Chapter Text
"Mind if I join you?"
Leo had extracted himself from the party taking place on the first floor of the sprawling home and the press of the crowds that came with it. It was where Stella was the center of attention, Amelia was able to stay up past her bedtime, and Sam had disappeared the first chance he could without seeming rude (Leo hadn't been able to find him since that last rush of people knocking on the door). The air outside was chilled, but Leo didn't mind, even in his lighter jacket. He liked the sting of coldness to keep him awake, despite the alcohol's best attempts to sing him into sleep.
There were several guests that were passed out in the living room and Leo didn't feel inclined to join them.
"Have you been out here long?" Leo asked, eyeing Henry as he stepped closer to the railing.
Henry looked at Leo in disinterest, turning his gaze back to the trees in the somewhat close distance. Close enough that Leo could probably hit one with a rock if he tried, but far enough away to not feel hemmed in by trees. The mountains were pretty in the winter, the charm turned up even higher for tonight's festivities.
The New Year's Eve party was held in Sam's home at Mount Charleston and, as ever a local to Vegas, Leo was comforted to see there was still snow on the ground, though the ground was far below them, he realized as he looked over the balcony. The house was built against a mountain, with the front of the house on firm ground while the third story balcony wrapped around to overlooked the sheer drop to the left. His hands tightened unconsciously on the railing as he considered the drop, wondering what the likelihood of surviving would be if he fell or jumped.
"Want one?" Henry asked, fishing out his pack of cigarettes and holding on out to Leo.
Leo glanced from the offered smoke to Henry, taking a step back from the railing. "Sure." He said, taking one from the pack. Henry slid it back into his jacket pocket, pulling a lighter out of the same pocket. He tossed it to Leo, who fumbled with the lighter before finally getting a good grip on it. He lit his smoke, handing Henry back the lighter as he brought it up to his lips. He grimaced on the harsher taste, his gaze flicking back to Henry.
Henry met his gaze, eyes shadowed. "Not trailing after Sam tonight?"
"Haven't been able to find him. Have you seen him recently?" Leo admitted, his gaze lighting once more on the ground below them. Leo hadn't seen him in several hours and neither, to his dismay, had any of the guests. They simply suggested asking Stella before asking Leo who he was and delaying him on his search. He had many such interactions, offering one comment or another. Leo had even talked to a couple of the older relatives that Stella had invited, remembering them from their youth. He hadn't stayed long when he realized that precious minutes were ticking by.
He had given up and slipped upstairs to find the balcony he had seen earlier that evening and escape. He hadn't expected to see Henry already there, the reek of cigarettes clinging to him as the man smoked. There was a small end table next to him, with a bottle of water and an ashtray overflowing with ash and butts.
When Henry didn't answer, Leo stepped to the other side of him, looking down towards the driveway and the entrance of the house. He could just make out the figures down there and he squinted, watching them in interest. He placed his hands on the railing, leaning over it to get a better look around the corner of the home to the ground. There was a guest being led out by their partner, the taller man gripping the younger man tightly as he fumbled his way down the path. The shorter man must have been saying something, with the way his hands were moving. The taller man shot something back before he bent over and vomited off the side of the path. The younger man seemed to sigh, taking his partner, carefully, back to the car.
He stepped away form the railing, pacing behind Henry, his gaze flicking towards the tree. He went still when the rustle of wings caught his attention, a large bird swooping close to the balcony before banking and settling on a nearby tree.
"There's a hidden room in the basement, I'd check there." Henry commented, flicking his gaze to Leo. He pulled his cigarette out and blew several smoke rings into the air. He blew a smaller one before he put the cigarette back in his mouth, letting his arm dangle back over the railing. His skin was pale, his hair finger combed back and dark circles ringed Henry's gaze.
"Thanks, I'll take a look soon." Leo stepped back to the railing, drumming his fingers against the railing.
