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Hitch was fidgety; he often was when it came to anyone meeting anyone, especially his husband. He desperately wanted this to go well. He wanted them to immediately hit it off and adore each other. "I dunno, " he said honestly, his cheeks burning bright. "I didn't even know 'bout Har until she showed up at the door. She'd know better than me." Because they hadn't wanted him. Or his mom. Something bitter churned in his gut, but he ignored it. "It was only ever me an' Mom, so."

There was a lot more he didn't know. He wanted to say he didn't care to know people that didn't want him around to begin with, the unwanted b*****d of the family, but... of course, part of him did.

He perked up a little, jerked free of his thoughts as he grinned. "You kiddin'? 'Bout time I got some use outta this helmet, " and he brandished it proudly. "Any ride where I get to have my arms around you's a good one, babe - an' don't worry, " he leaned in to kiss his husband warmly on the lips, lingering, nudging Rhys' nose gently with his own. "She's gonna love you."

Please.

The place they'd wound up picking was a trendy little bistro that was small and intimate with a mishmash decor and worn tables, but they had a full bar along one side, and a bakery attached. They served hot and iced coffee, numerous mixed drinks, and people had been raving about their brick over pizzas.

Helen could smell the peppermint wafting up from Harley's mug. She could smell the bread baking in the back, and something a little fruity that she couldn't quite place her finger on. She couldn't smell the Moscow Mule in her hand, but that did nothing to dull the taste of it as she brought it up to her lips for a quick sip.

She'd been watching the window as Harley spoke up to remind her of the plan, and she brought her gaze back around to offer the other girl a warm smile. "He's nuts about you, don't let the cranky exterior fool you." She'd seen the way he'd reacted when he'd thought Seiryuu had died. "But yeah, we need to get information, tips, whatever we can."

They needed something, because they couldn't just keep running blindly forward and hoping for the best.

"And who doesn't like coffee?" Wait, strike that. A lot of people didn't like coffee...

Really this all painted a picture so endearing it took everything Hitch had not to die on the spot. "******** I love when you do that, " he grunted, poking his husband's nose with his index finger, and then just before he slid his helmet on, he added, "********, how the ******** are you this cute?" He flashed his husband a grin, stuck the helmet on, and slid behind him.

He nestled in comfortably, arms wrapped securely around Rhys and even with his helmet kind of nestled against his back, sighing to himself. If he was being totally honest, it was harder to be stressed about much of anything like this. Hitch generally took charge in the relationship, yeah - but he trusted Rhys with his life and more, and in a world where danger could lurk around any ******** corner, it felt really ******** good to feel safe.

In what felt like no time at all, bam, they were there, and his fingers were laced with Rhys' as they headed into the cafe. "Ah, " he grunted. "There they are." Already, he would've known the pair of them from anyone. "Har!" he called, gently tugging his husband along.

If she ******** with him I'm gonna kill her.

He didn't mean it, but ********, maybe thinking them loudly enough would do something.

Why anyone of them had thought Harley would be able to behavior herself was anyone's question, because that had been wishful thinking on all their parts.

Helen caught sight of Hitch as he walked in hand and hand with an unknown man with read hair and black clothes and before she could do more than smile a greeting the girl beside her had opened her mouth, and what she had to say was enough to leave Helen blushing, eyes wide and features stunned.

She flicked a look between all three of them before blue eyes settled on Harley, but she was indications that Helen should introduce herself.

"Uh." She looked back up at the two men. "Hi. I'm Helen."

"GODDAMNIT HAR!" Hitch barked. People immediately stared, and he got exceptionally red the the face. Ugh. Go about your business, ******** off outta mine. I'm loud, I get it. He didn't say it out loud, but his body language screamed it. "Also, the ********, Rhys! Don't entertain her! Carpet's my territory, " and he was at least smart enough to drop his voice to a grumble at that part, staring daggers at his cousin.

He honestly couldn't stay mad at her long, though. "S'up Helen; how's it goin'?" he asked, finally acknowledging her and sticking close to his husband because Harley clearly couldn't be trusted.

Oh God. It got worst. Somehow.

Helen sank down a little further in her seat until her elbows were rested on the table and her face was pressed into her upturned palms. She could feel her cheeks burning, and there was a large part of her that wanted to the padded bench seat beneath her to open up and swallow her whole.

Or maybe Swallow Harley...

No...she'd absolutely miss the smaller girl. But jeez-us!

Not lifting her head, Helen reached out blindly to her side, groping around until she found Harley's shoulder and followed her arm down to her hand where she gave slender fingers a soft squeeze.