Neal Caffrey one shots | White Collar

Let me help you (part one)

The streets were dark and deserted. Cold December air cut through the silence, howling like a wolf to the moon. It could be seen as poetic, beautiful even how nature toyed with everything. But it wasn't beautiful, only cruel to those forced to be outside in this cold weather.

Most people would be at home with their loved ones, snuggled up by the fireplace. But there were some people who didn't have that. Take Neal Caffrey for example. A former con-man, freshly out of jail with nothing on his back but the clothes he was wearing. He had no money for a motel, no friends or family he could turn to. He slept on the streets these days as he did in his teenage years when he just started picking up the skill to con people.

On nights like these, when he was safely hidden away from the streets of New York, tucked behind an empty dumpster, that's when he thought back to the family he used to know. He'd had a brother, and they were close. He'd had a loving aunt who was there for them more often than their own mother was. But all good things had to end. A bombshell was dropped on him and he did what he always did best when things got too hard. He ran. He ran into the life of crime and never looked back. Until Peter Burke caught him and he was sent to jail. He had a lot of time to think about his life then.

And now he was here, on the side of a deserted street, laying in the shadow of a broken street light and clutching a tethered blanket for warmth. He thought back to the happy memories of his brother and him together. Them playing in the field behind their house, or watching a movie with aunt Ellen. Even conning their teachers into believing they were each other. Singing songs together in their room, and Neal helping Matt practice his roles for drama class. Matt always wanted to be an actor, and Neal knew his brother would become famous one day. He wasn't surprised when he saw an ad for The last tycoon, with his brother as main character. He felt proud, knowing his brother had followed his dreams. Neal had only followed their father's path towards crime.

Footsteps echoed against the wet stones of the street. Neal eyed the figure nearing him wearily, shivering slightly. The man had his eyes downcast, not noticing Neal on the side until he almost tripped over Neal's almost frozen leg. Then the man looked up, apologies freezing in his throat when they made eye contact.

'Danny?' the man whispered, at the same time that Neal whispered 'Matt?'

Neal sat up a bit straighter, taking in the face of his brother, his own face. The man had grown a light stubble, and he saw the familiar curls peeking out from under a beanie. A dark coat and scarf kept his body warm as he crouched down in front of Neal.

'Is that really you?' Matt asked, his voice laced with emotions. His brother hadn't changed much. He had a full beard now, and he looked too thin but the eyes were the same. Filled with love and passion, the lust for life. But they were also more frozen. Like he had no more spark left inside.

Neal felt his eyes start to water as he nodded. 'It's me.' he breathed, not moving his eyes from the man in front of him.

A gust of wind blew through the street, causing Neal to shiver badly and Matt to really take in the sight of his brother. The blanket covering his body was thin with more holes in it than fabric. The skin in his face had sunken down to almost only bone and one guess told him that the rest of his body wasn't much better. He was shivering badly, soaked in the rain from earlier in the day.

'You're freezing!' Matt exclaimed, already shrugging off his coat. He draped it over Neal who seemingly soaked up the newfound warmth. Matt tightened the scarf around his neck and sat down next to Neal, wrapping his arm around the smaller frame.

Neal leaned his head on Matt's shoulder, closing his eyes as his body soaked up the heat. 'I missed you, Matty' he whispered, his voice soft and vulnerable. A side only Matt was allowed to see.