a/n So just a general warning, this chapter is OT3 - hitter/hacker/thief. Next chapter should be back to general Eliot and Parker adorbs. To everyone reading, thanks for your continued interest!

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Unexpected Reunions

It didn't register at first, when Eliot heard someone calling from behind him. Probably because it had been so long since someone had referred to him by his original name.

But then there was a hand on his arm, pulling him around, and he almost planted a fist right in the face of…

"Sage Peters?"

She was already fluttering her lashes and peeking up at him with that smile that, once upon a time, had him abandoning everything to carry her books or offer her a ride.

Before she could speak, there was a yell from behind them. "Heya, Sparky! We're all done!" And as he turned to respond to the thief coming up at their backs, she was already throwing herself into his arms, her hands at his neck, her legs around his waist, and that pretty mouth determined and pushing against his own. He gave it a few seconds, happily going along with the excitement. Parker always got turned on when they pulled off a big score. Then he was pulling her away and putting her feet back firmly on the ground.

The blonde continued to bounce in place, grinning like a kid at Christmas. He had to smile, then told her, "Grab the idiot, and we can go home."

"You got it!" She was off and skipping back in the direction she came by the time he turned around to face Sage.

The disappointment and mild annoyance were both there, though she was valiantly trying to hide them behind a happy expression. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"It's, uh, a little more complicated than that," he admitted, running a hand through his hair.

When Sage just stared, obviously waiting for additional information, Eliot sighed.

Which was the moment Hardison arrived, also flushed with victory. "Hey, man, we good to go?"

Eliot considered letting it go, but it wasn't his way. Instead, he spun to glare. "Dammit, Hardison, next time try not to get yourself into trouble!"

And there was was the pout. Eliot suspected Parker had been teaching him, since they both knew he couldn't say no when they gave him that combined with the sad, huge eyes.

Matching the look, Hardison whined, "Don't I get any sugar?"

Growling, the hitter finally gave up and pulled the taller man toward him, yanking him down into a rough kiss.

He heard the choking at his back of his old classmate, and still couldn't convince himself it was worth stopping the press of lips just yet.

Giving it a minute, Eliot finally ended the kiss to find Parker standing at their side, head tilted and eyes focused in confusion on Sage. "Why is she looking at us like we're on fire?"

Eliot almost laughed when he realized how apt the description appeared. His high school crush was staring at them in shock and what almost qualified as fear.

"'Cause this thing we got ain't exactly normal, darlin'. Not to mention she didn't know I swung both ways."

"Why wouldn't she know?" the blonde questioned, still puzzled.

"I wasn't exactly open about it back in high school."

Now the thief wore an appalled face. "But that's so sad!"

Hardison was blinking. "What?"

Parker rolled her eyes, focusing intently on Eliot. "That means that only half the people there got to find out how good Eliot is at sex!"

Both of the men groaned, although the hitter could feel the top of his ears getting a little red.

And Sage was still rooted to the spot, watching the interaction between the trio.

"Yeah, well, considerin' the guys at my high school, I wasn't in a hurry to hop into bed with any of 'em," he muttered. "Nice seein' you again, Sage," Eliot spoke, sending the woman a mild smile that held amusement and challenge.

And she just nodded, instinctively taking a step back, holding up her hand in a jerky wave and responding with an aborted, "Yeah, you, uh…" Then she stumbled back another step before determinedly headed away.