Hello dears!

This took me longer to update because my attention was to stolen for other things, a big part my original novels and my writer blog. Plus the past few months have been a bit harder inspiration wise, for various reasons.

But here we have a new one shot, though smaller than most. I wanted to write more, but then I realized, this whole scene works just as well on its own. Beside, I should remind myself that this is first a collection of one shots, not long chapters following each other. The Main storyline does happen in linear order, but I first started Tales of Black Wings as a collection of one shots specifically because I felt it would suit more, as I didn't quite have the inspiration for a full long chaptered story.

In this one, we have a little scene that gives a rather obvious clue about Jack's field, and smaller hints of Joshua's ones. And just, general bonding over sharing secrets, you can say. We have a small show of Neal still being cautious, but I also show how Peter gets it and proves he can be trusted with knowing about Neal's family.

As a little bonus/gift for taking a bit to update, I'll give a little info about said family: there are five remaining members to meet. If you remember well the first stories that started this whole series, Neal's birthday was two or three days ago, and by now I hope I implied heavily enough his family is all coming because they want to all be there for said birthday (is it special? Maybe~). But it's also been heavily implied there's some form on danger on their head.

Enjoy!

Meddling Trust

In other circumstances, Peter would wear the same suspicious look Diana and Jones showed as soon as Neal walked in after Peter, his smile brighter than even and a spring in his steps. However, today, he only felt amusement as Jones slowly stepped around so Neal was always in his line of sight, and Diana straight up asked what he was up to now.

"You wound me, Diana." Neal replied, giving a wide eyed puppy eyes look as he put a hand over his heart. "I'm simply happy to see you." He flashed his charming smile, and even Peter had to admit it was very powerful today.

The woman snapped her eyes toward her superior, but upon seeing the lack of the narrowed eyes he would give his CI in situations like those, she let go of it, gazing at her boss intently. Jones looked confused, but also wisely stayed silent. Peter held Diana's gaze, his look warning her off, though without seriousness. It told her not to worry about it, and she accepted the truth in the gaze.

However, she still wondered: Why did her boss looked so protective, too?

Diana and Jones exchanged a look as they went into the conference room for the case they had started yesterday, having spotted the small grateful look Neal sent Peter. However, both knew not to question it, even if they stored the informations for later use.

Ten minutes in the briefing of the case, Neal's phone let out a short tune. Peter sent a dark look, yet upon seeing the surprise on the younger man's face, he realized Neal hadn't known his phone was not silenced. Then, realization crossed Neal's face as the tune echoed again, before his eyes lifted skyward. There was a flash of… worry too, and he locked eyes with Peter.

"May I?" Neal flashed a grin.

Peter rolled his own eyes. "You're going to do it anyway." He gestured with his hand, a bit amused and a lot exasperated.

Even as Peter was talking, Neal had fished out his phone. Both eyebrows shot up as he read the two texts, then he scowled fiercely. He texted back fast, glancing at Peter with a mix of pride and faint shame, the look Peter would usually associate with I might have done something not completely legal but it helped us. Peter narrowed his eyes, however when he opened his mouth, Neal's phone let out the soft tune again. Twice.

The ex conman immediately looked, under the growing amusement of Diana and Jones, and the puzzlement of the few other present. Quite unexpectedly, Neal let out a short, surprised laugh. He shook his head with fond exasperation, then slid his phone toward Peter. The man blinked, picking it up to read as Neal's head gesture.

His own eyebrows shot up as he opened his mouth in shock at the first message displayed. It had all the details needed to solve the case, including a few they had not even known they would need. Or not even known, period. He snapped his gaze up, but was cut by Neal, "Scroll down."

Peter, somehow convinced by the little and shy smile, obeyed. Peter had to snort when he passed Neal's reply of "Jack, as much as I appreciate your meddling input, even I know they won't be able to use those informations. How do I explain this, anyway?" which made him think his guess of Jack being a hacker might be true. Even if the amount of informations given hadn't hint at it, he couldn't forget the meddling with Neal's phone, setting up again the sound so Neal would hear the messages.

However, upon reading the reply to Neal's text, he felt his respect grow. The wording had changed, telling Peter that Joshua had taken the phone; and it had a clear plan on how the FBI could legally obtain some of the informations, the one that would lead them to solve the case, and ended with, "You can pretend all you got were a first few pointers from contacts, they're used to that. Jack gave you more than you needed, so just keep them in mind, maybe you and Peter can always get out some more infos. Especially you, my sweet talking brother." Considering Jack had even given meeting places, the two brothers had basically handed them on a silver platter the culprits.

And the last text read, "Speaking of Peter, hello to him, and we'd like to have Neal home sooner rather than later."

Anyone else might have stopped on how someone could get so many informations, or how one could organize such a plan. Anyone else might have wondered about when exactly the two had started working this out, the earliest being yesterday. But this was Peter, who had recent memories in mind, who pretended he hadn't seen the slight wariness in Neal's eyes despite handing the phone. Beside, almost none of the wording betrayed anything in the end, and with a little smile, the agent slid the phone back to Neal.

He realized full well how much trust Neal put in him when he gave the phone, instead of just telling him he had been given very solid informations. And he intended to show Neal he was right to do, or as a deeper of him whispered, show his brothers that they could trust him. That they were right when they said it would be fine to share more with Peter.

"Well, everyone, it seems Neal's friend gave us a better start for this case."

And, of course, the whole division knew by now about Mozzie, some less than others, but all knew about the CI having contacts. Nobody questioned it more, except Diana and Jones, who knew them too much to not notice the exchange had been different. However, not only did they trust Peter, but something in Neal soothed any worry they might have.

They had learned to see when he was up to no good, and this had not been that Neal. Of course, the matter remained in their mind, and both Peter and Neal knew in the back of their head that it was a matter of time before the two agents tried to know more.

But for now, they had a case to work on.

End of Meddling Trust

Stay tuned...