White Collar fic - Another Form of Art (Epilogue)

[sheenianni]

Title: Another Form of Art
Author’s Name: sheenianni
Fandom: White Collar
Spoilers: Minor from Season 1 - 3
Characters: Neal Caffrey, Mozzie
Raiting: PG
Content Notice: None
Word Count: ~ 14,800
Notes: This was written for veleda_k during the wcpairing exchange, whose story absolutely made my day. Huge thanks to rabidchild67 for betaing this fic, to November Leaving from fanfiction.net for cheerleading and helping me figure out my prompts, and finally to one other person who refuses to be named.
Prompt: Neal and Mozzie, pre-series. Wacky hijinks and zany schemes! Gen, please.
Summary: When Neal and Mozzie come to Europe, they decide to pull a heist that the world hasn’t seen yet. Pre-series.

Prologue -Part I - Part II - Part III - Epilogue

                        

Epilogue

Two days after the tram heist, Neal and Mozzie were in the hotel, peacefully enjoying their breakfast. Neal was sipping his coffee and eating a croissant, while Mozzie was reading the local newspapers.

“Neal, look at this,” he said suddenly and started to read aloud.

Daily News – Main section

Consequences of the incident in Prime Minister’s house – the Premier’s security is being replaced

The Prime Minister is replacing his Security Guards after a bizarre incident that occurred on Thursday night in the capital. As we have previously informed, a yet unidentified person infiltrated the Prime Minister’s house, bypassed the cameras and got as far as the Prime Minister’s bedroom before the security noticed him and he escaped through the bedroom’s window.

The Police have stated that they are intensively searching for the perpetrator, and that the only thing stolen during the incident were the First Lady’s artificial teeth. In the meantime -

“Wait a moment,” said Neal and interrupted Mozzie, who was reading the article aloud. “Did you just say the First Lady’s teeth?”

Mozzie grinned at Neal. “I guess this means we have won our bet.”

Neal frowned. “This is just wrong,” he said suddenly.

Mozzie raised his eyebrows. “I thought you didn’t like politicians,” he said in a mild question.

“Who does?” asked Neal rhetorically. “But she’s not a politician, just a politician’s wife. … Poor old lady.”

“Before you get all wound up, have you read about us?” asked Mozzie.

Neal sighed and reached for a croissant. “No. But I guess you’ll fill me in anyway.”

Mozzie turned back to the newspaper. “According to the cops, we are a ‘large, dangerous group of radicals that will soon be identified and captured’. However, the mystery lovers believe that the tram and train were transported either by a divine power, or that it was a ‘hostile act’ committed by aliens. Apparently, they support their theory with the fact that ‘the hijacked tram has been painted black, which is clearly the ‘color of death’.”

“Nice,” smirked Neal. “I myself vote for the ‘mysterious aliens’.”

“Don’t you understand?” exclaimed Mozzie excitedly. “We’re now a subject of conspiracy theories! UFO stories! Urban legends! ”

“Wonderful,” Neal rolled his eyes.

There was a short pause.

“So, I was thinking that we should take a short break,” said Mozzie.

“Okay,” said Neal.

“Not for long,” continued Mozzie. “Just a week or two. Then, we can take up our bet’s winnings and go after that Picasso.”

“Yeah, about that.” Neal straightened in his seat. “I… kind of changed my mind about the painting.”

Mozzie stilled.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” said Neal hurriedly, “and I agree with what you said. Stealing the ‘Girl and Boy’ would attract too much attention, and with Moser still looking for us… I think we should let it go.”

Mozzie stared at him.

“Now I know you missed April Fool’s Day,” he said at last. “Because you definitely can’t be serious.”

Neal remained silent.

“You know we just risked our lives to steal that tram, right?” asked Mozzie calmly, but with an edge to his voice. “Neal, I swear, if this is another bet – ”

“It’s not,” sighed Neal. He hesitated. He had reached this decision the day before they went for the tram, after he had stumbled across a piece of information. However, he was still a little afraid to explain it to Moz. He didn’t want to risk their friendship over a possible difference of opinions.

But Mozzie had just stood by him during an insane stunt. Maybe, he would understand Neal’s reasons… even if he wasn’t completely sure about them himself.

Neal stood up and walked across the room to a small bookcase. He took out one book and opened it to reveal a colored leaflet from the local Art Museum and handed it to Mozzie.

Mozzie stared at it for a few seconds before his face filled with comprehension. “Oh.”

“Mrs. Amanda is a seventy year old lady,” said Neal quietly. “She is alone; the art is her whole world. I can’t – I don’t want to steal from her.”

Mozzie stared at the leaflet for a little longer. Then he looked up at Neal and nodded. “I understand.”

“You okay with it?” asked Neal hesitantly.

Mozzie folded the leaflet and gave him a small smile. “Absolutely… if you don’t ask me to steal a plane now.”

Neal laughed.

“Let’s stay here for another week,” said Mozzie suddenly. “And then we can go to Paris.”

“Venice.”
”Rome.”

“Amsterdam.”

“Prague.”

“The whole world at our feet,” exclaimed Neal happily.

It felt good to be with a friend.

