Local Smut Peddler

--

Neal is unconscious for another two days. None of his wounds are deep enough to need more than a few stitches, thankfully, but the whip Keller used cracked two of Neal’s ribs. But that's just the physical toll Peter can see. There’s no telling what kind of psychological Hell Neal’s been through. 

There’s… other marks too. Ones the doctor brought to Peter’s attention, that made him violently ill to think about again. A set of matching bite marks, angry and dark purple in color, on both Neal’s throat and inner thigh. Peter didn't see those in any of the live streams, so they must have happened after Keller cut the camera. 

‘You practically hand-delivered him to me, Burke…’ Keller's sadistic voice echoes through his ears hauntingly, only fueled on by his guilt. ‘He was ready to do anything to atone for hurting the ‘Great Peter Burke.’

Including giving himself over in exchange. 

Every muscle in Peter’s body is tight. He has to mentally remind himself to unclench his jaw so his teeth don't crack. 

Looking at the broken version of his partner, Peter makes a vow right now. He will burn Keller, and every son of a bitch in his network down, even if it's the last thing he does. 

--

Neal finally wakes on the fourth day in the hospital. 

“Peter? Is that, you?”

“Neal! Oh my god.”

“Am I dead,” the forger blinks, eyes still swollen but able to open almost all the way now. 

“No, you’re not,” Peter exhales, grateful to hear his voice. See him moving. “Touch and go there for a while. But the doctor said you should make a full physical recovery-” 

“Shit!” Neal shouts suddenly, sitting up and looking anxiously at Peter’s face. “Keller. I- Elizabeth. Peter, I swear, I don’t know where he is, but I will do anything-”

“Hey, hey, whoa, hang on,” Peter soothes gently, holding up one hand, “El is safe. She’s home, Diana’s with her.”

Neal swallows hard, looking at Peter’s face like maybe he isn’t sure he’s telling the truth or not. 

“S-She is?”

“Yes,” Peter nods. “I promise.” 

“Were you,” Neal starts, before obviously editing whatever he initially wanted to ask and following with, “um, the one who found me?

“Yeah,” Peter mutters quietly. Shaking off that horrible visual that has already taken up too much time in his nightmares. “With Mozzie’s help actually.” 

Neal nods. 

“Look… Peter. I don’t know where Keller is. I spent most of the time blindfolded. I won’t be useful to you.”

“What?”

“If you let him take the treasure, he won’t have any more use for me. You won’t be able to use me to get it back.” 

“Neal,” Peter gasps, a little exasperated, “I don’t fucking care about Keller right now, I care about you!”

Now it's time for Neal to mirror his exasperation. 

“Are you sure about that?”

And here it is. The make-or-break moment. Peter can either admit what they are, what they’ve been doing for months in stolen moments in the dark, or he can bail, like Neal obviously expects him to. 

“Neal...”

“It's fine Peter, I get it,” he scoffs, voice tight and full of resent. “But I don’t need you here, watching me. They got staff for that. Besides,” he pulls his leg out, where a new monitor has already been installed while he was unconscious. “Not like you won’t be able to find me.”

“Are you kicking me out?”

“Is there any legitimate reason for you to stay?”

“I have- a few follow-up questions.”

“As my friend or as a cop?”

“Both.”

“Fine,” Neal grumps, “Such as?”

“Did he…” Peter trails off, looking sick. 

“Did he what Peter!” Neal snaps. All patience eroded. 

“Sexually assault you?”

Neal scoffs. 

“No. But right now I kinda wish he did.”

“What!” Peter’s eyes double in size. “Why- why would you say something like that?”

“Because then you wouldn’t be looking at me like that!”

“Like what?”

“Like exactly how you’re looking at me!”

“I just, help me understand.”

“Oh Jesus Christ, Peter don’t you get it? I was with Keller. For years, before our paths even crossed!”

“Together like?”

“You know like how Peter.”

An uncomfortable moment passes as Peter puts together all the pieces. He feels sick. 

“...”

“...I needed him to let go of Elizabeth.” 

“So you offered yourself up in exchange!”

Neal shrugs. 

“Worked, didn't it?”

“Look what it cost Neal!”

“Yeah, so?”

“What?!”

“I should be asking you that! I mean, why do you even care, Peter? Your right hook sure sent a clear message! I mean I ‘stole’ the treasure right? I'm the reason El got taken! Only right I bear the consequences of that!

“I thought you didn't steal it.” 

“Of course I didn't fucking steal it Peter! Mozz did! So we could leave, as soon as you figured out why it will never work between us!”

“Don’t, don’t do this.”

“I’m right, Peter. And you know it.”

“Neal.”

“I need you to leave.”

“Don’t, please don’t kick me out.”

“Go home Peter. To your wife.” 

--

Against all better judgment and the knots in his stomach, Peter leaves. Reassured by the hospital staff if there are any changes to Neal's discharge date, they will let him know. 

At 3:42 AM the next morning, Peter gets the phone call. 

Neal cut his tracker and ran away. 

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