The Blue Line Job
"The Stanley Cup," he murmured in his sleep.
Sophie had to laugh at that. The con was finished. The job was done. Their clients had their lives back. Yet he was still obsessing over the fact that she stole the Stanley Cup and he couldn't figure out where it was.
He was oddly predictable.
"Sophie," he cried. His arm encircled her and pulled her onto his chest in seconds flat. Then he snuggled his face into her hair and breathed her in. "you will tell me where it is eventually."
This time she didn't bother to contain her laugh. She let the giggles take her over and succumbed to their awesome power. His eyes were closed. His breathing pattern inferred actual sleep. And there was no smile on his face to imply he'd been listening. His hand only got tighter on her shoulder and he lulled off into a deeper sleep.
He was adorable when he did that. He was adorable during other activities too. She often wondered when certain annoyances, his sick humor for example, became habits she found adorable. It was kind of scary how easily everything in their lives had changed.
He found out she stole something of high value to people around the world, the Stanley Cup. Instead of looking down on her, as he used to though he would never admit it, he got interested. He asked her where it was, not when. Though she was dead certain he was trying to figure out how she did that. He wasn't interested in turning her in and returning it to its rightful place.
Of course, he also didn't know that it was going to be his birthday present.
That was probably the thing bothering him most about the theft. He didn't know why she would steal something like that. He definitely had an idea it was for a person. He just wasn't quite certain who that person was nor was he sure it was for a specific person or a buyer. AS a grifter she had to keep in touch with most of her contacts. It was too dangerous for her not to. Often times she would inform the others if she had to suddenly leave on a side-job just to keep one of her aliases intact. Of course, they always followed along just to make sure everything went smoothly.
It used to annoy her. Now it was endearing, the way Nate would drag everybody to Europe or an island of remote just to make sure nothing interfered with her plans. It annoyed the others too, in the beginning. Parker would constantly comment on how bored she was. Eliot complained because he wasn't allowed to punch anybody. Hardison was the only one who had something to do and that was because he hacked into the cameras so Nate could watch for any keen signs of bad things on their way.
Bad things never happened because she was Sophie Devereaux, but it was the thought that counted.
Now Parker and Eliot would find a way to squeeze themselves into a part of the plan and rob some bank that was wronging others while Sophie worked her contact mercilessly. Hardison watched their backs while Nate watched hers. Nobody commented on the fact that he was more than willing to pitch in whenever he could.
Nobody wanted to go there.
"It's close," he murmured softly.
There was a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips. His fingers were absent-mindedly brushing through her hair. The wrinkles and years faded away while he was asleep. The moon even added the extra effect of forming a halo around his head. He looked beautiful in that moment. Sophie couldn't help but lean down and plant a kiss to his forehead. The mastermind allowed his smile to grow.
"I hate Vlad," he said.
Then he rolled right on over and acted as if nothing ever happened. A few soft snores were heard moments later. It was something new she actually got to experience. Before, he was always too drunk for snoring. He just passed out and she would often wonder if he was still breathing. Now? Now, he didn't drink as much. He still drank but it was lighter, easier, softer drinking. He would talk and eat before putting away his amber liquid scotch.
Now, he actually enjoyed sleeping beside her.
"Don't worry Nate," she whispered into his ear, "I remember."
Then she rolled over and allowed him to pull her into sleep with him.
