Red.
They had to get out, the sirens were blaring, roaring in Neal's ears. A warning, a beat, a clock. He heard the tick of the alarm. They had 30 seconds before security would breach the vault. He looked at her, meeting her ocean blue eyes. Kate nodded and Neal pulled open the air vent. He boosted her up, her red heels dangling from her hands as she used him as a jungle jim. He looked up to see her foot disappearing.
Neal smirked, straightened his jacket and slipped up to the vent, meeting the cool air like it was his home. They crawled through, pushing out the last vent, into the boiler room.
Kate nodded at Mozzie throwing the jeweled band at him.
"Here's the bracelet you wanted." She stated calmly, Neal looked her up and down. Appreciating the way the black jumpsuit fit her curves.
"Yeah, Mozz. That was a real challenge, I hope you like the reward." Neal winked, and took Kate's hand. Leading her back to their hotel room in Paris.
They return and Neal wastes no time. Kate doesn't either. Crawling towards each other, tigers ready to eat their prey. Their blue eyes pierce through the darkness, filling the air with arc-reactor electricity. Neal runs his fingers through his chestnut hair, moving towards the bed. She brushes away the raven lashes lingering on her cheeks. Kate opens her eyes and pounces. Both landing on the bed, pure animal desire. Red meets red in intertwined limbs, sharing love apart, they look out the window at the starry night. The Eiffel Tower in the background. Neal smiles, his lips twisting into a crooked smirk. He pulls out the anniversary gift from under his pillow. A beret, he lays it on his lover's head. She smiles, looking down, shy against Neal's gaze. She lays a hand on Neal's, pulling their fingers together.
"You did good today." She breathes, remembering the thrill that the heist had brought her.
"Couldn't have done it without you, Kate." Neal answers, eyes twinkling. They both know the diamond bracelet is stashed away with Mozzie. Out of sight. Nobody will ever know they took it.
"I love you." Neal promises.
"I love you too."
They're cozy as they lean against each other, body heat coating them in a cocoon. They fall asleep in a little hotel, off the streets of Paris. In love. Trusting. Falling into the bliss of engagement. A ruby ring on Kate's slim finger.
…..
Heat pushes against Neal's skin and he wants to run. Towards her, he will always go towards her. Kate, her name is his heartbeat. It gets quicker and he struggles to make his legs are iron, bolted to the ground, his arms liquid against his restraints. He has a hatred for Peter. Why won't he let him go? Why does he hold him back?
He watches in horror as the plane falls apart. the flames eating the frame. He sees raven hair floating in the wind and he holds his lunch in. He wishes he had been in there. He knows it wouldn't have changed anything. Other than him being dead too. But he still wishes it, wishes he held her hand at her last moments, wishes that his last sight would have been his fiance. The ring on her delicate, milk, finger. He cries on the inside, too in shock to let the real tears flow.
"No!" Neal yells, his heart shattering in that one word. He watches the red flames burn away, leaving ash and dust. The plane a distant object, blown away by the wind.
He's broken, he feels his soul leaving a shell behind, the breeze threatens to throw him down but Peter's holding him up. Neal melts a little, drawing back, shutting down. He doesn't want to believe it, it has to be a dream. God, he wishes it's a dream.
"No. Kate. Kate." He whispers, letting the tears roll down.
The event seeps in and a switch is turned on in his mind. An impulse shoots through his body, he has to do it. Find it. He needs it.
He wants to rummage through the remains, pull the frame apart. He wants to see the shining jewel. He knows Kate still wears it. He thinks he sees a shine and surges forward. Only to be yanked back, a dog on a leash. He bucks against his partner, anger flaring up. He just wants to find it. The reminder that he needs. But Peter still hold him. The plane explodes, smaller this time, a new crate opening into the ashy air. Peter gawks, stumbling back at the pressure.
Neal falls to the ground as Peter's arms tear away. Peter caught in awe at the wreckage. Neal kneels on the ground, face coated black in soot. Peter tries to look him in the eye but Neal evades, jaw set. Peters steps back, leaving the rabid man alone. Afraid to be bit.
He scrambles forward like a rat looking for cheese. He races past the firefighters and Peter goes after him. A surge of protectiveness keeping him going, even after his skin starts to heat up. He collides with his CI, taking him down.
Neal roars, obsessed, controlled. He needs to find it. It's all he'll have left when the scent of her shampoo fades away. When her photos rub off and all that's left is a shiny blank sheet of paper. When he can't hear her voice or paint her face.
The smoke swirls around them and Neal sees his holy grail. The brilliant ruby glints against the charred pavement. Neal's eyes set on it, tricking him into the night in Paris. The blackened sky is nightfall, the blue and red lights are the stars. He pulls himself out of the delusion, he can't get sucked in.
He stretches arms out wide, clutching the ring. His only reminder of the life he wanted. Marriage. Kate. The comfort of love. The life he had been promised since birth. A good one, one with his girl, one without law, one where he's not reminded of the days spent in orange. But he settles for letting Peter guide him back to his life in New York. Because a part of him knows that Peter will be there to pick up the pieces. Give him a life better than his own dream. Neal sighs and follows Peter, silent. He knows this is what he needs. He needs to let time fade away the gruesome past until Kate is just a ghost. Just a whistle in the wind. Gone.