Chapter Text
The ballroom was beautifully decorated. Lavish red drapes pinned back against the windows, finely decorated tables with crystal place settings, hundreds of flowers adorning the center pieces and door frames. In the center of the floor, a space had been cleared for the host to give a small speech, which then filled with people to begin dancing to the small live orchestra off to the side.
“I trust that our agreement will be upheld, Ms. Hever.” Nate smiled, tipping his champagne glass towards their mark.
“Of course, Mr. Judas.” She clinked her own glass to his in a celebratory toast and they both took a drink. Faith Hever, a pharmaceutical scientist who had apparently taken inspiration from a comic book villain had created a drug that targeted the fear center of the brain—creatively nick-named the ‘Nightmare’ drug—and she claimed it was more potent than any other similar drug on the market. Supposedly, it could leave the victim trapped in their worst fears for over five hours if given a large enough dose, the visions playing constantly through their minds with the goal of breaking any walls they might have had against interrogation tactics. It would do well in military or rebellion hands.
If they allowed it to get there. Hever’s had already sold a limited amount to a buyer in the US military, some lieutenant who wanted to make a big name for himself by being able to present his superiors with valued intel.
Sophie giggled on his arm, the neckline of her red dress dipping as she leaned into his side, patting his chest as if to congratulate him. She was playing the confused spanish-only speaking girlfriend to his rich, calculating and business oriented persona of Beuford Judas—Hardison really had fun making that one—who wanted to bring Hever’s nightmare drug overseas to make a profit.
“ Deal has been made, Alec handle the financials. ” Sophie spoke into Nate’s neck, pretending she’d been flirting into his ear. Nate laughed at her non-existent insinuation before dipping his mouth to her ear.
The sound of Parker translating the request to Hardison filled the comms along with fierce tapping before he responded. “Already done.”
“ Eliot, how is it going at the boat house? ” Nate let his hand travel up Sophie’s side, making it seem like he was exploring her body.
Eliot was currently playing guard dog at the boat house due to the original buyer of the drug not being particularly happy Hever was expanding her clientele. They had been expecting hitmen to infiltrate the gala by boat from the lake.
“Almost done—stay down fu-” Hardison was quick to mute that line on the coms. Eliot would have been given three beeps in his ear to signal his com was muted (something they did often because his job tended to be loud and distracting) but the hitter would still be able to hear them. He’d be able to cue himself back in by tapping his earpiece three times.
Nate chuckled to himself while Sophie hid her smile behind her hand at Eliot’s grumbling. He was always brash in a fight, and sometimes his annoyance was amusing to listen to if the people he was fighting were “Idiots” in the hitter’s opinion. When he leaned back, Hever was going a bit red as she sipped her champagne. They had chosen spanish because everyone but Hardison was able to speak or understand it, but Hever was only fluent in english.
“Everything settled?”
Hever checked her phone, receiving a text letting her know that her bank account was significantly fuller. Come tomorrow, she’d be caught removing stolen funds from her company from her personal account but for tonight, the scientist could consider herself a near millionaire.
“Yes. Pleasure doing business with you.” She reached her hand across the table.
“Likewise.” He shook the extended hand before standing, Sophie following. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to admire the music.” He nodded his head towards the dance floor in explanation.
Sophie waited a couple seconds after the gesture before making an excited sound and tugging on his arm in the direction of the crowd. “ Oh let us dance! It has been so long!”
Hever nodded as the two of them made their way to the dance area. Joining the crowd they moved slowly across the floor to where Parker and Hardison had also started dancing, Parker being a little awkward but letting Hardison take the lead.
“Everything ready for tomorrow?” Nate asked when the two couples had gotten close enough.
“Bank’s been set up.” Hardison twirled Parker, eliciting a squeal from the blonde that received a few odd looks from other guests. “She’ll be in the back of a cruiser by noon.”
“The drugs were switched.” Parker chimed in, proud of her little thief project even if it wasn’t very difficult. Her and Hardison had arrived late to the party so the thief could switch the drug at Hever’s lab with colored saline before any of the potential buyers could get their hands on it. Nate had no idea where the real drug was at the moment, but he was sure it was safe from other people's hands. Parker didn’t like to share.
“Good job everyone. Eliot should be wrapping up at the dock pretty soon.”
“Oh but Nate, can’t we stay and enjoy the party?” Wide dark eyes met the mastermind’s blue ones. “It really has been a long time since I’ve been to something this extravagant.”
Nate saw that the sentiment was reflected on the hacker and thief’s faces as well, although he was sure Parker wanted to practice pickpocketing while dancing. Besides, he was enjoying himself too, the couple glasses of wine and champagne he’d had tonight easing his mind.
“Yeah we can stay. Eliot, when you finish at the boat house, come join us.” Then the four of them swept each other into the crowd, allowing themselves to enjoy the party.
Three and a half hours later found the four of them flushed on the patio outside. Hardison and Parker had snuck away from the crowd at some point and if Nate was an actual betting man, he’d put money on the two of them having made out. Parker’s hair was slightly mused and Hardison’s clothes weren’t put back just right.
