Falling Apart, a White Collar fanfiction

[s2309]

Title: Falling Apart
Characters (Pairings): Peter Burke, Elizabeth Burke (Peter/Elizabeth)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 321
Spoilers: S05E01
Disclaimer: White Collar is Jeff Eastin's brainchild. Not mine.
Prompt: "My dad's old room is very much the way he left it, except more faded." (The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, page 88)
Summary: The night after Peter's cleared.
Author's Note: Another fill for the September Table of Doom at writerverse. I am very cranky today. I'm not entirely sure whether or not this is in character, but I wrote it, and I can't do anything more for it, so here goes.

Peter tries. He really does try to keep it together, to not break down. But Elizabeth's in his arms, he isn't alone, he isn't going crazy by himself stuck in a tiny space with only himself for company, he's warm, he's safe, he's home.

He still doesn't believe that he's home.

He doesn't want to, he doesn't intend to, but eventually, he pulls El closer and cries as silently as he can.

-:-

He isn't the same. They didn't return him to her the way he was when they took him away. He looks the same, he sounds the same, but he's fading at the edges, fraying, falling apart. And maybe this is only tonight, maybe these are tears of relief he's crying into her hair, but she's still very not okay with Peter locked in a cell and led to believe that the system he placed so much faith in was broken and rusted.

She listens to him cry and feels her blood boil. She's mad. She wants to strike out at anything and everything within reach, wants to make them pay, isn't sure who they are. Terrance Pratt is dead. James Bennett is gone. There's no one in striking distance. No one to exact revenge against.

She wonders at herself, idly, somewhere at the back of her mind. She's never been bloodthirsty, and this hardly seems like the occasion to start.

She wraps herself around Peter more tightly, holds him together as well as she can.

The system didn't fail him completely, and it didn't engulf him either. He's still right here. And if he's not okay, he will be. He will be.

The thirst for blood isn't dead, but she doesn't feel quite so murderous when she whispers in his ear, "I'm here, we're here, you're okay," over and over; it soothes the anger and the hatred somewhat. She holds him and comforts him and feels a little better.

Comments

[reve-silencieux.livejournal.com]

Oooh... definitely in character. Because as we saw, El is tough, and yet has her breaking point too. The bloodthirst, the need to blame - understandable and unfortunately Neal was the last one standing as we witnessed.

But anyway... yay! You're writing! Keep going.

[sapphire2309]

*phew*

I didn't want to mention Neal - he didn't feel at all relevant to this moment - but yes, somewhere at the back of her mind, El knows that she's heaping some of that blame on Neal.

Yeah! :D

[embroiderama]

Aw wow, this is great!

[sapphire2309]

Thank you! :D

[scarym1.livejournal.com]

This was quite a moving piece. I think Peter/El are definitely in character. I believe at first Peter would try to keep it from El but once he was in her arms he wouldn't be able to. I really like this part:

"He doesn't want to, he doesn't intend to, but eventually, he pulls El closer and cries as silently as he can."

I really like how you wrote El as well. I love seeing her being supportive of Peter and her "thirst for Blood". : )

[sapphire2309]

Thank you so much!! That is completely true - he can't keep things from El for too long.

OMG I love when people quote stuff back at me <3

Thanks again! :D

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

awwww this is lovely. Poor Peter and Elizabeth. It's been though on them. Great insight on their reactions once it's over.

[sapphire2309]

Thank you!! :D

It definitely hasn't been easy for them.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Strong characterization on both of them. I feel Elizabeth's anger. I share it!

[sapphire2309]

Yay! Thank you so much!! :D

[pipilj.livejournal.com]

Wow I can almost feel El anger radiate, i feel for her.

[sapphire2309]

This comment makes me happy C: Thank you! :D

[dennih23.livejournal.com]

This is terrific - I think it shows El's frustration perfectly. She wants Peter back the way he was, but that's not possible. Now she has to deal with the fallout from his stay in prison. Thanks for sharing.

[sapphire2309]

Thank you! :3 Peter won't be the same, but she'll deal with it. They'll deal with it. And you're so very welcome C:

[turtlebaby-02.livejournal.com]

Peter! <3

And El - I totally understand the confusing blood boiling anger. And the crippling sensation of having absolutely nowhere to direct it.

This was absolutely lovely. Thank you!

[sapphire2309]

Peter! *g*

You're always welcome C: Thank *you* for the lovely words! :DDD