Title: There’s No Place Like Home
Author:
chaletianFandom: Leverage
Rating: PG
Spoilers: For 2x01
Summary: Carries on after the end of 2x01 - Nate realises he’s been lying to himself.
They’ve wrecked his apartment. Cables weave their way halfway round the living room from where Hardison has installed his giant screens. Two thirds of a wall has disappeared and apparently the rest will be going as soon as Eliot can find a spirit level.
(“You don’t have a spirit level?”
“Shut up, Hardison.”
“Dude, what kind of man goes all Jack Nicholson on a wall before checking he has a damn spirit level?
“Hardison…”
“I mean, all I’m sayin’ is…oh, OK, that’s fine, I’m not sayin’ anything. Why don’t I - I’ll just go find you a spirit level.”)
His refrigerator is full of orange soda. His cupboards are full of cereal and beans and those little cake things he’s always hated. There’s no beer, though.
(“Eliot, there’s no beer.”
“I know.”
“I want beer.”
“Well, we’re not getting any.”
“But I like beer.”
“We’re not bringing beer into Nate’s apartment.”
“Fine. But I think he was less creepy when he was drinking.”)
Also, he wants to know, how did he end up supervising the kids when Sophie’s off on a date with some man? Some man with hands and eyes and probably an intact apartment.
(“So, uh, Parker, did Sophie tell you anything about this… date of hers?”
“Yeah.”
“Right. And?”
“And what?”
“What did she say?”
“Quite a lot. She was very dramatic.”
“What did she say specifically?”
“Oh, I’m not allowed to tell anyone.”
“What?”
“It’s a rule. Of women talking.”
“A rule.”
“Sophie told me about it.”
“See, Nate, it’s just like before. We con and we learn.”
“Shut up, Hardison.”)
Eventually Eliot finishes destroying walls with a chainsaw, and Hardison finishes getting his geek on with new equipment, and Parker finishes bringing in random crap (sombreros? a movie camera? three drooping plants?) from God knows where, and they sit in Nate’s apartment, on Nate’s couch, and watch one of Nate’s 700 sports channels.
(“So, all that hinky business in Pak…”
“I’m not talking about it.”
“That’s absolutely fine, I don’t push, I’m just gonna step back. Hey, Parker, what about you and… No, that’s fine, you don’t wanna talk about it either. I am down with that. I’m just gonna sit here and…”
“Shut up, Hardison!”)
He said he didn’t need them. He said he didn’t want them.
Nate looks at the three of them on his couch, thinks about Sophie; knows he was lying his damned ass off.
THE END