Not that he could blame them. After almost two hours of dancing, he and Sophie had found a small corner as well, simply enjoying being together and sharing a few kisses here and there but mostly just having small talk that surprisingly didn’t lead to any arguments.
“Can we do that again?” Parker asked from her spot on the patio railing, sitting as if the stone banister was one of the plush chairs inside the ball room. She was leaning against Hardison’s shoulder, who was looking back into the room with searching eyes, but his smile was genuine.
“Oh yes Nate!” The soft wind brushed Sophie’s hair out of her face as she turned to their mastermind. “Gala’s are wonderful places for jobs. The socialites, the jewelry, the dresses! Oh we just have to do more of these!”
“You heard the women, gotta find us another party job soon.” Nate chuckled at Hardison’s light hearted teasing. Yeah. he thought as he brought a hand to rest on Sophie’s hip as they all turned to watch the party inside. I can make that happen.
The four of them stood quietly, all of them basking in this quiet moment in time, a pocket that was all theirs that no one could ruin.
Except for themselves.
Hardison was the first to voice it, that weird feeling that sat in the back of everyone’s minds. It was like a bite, the more they ignored it, the more it itches.
“Hey, has anyone seen Eliot?”
A chorus of no’s resounded in the breeze, the four of them freezing as they realized what that could mean.
“Shit.” Hardison was bolting, the rest of the team not far behind him, to the van. The tall man barely slowed down enough to stop himself from ripping the door off its hinges as he flung himself into his chair, hands already flying across the keyboard by the time the others caught up.
“Hardison, can you track him?” Nate demanded.
“As long as his earpiece is intact. Common baby load!” He cursed, hand hitting the small desk as something dinged. “Dammit! Don’t do this now!”
“What’s happening?” Their grifter was wringing her hands together, Nate doubted she even knew she was doing it, worry for their friend clouding her face.
“We’re in the middle of goddamn nowhere is what happened. The wifi I was piggybacking off earlier for the transfer has apparently shit itself.” More typing and grumbled cursing. “I just need to–there!”
“His earpiece is fine, says he’s still at the boat house.”
“Then why hasn’t he checked in?” Parker had somehow changed out of her gala dress back into her black thief clothes without any of them noticing. “Do you think he’s still fighting?”
“He hasn’t checked in cause he’s still muted.” Hardison muttered. A couple seconds later and harsh breathing filled their ears, interrupted by broken sobs and half whines.
“Eliot?” Sophie whispered. A pained keening sound was her only response.
“Which way to the boat house?” Nate asked but Parker had already started running towards an opening in the trees, the rest of them quick to follow.
As they ran, the mastermind was reminded of a job they had not too long ago, the one where the four of them had been enjoying themselves at a school dance. Eliot had grumbled at them over the comms but later had told them he wouldn’t want to begrudge them a night of fun.
“Anybody wondering if Eliot made it out? Anybody wondering if Eliot’s alive?”
They hadn’t answered him then, the four of them too wrapped up in the moment to ruin it. They should have checked in on him. Both then and now.
The boat house was dark when they reached it, not even the outside lights were on. Parker flung the door open and they rushed inside.
It was a mess, the clear aftermath of a fight. Boating and fishing gear littered the floor, one or two of the shelves were broken. An oar was splintered in half, most likely used as a weapon. Eliot wasn’t visible immediately, but the gut wrenching sounds were louder, coming from around them instead of in their ears.
Worriedly, they creeped forwards, wary that maybe someone besides Eliot was still in the boat house despite the fact that they had definitely made a ruckus with their entrance. Parker pulled out a pen light, one she must have kept in her thief blacks and gave a limited amount of harsh white light to the space. Then they saw him.
Eliot was on the ground, back to them and curled around one of the round wooden support columns of the boat house. His shoulders hitched with every breath, body shaking and twitching. Parker reached him first, holding the light in her mouth while her nimble hands ran over him checking for injuries. When the rest of them caught up, Sophie gasped into her hand.
Eliot wasn’t just curled around the column, he was secured around it. The pillar stood in the circle made by Eliot’s chest, thighs and arms as he was pulled tightly around it on his right side. His right arm passed between his bent knees, his left over the top of his thigh with his wrists secured tightly behind his left knee. White rope wrapped around the column, stretched taut between his legs to his wrists then to his ankles, effectively keeping him from being able to get out on his own. Had it just been his wrists and ankles, he could’ve pulled his wrists over his feet and been able to move, but with them secured to the pillar, he wouldn’t have the maneuverability to do so.
Eliot’s head rested awkwardly against the floor, his hair wild from the fight and covering his face. Softly, Parker brushed it back revealing the rag stuffed in his mouth and another taped over his eyes.
“Jesus christ.” Hardison cursed and Eliot flinched. Hard. Now that his eyes had adjusted to the low light, Nate could see the dark stains on the rope around Eliot’s wrists, the skin broken and bleeding.
