{"id":363,"date":"2025-08-06T15:00:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T07:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/?p=363"},"modified":"2025-08-07T07:55:22","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T23:55:22","slug":"interlocked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/363\/","title":{"rendered":"interlocked"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

It was pretty funny how it started, Parker wouldn\u2019t lie. It had been accidental at first, but it somehow worked. They somehow worked. And it felt good. Parker liked things that felt good.<\/p>\n

The job the team was doing was a relatively simple one; there weren’t a lot of complex locks and security protocols to break through, sadly. Parker loved a challenge and loved when Hardison got a challenge too. No, this one was dependent on good old fashioned grifting by acting, which Hardison sucked at only a little less than Sophie\u2019s stage acting; not that Parker was much better, but she could at least escape when necessary. The acting had been part of what got Parker, Hardison and Eliot into this situation in the first place.<\/p>\n

Parker was doing her thing, picking pockets while Eliot played the role of an experienced barista (oddly, Parker discovered Eliot actually was an experienced barista. The coffees he made were pretty decent). And Hardison, well, Parker didn\u2019t know what exactly the guy was doing. She probably should\u2019ve checked in on him earlier, but that was hindsight at its best.<\/p>\n

In any case, Parker found the mark and was about to approach him when she saw Hardison out of the corner of her eye listening to something a woman was saying to him. Parker tried to tune them both out and focus on her mission\u2014to pickpocket their mark\u2019s wallet\u2014but she stopped when she heard what the woman was saying and the look of distress on Hardison\u2019s face. It was subtle, but Parker considered herself somewhat of an expert on reading his expressions.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me who you really are or I expose you for the conman you are,\u201d the woman said.<\/p>\n

Now, Parker didn\u2019t really think this was much of an issue. They\u2019d all had an encounter or two like this, but for some reason Hardison wasn\u2019t deflecting as usual. He made eye contact with Parker and his eyes were pleading for help. Weird.<\/p>\n

Parker gave up on pursuing the mark for now and headed straight for Hardison. She mouthed the words \u2018play along\u2019 to him. He gave a short nod in acknowledgment. Parker didn\u2019t have much of a plan, she mainly acted on instinct. Which is why as soon as she reached Hardison, she pulled him in for a kiss.<\/p>\n

It was brief but Hardison kissed back. Parker still got that fluttering sensation in her chest, like she had the first time they’d kissed to escape a situation.<\/p>\n

The woman gasped as they separated. She looked between them, scandalised. \u201cI thought you were gay!\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker frowned, not expecting that reaction. \u201cDon\u2019t assume things about people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me the barista is his boyfriend!\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker looked at Hardison, whose cheeks were flushed, which was confirmation enough that what the woman said was true. Parker made a mental note to get Hardison\u2019s full story later. For now, though, there was only one way to resolve this. \u201cThe barista is his boyfriend,\u201d Parker confirmed. \u201cHe and the barista are also my boyfriends.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman did a doubletake. \u201cEr.. what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hardison seemed to have recovered thanks to Parker. \u201cYou\u2019ve never heard of polyamory? It\u2019s not exactly a new concept,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cO-of course I have! I just don\u2019t believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hardison sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s because I\u2019m black, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker stifled her laughter. In any other context it wouldn\u2019t be funny, but Parker knew Hardison enough to know it wasn’t an accusation. It was deflection. Deflection rarely failed, after all. Hardison knew that well.<\/p>\n

The woman\u2019s face went red. \u201cNo! Definitely not! I\u2019m not racist!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you say so,\u201d Parker said. The woman really should\u2019ve just taken Hardison\u2019s initial rejection with grace.<\/p>\n

But that clearly wasn\u2019t the response the woman was after. She stomped her foot, like a child, and growled. \u201cYou people are infuriating! Whatever! Have fun with your poly-whatever! Ugh!\u201d She stomped away. It was Hardison\u2019s turn to stifle his laughter.<\/p>\n

They couldn\u2019t just give the act up there and then, though. The woman was still at the conference, though watching them from a distance. And there were other eyes on them too\u2014those who had witnessed the scene.<\/p>\n

Parker linked her hand with Hardison\u2019s and led them over to Eliot. He wasn\u2019t wearing his earpiece and had been too far away to witness what exactly happened, but Parker hoped that her and Hardison holding hands would tell him something was up. He was generally good at getting the picture fast.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey babe,\u201d Parker said, smiling at Eliot. She turned to Hardison, nodding slightly in expectation.<\/p>\n