*          *          *

That evening, after they had finished their last game of Scrabble and when Neal was in the shower, Mozzie was nursing the remains of his wine and ruminating about the events of the past few days and weeks.

He had broken several of his own rules. He had pulled a risky heist without any real payoff, he had thrown away a good part of his caution and he had gotten too close to his partner in crime, which left him vulnerable and open for betrayal.

But, as Mozzie had already acknowledged several times before, Neal was more than just a partner in crime. He was also his friend.

Mozzie wondered how things would have ended if he hadn’t gone with Neal to Europe, or if he had left after the first con. Maybe Neal would have done something stupid and gotten himself caught. Maybe he would have been okay, and he would have become one of the many acquaintances that Moz had all over the world.

In a way, Kate’s leaving had brought Neal and Mozzie closer. Somehow, Mozzie was only mildly surprised when he realized he didn’t mind the closeness one little bit.

Kate. The proverbial cat in the bag Mozzie would gladly ignore for the rest of his life.

But he had a bad feeling that Neal’s obsession with Kate might not go away.

It wasn’t that Mozzie disliked Kate. He was just never sure what to make of her. Sometimes, he thought that Kate didn’t know that herself.

Suddenly, Mozzie realized he did not want Neal to deal with it alone.

He was already using his contacts to track Kate. But if he had to… he could do it personally. He might even return back to New York if that was what was needed.

Would he really do that for Neal?

The thought alone was somewhat scary.

Mozzie drank the last bit of his wine and got up from his armchair.

Only the future would tell.

                               

Any feedbacks are very much appreciated!

EDIT: The wonderful art has been made by leesa_perrie for the Typhoon Haiyat Fandom Aid Fundraiser. Thank you so much!!!

Comments

[veleda-k.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is a treat! Thanks you so much.

The caper is loads of fun and completely ridiculous. It's tense and engaging even with the silliness. But my favorite part of this is how it gets to the heart of Neal and Mozzie's friendship. I really love how you explore Mozzie's feelings about growing closer to Neal. It felt just right. Neal is fantastic as well, in all his reckless, crazy, strangely moral glory.

I can never get enough of these two, and you delivered so well. Thank you again!

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the lovely comment :)

I love the Neal/Mozzie friendship, and I was delighted when I read that prompt. I wanted something light, silly and funny, but I just couldn't come up with anything that would be worthy the two of them! I reluctantly turned my attention to the other prompts - and then the tram scheme came to me :)

I'm glad you liked the Neal and Mozzie friendship :) I love Neal and Peter, but I also adore Mozzie - his friendship with Neal, with El, his relationship with Peter, Diana, Sara... There are not nearly enough Mozzie fics.

I'm glad you liked the fic, and thanks again for the nice review :)

[ktrn-lucas88.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this a lot.

You captured Neal, Mozzie and their friendship perfectly. I loved every second of it.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

Thank you for your sweet comment!

[nieseryjna.livejournal.com]

that was great, and really enjoyable to read. Mozzie and Neal at their best, and almost picking up an apprentice :D

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

They are a great team - I don't think the show could survive without the awesomeness that's Neal and Moz, just like it couldn't exist without Neal and Peter.

That kiddo was my favorite too :)

I'm glad you enjoyed this and thank you very much for your review :)

[ultracape.livejournal.com]

This was a wonderful story, an hysterical heist and so detailed as to seem real. I think you nailed Neal perfectly, and Mozzie, I just have no words.

Really enjoyed reading this.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your comment :)

I'm happy that the heist seemed real - I spent a lot of time researching this to make it so. And I'm glad you liked Neal and Mozzie and that you enjoyed the whole fic :)

[damietta.livejournal.com]

How fun! I loved this slice of life before "we" really knew them. I'm in Mozzie's camp in not knowing what to make of Kate (I'm still not sure she wasn't all she seemed.) You also did a great job with the beginnings of Mozzie's thawing into not wanting to live a life alone.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed this, and thank you for your review!

[devra-01.livejournal.com]

What a great peek into their lives pre White Collar. To me, what made this fic so special was the insight on the foundation of Mozzie and Neal's friendship. Thanks for sharing.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your review, and I'm glad you enjoyed the fic :)

[china_shop]

This is wonderful! I love all the insights into their feelings about each other, and their friendship, and the heist was awesome fun. *standing ovation*

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and I'm glad you liked this!

[snoopypez.livejournal.com]

This is WONDERFUUUULLL and I love it and I love them and it is super late so I'm gonna use that as an excuse for my run-on sentencing. Even though I'd do that regardless.

the point is! Neal and Mozzie are fantastic, and everything was lovely and sweet and funny and had just enough tension for me to worry that they'd be caught. :DDD

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your review :D I'm glad you enjoyed this so much.

[isabelquinn]

Aahhh this was so much fun <3 I really enjoyed reading this -- I love Mozzie and Neal's friendship, and I really like how you portrayed it here. It felt like just the right amount of pre-canon-so-not-quite-at-canon-level-yet, while still being clearly on the road to their canon relationship. I also like how you managed to capture Mozzie's dialogue. He has quite a unique way of speaking, and you nailed it! <3

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Hee, thank you :) I also love the Mozzie-Neal friendship, so writing this was a lot of fun.

Thank you for your lovely review :)