Sophie knelt beside the hitter, soft hands pressing against his cheek. “Eliot, it's us. Just us. We’re going to get you free alright?” Eliot shook his head, another heart breaking whine escaping his gag. Sophie withdrew her hand, looking to Nate on how to handle this.
While not an expert by any means, Nate understood the most about what Eliot’s been through and he was the team’s leading guide on how to handle Eliot when he wasn’t in control. Normally, he told everyone to let Eliot be, not to push him too hard about whatever issue he was dealing with, but that tactic wouldn’t work in this situation. They couldn’t leave their hitter like this.
“We need to take the blindfold and gag off first. Don’t untie him until he recognizes us.” He said the last part to Parker and Hardison who had been inspecting the ropes securing their friend. Nate knew that Eliot tended to lash out first when he was disoriented and that their hitter would hate himself even more if he’d accidentally hurt any of them while he was like this. Even if he couldn’t control it.
Sophie’s hands were gentle as they pulled the tape from the hitter’s temples, slowly peeling the blindfold off his face. Parker’s light gave him just enough to be able to see Eliot’s blue eyes almost completely covered by the black of his pupils, even when hit with the light. Shit.
“Sophie, wait!” He kneeled down next to the hitter, pulling up his sleeves and inspecting his arms. Not finding what he was looking for, he pushed Eliot’s long hair off his neck, ignoring how soaked the strand were with sweat that reminded him of just how long Eliot had been here alone and suffering, and found it. A small bruise on the back of his neck, not from the marks on the front that showed he had been choked at one point, but circular with a line of dried blood trailing towards the floor.
“Nate what is it?” All three of them were staring at him with worried eyes. Eliot continued to stare into space, seeing things that weren’t real. Another choked sob racked his body, muscles jerking against his bonds.
“He’s been drugged.” Nate pushed his hair back in aggravation. “Most likely with Hever’s nightmare drug.”
“That’s bad right? Like really bad?” Oh Parker was nervous, that wasn’t good. She rambled when she was nervous. “Like really, really, really, reall-”
“Really bad Parker.” Nate finished for her. And it was really bad. Eliot was stuck in his worst nightmares for who knows how much longer. Which means he probably won’t recognize them in this state. Which means it could be a really bad idea to release him.
The team was not going to like that.
“Alright. Alright, alright.” He could figure this out, he could do this. Step by step, they’d figure this out.
“Go ahead and remove the gag.” Sophie did so gently, cooing soft encouragements as her hands pried the dirty rag from his mouth. Eliot blinked a few times, his eyes roving over them as his tongue tried to work moisture into his mouth.
“Ssss’phie?” Alright, so he could tell they were there. That’s good. Better than the alternative.
“Right here.” She shifted, lifting his head to pillow it in her lap, one hand caressing his cheek in soothing motions. “We’re all right here.”
“Nuhhh.” Eliot shook his head, arms straining as he tried to move once more. “Nnnot s’fe. C’n’t beee h’re.”
“Why aren’t we safe Eliot?” Nate jumped in. If Eliot was aware enough to tell them he was a threat, then he’d have to listen. Blue eyes snapped in his direction.
“Yur h’rt. Nuhh, don’t h’rt ‘em!”
“Dammit, Hardison, hold him still!” Nate ordered as Eliot started shifting again. Large hands moved to his hips and knee, keeping the hitter steady on the ground.
“Eliot, I need you to listen to me.” He didn’t let his voice waiver, didn’t let the pain and fear leak into his words. “Whatever you're seeing, it's not real. They’re just visions. None of us are hurt.”
“I–” His pupils shrank slightly, his pained expression lessening somewhat. “Nuhhh, c’n’t…c’n’t trick mmme ag’n.”
“It’s not a trick.” Nate gripped his left arm harshly, squeezing hard enough to leave white marks around his fingers. “Feel that? That’s real. We’re real. And none of us are hurt Eliot.”
The man seemed so small as he closed his eyes, breaths hitching and shaking his shoulders as he lay curled up unnaturally. “Na..te?”
“Right here. We’re all right here. Me, Sophie, Hardison and Parker. We’re all safe.” He hoped this was helping. Nate was out of his element, out of his league with this issue.
Eliot’s eyes crinkled as he squeezed them shut even more. “I sssee…yurall…prooomise?”
“I promise Eliot.”
The hitter nodded, burying his face into Sophie’s leg. Nate gestured to Parker. “Untie him.” She nodded, and not even a full minute later, she was easing Eliot’s hands from behind him, careful that they might be cramping. Nate heard Hardison catch his breath as he caught sight of the mangled flesh but he kept his unease at bay. Slowly, the hitter uncurled himself from the pillar, eyes still shut tightly. Nate gave him a couple minutes to get used to being free.
“Alright, Eliot?” He waited till the smaller man nodded. “We’re going to move you to the van, okay? We need to get you out of here.” Another nod but his face contorted into a grimace.
“Alright team.” Everyone looked at him with determination. They were going to get their friend out of there. “Let’s go.”