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Peter frowned.
Neal had been taking more days off recently. Today wasn’t one of those, yet Peter was still worried. Did he get sick recently?
He walked up to Neal’s room. He wasn’t on the rooftop like usual, which was odd.
“Neal?” Peter said as he knocked at the door. There was some noise coming from inside the room. Neal was definitely in there then.
Okay, so he was most likely not sick then. Peter opened the door. At first, he didn’t see anything. But, the sounds of people talking are clearer now.
It seemed to be coming from the kitchen, so Peter followed it. Peter paused.
There was a teenager.
And he was sitting on Neal’s kitchen counter. What?
“Um, Neal?” Peter said, hesitant.
The teenager whipped around to look at Peter. His expression was only surprised for a moment. “Hey! Peter’s here!” The teenager called out.
Neal came out of the pantry door, his eyes wide. “Oh, Peter! Sorry, did we have something planned?” Neal smiled and slid onto the counter next to the teenager.
“No.. uhm, who is this?” Peter said, gesturing vaguely to the unknown teenager.
Neal’s smile was strained for just a moment before he responded. “Oh, this? This is my newest brother, Duke! He’s going to be staying with me for a while,” He said.
The teenager, Duke, laughed. “Am I going to be introduced as the newest brother forever?” He joked.
Neal snorted, “Trust me, it’s most likely not going to be long until B finds someone else to adopt,” He said. Peter blinked in confusion. B?
“Yeah, that’s true.” Duke hopped off of the counter.
“I’m gonna go get some food. Nice meeting you, Peter!” He said, with a smile before he opened the window and jumped out.
Peter turned to Neal, horror in his eyes, “Did he just—?” Peter started.
“Jump out the window? Yep, he’s fine though don’t worry,” Neal said.
..Right. Peter didn’t know if he trusted that.
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The topic of Neal having siblings never really came up again.
Or at least Neal didn't bring it up. Peter had tried to get more information about it, but Neal only blew him off.
That might be why Peter was surprised when Neal’s brother came to the office.
“Duke!” Neal brightened as soon as he caught sight of his brother.
“Neal! You’ll never guess what happened!” Duke said, as if breaking into an FBI office was just a casual Tuesday.
Diana had stopped her music (What was the artist she was listening to called again? Chappell Rhinestone?) to pop her head into the office.
“What’s going on?” She asked. Peter pinched his nose.
“Neal’s younger brother got into the office,” He explained.
Diana raised her eyebrows before she turned back to her office. Peter sighed, getting help from Diana was too much to hope for then.
He turned back to Neal and Duke who were currently engaged in a very dramatic conversation.
Duke gasped, “No!” Ah, so the entire Caffrey family was as dramatic as Neal?
“I know right?! So then, obviously, I’m offended and—“
Peter cut off Neal’s rant. “Neal, how did your brother get in here?” He asked.
Duke, to his credit, had the decency to look apologetic as Peter said this. “..I got a visitor pass?” Duke said, not sounding very confident in his words.
Peter sighed, “There aren't any visitor passes.” Duke winced and Neal patted his back.
“It was worth a try,” He said.
“Neal, please get your brother out.”
Neal frowned, “Sorry Duke, Peter’s orders.” Duke looked dejected but began to walk out of the office.
Peter turned back to tell him when Neal would be going back to June’s but he was gone.
Huh, that was.. weird. Where did he go?
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Peter felt like he was going crazy.
He kept seeing Neal’s brother, Duke, everywhere in the office. But once he looked again, he was gone.
Maybe all those coffees were a mistake. This time out the office should be good for him. There wasn’t any case to take up his weekend time so he was picking up some food for El.
Peter stood outside the Thai place El loves waiting for his order to be ready. “And then Jason just stood there and laughed!” A familiar voice said.
Are you kidding me? Peter can’t go an afternoon without seeing Neal or his brother, can he?
“Of course he did,” Neal said, sounding very much not like Neal.
Peter did not whip around, he turned at a very normal pace. Okay, maybe he did.
He just was a little surprised at Neal’s voice. It sounded so.. him but not?
Really, Peter was not expecting to see someone who didn’t look like Neal. Okay, what?
Neal(?) was talking to Duke on a bench nearby. Except, he didn’t look like Neal. Just like his voice, his appearance was familiar yet different.
Yeah no, Peter was absolutely not dealing with this right now. He’ll let Neal and his new roommate keep their secrets.
Peter did not sign up for this when he accepted Neal as his CI.