Avalon

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First

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The Gala event was creeping closer moment by moment. To his own surprise Neal felt it was something he now feared of. There had been days long ago he'd do anything to attend one. Hell, he'd even gotten Peter's allowance to attend while on his ankle accessory. Okay, partly because it was still for work but he did enjoy. Especially when El was the catering queen of the day. But that was so long ago. And in other dimension.

However this time was different and at the same time just like old days. It confused the former con artist and art thief slash forger. He couldn't tell how he'd feel if they actually owned some Rembrandt or Monet to showcase. Even the fucking Mona Lisa possibly wouldn't save Neal's mood.

And mood it was.. or maybe wasn't.

The man was still trying to solve his post-apocalypse feelings and so far he didn't get anywhere. It was all so complicated and confusing that sometimes all Neal really wanted was to crawl under his blanket and sleep forever. He couldn't though.

Neither of his superiors would approve so he made his way to shower and tried to pull himself towards yet another day at the office.

It turned out to be one of those cross-investigations involving several obviously forged artifacts from another county that hid lots of pretty real diamonds worthy of some fortune.

To add more fun to the whole game there also was something familiar about the style of forged artifacts that left Neal wondering whether his old fellows had decided to follow him.

Another thing that he was told about was that it all was found in one of the stolen aircraft units half the citizens on this planet used as their personal transportation. While they still had vast amount of traditional cars with about hundred million types ranging from Earth-like to more close to what he'd seen on magazines as future concepts.

Also they owned flying space ships that varied sizes but mostly resembled regular car sized aircraft with all the bells and whistles.

Of course real spacecrafts flew into open space and were closer to a cruise ship size and mostly even ten times that size and more. The personal ones rarely could reach outer space like that. Maybe if one was so full of money they could with ease got one like that too, Neal didn't doubt that.

But this here was regular one, made for flying upper traffic levels. Something Neal still struggled to grasp onto.

On days his old flame would spark he imagined how easy but at the same time hard would be getting away with such machine.

"Eyes on papers!" Peter called his protege back to present as soon as he noticed Neal's eyes glossing over.

"What, Peter? Can a man daydream for a sec?" he replied with a smirk and glint of an eye almost full-on from days before.

"I know that look, Neal. And no flying for you anytime soon." Peter used his best mock parenting voice. It made chuckle everyone within an earshot, especially Diana and Jones, who were up and close familiar with their banter.

"But Peeewter!" Neal teased and did spectacular puppy dog eyes that made whole office burst in laughter.

Then lunch happened and for a moment he forgot there was darkness looming from every corner he turned.

Until he got home with a case file and details. Not that it helped much when he had nobody else beside his work people and few from home to call friends and colleagues. He still was alone in his bunk at nights. For now- they said long time ago. There was still proving he was worth and wouldn't go out to get his old game back. Peter had said to the board that it was least possible since they were on a different planet altogether which then meant Neal had no ways to contact anyone or know if they had actually moved from Earth.

Board acknowledged that fact apologized for their rules and Neal ended up in his quarters for until next meeting where his next step of becoming a new man would be discussed.

In other words he was still far from his second, second chance. It almost didn't matter because he still felt odd and even more down than he had felt after Kate.

At least back then he was in jail and that kinda felt better than living a life but feeling dead inside and pretending he didn't secretly calculated a way to just jump from a rooftop or elsewhere.

He missed Mozzie the most these days. Sometimes imagining what new conspiracy theories he could provide and how many more ways to steal something or sell in this new setting.

He missed June and El and even Satchmo. Missed their gatherings and all the stuff that made him feel internally strong and stable. Things that he never really had in his early life. He felt like the missing piece of himself was now hurting in a way it made impossible to brush it off.

Neal just missed his family and home. Whatever was said in his file never actually touched his true inside and most of that was merely an outsider's opinion on a person they never truly met in person.

But Neal had feelings and every time he was back in his bunk he was breaking apart.

Only Peter had made his attempt of noticing or even caring about Neal's feelings. Well, give it to Peter, the FBI agent and his handler, not to notice Neal was different. Give it to El who hasn't seen her friend in a very long time to figure out through Peter that Neal wasn't as okay as he made it look. And that spoke volumes if the man of darkness inside suddenly found a package on his bunk bed one evening.

A note stuck to it said:

'Neal, sweetie, sorry for not being there. I was trying, I promise, but they denied me so I did only way they couldn't detect anything and if this is their security I think it would give Mozzie a challenge at some point.

I hope and wish you are okay. But I feel something is not right for you and it makes you sad. I wish I could just hug you. It's not absolute perfection here either and we both struggle to understand this world. Even Satchmo is confused about this new world.

But we're trying and fighting.

Neal, just don't give up! Stay strong.

One day they will see the true you, not the fake one on paper and they will let you come back. Even with a tracker we will be there to wait for you.

We miss you so much. Well, I miss you more because Peter still sees you every day at work.

Love, El.'

What Neal could say to that one. He wept for hours before gathering strength to open the package that contained a small container of still warm chicken soup, some of her latest catering recipes in person (and what was that? a cake?) and absolutely heartwarming handmade fluffy blanket that seemed radiating warmth and love from even afar.

He wept some more after that before he ate the soup and a collection of cake pieces he noted were all albeit but different from usual ones still tasted heavenly and curled up on his bunk completely wrapped in El's blanket. It was first time in months Neal slept throughout the night dreaming of his family he still has but can't visit. And for the first time since arrival he had smile on his face all night long. And he didn't freeze either which was kinda first. He was always cold on this planet.

And while he for the first time didn't really wanted to attend the Gala it was first time here he actually held a true hope.

Maybe he will after all start to live again. Maybe this was exactly what he needed for his dark to lift.

El somehow knew he wasn't all okay and found a way to get him a care package. If that didn't call old times then he didn't know what was.

Hope was real and he knew that. They had promised throughout process of his assessment and evaluation. He will have to face more board meetings after the Gala. And even full medical will be required. But now there was this sliver of light peeking and wiggling through the dark haze of clouds and it was enough for Neal to put on a first real and true Caffrey authentic smile following morning entering the office. And for the first time he noticed it was 21st floor...