AN: Written for the comment_fic comm on livejournal. Prompt: wee!Leverage with Nate saying "I don't care who started it, I'm finishing it!"
Nate ran over before it got out of hand.
Almost before, anyway.
Little Eliot was punching little Sterling in the face as Sterling tried to run away. Nate scooped up Eliot in his arms and said, "We don't solve things with hitting!"
Nate realized how stupid that sounded as soon as Eliot glared in response.
"Sterling's an assface!" Eliot said.
Sterling said, "He's a jerkwad! And there are rules against hitting kids!"
"Both of you, stop! If we're ever going to figure out how to re-age you, we have to work together."
"He started it!" Eliot said.
"No, HE started it, I was just doing my j-" Sterling whined.
"I don't care who started it!" Nate yelled, "I'm finishing it!"
Hardison came over, shaking his head. "Eliot, I expected better man. Want a piggy back ride to help you calm down or something?"
"Shut up before I crush your throat, Hardison," Eliot muttered.
"See! He's violent!" little Sterling yelled as he jumped and pointed and waited for Nate to respond.
"Eliot can be violent to little Sterling!" Parker said, as if making a wonderful discovery.
At their stares, she explained, "Well, I want to punch him real bad, but I hate people who hit children. But Eliot can punch him and it's okay but Eliot's a little kid too!"
"We are not KIDS, I am older than you, you stupidface!" Eliot yelled.
Parker smiled and went to pat his head, but Eliot ran behind Hardison and said, "You are twenty pounds of crazy in a big scary stupidface!"
"Ha! You're scared of a girl!" Sterling taunted, then saw Parker glaring at him and ran behind Nate, saying, "Nate! Being mean isn't allowed! Make them follow the rules! I'm telling on you if you don't make them follow the rules!"
Nate sighed and closed his eyes. He never thought he would long for the Sterling he used to know.