Fic: Scratching the Surface (Neal)
Title: Scratching the Surface
Fandom: White Collar
Characters: Neal
Prompt: #127 lost soul
Word Count: 234
Rating: PG
Summary: Neal couldn’t remember the last time anyone outside of Mozzie and Kate had seen him - truly seen him.
Notes: Written for 500themes and ultra_fic. 2/1/16.
Neal couldn’t remember the last time anyone outside of Mozzie and Kate had seen him - truly seen him. Most people saw surface and didn’t bother to look any deeper. He was the ridiculously handsome guy who looked good in suits; he was able to use that to his advantage, but it did get lonely.
He felt on a different level to most others. He charmed his way into social circles, but could never quite be himself. No one was ever their true self in company though, he supposed. And so few took the time to look behind the mask he - or anyone else - wore.
Until Peter came along.
When Peter looked, he saw everything. He found a way through the illusions, the lies, and pieces it all together. Peter, at first an annoyance, an obstacle, had become so much more than that to Neal.
If Neal were completely honest with himself, Peter was what he had been needing all these years. Someone to hold his misdemeanours over him and to push him to be better. Someone to call him out on his crap and set him right.
He’d become a friend - an impressive feat, as Neal didn’t trust or let anyone in easily. But he had found a way to trust, at least to some extent, with someone whose job it had been to take him down. His delicately crafted surface had been scratched.
fin.
Fandom: White Collar
Characters: Neal
Prompt: #127 lost soul
Word Count: 234
Rating: PG
Summary: Neal couldn’t remember the last time anyone outside of Mozzie and Kate had seen him - truly seen him.
Notes: Written for 500themes and ultra_fic. 2/1/16.
Neal couldn’t remember the last time anyone outside of Mozzie and Kate had seen him - truly seen him. Most people saw surface and didn’t bother to look any deeper. He was the ridiculously handsome guy who looked good in suits; he was able to use that to his advantage, but it did get lonely.
He felt on a different level to most others. He charmed his way into social circles, but could never quite be himself. No one was ever their true self in company though, he supposed. And so few took the time to look behind the mask he - or anyone else - wore.
Until Peter came along.
When Peter looked, he saw everything. He found a way through the illusions, the lies, and pieces it all together. Peter, at first an annoyance, an obstacle, had become so much more than that to Neal.
If Neal were completely honest with himself, Peter was what he had been needing all these years. Someone to hold his misdemeanours over him and to push him to be better. Someone to call him out on his crap and set him right.
He’d become a friend - an impressive feat, as Neal didn’t trust or let anyone in easily. But he had found a way to trust, at least to some extent, with someone whose job it had been to take him down. His delicately crafted surface had been scratched.
fin.