Work Text:
"Hey! Island boy! I like your new accessory!" Agent Smith, one of Diana's least favorite coworkers, called out to Neal.
Neal was limping back to his desk struggling to use his cane and balance the cup of coffee he'd retrieved from the coffee station.
"Yeah!! Looks better than an orange jumpsuit!" Smith's intern echoed, cackling.
Of all of the agents in White Collar, Diana would love to punch Smith the most. He was arrogant, wore a constant expression of pleasure, and always had a little round intern following him around, resembling a the minion, Pain from that cartoon Hercules movie she's seen as preteen. And like Hades himself, Smith had a way of getting excellent closure rates, charming any woman that passed his way, AND was an asshole most of the time.
"Thanks," Neal flashed a totally fake smile, rolled his eyes and continued, the coffee in the mug getting dangerously close to sloshing over the rim.
Diana's eyes shot up from her desk, glaring at the other agent. This was the third degrading comment from Smith this afternoon towards Neal.
Smith has always been such a dumbass. She thought bitterly as she stood to help Neal, but before she could even leave her desk, Peter had swooped in.
"Neal, uh, I need you in my office," Peter mumbled to Neal, gingerly taking Neal's coffee and putting a protective arm around Neal to help him up the bullpen stairs.
Diana saw relief flood Neal's face the moment Peter touched him.
"Ah little Caffrey going up to Daddy's cage to be under close supervision," Smith baby talked quietly to his intern.
They erupted in giggles, knowing that Peter hadn't heard them.
But Diana had. She took a breath and released her hands, which had clenched into tight knots witnessing the entire scene. Not only were they teasing Neal, they had breached the wall of talking about Peter behind his back. The anger within Diana burst out of her heart, causing her to forcefully stand, grab a pile of completed case files, and march straight up to Peter's office. Before entering, she took a cool breath and smoothed her hair, calming her demeanor.
“Hey Caffrey, are you joining us for drinks after work today?” Diana nudged Neal, who was comfortably sitting at Peter’s desk, as she handed Peter the files.
Neal glanced up at Peter, blue eyes searching his handler, as he always did lately, as if he needed Peter’s permission. But Diana knew better, Neal was looking for Peter’s protection.
Since Neal had returned from Cape Verde, his new anklet, along with his cane and limping had caused him to be the target of bullpen teasing. What Diana had witnessed this afternoon was just a fraction of the constant snarky remarks, well-intentioned jokes, and under-the-breath whispers that were pegging Neal non-stop. Neal, of course, took the teasing with grace, offering a charming smile and hat flip. Anyone looking on would think that everything was just fine. Cape Verde had happened, Neal was back, and everything was normal.
But things were far from normal.
Diana had begun to notice a subtle change in Neal’s behavior. Neal and Peter had always displayed a gravitational pull causing them to orbit constantly around each other; but normally this pull was displayed by their nonstop banter turned bickering, their brilliant minds staying late in the office to solve a case, and the occasional sweet moment of true friendship signaled by a glance that they tried so desperately to hide. That was normal Peter and Neal behavior. What was going on for the past few days...was not.
Neal went to lunch every day with Peter (where was the little guy–Mozzie, was it?-that Neal used to hang out with?). Neal had begun doing the majority of his work in Peter’s office, their banter silent, just two men working side by side. Neal never left early or stayed late. The once-confident CI who defiantly bucked against Peter’s wishes appeared oddly submissive to most of the White Collar Unit, but Diana saw through everything. The teasing, whispers, and constant prison jokes were getting to Neal and Neal was hiding in his refuge: Peter.
Of course, Diana could tell that Peter was happy to indulge his protective instincts over Neal. A little shoulder squeeze here, an offered hand up the stairs, a lingering touch on Neal’s arm. And Neal lapped up the attention like a homeless puppy, clearly happy to be home, even if it did come with a gunshot wound and tracking anklet.
Diana had to admit, their relationship was sweet. But Peter wasn’t always going to be around the shield Neal and Diana knew Neal had to snap out of this hiding behind Peter crap he’d been pulling lately. She needed Peter and Neal to be the dynamic, sparkling duo that solved cases, not the mushy hermits they’d become since returning from their bromantic Cape Verde platonic honeymoon.
“I dunno, Diana,” Neal shrugged, looking back at the paper he was reading, dark hair still perfectly coiffed after an entire day at the office, “You going, Peter?”
Peter smiled warmly, “Nope. Date night with El.”
He began packing up his briefcase and organizing his desk.
Neal didn’t look up, “I guess I’m gonna stay in. Thanks for the invite, Diana.”
Diana shot Peter a look. Peter cocked his head in confusion. Diana narrowed her eyes and nodded to Neal, trying to convey what she was thinking.
He needs his confidence back.
Peter pursed his lips, understanding her request, but Diana could also tell he was reluctant to let the wounded CI out of his sight with the other agents to rip him to shreds like they had been lately. Diana moved behind Neal’s chair and gently placed a hand on Peter’s forearm, meeting Peter’s eyes.
I’ll take care of him. He needs this.
Peter sighed, “I think a night out would be good for you, Neal.”
Neal’s eyes shot up in terror, “What?”
Peter patted Neal on the back, “Just go out to drinks with Diana and the guys,” Peter winked at Diana, “I think the bar they are going to is outside your radius. You sure you want to pass up a chance to go beyond the boundaries?”
A mischievous grin slowly spread across Neal’s face, “Alright. Let me grab my hat.”
