Fic: Unmasked (White Collar, PG, 1700 words)

[florastuart]

Title: Unmasked
Author: Flora
Rating: PG
Genre and/or Pairing: Gen
Characters: Neal
Spoilers: Through Season 4
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1700 words
Summary: The stranger looks like he could hold his own in a bar fight, but he’s no one Neal wants to trust at his back.
A/N: Set pre-series, with spoilers through season 4. Originally written for a

Comments

[sholio]

Oh, I like this a lot! :) This fits really well with my own headcanon for young!Neal -- self-destructive and angry and darker-edged than the Neal we know, someone who would've fit better with Keller at that age than one can imagine Neal fitting now.

[florastuart]

Thank you so much! :) I'm glad you liked it! And yeah, I think young Neal would have been a lot darker and angrier. Neal has always had a self-destructive streak, but at this time in his life I feel like it would have been much more pronounced. He really is potentially painting a giant target on his own back, taking on the name "Neal Caffrey", and that says a lot about his state of mind at the time.

And for a guy who defines himself so much around the people he loves (whether that's Kate or Mozzie or Peter) it's fascinating to look at what he'd be like completely on his own.

[leesa_perrie]

This is excellent! Neal's anger comes through, along with the need for someone (anyone) to find him. And then the ending, and it's Keller who's 'found' him - chilling!

[florastuart]

Thank you so much! Poor Neal is not in a good place, here ... and hooking up with Keller is not going to improve things for him. *hugs Neal* I'm glad you liked it!

[ext_1385307]

this is wonderful
i have always thought Neal wanted to be caught ..He was looking for someone to catch him and not by someone specific ..Poor kid trying to get a hold of land under his feet...and because Peter did caught him twice (or thrice?),there is that special place for Peter..
and my heart literally goes for Neal and nice twist for introducing Keller in the story as we never got to know when did they actually meet

[florastuart]

Thank you so much! Poor Neal really doesn't have much to hold onto, here, and finding Keller is only going to make things worse for him ... I'm glad you like it!

[rabidchild]

OMG, that is just the best twist at the end. Excellent, excellent!

I really love angry!young!Neal here, the way you've gotten inside his head, his recklessness, ready to tell the entire world to fuck off. Perfect characterization. Loved it.

[florastuart]

Thank you so much! :) I'm so glad you liked it! Angry young Neal is fun to explore, and very different from older canon Neal, without any of the people in his life he's grown to depend on. *hugs him*

[sallymn]

Oh yes, this works...

[florastuart]

Thank you so much! :) I'm so glad you liked it!