Just so there's no confusion, a time lapse has occurred. This is the next month on the full moon:) enjoy!
Next possible sequel: there's a bad moon on the rise
It's hiding in the dark.
"You got everything?" Sophie resumed her usual mother hen attitude after a while and now that it was full moon that night, Eliot was getting prepared to leave. Sophie was helping the hitter get ready while Nate was in his room doing whatever Nate does and Parker and Hardison were setting up a mini theater in front of the six huge work screens.
"Yeah"
"Ok, but you sure you're ok with having this earbud and tracker?" Sophie checked with the hitter for the eleventh time that hour.
"No" Eliot was being honest with her, as he didn't even know what he was going to go through so why should they hear?
"Well we got to know where you'll be, but we can turn off the coms when you get to the warehouse."
"Fine" Eliot growled the response and saw the small and quick flash of fear in the grifters eyes. He immediately softened his gaze to showcase his apology for his hostility. Sophie straightened her posture and threw him a look.
"Now don't be fresh with me. You have plenty of time to growl when you get there."
Eliot then took his turn to give the grifter a look. They could banter like this forever if she kept acting like his mother. Eliot turned from Sophie and started to head for the door. He needed to get out of there before...
"Hey! You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye were you?"
So close.
Eliot turned from the door to see Parker and Hardison,the former being the one who addressed him. She got a running start and did a half leap into his arms. Hugging the hitter tightly, Parker whispered in his ear.
"We got you something."
Startled, Eliot drew out of the hug, which he became accustomed to these past few weeks, and started to open his mouth in protest. Parker held her finger at his lips though and threw her other hand out behind her at Hardison who then placed something in it. Bringing her hand back around, the thief had a gleam in her eyes. She pulled one of Eliot's hands up and placed the object in his hand. The hitter looked down at what was in his hand and didn't know what to say. It was breath mints. Breath mints. Freaking breath mints. Eliot stared at the gift then back at Parker and then Hardison, the later pointing at the thief in a "it was her idea look."
With a growl that the hitter was so desperately trying and failing to suppress, he looked/slightly glared at Parker.
"Parker, why did you get me breath mints?"
The thief looked at him like that was the silliest question in the world.
"It's so you don't have doggy breath afterwards."
The hitters anger started to boil then and he knew he would lose it soon. His fangs were itching for release. Hardison then broke the quietly escalating moment with his own gift. He held it in front of him with much more dramatics than necessary.
"Boom! Tracking device on an elastic one hundred percent proof band. Not to brag but this could last you through an atomic bomb. Twice. Hoard of daleks? Can't exterminate this band." Hardison paused, waiting for the props that never came. "Doctor who. Come on that ain't died yet!"
Eliot, finally realizing how restless he was becoming, took the band and mints, thanked the two in his best sincere voice, said his goodbyes and left for the warehouse. However on his way out he heard Parker yell.
"I'll take care of Ellie while you're gone!"
Eliot got a last glimpse to see the stuffed brown wolf with that stupid green bow in the thief's arms.