we don't use the artifacts!

In season 1, we've got Hardison bailing on a job to stay up all night gaming (which ultimately works out to the team's advantage)

We've got Parker doing whatever risky nonsense triggered Nate to insist she do jury duty (which resulted in a new case)

We've got Sophie pulling her David bullshit that actually blows everything up

And we've got Nate being a drunk unreliable asshole

But does Eliot ever keep a secret or go overboard or fall to have everyone's back for even an off screen minute that's referred to? The closest I can think is that he didn't tell them the client was his ex in the Two-Horse Job, but it comes out immediately and doesn't have any effect on the course of action

It seems like they kept Eliot's betrayal for later, for the big one, when they find out he worked for the Big Bad. But that's several seasons in. Am I thinking too hard about this? Or did the writers keep Eliot, with all his secretive history of violence, as the one crew member who is ALWAYS there for the others, never has an ulterior agenda, never withholds crucial info, never goes off duty.

The team knows is past is dark. You don't become an internationally known hitter whose name alone strikes fear in enemy hearts without it. They know he has secrets. But a key character trait for Eliot is that he is honest. He makes multiple different mentions of being a bad guy and actually hurting people. He doesn't pretend to be a good person. His secrets exist with a mutual trust and respect. He is always honest with them, not volunteering details, but honest.

It isn't until his relationship with Moreau already revealed, but when Parker asks what he did for Moreau he says "Don't ask me that, Parker. Because if you ask me, I'll tell you." (Big Bang Job) A little late, but still perhaps the best quote to illustrate how important honesty is to Eliot's character and role in the team.

The team is on a con when someone hears that Interpol is on the scene cue everyone but Harry (on coms) going "no it couldn't be" "who?" "but what if it is" "he wouldn't be" "who?!" "but wouldn't he" "he might be" "WHO?!"

And then they do the classic reveal with the musical cue and everyone in sync "Sterling."

Harry: "like the washing machine?" Sterling walking into the room: "The rifle, actually"

Sophie is there standing next to Harry so Sterling looks at her and then gets close to Harry and sizes him up before stepping back and saying "him? really?" Sophie: "hes a stray found him his first time trying to steal a Rembrandt" Sterling pikachu shock face: "no, this guy?" Sophie: "with a youtube tutorial" Sterling: "really scraping the bottom of the barrel these days, huh?" Harry: "you know im still standing right here"

{[Plot ensues with whacky hijinks a la The Frame Up Job]}

Sterling and Sophie have a moment alone when everything is said and done Sterling admits that maybe he let the team get away as a last favor to Nate and Sophie tells him that she knew Sterling was going easy on them

Sophie: "do you miss him?" Sterling: "of course i do, but you already knew that" "just wanted to hear you say it" "ill see you around, Sophie. next time i won't go so easy on you" "looking forward to it, Sterling"

They share one last sad smile and a look charged with a challenge for next time before Sterling walks away and Sophie takes a sip from her drink with a look that speaks of past memories of her adventures with Nate

but it’s just a dream of cas sticking his whole arm in dean’s chest, soul-touch style, sunken in between the ribs up to cas’s elbow