Chapter Text
Diana had a lot of thoughts and opinions about Neal, or rather, the man that lived behind the mask of Neal Caffrey.
As much as Neal might like them to believe he was some sort of two dimensional person that they shouldn’t look twice at, Diana couldn’t help but be curious about the little snippets of the person underneath the polished charm.
Neal was confident, sophisticated, intelligent. He was an artist and something of a wine connoisseur. He wouldn’t be caught dead without a suit and he could manipulate someone with the slightest twist of his tongue. He was warm and caring and funny. He was wickedly smart and hilariously snarky. He was loyal.
Whoever Neal let slip through the cracks when he accidentally found himself getting comfortable was a lot of those things too. But there were emotions and feelings that were out of character for who she knew Neal to be.
This person, so similar yet so very different from who he tried to project, was charming and confident in a completely different way. He was a little more rough around the edges than she knew he meant to be.
Sometimes there was a more calculated look in Neal’s eyes, a shrewd curl of his lips and Diana chose to pretend she didn’t see.
When it kept happening over and over, him slipping up, she noticed. She kept noticing but she didn’t say a word.
From the looks Peter, Jones, and Hughes all gave Neal sometimes, they had some inkling of the situation too.
Instead, she watched. She learned.
She was pretty sure Neal didn’t truly like wearing suits. She hadn’t really noticed it at first but sometimes he would shift in his seat, face wrinkling slightly with discomfort. He would pull at his tie and collar, a frown twisting at his lips.
Another thing she was almost sure of was that English wasn’t Neal’s first language. She wasn’t sure what it really was, but sometimes his accent slipped into an unfamiliar one. His tongue curled around words differently and his voice came out in a more melodic tone. He always corrected the accent quickly, but it had happened enough times for her to notice. He was much more open when he was drinking, after all.
And last, Neal was much more honest than he would have anyone believe. He rarely ever told a full out lie, mostly just burying truth underneath a distracting flood of words. She learned a lot about him just from listening to the things he said.
And still, after learning these things, she could’ve never seen this coming.
She’d been berating herself for making assumptions and not seeing what was so clear in front of her. Whoever Neal was, he wasn’t a bad person, and he seemed to genuinely care about the team. But there was no way to predict this.
The morning had started off normally. Neal had arrived with Peter, whining about how boring all their work was before going to his desk and continuing to do the same.
Neal managed to get all of his work done in a timely manner despite all of his repeated complaints and dramatic pouting. Then he went around to each of their desks, pestering them with random questions and regaling them with extravagant stories. Business as usual.
Until it wasn’t. It was about twenty minutes before lunchtime and Neal had returned to his desk after being scolded by Peter. He’d begun sulking rather obviously, folding paper birds and letting them build up on his desk.
Diana was watching him out of the corner of her eye when she heard the elevator ding and the sound of heels followed. Neal’s back snapped straight and his eyes went wide. Paling, he quickly slumped back in his seat, practically cowering away from whoever had just arrived.
Diana spun around, eyes almost falling out of her skull as she took in the beautiful woman walking towards them. Walking towards Neal actually, with a bright smile on her face.
Diana’s heart was pounding in her chest. Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman was here in the White Collar Office. Diana couldn’t breathe and her face was heating up. She wasn’t ashamed to admit that she had a huge crush on the superhero. But with the woman standing right in front of her, only a few feet away? Diana felt a bit starstruck.
More than a bit, actually. As she took in the way Wonder Woman was striding towards Neal with clear determination and delight, and the way Neal was sliding farther and farther down in his seat, she felt confusion and intrigue fall over her too.
The demigoddess came to a stop just in front of Neal’s desk. From where Diana was sitting, she could see both of their faces, and Peter’s, who had stopped in his tracks to stare just like Diana was.
Wonder Woman raised a brow at Neal, amusement clear. “I can see you, you know.”
Neal cringed deeply, slowly straightening out and looking up at the superhero with a wary look on his face. “Hey, uh, Wonder Woman. How can I help you?” He stumbled over his words slightly, no suave charisma to be found.
Wonder Woman looks even more amused. “Is that how you greet your favorite aunt?”
Diana almost choked. What?
Neal’s face gained a pink flush that Diana had never seen before on him. He looked around, clearly noticing all of the eyes on them and his blush deepened.
“WW!” Neal hissed, eyes slammed closed as everyone in the vicinity made sounds of surprise. He opened them again to give the extremely entertained woman a glare. “I’m working!”
“Oh?” Wonder Woman asked slyly. “Doing what exactly?”
Neal’s ears were turning red now too and his face was scrunched with disbelief. “You know what.” He bit out, audibly gritting his teeth. “What are you doing here, auntie?”
“I have a meeting, little one.” Wonder Woman replied indulgently. “I promise I did not come here to… bother you at work.” The last part of her sentence twisted teasingly.
Neal’s lips twitched in what looked like reluctant amusement. “What are the chances?” He breathed out. “What’s the meeting about, then?”
Diana wanted to scream. She wanted to leap over her desk and cover Neal’s mouth with her hands. Her brain wasn’t working, however, so she stayed frozen.
Wonder Woman’s smile widened, which Diana hadn’t thought was possible. Diana’s eyes traced the plump curve of the hero’s lips and she felt like she might swoon. “That’s classified. Justice League members only. Sorry, little one.”
Neal’s nose twitched and he rolled his eyes. “You’re enjoying this way too much.” He deadpanned.
Wonder Woman nodded without shame, eyes twinkling. “It’s not everyday I get to embarrass my nephew.”
Neal scoffed and rolled his eyes again. “Uh huh.” He said, clearly unconvinced.
Diana felt like she was dreaming, whether it be because her biggest celebrity crush was standing in front of her or because her biggest celebrity crush was Neal’s aunt? She wasn’t sure.
“I’m sorry, ma’am?” Peter had finally gotten his bearings and approached Neal’s desk, a wary look on his face. “Can I help you?”
Wonder Woman spun around, a different kind of smile on her face. More polite and polished than the one that had been there a few seconds ago. “I am here for a meeting with Reese Hughes.” She replied politely.
“…Oh.” Peter said slowly, clearly feeling a bit out of his depth in the face of such a prominent figure. “I can let him know you’re here.”
Wonder Woman’s face brightened again, smile gaining a kinder edge. “That would be very kind of you! It shall give me more time to catch up with my friend here.”
Peter’s eyes darted to Neal, wide and incredulous. Suspicion laced his voice as he repeated, “You know Neal?”
“We’ve crossed paths.” Neal cut in, laughing nervously. He turned towards Wonder Woman again. “Shut up!” He hissed under his breath.
Diana was actually going to faint. Did Neal goddamn Caffrey just tell Wonder Woman, the Wonder Woman, to shut up?
“O-okay.” Peter mumbled, dazed, and darted towards Hughes office without another word.
Wonder Woman gave another picture perfect smile before turning and whispering something to Neal that had the man stifling laughter.
The entire office, Diana included, sat dumbstruck while Neal chattered in Wonder Woman’s ear, the superhero listening interestedly until Hughes called for her.
It was official, Neal knew a superhero. It was inconceivable but true.
And that was only the first time.