Fic: The Next Part
The Next Part
Author: LMX
Fandom: Leverage
Rating: PG
Pairings: None
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
AN: Commentfic for moonchildfic who prompted "Leverage, Eliot +Team, Eventually the injuries added up and Eliot couldn't fight anymore. Lucky for him Nate wanted to retire and the team was in need of a new mastermind"
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Eliot paced differently now, like he was carrying something precious and heavy - perpetually careful movements always just a little off-balance. But he still paced, nervous frustration needing an out.
"They ain't gonna like it." he grumbled, wavering a little as he turned at the end of the room and pausing long enough to catch his balance properly before pacing again.
"You've been running cons in the field for months." Nate replied, giving up on watching Eliot track back and forth and just sitting back in his seat. "They trust you." It wasn't the first time he'd said it, and he doubted it'd be the last either.
"I ain't you, Nate." he objected. "My mind don't work like yours does." There was a slur in his voice - sign enough that he was getting stressed by this, if the pacing wasn't giving him away.
Nate narrowed his eyes. This wouldn't do at all.
"Eliot, sit down." he demanded, waiting for Eliot to sit before leaning forward over the table. "It doesn't matter that our minds work differently. My plans are conceptual, yours are tactical. They both work on the basis of what the crew is capable of, and you know that as well as I do."
"What if I get it wrong?"
"They will be sure to tell you." Nate answered dryly.
"I can't back 'em up from here."
Nate sighed and didn't point out that Eliot hadn't been physical backup for the team in almost a year. "Go out with them in the van, be close by." Nate suggested. "You don't have to do this exactly like I did it. Just stand up there and lead them, most of the time they know what you want them to do before you've even said it."
"What about the days when standin' up ain't an option?" Eliot asked, not meeting Nate's eyes.
Nate tried not to close his eyes against the memory of Eliot's terrified phone-call the first time it had happened, his body not doing what it was told, nothing moving the way it was supposed to. "You do it from your bed." Nate replied easily. Too many years with Sophie was wearing off on him if he could make that sound so easy.
"You're..." Eliot cut himself off, standing as the others started filtering in.
Mugs clattered on the table, coffee was poured. Nate watched Eliot carefully as he laughed and smiled, calm and natural. He wasn't the only one Sophie was wearing off on, he noted. All the nervousness Eliot couldn't hide came across as new-job energy.
They settled eventually and Hardison stood up without prompting to lay out the client. When he was finished they all looked to Nate. Eliot stood up and drew everyone's attention, then he laid out the con. It was neat and efficient, and maybe it lacked a little flair but Nate had to let these things go.
Sitting back and watching the others accept this change in roles without question or even concern, Nate debated the pros and cons of Barbados.
Author: LMX
Fandom: Leverage
Rating: PG
Pairings: None
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
AN: Commentfic for moonchildfic who prompted "Leverage, Eliot +Team, Eventually the injuries added up and Eliot couldn't fight anymore. Lucky for him Nate wanted to retire and the team was in need of a new mastermind"
-
Eliot paced differently now, like he was carrying something precious and heavy - perpetually careful movements always just a little off-balance. But he still paced, nervous frustration needing an out.
"They ain't gonna like it." he grumbled, wavering a little as he turned at the end of the room and pausing long enough to catch his balance properly before pacing again.
"You've been running cons in the field for months." Nate replied, giving up on watching Eliot track back and forth and just sitting back in his seat. "They trust you." It wasn't the first time he'd said it, and he doubted it'd be the last either.
"I ain't you, Nate." he objected. "My mind don't work like yours does." There was a slur in his voice - sign enough that he was getting stressed by this, if the pacing wasn't giving him away.
Nate narrowed his eyes. This wouldn't do at all.
"Eliot, sit down." he demanded, waiting for Eliot to sit before leaning forward over the table. "It doesn't matter that our minds work differently. My plans are conceptual, yours are tactical. They both work on the basis of what the crew is capable of, and you know that as well as I do."
"What if I get it wrong?"
"They will be sure to tell you." Nate answered dryly.
"I can't back 'em up from here."
Nate sighed and didn't point out that Eliot hadn't been physical backup for the team in almost a year. "Go out with them in the van, be close by." Nate suggested. "You don't have to do this exactly like I did it. Just stand up there and lead them, most of the time they know what you want them to do before you've even said it."
"What about the days when standin' up ain't an option?" Eliot asked, not meeting Nate's eyes.
Nate tried not to close his eyes against the memory of Eliot's terrified phone-call the first time it had happened, his body not doing what it was told, nothing moving the way it was supposed to. "You do it from your bed." Nate replied easily. Too many years with Sophie was wearing off on him if he could make that sound so easy.
"You're..." Eliot cut himself off, standing as the others started filtering in.
Mugs clattered on the table, coffee was poured. Nate watched Eliot carefully as he laughed and smiled, calm and natural. He wasn't the only one Sophie was wearing off on, he noted. All the nervousness Eliot couldn't hide came across as new-job energy.
They settled eventually and Hardison stood up without prompting to lay out the client. When he was finished they all looked to Nate. Eliot stood up and drew everyone's attention, then he laid out the con. It was neat and efficient, and maybe it lacked a little flair but Nate had to let these things go.
Sitting back and watching the others accept this change in roles without question or even concern, Nate debated the pros and cons of Barbados.