Disclaimer: I do not own Leverage.
Pairing: Nate/Parker
A/N: Well the vacation is over; it was nice and definitely needed but I'm glad to be home. I had a few ideas in my head but decided to write this one down first so hopefully you guys like it and as always please review because reviews definitely inspire me to write faster.
"All right guys I would call that a successful con and one that truly deserves at least a one week break. So well done and uh have fun I guess," Nate congratulated the team clasping his hands together loudly to get their attention, pleased with their last con.
"Oh stop it Nate; you're making me blush man," Hardison laughed also pleased that they were actually able to pull off a near impossible con that he thought for sure would be the end of their team.
"Well I know where I'm going for my week off," Sophie piped up looking off into dreamland imagining her days off, no doubt somewhere over in Europe.
"Let me guess…..Paris, wait no…...Venice," Nate stated looking at her to confirm he was right.
"How'd you guess?" Sophie asked curious as to how he was able to correctly guess the city she would be going to.
"I know you Sophie. I know all of you. Eliot's probably either going to the mountains or some river, but either way he's more than likely going camping. Hardison will probably stay at home playing some sort of video game or tinkering with some sort of electronic. And Parker well, she'll probably do what Parker does best; break into a few places or at least concoct some sort of plan to break into places," Nate stated looking around the room at their faces knowing he was correct with his assumptions.
"You're scary," Parker stated giving him a weary look, "Like creepy good scary."
"Thanks," Nate said hesitantly, "I'll take that as a compliment."
"So what are you going to do now that you know what we're all up to?" Eliot asked wondering what it was their leader did on his days off now that he didn't drink himself into unconsciousness anymore.
"I'll probably just kick back and catch up on some movies I've been meaning to watch. In other words I'll be enjoying the peace and quiet that comes with all of you guys leaving town or at least staying at your own house for a change," Nate smiled thinking of the wonderful silence that was soon to come.
"Aw man now that just hurts. We aren't that loud and it isn't like we're here ALL the time just like 95 to maybe 97 percent. I'm beginning to think you don't enjoy our company," Hardison said wiping away a non-existent tear, "Plus we can't help that you chose to live where our headquarters happens to be located."
"Right not much time at all," Nate said sarcastically, "And I'll have you know that I was living here way before my apartment became our place to plot."
"I'm just saying if can't deal with it then maybe it's time to find a new place, but don't think I'm kicking you out. I just want to give my honest opinion," Hardison replied.
"Or maybe we can make your place our new HQ," Nate suggested liking that idea.
"Or we can move HQ like you suggested," Alec agreed quickly not wanting to designate his place for their new hideout, in the off chance that they may have to blow it up one day like the last one.
"I think Nate should just move out because for one I like this place and two we wouldn't have to move everything," Sophie stated, "Plus Nate's the one with the problem, not us."
Nate gave her an unbelieving look that she even thought he would agree to that, "Um no I don't think that's gonna fly Soph, but I will look for a new HQ place during my week off, but I'm staying here. Period."
Sophie's eyes widened at Nate's words not believing he was actually putting his foot down on this because usually he listened to her and was astonished that she held little to no power over him anymore, 'I suppose he truly is over me. Well that just royally sucks doesn't it?'
"I guess the boss told you," Hardison laughed loving that it wasn't him Nate was griping at for once.
"Shut up Hardison," Sophie told him, "I say we vote on it. Whoever wants to keep headquarters here raise your hand." She raised hers looking around at the rest of the crew kicking Hardison in the shin to make him raise his hand, which he reluctantly did mumbling about how abusive that woman was especially towards him.
Parker and Eliot could care less where HQ was stationed deciding to keep their arms down so they stayed on Nate's good side.
"Guys," Sophie pleaded, "I can't believe you're taking his side."
"Oh come on Sophie a new place wouldn't be that bad. We could use the extra space and then this way Nate doesn't have to have his privacy interrupted as much," Eliot reasoned trying to be the peacemaker for once.
She stared at him for a few minutes in thought over what he said deciding that he was right, "I suppose a new place wouldn't be so bad."
"So it's settled. I'll start looking tomorrow and I promise I'll have a few picked out so we can all look over them and decide as a group," Nate stressed more towards Sophie and Hardison, "which one we'd like."
"Alright it sounds settled then so if that's everything I'm gonna go so I can get everything gathered together. I want to be outta town by dawn," Eliot said glad that the argument was over because this team performed better when they all got along.
Everyone else agreed that they should probably be leaving also minus Parker, who really didn't have anything else to do so she decided she'd hang out awhile longer before heading home. Nate looked over at the small thief wondering why she was still here, not that he minded because unlike the others she was rather quiet herself.
