This chapter takes place during "The Big Bang Job." Obviously, it's an AU, so that's why there are both similarities to and differences from the original episode. Imagine that the rest of the series took place more or less as it did in canon, unless I say otherwise.
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Weft
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Damien Moreau makes Milton uncomfortable.
That's a fact.
The team thinks that it's a matter of security, since Milton's in charge of the safety of the team. Any danger to the team is his business. And Moreau is the biggest, most dangerous foe they've faced so far.
So no one pays much attention when he slowly and silently starts to freak out over the course of the year leading up to that day.
That day, Nate sends Hardison in as a prospective buyer to the five-star hotel where Moreau is staying, with Milton as backup.
Hardison's confident that Milton has his back - The dude is scary. He's all growly and grumpy and violent and scary. It doesn't matter that Moreau's head of security is a guy with a rep that's so Chuck Norris-like that it just has to be exaggerated (because seriously? No one can do the thing that people say he did in Damascus), Milton's got his back. And that's aiight with him. He trusts Milton.
So when Milt simply walks up from behind him and says to the guards at the door, "Tell Eliot I'm here," well, that just pisses Hardison off. Because what in the hell is he doing, going off-script like that? And tossing that name around like Eliot Spencer isn't Moreau's right-hand man? Insane.
Well, it works. The men's eyes widen behind their identical dark sunglasses and after a conferring look at each other, one of the men goes off to the side and whispers into his earpiece.
Huh. Guess Milton Perry's rep precedes him, too.
Pretty soon, they're being escorted to a tropical garden full of the heady scents of exotic flowers.
When the guards step back and leave, Hardison gives Milton a piece of his mind. "What the hell you doin', man?
Milton has the nerve to shush him, "Quiet. The walls have ears." Even though his arms are crossed in his usual "at rest" pose, he's tense.
"What are you doing?" Hardison whispers furiously, "This was not the plan!"
The hitter levels a cool look at him. "It got us in, didn't it? You wanna see Damien Moreau, you see Eliot Spencer first. That's how it works."
"What makes you think things haven't changed?" says a voice behind them.
Milton doesn't turn, but Hardison jumps out of his skin and nearly trips trying to locate the speaker.
"Wha- ?" he sputters, when he sees the guy, "How- Who- What?"
Milton ignores him. "I know you. You're old-fashioned, El," he says, finally facing his twin, "Not too fond of change."
Eliot Spencer humphs. "True. How you been, Linny?"
Milton ("Linny"? The hell?) gives him a crooked smile. "Good. You?"
Eliot looks around pointedly at the lavish hotel garden, then down at his well-cut suit, and then back at his brother. "Well enough."
Milton-Linny nods, but the look in his eyes is sad. "So I see."
Hardison finds his voice, "Eliot Spencer is your brother?" he says shrilly, looking from the long-haired hitter to the neatly-shorn chief of security and back, "Eliot Frickin' Spencer is your twin brother an'- an' you never thought you should maybe tell us that?"
Eliot smirks. "Didja hear that? 'Eliot Frickin' Spencer.' I get a 'frickin'' in m' name. Where's yours?"
"Shuddup," Milton scowls. "How much of a difference would knowing this have made, huh?" he asks Hardison.
"Um, a lot?" he replies sarcastically. "Woulda made our job a lot easier."
Milton shakes his head. "Wrong. It makes our job harder."
He looks at his brother, who asks, "And what is your job?"
"You know why we're here," Milton says softly. "You're his head of security. There's no way we flew in under your radar."
Eliot's eyes turn flinty, as hard as his rep. "Yeah, I know." He shakes his head. "Not happenin' on my watch. I made a commitment, an' I intend to keep it."
Milton nods. "I know. But it's worth askin'. Please, El. For me."
Eliot stares. Then he gives a short laugh and looks away. "Always were a manipulative bastard," he grins sardonically, "You're losin' your touch, lil' brother. The answer's still no."
Recognizing that the situation leaves them at an impasse, Milton nods and nudges Hardison to walk away, grabbing his arm and hauling him along when the hacker proves reluctant to move.
After a long moment, Eliot calls his brother's name. "Lindsey. You swear you and your team'll walk away and never come back, I'll make sure you're safe from him. All of you. You have my word."
Milton turns slowly. Locking eyes with Eliot, he says, "I can't promise that. You know he's a bad man, Eliot. You, of all people, should know that. We have to bring him down and I won't rest until I do. Don't make me take you down with him."
Eliot's lips press into a thin line. "Alright then. That's how it is, is it? How about this? I let you walk. For now. If I ever see you again," he says, and leaves it unfinished, letting his eyes speak for him.
Milton lowers his gaze first and turns away, swallowing hard. "Goodbye, Eliot."
"Bye, Lindsey."
Hardison sneaks a look back at Moreau's man as Milton drags him away. The expression on the assassin's face is...sad, yet hardens when he catches the hacker looking.
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