White Collar Drabble: Paradigm Shift
Nov. 1st, 2015 10:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sheenianniTitle: Paradigm Shift
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sheenianni
Fandom: White Collar
Characters/Pairings: Peter Burke
Rating: G
Spoilers: S6 finale
Word Count: 400
Summary: Peter finds the storage unit, reads the Louvre article and has a choice to make.
A/N: Second of the reposted ficlets that I wrote for my “Let’s Remove Writer’s block” meme. Fordennih23, prompt 23 (Dread).
It all fits together; the mannequin, the puff-fish toxin, the painting in the corner – and Peter smiles in delight, he laughs because the nightmare is finally over.
Until he reads the article about Louvre and his smile is replaced with a frown.
The museum is updating their security after a Monnet has been stolen from there. Peter reads about the mysterious theft: no alarms have been disturbed, no glass broken, no prints, nobody has seen anything… it was like the painting just disappeared on its own. And it’s a third theft with the same MO; it’s astonishing work, says a security expert to the newspaper; he’s never seen anything like this, they’re calling the thief L’ homme invisible…
… Peter reads and an ice fist clenches around his heart… …Neal, what have you done?
He drops the paper on the table as if it has burned him and battles the rising feeling of dread.
He has to tell them. The Interpol, the FBI – they have to know that Caffrey’s back. He’ll chase Neal again – clever, arrogant, deceitful, charming, stupid Neal – he’ll catch him again and he’ll put him away – for twenty or thirty years, for the rest of his life. He’ll put him in jail after he just got him back – his partner, his pain in the ass, his best friend. Neal.
Peter staggers and his back hits the wall; he’s shaking and he wants to throw up. Why, why did Neal let him know?
It’s too much; he can’t do this. If Neal wants to play this game again, he has to find someone else to chase him.
Peter takes a deep breath and comes to a decision. He’s done.
He remembers that time in the hospital, holding Neal’s broken anklet; the pain and bitter regret. Taking a deep breath, Peter admits there is a certain beauty to the idea of Neal being free, roaming the world, playing his games, always with a smile, always charming, always happy, young, beautiful and eternal. The price – there’s nausea and dread again, but then the ice fist around Peter’s heart slowly lets go – the price is a few paintings and a bit of Peter’s integrity, both of which he’ll sacrifice gladly for the knowledge that his friend is alive.
The corruption of Peter Burke is complete.
Peter takes one last look at the storage unit, then closes the door with a small smile and goes back home to his son and wife.
Fin
Author:
sheenianni Fandom: White Collar
Characters/Pairings: Peter Burke
Rating: G
Spoilers: S6 finale
Word Count: 400
Summary: Peter finds the storage unit, reads the Louvre article and has a choice to make.
A/N: Second of the reposted ficlets that I wrote for my “Let’s Remove Writer’s block” meme. For
dennih23, prompt 23 (Dread). ___________________________________
It all fits together; the mannequin, the puff-fish toxin, the painting in the corner – and Peter smiles in delight, he laughs because the nightmare is finally over.
Until he reads the article about Louvre and his smile is replaced with a frown.
The museum is updating their security after a Monnet has been stolen from there. Peter reads about the mysterious theft: no alarms have been disturbed, no glass broken, no prints, nobody has seen anything… it was like the painting just disappeared on its own. And it’s a third theft with the same MO; it’s astonishing work, says a security expert to the newspaper; he’s never seen anything like this, they’re calling the thief L’ homme invisible…
… Peter reads and an ice fist clenches around his heart… …Neal, what have you done?
He drops the paper on the table as if it has burned him and battles the rising feeling of dread.
He has to tell them. The Interpol, the FBI – they have to know that Caffrey’s back. He’ll chase Neal again – clever, arrogant, deceitful, charming, stupid Neal – he’ll catch him again and he’ll put him away – for twenty or thirty years, for the rest of his life. He’ll put him in jail after he just got him back – his partner, his pain in the ass, his best friend. Neal.
Peter staggers and his back hits the wall; he’s shaking and he wants to throw up. Why, why did Neal let him know?
It’s too much; he can’t do this. If Neal wants to play this game again, he has to find someone else to chase him.
Peter takes a deep breath and comes to a decision. He’s done.
He remembers that time in the hospital, holding Neal’s broken anklet; the pain and bitter regret. Taking a deep breath, Peter admits there is a certain beauty to the idea of Neal being free, roaming the world, playing his games, always with a smile, always charming, always happy, young, beautiful and eternal. The price – there’s nausea and dread again, but then the ice fist around Peter’s heart slowly lets go – the price is a few paintings and a bit of Peter’s integrity, both of which he’ll sacrifice gladly for the knowledge that his friend is alive.
The corruption of Peter Burke is complete.
Peter takes one last look at the storage unit, then closes the door with a small smile and goes back home to his son and wife.
Fin