"Uh Parker, you don't have to get ready for anything?" Nate asked.
She looked up at him a little hurt that he wanted her to leave but brushed it away, "You guessed correctly at what I was planning on doing so I don't have to pack or go anywhere for it, but if you want me gone I'll go."
"No. I'm not trying to get you outta here I just thought you'd have something better to do than hang out with a boring person such as myself," Nate said honestly causing Parker to smile glad he wanted her to stay.
"I was thinking that I could help you look at places for our new headquarters," she offered a little shyly. "That is if you want help."
He smiled at her glad he wasn't going to have to do it alone, "I'd like that."
"Great," she said as she headed over to the couch to plop down on it, welcoming the comfort it seemed to emanate.
He went over and joined her enjoying the silence, but enjoying Parker's company more, because even though they didn't talk much, it was still nice having her there with him.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Parker jumped up successfully scaring Nate half to death, "What do ya have to eat Nate? Cause I'm starving."
"Oh um I have no idea, you'll just have to go check," he answered her totally clueless as to what he had in his cupboards.
She wandered into the kitchen checking all the cabinets, "You must eat out a lot cause you have like nothing…not even cereal. What is wrong with you?"
"Haha. I do eat downstairs quite often since they give me a discount, plus I despise grocery shopping," he said knowing she would want cereal. "Although I think I have a box of Raisin Bran if you want that."
"Ew that's for like old people."
"Hey I happen to like it and I'm not quite old. At least not yet," Nate defended himself as he saw the look she was giving him.
"Well I'm going to the store down the street since you have sucky food," Parker told him, "Want anything?"
"Just grab me a bag of chips or something," he told her handing her a few dollars, "You want some company?"
"Nah I like walking alone at night; gives me time to think, but thanks for the offer," she told him sincerely before leaving to go get some cereal that was actually edible and tasty.
'Who honestly can eat Raisin Bran and like it has to be slightly insane,' Parker thought to herself on her way to the small convenient store not too far from Nate's place. The way there was uneventful; the streets were rather quiet at this time of night, which Parker was grateful for since she didn't really care for people much.
She entered the store seeking the cereal aisle right away choosing a variety of different types of sugary goodness because she had a feeling she'd be over at Nate's fairly often this next week helping him choose different places for HQ and she wasn't about to starve herself while doing it. She then meandered over to the chip section wondering which ones he would rather have and decided on a small bag of Sun Chips based on his choice in cereal.
After paying the rather weird store clerk, she started to head back to his apartment anticipating her bowl of cereal. Parker was about halfway there when she heard something down the one alley and dropped the bags raising her fists ready to fight whoever was there but didn't see anyone. Yet again she heard something that sounded as though it were coming towards her and happened to look down.
"Awww how cute," she said aloud squatting down patting her legs trying to coax the cutest dog she's ever seen to come to her, "Hey little girl. Are you hungry?"
The dog slowly came to her wagging its tail wearily not used to having humans be so nice to it.
"Here you can have some of Nate's chips," she said opening the bag and putting a few on the ground for the dog to eat. It inched forward sniffing them then eating them quickly looking up at Parker begging for more. She laughed and dumped the rest of the bag on the ground standing up.
"Stay here puppy, and I'll be right back," she told it grabbing her bags and heading back to the store to buy a bag of dog food deciding that she just couldn't leave it there starving to death. The dog was in the same spot she left it sniffing around for more chips. "Alright cutey lets head back to Nate's place so we can get you some water. Come on."
She began walking looking back after a few steps and noticed the dog was still standing in place with its head cocked sideways looking at her. Parker patted her thigh, "Come on. Come here puppy." Sensing what Parker wanted, the dog ran towards her following her the rest of the way to Nate's apartment stopping when she entered the back way through the bar.
"Come on it's okay," she coaxed the dog in, "I promise I won't let anyone hurt you." After a few minutes of cajoling the dog, it finally came in but the dog was clearly nervous and on edge. "Lets hurry up and get you to Nate's."
She led the dog upstairs opening the door to headquarters putting everything on the counter with the dog following her closely afraid to leave Parker's side. She reached down to pat the dog on the head, but stood up when she heard Nate walking up bracing herself for his reaction, hoping that it wouldn't be too bad.
A/N: Well I think I'll end the chapter here and you will just have to wait to see Nate's reaction to Parker bringing the dog to his place. I hope you enjoy the story so far and I don't think it will be very long but it's an idea that came to me that I had to write about. Please review and let me know what you guys think.