NOTE: This chapter has a slight call back to the short story Seeing Red.
Chapter Nine
"Friday at nine is perfect, please thank Mr. Cheng for fitting me into his busy schedule at such short notice."
Neal hung up the phone with his heart racing painfully. He reached up and rubbed at his chest to try and quell the unpleasant sensation. Neal always had experienced a rush whenever coning anyone truly dangerous or powerful, but he had always enjoyed the feeling. This was more anxiety inducing than exciting. Things could go wrong with Cheng very quickly, which was true of any con, however in the past Neal had only ever had to worry about getting himself out. Neal was just going to have to trust that Cheng's odd sense of honor would keep them safe tomorrow.
Putting his phone down Neal took a deep breath before getting to his feet, he would have to tell Peter about the up coming meeting but he wanted to wait until tomorrow. There was no sense in letting Peter worry about the meeting tonight. He went over to the patio doors and opened them to step outside. It was a beautiful afternoon after last night's rain and Peter had been out enjoying it with Satchmo for the past few hours. Peter had been particularly quiet this morning so when he'd sought out some solitude out on the patio Neal had left him alone for a while. Peter was looking fairly pensive as he continued to stare out over the city after briefly glancing at Neal's approach. Satchmo was sitting next to Peter but got up and nuzzled his head under Neal's hand when he joined them at the wall that acted as railing.
"Hey, Satchmo." Neal greeted.
Satchmo wagged happily. Peter glanced at Neal again, he looked like he wanted to say something but he stayed quiet.
"You and Peter have fun out on the town last night?" Neal asked the dog directly.
Peter turned a startled expression on Neal that quickly turned to one of guilt.
"Neal, I'm sor…"
"Don't apologize, Peter." Neal interrupted quickly. "You have every right to walk the streets."
"I wish that was really true." Peter sighed.
Neal winced at Peter's defeated tone. He had regretted his choice of words the second he had used them, but it had been too late to stop himself. When Neal had returned from stealing Elizabeth's ring last night and found his apartment empty he had assumed that Peter and Satchmo had simply gone to bed. However about twenty minutes later he'd heard them coming up the stairs. Peter had hushed Satchmo when he'd whined at the top of the stairs. Seeing as he clearly didn't want to get caught Neal had let him think they had successfully snuck back inside. Neal had debated on if he was going to bring it up or not today but had decided that it was worth talking about if for no other reason than to encourage Peter's independence.
"I'm proud of you, Peter, it was really brave to go out on your own."
"It was stupid."
"The line between bravery and stupidity is drawn by success." Neal chuckled. "You made it home."
"I got caught." Peter admitted.
"What?"
"I got lost, and a man took notice of what I was."
"How did you get away from him?" Neal asked concerned.
"He…uh…actually he helped me."
Neal listened while Peter told him about his decision to go outside with Satchmo, even confessing to forging Nick's signature. Peter seemed surprised that the woman he'd encountered hadn't even noticed that he was Animula but that didn't shock Neal, people often didn't look up at the end of the leash when their attention was caught by a dog and despite what Peter felt humans didn't just automatically know he was different without looking at his eyes. Neal was surprised by the fact that someone helped Peter home rather than just reporting him, but he was confused by the fact that it seemed to be having a negative effect on Peter's mood.
"Dumb luck is the only reason I'm not back at the Market right now." Peter muttered as he finished the story.
"Or a sign that there are more 'good' humans out there than we thought."
"I guess."
"Peter…what's really going on?"
Peter turned his gold ringed eyes on Neal for a moment before looking away again. He took a breath to say something before stopping himself several times. Neal got the feeling that he wanted to ask him where he'd gone last night but didn't want to pry. Neal had every intention of sharing the information he'd learned last night but the timing wasn't right just yet. He knew that learning about other Animula couples was going to be emotional news for Peter and he wasn't sure how he was going to react to it.
"Peter…"
"I'm worried about Elizabeth." Peter interrupted as he suddenly found his voice.
"Elizabeth?"
"I'm probably over reacting, but she sounded upset in her email this morning. Nothing specific…I can't really explain."
"You can just feel it."
Peter just nodded as he stared sightlessly out over the city. Neal was about to tell Peter about last night so that at least Peter would understand why he was sensing something wrong when the door bell for down stairs chimed out from inside the apartment. Having never heard the sound before Peter jerked and ducked slightly like he'd just heard a gun shot.
"It's okay, I'm expecting someone."
"Should I hide in my room?" Peter asked seriously.
"No, just stay out here, this will only take a few minutes."
Satchmo wanted to join Neal in greeting the intruder but Peter called him back. Uncomfortable with the idea of a guest Peter backed up as far as he could on the patio as Neal closed the doors behind him. Neal headed down the stairs to where a courier with several packages along with two large garment bags was waiting for him. Signing for the packages Neal helped the young man bring the packages upstairs. After giving him a sizable tip Neal showed him back down to the main door. Looking over the garment bags and the deep green boxes with the silver seal of the tailor shop stamped on them Neal had mixed emotions. He was excited that Peter's new wardrobe had arrived in time for what he had planned this afternoon, but he also couldn't help but think back to how poorly Harper had treated Peter.
