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Eliot stepped into their headquarters in D.C. with the others, lagging behind and avoiding their eyes, afraid of what he’d see there. But he couldn’t help glancing towards them anyways. He’d been constantly on guard since they left the park outside of the hotel. Just because Nate approved of his hiding of information then doesn’t mean that opinion couldn’t change. Or that the others opinions of him couldn’t change too. He wouldn’t blame them.Hardison was tense, probably still angry about the pool, but he also had a sharp look in his eyes, one Eliot saw often in the middle of a con when he was angry at a particularly hard hack. Parker was harder to read. Eliot could usually read her well, but she wasn’t moving. There was no fluttering of hands picking invisible locks or tying imaginary rigs. She was still except for walking, almost floating, ahead with the others, light on her feet. As if she was ready to run. Or climb up high.“So we’re not going to discuss this more?”Eliot’s perusal was interrupted and he flinched at the ridged tone Hardison used and looked up towards him, expecting the same look towards him outside of the hotel when he forced him to reveal his history with Moreau to the team. But to his surprise that statement and look was directed at Nate. Eliot now felt more unsteady on his feet and felt the need to bolt. Not only was he losing the trust of his team today but also causing more division. He didn’t know how but he was sure he was to blame.Out of the corner of his eye he eyed the door and how many steps it would take for him to get to it. But he also knew he wouldn’t get far. He wouldn’t even try because he wouldn’t really run. He wouldn’t leave Hardison in that hotel, he wouldn’t turn away from his team as his past was being exposed, and he certainly wouldn’t run from them now. Not when his worst nightmare had a bomb somewhere in the same city his family was in.He focused back to the center of the room where the group was looking towards Hardison and Nate squaring off. Except Parker who was looking back at him briefly. He nodded to her and she returned it, comforted in the fact that he wasn’t running. Still watching their backs like he promised he would be.Hardison would just find him if he did tuck tail and disappear. And then she’d just steal him back anyways. If they wanted to. He would let them.“Nate.” Hardison said sharply. “You can’t be serious.”“Hardison for this con that we’ve been building up to for six months now I’ve never been more serious about a lot of things. You’re going to have to be more specific.”Hardison kept some space between him and Nate but Nate was backed up against a table, looking nonchalant but with a cold look in his eyes. Eliot saw that look the most after Nate got sober. The willingness to do whatever it took to end things so the job went their way. Eliot’s familiar with it. He’s seen it in the mirror plenty of times. Eliot tensed, silently praying for Hardison to tread carefully. Whatever Nate had planned or what Hardison thought he had planned if Nate was set on it and Hardison opposed it Nate’s words could be cutting to keep him in line for the con. Hardison would get past it but he would be angry and confused the whole time until Nate apologized or explained. And Eliot didn’t want that. He didn’t want Hardison of all people distracted while Moreau was in the shadows waiting to strike.“You said,” Hardison paused to roll his lips back, taking a pause to watch his words when questioning their mastermind. “You said that Eliot might have to be that person again. You can’t do that.”Eliot’s mouth opened in a silent gasp. This wasn’t Hardison just questioning Nate it was him opposing him. For Eliot.“Hardison,” Eliot started before getting cut off.“No!”The team turned to Parker after her outburst but she was looking at Eliot.“You said not to ask so we won’t. But I’ll ask this. Do you want to killer Atherton?”Eliot swallowed. Of course he didn’t. But that wasn’t the right answer right now. But he certainly didn’t want to say that to Parker so he turned to Nate.“If you need me to do this, to take down Moreau. If this is the option we have to get the information to stop a bomb,” Eliot emphasized that not for Nate but for the others, “then I can do it.”“That wasn’t Parkers question Eliot.” Hardison stepped forward with Parker.“Do you want to kill Atherton?” Parkers voice was small but her eyes were open, showing no judgement. That scared Eliot the most because he was afraid to see that look change if he answered her honestly. But he couldn’t lie to them.“I would prefer not to. I don’t want to be that person again if I don’t have to. But if it means we can take down Moreau I’ll do it.”“Then you don’t have to be.” That was Sophie’s director voice. No nonsense and analytical. The voice that meant the problem was already solved even if they didn’t know it yet. The voice she used on a con when she was assuring the mark they would get everything that was coming to them even if they didn’t know it yet. To hear it from Sophie to a mark was scary and vindictive. To hear it from her here meant that everything would be okay and that they would figure it out. Eliot was thankful that after all the revelations from today he would still hear it from her.Nate cleared his throat. “Um, yes well I would also like to avoid casualties if we can. I was going to ask about your knowledge of faking peoples deaths. I believe that’s a more reasonable route since we’ve already pulled it off once this week with our client.”And just like that the tension in the room dissipated. As one the family drifted towards the table to begin planning. Parker and Hardison bracketed Eliot, brushing shoulders and arms, a drifting reassurance of their presence. Eliots chest felt warm as they settled into chairs besides him, closer than they needed to be, but grateful all the same. So much was revealed today about his past but it didn’t break any bonds he thought it would. Only strengthened them. Before, working for Moreau, he was alone. But now, whatever came next with Moreau Eliot knew he would have a family that had his back and that was more than he could ask for now.