This is my very first Leverage fic... and I kind of wrote this very short one-shot to prepare myself for a slightly bigger Parker/Hardison story I'm planning. Please tell me what you think! :)

Parker sighed, what was taking Hardison so long? If it was up to her, they would've just walked out with the takeaways. A little distraction, a little grifting; it would've been a piece of cake. But it was Nate's rule to not draw any unnecessary attention to themselves... so shoplifting Chinese food was a No-Go. She scowled, holding the large bag containing, among other things, her fried rice. She was hungry!

"Agent Hagan?," She heard a voice from behind her, and turned around instinctively.

She almost dropped the bag when she found McSweetin standing there, a huge goofy grin on his face.

"I- Todd, hi." She mumbled, hoping that she had remembered the right name.

He probably wouldn't have noticed anyway, too distracted as he unsubtly glanced at her body. Hardison had done the same thing when she had announced she was ready to go get the food, and she had no idea why. It was summer, it was hotter than hot. So why shouldn't she wear shorts and a singlet?

McSweetin shook his head slightly, and dragged his eyes back to hers, "I haven't seen you in a while, I was hoping I'd see you around the Bureau -"

"Yo, Park -" Hardison said, as he stepped out of the small restaurant. He immediately noticed the agent, and retraced his steps, "-ing! I do not think we put enough in the parking meter. So we should probably..." he gestured down the street towards a car they didn't take.

"Agent Thomas! Ho-" McSweetin began to put out his hand when he glanced between their matching paper bags, and casual summer gear. "Oh, I didn't realise."

"Realise what?" Parker asked, confused now and looking at Hardison for clues. He shrugged at her.

"You two... and your thing," McSweetin said, his now-forced grin faltering somewhat. "Of course, I mean why not... you're partners, you spend a lot of time together." He finished the sentence in a mumble, his fingers fidgeting around his keys nervously.

"Oh," Hardison realised what he was getting at, "Nah, man. It's not like that -"

Parker finally understanding what they were talking about nodded furiously, "Yeah, no. No, no, no. We're just -" she glanced at Hardison for affirmation, which did not go unnoticed by the agent. "A team. Just partners." She dragged out the word unnecessarily.

McSweetin chuckled, and shook his head, "Don't worry guys, I totally get it. Bureau policy and all that. I'll keep your little secret."

Do something! Parker mouthed at Hardison as he shook his head, "I don't -"

"You're a lucky man, Thomas." He held out his hand, which Hardison shook hesitantly, "Just be good to her. Or else!" he added, laughing uneasily.

Hardison and Parker, laughed along with him, looking at each other uncomfortably.

"Okay, I should go now..." McSweetin gestured towards the restaurant awkwardly.

"Yes. Me too." Parker nodded, adding "Us! I mean us too." After Hardison gave her a slight jab with his elbow.

"Yeah, because of the ... parking! Gotta run, bye!" Hardison waved with his free hand, before grabbing Parker by the arms and pulling her behind him.

When they were sure McSweetin had entered the restaurant, Hardison exhaled, shaking his head.

"That was weird," Parker said, shrugging, "Why did he think we were having sex?"

Hardison stared at her, why couldn't she just say dating like a normal person? "Well, we obviously weren't on a job."

Parker shrugged again, then a pulled a small blue packet out of her pocket, "I stole his gum."

Hardison just stared at her, his mouth slowly into a grin.

"What?" she asked, "Want a piece?"