Remembering that Peter was hiding out on the patio Neal walked over and opened the doors. Peter stayed pressed into the back corner for a moment until he was sure that Neal was alone. He had been more confident over the past few days but that seemed to have changed for the worse once again since last night. Peter came into the apartment with Satchmo and noticed the logo on the boxes. Peter's already uneasy mood darkened further at the memory of the tailor that had treated him like a puppet.
"If you don't want any of this I can understand." Neal said. "Now that we have measurements we can order from a different store without having to go in."
"These will be just fine." Peter said sounding sincere. "Thank you, Neal."
"You're welcome. Let's see what we got."
Neal had been in such a hurry to get Peter away from Harper that they hadn't stuck around long enough to make any further decisions on pattern or color for anything. Neal opened the first box that held a beautiful assortment of silk ties mostly in solid colors. There were mostly cool colors however several stood out from the others including a bright red power tie. Standing on the far side of the kitchen table Peter stared into the box with his eyes fixed on the splash of red. Neal knew any time Peter stared at anything that he was in danger of slipping into a past memory which never seemed to end well.
"Peter?"
"I never wear red."
Without asking for an explanation Neal just picked the blood red tie out of the box and tossed it into the trash. Visibly relaxing Peter inspected the rest of the box more closely, even going as far to pull out a deep silver tie to look it over before refolding it and placing it on top of the others. Opening up the first garment bag Neal went through it finding a nice deep navy blue blazer with matching slacks. Hunting out a white dress shirt Neal paired the outfit with the silver tie that Peter had picked out and he held it up.
"Perfect." Neal smiled. "You should try this on."
With his eyes losing a bit of their focus Peter automatically pulled off the t-shirt he was wearing before unbuckling his belt. Neal didn't mind him undressing in front of him but Peter looked like was being forced into it at gun point.
"Peter I didn't mean you had to strip down right this instant."
"Sorry." Peter apologized as he stopped. "I'm used to that being an order."
"Not an order." Neal clarified. "However, if you'd like to see how it fits you can use the walk-in for some privacy."
Peter nodded and accepted the offer as he took the clothing and retreated to the walk-in closet. It was the first Neal had seen of his back in a few days and although the wounds were turning to scars they were still painful to look at. Neal hated seeing Peter falling back into odd patterns, but he reminded himself that he couldn't expect every day to be a good one. Between the close call last night, worrying about Elizabeth and being reminded of his experience with Harper Neal couldn't blame Peter for being a little shell shocked today.
Hoping he was doing the right thing Neal kept the secret that he was planing. While Peter changed Neal opened some of the other boxes to inspect the contents. Inside the other box of dress shirts was a thin flat black velvet box about twelve inches square with a hinge on it like a jewelry box. Confused Neal picked up the box and snapped it open.
Neal's heart jumped into his throat at the sight of the jet black collar nestled in the white silk of the interior of the box. Looking like a coiled snake the inside of the collar had a one inch gleaming metal contact that matched perfectly with the scar that Peter wore on the back of his neck. Staring at the small torture device Neal found his stomach twisting into a knot. He fully understood not only how Peter had mistaken the hat band as a collar back when they first met but also why he had reacted so violently. Neal didn't have any experience with the pain it could cause but just looking at it was enough to send a chill of fear down his spine.
"Neal?"
Hearing Peter's voice tore Neal out of the trance he'd fallen into. He snapped the box shut and shoved it under the top shirt in the box. He had no doubt that Peter would instantly recognize the box that the collar came in. Forcing a smile Neal turned around to face Peter. Dressed in the fine cut suit Peter looked healthier compared to wearing the oversized scuffed clothing from before. Shifting his weight and pulling at the bottom of the blazer Peter smiled looking pleased with the fit as well. Peter didn't kneel down but he did bring his knee up and bend it back as though he was testing amount of give in the cut of the fabric.
"What do you think?" Neal asked.
"I think you probably spent too much money just to dress me."
"Nonsense. You look great."
"It fits better than anything I think I've ever owned."
"Harper is the best in town," Neal confirmed "part of me is going to miss him, but I have no regrets about turning him for tax evasion."
"What?"
"Harper is so quick to drop what he's doing to wait on me because I set him up with a guy who specializes in 'creative finances'. I made the call this morning after these had been delivered to my drop spot."
"Why did you do that?"
"The way Harper treated you was disgusting, I couldn't just do nothing." Neal said darkly his convictions strengthened by Harper sending him the collar. "Despite what you may have heard there's no real honor among thieves. We have to earn each other's respect just like everyone else and Harper has completely lost mine."
Neal was pleased to see Peter's mood lift as he flashed Neal a bright slightly crooked smile. Neal was still nervous about the collar that was sitting on the table next to him hidden by the shirt and stepped in front of it to make sure that Peter didn't somehow catch sight of it. Peter looked at Neal somewhat suspiciously but he didn't say anything. Neal looked up at the clock and made a noise as if they were late for something important.
"We should go."
"Go?" Peter asked nervously. "Go where?"
"It's a surprise." Neal smiled mischievously.
"I hate surprises."
"You'll love this one."
