 2012-12-25 05:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scarym1.livejournal.com
That was sweet story. Love how Peter knows what Neal is doing. : )

Date: 2013-02-03 12:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vanae.livejournal.com
I think I forgot to tell you how much I loved this little snippet. I did, though, and still do.

Date: 2013-02-03 01:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vanae.livejournal.com
Belated holiday cheer brings happiness to the rest of the year! A belated right back at you.

Date: 2015-12-08 07:19 am (UTC)
sherylyn: (Default)
From: [personal profile] sherylyn
I adore this. I have no idea how many times I've read it elsewhere (ft.net?), but it's just perfect. Neal wanting, but just not sure he can ask, and he couldn't bear "no," and Peter, bless hm, catching on before he does something hurtful, no matter how unintentionally. **huggles them both tightly**

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