Hardison caught on. And oh boy his acting was poor but at least he tried. \u201cHey babe,\u201d he also said to Eliot, stilted.<\/p>\n

Eliot\u2019s eyes widened. Hardison greeting him like that was probably the last thing he expected. Nevertheless, he schooled his expression into a smile. \u201cHey,\u201d he said to them both. \u201cGoing on my break,\u201d he said to the other barista before hanging his apron up.<\/p>\n

When Eliot got around from the counter, he reached for Parker\u2019s hand and intertwined them as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The three of them walked like that, three astride, out of the hotel conference room.<\/p>\n

She wondered how it looked to the strangers they passed. Did they look like a natural polyamorous couple? Or did it look funny? Or perhaps both those things could be true.<\/p>\n

Being in-between Eliot and Hardison like this was a strange and new but not an unwelcome feeling. If it had been anyone else it would\u2019ve been uncomfortable, for Parker didn\u2019t trust people. But this was Hardison and Eliot. They were exceptions and for good reason. The stuff they\u2019d been through together\u2026 they\u2019d had to have some degree of trust to make it happen. And naturally, that trust had only deepened over time and the more jobs they did.<\/p>\n

Eliot and Parker were quick to free their hands, but Hardison didn\u2019t let them and grabbed a hand from them both, placing himself in the middle this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cSecurity cameras,\u201d Hardison explained.<\/p>\n

Eliot frowned but nevertheless kept his hand connected until Hardison let go at a blindspot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the fuck is going on?\u201d was the first thing Eliot said. He gestured at Parker and Hardison and then at himself.<\/p>\n

Parker quirked an eyebrow at Hardison. \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019d like to know too. That woman said you said Eliot is your boyfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliot\u2019s eyes widened comically, much to Parker\u2019s amusement.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said what? Why! What good reason could you possibly have!\u201d Eliot threw his hands up.<\/p>\n

Hardison raised his hands in what should\u2019ve been a placating manner, but by Eliot\u2019s clenched fists, it clearly wasn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n

\u201cRelax, relax. Trust me. I have an explanation! It\u2019s not like I wanted to do it!\u201d Hardison defended. \u201cTrust me, paired with you is the last thing I would want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a lie,\u201d Parker said. The words were out her mouth before she could even reconsider them. Not that she would\u2019ve; subtlety in conversation wasn\u2019t her forte.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas not!\u201d Hardison said. \u201cBut anyway, do you want an explanation or not?\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker and Eliot nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was hitting on me and when I said I wasn\u2019t interested, she said she\u2019d been watching me and would expose me for being a conman. I tried to de-escalate by implying I was gay by saying my boyfriend was here and wouldn\u2019t be too happy about her advances. But then Parker came and kissed me, hence the,\u201d he gestured to the three of them, \u201cpolyamorous relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliot turned to Parker, confused. \u201cWhy did you kiss him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause! It worked last time!\u201d Parker said.<\/p>\n

Hardison groaned. \u201cLast time was under completely different circumstances though!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait\u2014you two have made a habit of doing this?\u201d Eliot asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Parker said at the same time Hardison said, \u201cWhat, you jealous?\u201d<\/p>\n

A hint of red dusted Eliot\u2019s cheeks. \u201cNo, of course not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a lie,\u201d Parker said. Hardison laughed but promptly stopped when Eliot shot him a glare.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever. Let\u2019s just make it through this job and never speak of it again,\u201d Eliot said.<\/p>\n

Hardison and Parker both nodded and the three of them left the safety of the blindspot and returned to the hotel conference room. They didn\u2019t hold hands this time though.<\/p>\n

Parker and Hardison followed Eliot back to the coffee corner and before either of them could react, Eliot had pressed a kiss to Hardison\u2019s cheek and then Parker\u2019s. He then rushed away to put his apron back on and got back to making coffee.<\/p>\n

Parker could only exchange a look with Hardison, who was equally, if not more, shocked than she was.<\/p>\n

The thing was\u2026 for as long as Parker had known Eliot, he had always been a devout ladies man. But maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe he was just a really good actor and was really committed to this role?<\/p>\n

