Neal had said the party was going to be fancy. So Peter put on his best suit and tie, and when he went downstairs, Neal shook his head.
"No, no, not this," he said. "The suit will do, but the tie, it's not--"
"It's fine," Peter said, batting away Neal's hands. "It's a nice tie."
Neal made a face. "It's nice for a day at the FBI, but not this party. A twenty dollar tie isn't going to do it. This is for Elizabeth. You want to look your best, don't you?"
"This is my best. Elizabeth knows that. She'll be impressed."
Neal pursed his lips and shook his head. "Fine. Whatever you want to do."
They weren't at the party for three minutes when Peter realized that Neal had been right. He was out of his league. Even his untrained eye could easily spot the expensive silk around the necks of the other men there. El wasn't going to be impressed, she was going to be embarrassed -- though she'd be too kind to say so, knowing what it takes for him to get dressed up.
Sucking up his pride, Peter turned to Neal. "Neal, I--"
"Check your right pants pocket," Neal said.
"What?" Peter slipped his hand in his pocket and felt silk between his fingers. A tie. He blinked. "How did you get that in there without me feeling it? Never mind, I forgot who I was talking to."
Neal grinned. "It's amazing what you don't notice when you've got your tongue down my throat. Now, you go to the bathroom and change your tie. I'll find El and meet you at the bar."
FILL - All Ties Up
"No, no, not this," he said. "The suit will do, but the tie, it's not--"
"It's fine," Peter said, batting away Neal's hands. "It's a nice tie."
Neal made a face. "It's nice for a day at the FBI, but not this party. A twenty dollar tie isn't going to do it. This is for Elizabeth. You want to look your best, don't you?"
"This is my best. Elizabeth knows that. She'll be impressed."
Neal pursed his lips and shook his head. "Fine. Whatever you want to do."
They weren't at the party for three minutes when Peter realized that Neal had been right. He was out of his league. Even his untrained eye could easily spot the expensive silk around the necks of the other men there. El wasn't going to be impressed, she was going to be embarrassed -- though she'd be too kind to say so, knowing what it takes for him to get dressed up.
Sucking up his pride, Peter turned to Neal. "Neal, I--"
"Check your right pants pocket," Neal said.
"What?" Peter slipped his hand in his pocket and felt silk between his fingers. A tie. He blinked. "How did you get that in there without me feeling it? Never mind, I forgot who I was talking to."
Neal grinned. "It's amazing what you don't notice when you've got your tongue down my throat. Now, you go to the bathroom and change your tie. I'll find El and meet you at the bar."
Peter smiled. "Thank you."