The Power of Two

If there's a magic number for White Collar, it has to be two. The series is based on the strong relationship between Neal and Peter. Almost as important is Neal's friendship with Mozzie. In canon, much of the tension arises from Neal being pulled back and forth between his two friends.

Warning for minor spoilers for the Caffrey Conversation AU.

Peter and Elizabeth's marriage presents another aspect of the power of two. Neal observes how the love they share makes them stronger—not only as a couple but also individually. He hopes that someday he'll be lucky enough to find that perfect partner for himself.

In our series, Penna expanded the power of two when she added Henry to the cast. Unlike Neal's other alliances, Henry is a relative. He's a peer as well as someone who's acted as a mentor and a protector. Henry is somewhat of a wild card. Like Neal, he doesn't always play by the rules.

Strong relationships abound in White Collar for almost all the characters with one notable exception—the villain. Keller, Adler, and Hagen are tough competitors who may have henchmen working for them, but they're not acting in league with a partner. Neal has the benefit of Peter, Mozzie, and the entire White Collar team. What's a lone villain to do? Isn't it high time to level the playing field?

In Whispers in the Night, I introduced the sisters Electra and Maia. No mere mortals, their power has only been hinted at so far. As they face off against our two pairs of heroes—Peter and Neal, and the Winchester brothers—their true nature will gradually come to light. In Raphael's Dragon, it becomes clear that two brothers have Neal and Peter in their sights. The capacity for evil has now been raised to the second power.

I'm sure having Penna as a co-conspirator is what inspired me to try it with the bad guys. Their ability to commit crimes and spread mayhem has now increased exponentially. We're able to eavesdrop on their conversations as they plot and scheme. Against such formidable opponents, it has become even more vital for Neal and Peter to work together. Going lone wolf simply won't cut it.

Raphael's Dragon on Archive of Our Own
Raphael's Dragon on FanFiction