Henry turned his attention back on the trees across from them. He slumped a little further over the railing, his chin dropping along with his gaze as someone else slipped out from the party. He watched the figure, lifting an eyebrow as they glanced over their shoulder. After a moment, the figure returned to the house, though there was something in their hands this time.
It took another ten minutes before someone else left, this one more much sober than the other guy's partner.
"Who are all these people?" Leo asked finally, the silence itching at him. In the months that Leo had known Henry, they hadn't really connected. Leo felt awkward anytime he talked to the older man, feeling like he was getting his soul stared into.
Henry picked his head up, blinking at him with a frown. "Hmm?"
Leo tapped the ash from his cigarette, using the motion to gesture towards the lower floor. "Do you know who is who? I wasn't really paying attention." He frowned. "And I suck at remembering names and faces."
Henry's mouth pulled into a harsh frown. "What would you have done if one of these people hurt one of the family?"
"They wouldn't." Leo retorted.
"But you don't even know who they are." Henry shot back. He grimaced when he saw Leo's eyes widen, shaking his head and letting it go just as quickly. "Course, neither of us are 'on duty' tonight, are we?"
"Are you sulking up here cause you can't be Stell-"
Leo didn't get a chance to finish the thought before the blade was drawn and pressed against his throat. He stared at Henry, who he hadn't even noticed moving. Leo was certain he hadn't drunk that much to be so off-guard.
"Wanna finish that thought?" Henry asked, taking another puff on his cigarette as he stared at Leo, gaze shadowed and voice soft so soft Leo was tempted to lean in to hear him better.
The cold of the blade bit into his skin when he swallowed.
"That's what I thought." Henry removed the blade, putting it back in its sheath. "That's not the sort of shit we talk about up here, got it?"
"Yes, sir." Leo's legs were shaking, he realized, as he took a step to the side to put more distance between himself and Henry. The man had gone back to slouching over the railing, his gaze distant, though he had looked at Leo curiously when he responded.
They sat in silence, Leo finishing his cigarette and putting the butt in Henry's ashtray. The poor container was overflowing and Leo's offer to fetch him a new one was on the tip of his tongue, but he squashed it down as Henry added his own butt to the pile and plucked another one out of the pack. He placed the pack on the table that had been shoved to one side.
Finally, Leo cleared his throat. Henry glanced at him, frowning but he gave him a small head tilt.
"How did you and Stella meet?" Leo asked.
"I was paid to kidnap her." Henry commented, nonchalant as he lit his next cigarette. He wasn't a heavy smoker, Leo knew, but the man was tense, his eyes hard, and Leo realized there was another empty pack on the table next to the water bottle.
"Oh."
Henry shrugged. "I did a lot of piece meal work in my thirties-"
"Thirties? How old-" Leo interrupted though he went silent when Henry glowered at him. He gave him the smallest of waves to continue. The man studied him before he shrugged.
"I was paid to kidnap her. Kind of an easy job when it's a frightened twenty something year old." Henry frowned, eyes distant. "She was easy to get to, always seemingly off on her own, especially back then. Unhappy, feeling unwanted..."
Leo's frown deepened, his gaze flicking back to the doors.
Henry shrugged. "She knew what she was signing up for when she married Sam."
"Stella was kind of a bitch at school, popular, too. I just don't imagine her feeling.... unwanted. Like, ever." Leo said after a moment, once he was certain that Henry would be okay with him interjecting.
"We all have our doubts." Henry muttered, eyes closing to slits. He turned his head when the balcony door was pushed open and Stella spilled out, her eyes bright.
"Henry!" She called, closing the short distance and grabbing his wrist. "Come on, no sulking out here. You're freezing." She clicked her tongue when she felt how cold Henry's skin was. The man didn't protest as he was led inside. Leo watched Henry let himself be led away. He picked up the lighter that Henry had left behind, studying the engraved bird on it before grabbing the box of cigarettes and heading inside himself.