Hardison was uncharacteristically quiet after that. But Parker didn\u2019t dwell on it; she had a job to do after all.<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u2014<\/p>\n

The job was a success. Parker knew it would be\u2014heck they all knew it would be. When they came together to debrief, Sophie and Nate were suspiciously quiet about the whole polyamorous relationship shenanigans. But Parker, Hardison and Eliot never brought it up in their presence either.<\/p>\n

Sophie and Nate left shortly after, leaving the three of them together in the team\u2019s base.<\/p>\n

The silence was awkward enough for Parker to actually notice, but it lasted for all of ten seconds before Hardison broke it. \u201cYou guys wanna watch a movie? I downloaded a bunch of new releases.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cDo you have the new Ice Age?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hardison smiled, like he had predicted this question. \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker reached over and high fived him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Fast & Furious 4?\u201d Eliot asked.<\/p>\n

Hardison hummed in confirmation.<\/p>\n

\u201cSick.\u201d<\/p>\n

They settled on the big sofa with snacks. Hardison turned off the lights and, after a rock paper scissors contest to decide what they watched first, he loaded Fast & Furious onto the projector screen (Hardison\u2019s newest contribution to their base).<\/p>\n

Parker could understand the appeal of Fast & Furious 4 but she was more entertained by Eliot and Hardison\u2019s reactions. They were both really immersed in it. They laughed, they gasped, they snorted. It was fun to watch them.<\/p>\n

But she could think of something even funner and since she was in the middle, it would be even easier.<\/p>\n

Tentatively, she brushed her pinky finger against the outside of Hardison\u2019s thigh. It had an immediate reaction. His attention diverted from the movie straight to Parker.<\/p>\n

Encouraged by the response, Parker spread her fingers across Hardison\u2019s thigh and mouthed, \u201cThis okay?\u201d He nodded and placed his hand over hers.<\/p>\n

They sat like that for a few minutes, watching the film, but feeling more confident in her plan now, Parker leaned over to Hardison. \u201cWanna makeout?\u201d she whispered in his ear.<\/p>\n

Hardison\u2019s eyes widened and he licked his lips, a movement not missed by Parker. \u201cWhat about Eliot?\u201d he whispered back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can join in too. You want that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

But Hardison frowned. \u201cWhat do you want though?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of you, duh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d Hardison grinned. \u201cCool. We\u2019re on the same page then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker pressed a kiss to Hardison\u2019s lips but withdrew quickly when she heard Eliot moving.<\/p>\n

\u201cEr. I\u2019m gonna go,\u201d he said and made to move. Parker was faster, though, and took hold of his arm. Eliot froze.<\/p>\n

\u201cEliot,\u201d Hardison said. \u201cJoin us?\u201d There was a silent challenge in his tone.<\/p>\n

Eliot\u2019s eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced back and forth between Hardison and Parker. \u201cSerious?\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t joke about this,\u201d Hardison said.<\/p>\n

Eliot joined them.<\/p>\n

What happened next that night was what Hardison would probably call brilliant. Fantastic. Amazing. And hopefully repeatable. But for Parker, she simply thought of it as right, like the last puzzle pieces slotting into place in a satisfying manner.<\/p>\n

But then the morning came and conversations had to be had. Parker didn\u2019t dread the conversation. In her mind the solution was straightforward. But she had an inkling it wouldn\u2019t be so easy with the other two.<\/p>\n

When she finally got up, Parker saw Eliot was already up drinking coffee, and by the time she was done in the shower, Hardison was up too. She watched them both, quietly, as they tried to play cool in each other\u2019s presence but completely failed in doing so. Eliot and Hardison were hyper aware of one another and maintaining some distance, stealing glances when the other wasn\u2019t looking.<\/p>\n

Parker cleared her throat as she entered the kitchen. Eliot and Hardison immediately turned to her. \u201cMorning,\u201d she said. \u201cLast night was fun. We should do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliot almost spat out his coffee while Hardison choked on his toast. After giving them a moment to recover, Parker tilted her head. \u201cWhat? You don\u2019t agree?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hardison put up a hand. \u201cNo, I never said that. It was definitely fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it was,\u201d Eliot added. \u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut?\u201d Parker prompted.<\/p>\n