Neal winced as he stood, Peter immediately moved to help him, but Neal raised a hand. “I got it, Peter. If you help me out you’ll be late to get El.” he grinned at Diana, “I’ll be ready in a sec!”
They watched Neal hobble down the stairs to his desk and Diana could have sworn she heard Peter whisper to himself with a gleam in his eyes,
“There’s my Neal.”
~~~~~~~~~
They were well into the evening when Diana began to notice Neal unraveling. Thankfully, things had been fairly cordial but now that everyone was a few drinks in, the unfiltered comments started rearing their ugly heads.
“Caffrey, how's the new anklet?” Smith's intern drawled, eyes bloodshot and cheeks pink, “Getting used to being back on Peter’s leash?”
Neal smiled tightly, attempting to deflect the insult, “It’s a much more comfortable model than the one I had before.”
“So, has anyone gone to that new restaurant on 35th?” Diana asked, trying to change the subject before things got out of hand.
Neal gave her a grateful glance, his blue eyes pleading for help. Unfortunately, now that the interns and other agents were on a roll, the focus was lasered in on Neal and there was no diverting the conversation.
“Is Peter a good owner? Always seemed like he wanted a pet. You like being his pet, Neal?” Smith's intern blabbed.
Agent Smith smacked the intern’s head.
“Don’t degrade Peter that way,” Smith said seriously before a chuckle emerged, “Peter prefers pure breds, have you seen his dog? It’s gorgeous,” Smith gave Neal a slimy smile, “Caffrey here’s a bit of a stray.”
And now he's brought Satchmo into this. Diana's stomach turned and her skin felt prickly.
“C’mon guys, knock it off” Diana tried again, “I heard the—”
But the men ignored Diana, as usual, and the comments kept coming, circling around Neal like daggers. Diana felt heat rising in her chest, fury building with each insult and joke.
“Good thing Peter saved you or you’d be in prison again!”
“Missing the island life, Caffrey? Heard you had a girlfriend there…”
“Can’t believe they gave you a second chance, if I were Peter…”
Diana saw Neal’s demeanor shrinking, his eyes unfocused, staring into his untouched drink.
The hell anyone belittles part of Peter’s team.
The HELL anyone makes fun of my friend!
And before she could stop herself, Diana’s fist met the face of Agent Smith, knocking him straight into his smarmy intern. The table went silent, but Diana's mind was cheering loudly; it was hard to keep a smile from spreading across her face.
“Geez, Diana, why'd you do that?” Smith asked, rubbing his jaw. “We were just having a little fun.”
“Neal’s part of our team.” Diana said firmly.
“You could have just asked us to stop,” the intern whined.
Diana leaned over the table and glared at the boy–-he barely had peach fuzz on his smooth white face. “I did ask. You didn’t listen.”
Neal’s face erupted in a smile as he looked up at Diana, mouthing, “Nice!!”
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” Diana turned on her heels and began towards the door.
Neal stood and tipped his hat to the other men.
“Always a pleasure,” Neal said sarcastically, grabbing his cane and following Diana to the door.
They stepped outside onto the cool street, the atmosphere refreshing their souls.
“Hey,” Neal met Diana’s eyes.
The intensity of those blue eyes, the whirring of that brilliant mind behind them, the large expanse that was Neal’s heart…Diana understood why Peter risked his job, his life, his everything for Neal.
“Thank you.” Neal said.
Diana smiled and wrapped her arms around Neal.
“What are friends for?” she whispered as Neal hugged her back.
"Punching entitled Feds?" Neal laughed into Diana's hair.
They pulled away.
"Yeah, Caffrey. That's what friends are for." She crossed her arms and smiled widely, nodding to Neal’s leg. “Want to grab a cab back to June’s?”
Neal adjusted his fedora and gallantly held out his arm to her.
“And miss out walking with a beautiful woman in the best city in the world?” Neal’s voice was as smooth as butter, charm glittering in his eyes. He winked. “Not a chance.”
Diana, not normally one to take the arm of a man, rolled her eyes and curled her hand around Neal’s bicep and strode with him down the street.
Neal laughed lightly, “Peter would have insisted we take a cab.”
Diana smirked, “Peter’s soft.”
The thought of her boss stretched a fondness over her heart, infesting her being and reaching out to the conman next to her.
“He was really worried about you when you were gone,” Diana said quietly.
Neal looked down at his feet for a moment, his ever running mouth silent.
“We all were.” Diana pressed, then stopped, taking hold of Neal’s eyes with her own. “You know, Peter’s not the only one who cares about you.”
For a brief moment, Diana saw Neal’s mask fall and his eyes grow gentle. She saw what Peter saw every day: not a criminal but a man. A man who’d made mistakes, but loved with his whole heart. A man who was brilliant, but could be fooled by a pretty woman. A man who trusted no one, but somehow had let Peter Burke into his circle. A man that stepped in to save Diana more times than she could count.
The corners of Neal’s lips turned, “Diana…are you admitting that you…like me?”
In an instant, the moment of vulnerability was broken and Diana playfully slapped Neal on the shoulder, laughing. Pausing, she eyed him for a moment.
“I’m admitting that I’ve got your back. Unless you steal from me. Then you’re getting slugged.” Diana grinned.
At this, Neal laughed bright and beautiful, his light flooding the street.
There you are, Caffrey.
Diana's phone pinged.
Peter Burke: How’s Neal?
Diana looked up at the man next to her. His eyes were aglow, she could see his mind taking in the city noise and lights, and his stride was near perfect.
Diana Berrigan: He’s back, Boss.
There’s our Neal.
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