Show and Tell
Neal is practically bouncing on the balls of his feet when he comes into work that morning. Peter casts him a suspicious look and Neal knows his attitude must be driving him insane.
“Hello Neal,” Peter says, meeting the conman at the coffee pot.
“Peter,” Neal greets with a boyish smile and not elaborating further. Peter casts him a sidelong glance, his body poised, like he’s dying to interrogate Neal but is trying to restrain himself. Neal decides, just this once, to take pity on the man. It’ll earn him trust and goodwill in the long run.
“My father’s coming to the office today,” he says. Peter’s eyebrows shoot up.
“I thought he wasn’t in the picture,” Peter says. Neal shakes his head.
“Not my biological father.”
Peter looks even more confused. Neal knows it’s not in his file. Adam had made sure of that, made sure that Neal Caffrey is a solid identity that protects both Neal and the rest of the family. Adam steps off the elevator not too long after that, his timing as impeccable as always.
“There he is now,” Neal says. Adam’s wearing a baggy sweater with his worn jeans, so Neal knows he’s Adam Pierson today. They kids all know who he really is, but they’d been taught to call him Adam, even in their heads, with Methos just another identity, because it was easier not to slip up that way. He’s also touched his hair with grey and drawn subtle crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes so that he looks old enough to have had custody of Neal.
“He looks like an unconventional father-figure,” Peter says. Neal grins unreservedly.
“You have no idea,” Neal tells him.
When he’d been sixteen and realising precisely how good he was at copying other people’s work, Adam had taken one look at his latest piece and told him only an idiot would sign it. After that, Neal had changed the NC he usually used to an NA; Neal Adamson. Neal was just arrogant enough to want to sign it, but Adam had deemed that good enough.
“You’re looking good,” Adam tells him, smiling, and tapping the brim of Neal’s hat, knocking it into his eyes. Neal laughs, righting it.
“You look exactly the same.”
Adam shrugs, but there’s a conspiratorial look in his eyes.
“So, you going to show me around or not?” Adam asks, but he’s looking directly at Peter as he says it.
“Adam, this is Agent Peter Burke,” Neal says. “Peter, Adam Pierson.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Peter says. Adam’s smile is genial, but there’s a sharpness to the edges of it.
“Likewise.”
Neal suddenly gets the idea that this is a very bad idea.