Summer and Smoke

[thosewerepearls]

Act I

Peter and Neal returned to the campus on a bright afternoon, as all the students were leaving. They walked straight into Oswald’s classroom. The lights were off. There were blocks of sunlight coming in from the large windows in the back, painting the floor yellow and gold.

Neal approached the podium slowly, and then spread his hands over the

Comments

[ultracape]

That was amazing and very powerful. I thought is was going one way and then you did a complete U turn to someplace else and it was so sad

[surreal_44]

I love your reviews, but I have to point out that Neal tried to tell the class again that he basically turned himself in. I think if he had kept his mouth shut and not tried to embarrass the FBI, Peter wouldn't have mentioned the anklet at all.

[thosewerepearls]

First, thank you for your compliments. Second, I think Peter hurts Neal a lot, but I don't think it's ever on purpose, really. I think he's trying to get out all the anger he had from chasing Neal for all those years, and he can't help himself. I don't think he's trying to attach Neal, intentionally. Not to mention that, I think that Neal has so much bravado that Peter can't gauge what comments will actually do damage. So that's my take on it.

[wingstar102]

I agree with ultracape, what Peter did at the end was rude at best and humiliating at worst.

Anyways, wonderful fic! I will beg and grovel if you write more. :D

Love and cherries,
Wingstar

[thosewerepearls]

Thank you! I think Peter's action were cruel, but not purposefully malicious. In reality, I don't think Peter understands Neal half as much as he thinks he does.

[coldryuuza]

oh, that just about broke my heart

[thosewerepearls]

I'm sorry! I hoped you liked it, though.

[stormyfish]

Thanks for the story!
If there were a Peter-drops-by-Neal's-Apartment story for every day of the week, I would be one happy fangirl.

Keep writing!

[thosewerepearls]

Hahah, I think every one of my stories is a Peter-drops-by-Neal's-apartment story. I never realized that.

And I will! Never fear.

[elrhiarhodan]

This broke my heart.

I'm not sure if I am all that happy with the way Peter treated Neal, but it does feel very canonical. Just as Neal constantly pushes at Peter's buttons, Peter will never hesitate to push back. This is the relationship of equals. And of course, he's angry at himself and remorseful for causing his friend any pain.

And Act II...whew. Hot and sexy and sad. I wish there was an Act III.

[ursula4x]

but it does feel very canonical. Just as Neal constantly pushes at Peter's buttons

Peter's motivation is to redeem Neal. He wants to bring Neal into the light, to use his intelligence, his skills, his charm to help people. So while he sometimes can't resist being amused by Neal's criminal mind, he always lets him know the end result is not good.

I also think he wanted to impress upon the class that crime does not pay except in sorrow.

[surreal_44]

Not only that, but Neal twice tried to tell the class that he was the one controlling the situation and that the FBI really hadn't done anything to catch him. I think if Neal hadn't said a word, Peter would never have made that comment.

[thosewerepearls]

Oh I'm glad you think this feels canonical. It's so hard to guess what could be canon, because what do we really know about any of the characters? But I do like how they torment each other, it's very, cute?

It's so hard to write about them, because at once Neal is incredibly attractive with such a strong personality and also terribly loss, so its a balance. But they are really hot. Like in that one commercial where Neal is behind Peter and brushes off his shoulder, and Peter smiles? Hot.