there's always another secret
Series Metadata
Listing Series
-
translating a secret (into a little trust) by tired_but_hopeful
Fandoms: DCU, White Collar (TV 2009), Nightwing (Comics)
08 Nov 2023
Tags
Summary
There were many revelations Peter had had about Neal over their years working together at the FBI. Some of these surprises frustrated Peter, some amused him, some were simply what he’d come to expect.
Mostly, though, Peter just sat with baited breath, waiting for the second (or third, or twentieth) shoe to drop.
(aka Peter: Neal is good at languages, apparently. does anyone else think i should have known that? no? just me?)
Series
- Part 1 of there's always another secret
-
a little fruitier than he imagined by tired_but_hopeful
Fandoms: DCU, White Collar (TV 2009), Nightwing (Comics)
14 Dec 2023
Tags
Summary
“And even if it wasn’t, what does it matter?” Jones added.
“It matters if he gets caught out!”
Dick groaned, “There’s nothing to catch, Peter. I’m already out.”
At that, Peter actually, genuinely, in real fucking life, spat out his drink. And, shit. Neal was supposed to be straight, wasn’t he? With-
“But you were with Sara? And Kate? How on earth is that gay?”
Whelp. Too late to back out now.
Series
- Part 2 of there's always another secret
-
broken rules (and laws too, but we don't care about that) by tired_but_hopeful
Fandoms: DCU, Nightwing (Comics), White Collar (TV 2009)
07 Nov 2023
Tags
Summary
Something was wrong with Neal. Peter could tell from across the dusty parking lot, squinting past the sun’s glare.
He was moving listlessly. Not in a way that suggested injury, though god only knows how he’d avoided that. No, it was more like a despondency. A regret. Like Neal had been forced to do something he wished he wouldn’t have to.
Like he’d broken a rule, but moreover, like he’d broken someone’s trust by doing so.
Series
- Part 19 of Whumptober 2023
- Part 3 of there's always another secret
-
valentine's day in: fiance dead; vibe injured by tired_but_hopeful
Fandoms: White Collar (TV 2009), DCU
20 Jan 2024
Tags
Summary
Still, he thought she was a little over-cautious with her bearing when she asked: “Anymore?”
And again, Caffrey startled. Like he hadn’t noticed her there. Usually when he seemed unlike himself, Neal was sharper, more observant. Certainly not someone you could accidentally sneak up on. But today…
There was a wild look in his eyes, half panic, or maybe fear, half… something else. Something like grief, maybe.
Series
- Part 4 of there's always another secret
-
painting (is good for the soul) by tired_but_hopeful
Fandoms: DCU, White Collar (TV 2009), Nightwing (Comics)
13 Feb 2024
Tags
Summary
“Hey, Steph, get your filthy boots off my bed!”
She made eye contact past her book, slowly raising a finger, licking it, and using it to turn a page. Her eyebrow stayed raised long after her gaze had returned to the pages.
The little shit. If he wasn’t in the middle of a highly technical forgery right now, he would show her what disrespect like that would earn. A good tickling, that would do it. He briefly glanced at the others, as if they would back him up in this situation, and sighed, going back to his work.
(aka a brief respite from angst, in the form of a three-on-one revenge fuelled tickle fight and dick's siblings finding out he actually can paint thank you very much)
Series
- Part 5 of there's always another secret
-
where did you come from, where did you go by tired_but_hopeful
Fandoms: DCU, White Collar (TV 2009)
03 Apr 2024
Tags
Summary
He really should be past being surprised by his CI by now.
Of course Neal was good with kids. Of course Neal was good with kids in languages Peter couldn’t hope to name. Of course he’d de-escalated the situation practically before Peter could get there.
But all he could see was a kid, covered in blood and dirt and terrified, running into Neal’s arms as if he knew the conman would keep him safe. Make him feel safe again.
Series
- Part 6 of there's always another secret
-
just cause everyone's laughing doesn't mean you weren't shot by tired_but_hopeful
Fandoms: White Collar (TV 2009), DCU
22 Apr 2025
Tags
Summary
The first time, Peter didn’t notice. It was only in hindsight that he recognised that this was in fact the first time Neal had hidden an injury on the job, not just another near miss.
"" "" "" "" "" ""
Peter didn’t usually notice. Or at least, if he did, he made a rare attempt to respect Dick’s boundaries and didn’t make a big deal out of it. Which didn’t sound like Peter, really.
So, yeah.
Peter didn’t usually notice.
This time, he very much did.
(a.k.a. 5 times Dick as Neal hid an injury from the white collar team + 1 time he couldn't)
Series
- Part 7 of there's always another secret