Beauty and Rage (Leverage Fan Fiction)

23. Another Conversation With No Destination

Eliot closed the door to his apartment behind himself. The duffle bag over his shoulder was placed on the floor in the little hallway as he made his way into the living room.

All of the lights in the apartment were off with the exception of one in the kitchen and the television in the living room.

The hitter made his way towards the sofa, wanting to find the remote to turn the tv off. He expected Andy to be asleep in his room. However, he found her curled up on the couch on her side. One arm was folded underneath her head and the other was hanging off of the couch.

Eliot smiled softly at the sight of her blonde curls sprawled out all over, some even covering her face and attaching themselves to her lips.

He moved to kneel down in front of the sofa, mindful of his bruised ribs and his aching knee.

"Hey, darlin." Eliot brushed a few strands of blonde away from her red lips. "Why aren't you in bed?"

Her eyes fluttered open just a little and she shifted in her spot on the sofa.

"M'so tired."

"What did you do for the past two days?"

"Work at the bar."

"Andy." Eliot sighed her name with a disapproving tone.

"I'm so glad to see you." Her eyes finally opened and she moved to kiss his cheek.

"Let's move to the bed." Eliot started to slip his arms under Andy but as soon as he tried to pick her up, his side erupted in sharp pain. He inhaled sharply and put Andy back down on the couch.

"What happened?" Now she was wide awake, concerned about Eliot. He was in pain and she heard it.

Andy sat up and started to feel along his arms and torso.

"I'm fine, Andy."

"What happened in Morocco?"

"Morocco turned to Kenya. But I already told you, I'm fine."

Andy narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why didn't you tell me you went to Kenya?"

Eliot let out a heavy sigh and turned to go towards the bedroom.

"Because I didn't want you to worry."

"Hey." Andy grabbed his arm and made him turn around. "Don't keep things like that from me just because you think I'll worry too much."

Her hand gently squeezed his fingers before she let them go.

"I think we should get a shower." Eliot suggested.

"I think we should get some sleep." Andy shook her head with a soft smile. "It's late and you're hurt."

"That doesn't mean I can't—,"

"I'm not because you're hurt." Andy cut him off. She patted his chest gently and moved out of his arms. "It'll be okay, big guy. We can cuddle and I can go back to sleep cause I am so tired right now."

Eliot began to follow Andy towards his room, his hand holding hers even while she walked in front of him.

"We're gonna have to talk about you having Natalia over when I'm not here without us discussing it." Eliot told Andy as she started to climb into the bed and he began to take off his shirt. "It's not that I don't trust you. It's completely her."

"She didn't do anything bad while she was here." Andy promised him. She had collapsed in the middle of the bed on her stomach, her hands tucked away under her chest.