The answer was Breath

Apparently my riddles are too easy for you people. All right, next one will be a toughy. For now, I shall recite all the smart winners that got the last riddle right.

Ultracape
ShadowWolfDagger
Hyper24 7
Logan'sDrover
SkyeblueA
Tanigi
not paranoid enough
Victoria Ackles
Kanae Valentine
HuffynDK
ArmedWithAComputer
kira666
Mourningdawns
Writer's-BlockDP
freakthegeek
staceydc328
aime lire
QualityReviewer
HopeI'mRight
pluvial somnium
bobbi
freakyalice
Fangirl666

Congrats to all and don't be expecting me to go easy on you anymore. So, read away and find the next riddle.

._._._._._.

Only Human

He had a girl on each arm: a blonde on his right and a red on his left.

They walked down the street together, capturing attention from both men and woman alike.

The men – many of which who were holding shopping bags for their wives – did a double-take, their wide eyes watching the rhythmic sway of the women's hips, the long tanned legs with heeled shoes, the tantalizingly short skirts; the thin waists. They wore bright colors and their hair gleamed brilliantly in the bright sunlight, bouncing in the gentle breeze. They looked like goddesses with their full lips and velvety words dripping with honey. Their shirts were cut low and necklaces adorned both delicate necks.

And between the goddesses strode the god. He caught the eye of the women as he walked past. His fit and thin form was elegantly dressed in a dark suit. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top and his black tie loosened to expose his tanned throat. Beneath the attire, his muscles flexed as he held the arm of each woman. Chocolate brown hair was sleeked back under a fashionable hat. His teeth sparkled when he smiled but not as beautifully as his crystalline blue eyes.

The three walked down the street, absorbed in their own conversation and paying no attention to the world around them that had stopped in awe to watch them pass. The women laughed; the sound melodic as the man told his jokes and stories in a soothing and warm voice.

But no mortal can pretend to be a god for long.

A shrill beep sounded abruptly, shattering the atmosphere that separated the gods from the humans.

Neal Caffrey reflexively stepped back and the sound ceased.

"Was that your phone?" the blonde asked. She and her red-haired friend looked back at Neal quizzically.

Neal struggled for a moment before masking his dismay with his signature smile. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the screen. "I'm afraid I have to answer this call," he lied, looking up from the blank screen to smile apologetically at the two women.

Their faces fell with disappointment, the blonde sticking out her bottom lip in an alluring pout.

"But the coffee shop is just two stores down," the red-head pleaded, pointing one painted nail at their destination.

Neal's gaze shifted past her to the coffee shop. His new friends had told him about it and he had agreed to try it out with them. He could see the open door with the "OPEN" neon sign flashing invitingly in the window. He could smell the thick sweet scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods. They made his mouth water.

But while his mind urged him to drape his arms around the women's shoulders and guide them to the shop, a heavy weight on his leg prevented him from doing so.

The shop was past his radius.

"I'm sorry," he said sympathetically, the words containing a deeper sadness of which the women could never fathom. "You go on ahead. I'll see what this guy wants-" he waved the phone with a roll of his eyes for emphasis, "-and maybe I can meet up with you."

"Maybe?" the blonde asked with a flick of her hair.

"Work," Neal shrugged. "They say break's an hour but they don't mean it."

The women laughed in agreement. Neal flashed another smile, but the light didn't touch his eyes.

"Well then, we'll maybe see you soon," the red-head said. She slid her arm through the blonde's and they turned, waving back to Neal with their fingers.

Neal tapped the phone and put it to his ear, waving back to the women as they walked past the barrier he couldn't pass. As expected, the phone was silent in his ear. There was no call to make, nobody waiting for his reply on the other side. He listened to the silence until the women sauntered into the coffee shop with a last glimpse at the man that watched them go.

Then he slowly lowered his hand and put the phone back into his pocket.

His eyes involuntarily drifted down to his ankle where he knew an anklet lay hidden beneath the pant leg. He had travelled to the end of his leash and his collar prevented him from going any farther. While he wasn't in prison anymore, he was still a caged dog, forced to obey the FBI when they called him.

Neal gazed at that coffee shop, finally allowing his mask to fall away, his sadness marring his features.

The people on the street glanced at him but their gazes didn't hover over the man for long. The god was gone. He was only human after all.

With a final sign, Neal turned away from the freedom that taunted him. His eyes downcast and dull, he started back into his cage.

"Neal?"

Neal looked up in surprise, his eyes instantly locking onto a man older and taller than him clad in business slacks and a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A newspaper was under his arm.

"Peter?" Neal asked, slightly stunned. "What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Peter Burke replied as he came to a stop before the younger man and ex-convict.

"I was…" Neal started but could think of nothing to say. The truth was that he was standing alone because he couldn't go pass his radius but that answer wasn't exactly appealing to him. "Nothing."

"Yeah right," Peter scoffed. "And I'm going to get a manicure."

"Purple would look good on you," Neal joked, a genuine smile creeping along his lips.

Peter chuckled.

"Where you headed?"

"Jones told me about a new coffee shop that opened around here," Peter answered. "I was going to try it out."

He grinned at Neal but his smile faded at the sight of the anguish on Neal's face. Neal blinked and replaced his mask in an instant.

"The shop's right over there," he pointed with a forced smile. "Can't miss it."

Peter examined Neal's face and the ex-con felt discomfort at the scrutiny, and at the fact that he knew Peter could find the truth past the façade Neal put on. And then a spark of realization ignited in Peter's eyes.

"Neal," Peter started.

"So, I'll leave you to that then," Neal interrupted quickly. "You don't need me hovering around while you drink your coffee."

Without another word, Neal strode past Peter, slipping his hands languidly into his pockets as he walked down the same street he had travelled up only minutes before. He wasn't laughing this time.

"Neal," Peter called and then the agent was walking alongside Neal. "I heard the bar down the street from work is under new management. Supposed to have a few new drinks in the repertoire. Want to see if they're any good?"

Neal was unable to suppress his smile. He glanced over at Peter. "What happened to coffee?"

Peter shrugged. "Not in the mood." He smiled warmly.

Neal returned the gesture, gratitude sparkling in his oceanic eyes.

"Sure thing, partner."

._._._._._.

Sweet yeah? If you see any typos, please, please let me know so I can fix them. And I'm in college now so I might not be able to post so frequently. Just a heads up.

And now for that riddle.

** What goes around the world but stays in a corner?

Aha! Have I bested you? Or do you know the answer? Let's see what you can do. And NO cheating. I suppose I can't stop you if you do, but that ruins the fun.

Good luck, Hobey-Ho!