Eliot crossed his arms. \u201cIt can\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker gestured for him to continue. \u201cBecause\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause we work together!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat never stopped Nate and Sophie,\u201d Parker pointed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re not comfortable with this, that\u2019s okay too,\u201d Hardison said, perhaps the sincerest Parker had seen him speak to Eliot.<\/p>\n

Eliot groaned. \u201cThat\u2019s just it! I don\u2019t know what this is! What would we be? What happens if it goes pear-shaped? I just feel like I have a lot to lose here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hardison narrowed his eyes at that. \u201cWhat do you mean? Wouldn\u2019t we all have the same to lose?\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliot\u2019s cheeks reddened slightly. \u201cI\u2019m saying, dumbass, that when it comes to you two, I can\u2019t do casual!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hardison\u2019s eyes widened, but Parker beat him to respond. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be casual for me,\u201d she said. \u201cNot with you guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLikewise,\u201d Hardison said. \u201cAlso, that\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve had someone insult me and admit their feelings for me in the same sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker snorted. \u201cOnly Eliot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliot\u2019s eyebrows were comically high as he looked back and forth at Parker and Hardison. \u201cYou guys are serious? How can you be so,\u201d he waved his hand about searching for the word, \u201ceasygoing about it all?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t we be? It\u2019s just us three. Feels right,\u201d Parker said, punctuated by a grin. Hardison nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n

Parker leaned into Eliot\u2019s space and put a finger on his chest. \u201cBesides, you\u2019ve got me curious now. Very curious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEliot\u2019s blushing!\u201d Hardison said, and he was right, Eliot\u2019s cheeks had gotten even more red.<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever. I want to take a picture of this moment and save it forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliot sighed. \u201cDon\u2019t make me regret this decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2026 that\u2019s a yes? We\u2019re all on the same page?\u201d Hardison asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the same page about what?\u201d came a fourth new but familiar voice. Nate, followed by Sophie.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere the hell did you come from?\u201d Hardison asked.<\/p>\n

Nate gestured to the front door. Parker\u2019s eyebrows shot up. Had all three of them really been that distracted to have not noticed?<\/p>\n

No, that couldn\u2019t have been it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never actually left last night. You just pretended to,\u201d Parker said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Hardison said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink it through, Hardison,\u201d Eliot said.<\/p>\n

Hardison\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cOh, you two are gross!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no. Don\u2019t jump to the wrong conclusions now,\u201d Sophie corrected. \u201cWe left as soon as we heard moaning and came back several hours later.\u201d<\/p>\n

And, well, the admission was unexpected. But that was Sophie to a tee. Parker couldn\u2019t help it but she burst into laughter. This whole situation was ridiculous but also hilarious. The others must have agreed because Hardison joined in the laughter, then so did Sophie, Nate, and Eliot.<\/p>\n

When the laughter died down, Nate cleared his throat. \u201cDo we need to set up some new rules or.. something? To manage this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eliot and Parker said, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Hardison didn\u2019t. He said, \u201cActually, yes, we do. I\u2019d like to set up a rule that bans Sophie and Nate from entertaining their voyeuristic tendencies around us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOooh, good one,\u201d Parker said while Eliot nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuly noted,\u201d Sophie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not voyeurs!\u201d Nate insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep telling yourself that, buddy,\u201d Eliot said. He turned to Hardison and Parker, \u201cWanna go grab some breakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker grinned. \u201cYeah! I\u2019m starving.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could eat,\u201d Hardison said.<\/p>\n

The three of them left, ignoring Nate\u2019s wails of, \u201cSophie, how could you let them think that of us!\u201d<\/p>\n

All in all, Parker would say her plan was a success, and who would\u2019ve thought it would be attributed to bad acting?<\/p>\n

Parker loved it when things worked out the right way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The team had a lot of skills Parker had come to learn and appreciate over the years. She never thought bad acting would eventually be one of them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[78],"fandom":[79],"rating":[3],"ship":[80],"class_list":["post-363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-multi","tag-fake-pretend-relationship","fandom-leverage","rating-teen","ship-alec-hardison-parker-eliot-spencer","wpautop"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=363"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":364,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363\/revisions\/364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=363"},{"taxonomy":"fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fandom?post=363"},{"taxonomy":"rating","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rating?post=363"},{"taxonomy":"ship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloverso.me\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ship?post=363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}