A/N - Some of my ideas as to why Neal might have decided to tell Peter the truth. Tell me if you see any mistakes, and please let me know what you think!
-JKelly
"Neal? What do you think?"
It wasn't until Peter asked for his opinion on this matter that Neal truly appreciated how he and Peter's relationship had evolved. Whatever else Neal may have (allegedly) done, Peter knew that Neal would always tell him the truth, at least in some form.
For some reason, Neal had decided a long time ago that he wouldn't lie to Peter. At first, he had told himself it was the challenge of telling the truth (even if only technically) - after all, most criminals would lie to the federal agent chasing them. But Neal Caffery is not most criminals.
However, it wasn't long before that excuse wore thin, and it was pointed out to him that there were far greater challenges to be had in his line of work that didn't involve 'spilling all his secrets to the man' as Mozzie had so passionately put it. So then Neal started telling people (and himself, every good conman knows that you have to believe the lie) that it was for the novelty - he told lies for a living after all. Surely it would only be fitting to tell the truth to the only other person who has the perspective to perhaps see his lies for what they are?
But eventually he had to admit that there was just something about Peter Burke that made him, Neal Caffery, conman extraordinaire, want to be honest. When Peter had first started chasing him, Neal had looked into every aspect of his life in the name of knowing his enemy. His work, his marriage, his friendships, and his family life all seemed completely clean - even with Mozzie's digging there was no hint of cheating or corruption. The way that he seemed to be completely genuine in a way that Neal wasn't, that Neal could never be, drew him in. Put simply, Peter Burke was the first honest man that Neal had ever known, and some part of him that resented the fact that his life had been shrouded in lies from practically the very beginning wanted to be just like Peter.
It was more than that now though. He still thought that Peter was honest and genuine, and the young boy inside him who never quite grew up still looked to him for the guidance his own family couldn't provide. But now he was something else as well. Now, Peter was Neal's friend.
And so it was with this respect for Peter's character in mind that Neal answered the question honestly.
"I think that the tie on the left looks like something a kindergartener would be ashamed to produce Peter, and that burning that monstrosity on the right would be doing the world a favour. I'll lend you one of mine."
Yes, whatever else Neal may have (allegedly) done, Peter knew that Neal would always tell him the truth, at least in some form. And when it came to Peter's abysmal sense of style, he was only too happy to oblige.
