Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to Jeff Eastin, USA Network et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
Author's note: This episode actually ended up getting not only two but two very different tags.
Prisoner's Dilemma
So here's one serious...
It was strange. Somehow Neal had expected to like Agent Franklin.
The man had had an inappropriate relationship with his CI, distrusted the Marshals, went on the run and broke into Volker's office. He was obviously smart, tenacious, dedicated … sort of like an improved version of Peter with a little more flexibility about certain rules, so really, what was there not to like?
Only then he met him and … he didn't know. There was the way Franklin avoided eye contact when Neal greeted him after disabling the Lamborghini's tracking device. As if he was embarrassed to be seen with him. As if he was some sort of dirt under his feet or not worth being acknowledged.
It … hurt.
It made him decidedly uncomfortable that Franklin was now the one to watch Peter's back while his anklet was this huge, treacherous beacon monitored by Deckard.
Because Peter – for all his flaws and irritating habits – had never ever treated him like that.
… and here's one silly.
"Can I –?"
"No."
"Not even –?"
"No."
"Fine. But for the record? Suit? A little tap with a bulldozer would make this much more authentic and I just happen to know where to get –"
"For the last time, Mozzie: No, we won't total a priceless Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster for this con, government sanctioned or not. Photoshop will do just fine."