kikamontanez

Harmony's eyes narrowed as she tucked her cell phone behind her hair, licking her lips. The bigger man gazed cooly at her, a hint of suspicion on his face, and she averted her gaze, praying Perry would pick up soon. Her fingertips drummed against the phone, her lips folding in.

"Harmony?" Perry  picked up.

"Hey," the woman replied quietly. "I'm at that party at the Stetson place..." she craned her head to see if she could still see them. "Remember that case you were telling me about? The dad with the missing addict?"

"Yah, back burner case." Perry sounded bored. "What about it?"

"I think you should make it a priority case because I think I'm staring at him," her voice lowered as her eyes lit up. "He's at this party, Perry."

Perry sighed, but Harmony could tell he was trying to cover it up. It came out as a half groan. "You only saw his picture once. How could you possibly recognize him?"

Harmony tugged at her hair, growling slightly. "Jesus, Perry! It's him! I know it is! He's with some other guy, some older guy. He's obviously out of his mind right now." She moved away from the crowd, closer to the corner. "I recognize him because he looks sort of like Harry, okay? He has that innocent look to him or something."

"Okay, now you're just trying to lure me," Perry joked dryly. "Even if it is him, I have a list of other clients ahead of the Wells guy." He sighed freely this time. "I know what face you're making. Stop making it."

"Perry, he's scared." Harmony searched through the crowd once more. They were gone. "He looked right at me. I made eye-contact with him."

Perry was silent for a moment. He finally said, "I'm not a super hero, Harmony."

She rolled her eyes, wishing Perry could see her do it. "You keep telling yourself that." She began walking through the crowd once more. "Especially after you took Harry in, gave him a steady job, made him your boyfrien-"

"Fine. Fine!" Perry grunted. "We'll swing by there. Fuck. Are you finished patronizing me?"

Harmony grinned. "You're too much, Perry. Nicest guy in the world."

----------

"So why are we going to this party again?" Harry asked, digging around in the glove compartment of the car. "That Wells kids?"

"Harmony said he's there," Perry sighed, frowning at Harry's rifling. "Leave that stuff alone." He stared at the road, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. "So I guess we confirm it, call dad, and leave it at that."

"That's it?" Harry's eyebrows raised. "We don't even talk to him?"

"Wells isn't paying us to talk to the kid," Perry replied. "He's paying us to find out where he is."

"So if he's at this party, then he must not be doing too bad for himself, right?" Harry asked, cocking his head slightly with a shrug. "I mean, these parties are hard to get into and-"

"Harmony saw him with some guy," Perry interuppted him. "An older guy. Kid's selling himself. Probably for dope funds."

"What?" Harry frowned. "Like...prostituting himself? I thought only girls do that."

"It's LA, Genius," Perry retorted. "Anything goes. Most horny, self-absorbed people will fuck anything that moves."

"I wouldn't use the description self-absorbed," Harry pointed out. "Because I know a certain self-absorbed somebody who, hopefully, wouldn't fuck anything that moved because..." he began stuttering and turned red. "Fuck. Nevermind."

Perry couldn't help but smile a little, turning his head. He lightly slapped Harry on the cheek with the back of his fingers. "Not jealous, are you?"

"No." Harry shook his head. He smiled a little too. "But don't fuck anything that moves, alright?"

"I think you keep me plenty busy," Perry said, trying not to sound seductive, but it was hard. Damn Harry and his existance. Before him, Perry had never flirted with anybody.

--------

They arrived at the party and a few party-goers immediately recognized and greeted Perry. Some thanked him for helping him, obvious former clients. Harmony found them soon and began a stream of hysterical babble, in her most calm voice, clawing at her hair. "Where the hell have you two been?"

"Calm down," Harry told her. He looked around. "So...where is he?"

"Okay, get this-" Harmony said. "I've seen him with three guys so far. And that's only since I got off the phone with you-" she looked at Perry. "And he is so disoriented it's scary!" She lowered her voice. "And he's young. I don't even think he's of age."

"Barely," Perry corrected her, nodding. "Not much older, but old enough." He straightened up, gazing over the crowd. "Alright, so I'll confirm the little slut's here and then Harry and I have to get going."

"Oh! Speaking of which, I was actually leaving," Harmony said. "I have to get up early for work." She looked between them. "Thanks again."

"I'm not going to do what you think I am," Perry scoffed slightly. "I'm just going to see that he's here, and that's it."

"Mmhmm." Harmony kissed both of them on the cheek. "See you later, you two."

Just as she was leaving, Perry and Harry turned around, hearing a door open. It was a bedroom door, and a man quietly closed it behind him, lighting a cigarette. He dug out an expensive cell phone and called somebody, a sleazy grin plastered on his face.

"Hey, Man," he said. "You gotta come down to this fucking Stantson party. Some slutty kid here, whacked out of his fucking mind." He chuckled. He took a long drag. "It's great." He noticed Harry and Perry staring at him and frowned, glancing their way. "What are you looking at?"

Perry moved forward, and Harry watched, briefly wondering if he was going to hurt the guy. Perry only shoved him out of the way, gripping the door handle. The guy angrily blew smoke his way. "Get the fuck away from the door!"

Perry hardly paid attention. "Not your house either." He opened the door, and Harry dutifully followed him, smiling sweetly at the other man. He'd grown accustomed to being a smart ass with Perry's protection looming over him. "Bye." He said, closing the door in the man's face.

------

The room was dark, almost pitch black, except for a light from underneat the bathroom door. Perry moved across the room, opening the bathroom door, light flooding the room. Somebody sitting on the edge of the bed winced loudly.

"Yah, just give me a minute," they slurred. "Please, just a few seconds. I'm really nausceous..."

"Julian?" Perry squinted skeptically, making his way over to the bed. "Are you Julian?"

The boy looked up, and Perry almost felt his heart stop. Fuck Harmony. She'd been more than right. That look...it was all too familar...

"Yah..." Julian replied, wiping sweat from his forehead. He was drenched in it, even though he was completely naked except for a damp bed sheet. "But listen, just give me a few seconds, alright? Please?"

"I'm not...I'm not a customer," Perry said, trying his best to explain the situation. He didn't sit on the bed. Not when he knew Cocky Bastard and God knows how many others had just been rolling around on it. "I'm a private investigator. Your father hired me. To find you."

"My father?" Julian's brows furrowed slightly. A small half smile tugged at his lips. "No, not mine." He doubled over, groaning slightly.

"You feel sick, Julian?" Harry asked.

A knock sounded at the door and Julian immediately sat up straight, his eyes dark and deep and tired, but afraid. Perry nodded at Harry to open it. Harry did, sort of, blocking it with his tough little figure. Two LA men stared back at him.

"Can I help you?" Harry asked.

"Where's Julian?" One of them asked, trying to look past him. "Hey, we know you're in there, you little rat bastard!"

Perry turned his head slightly, a lazy streak of amusement crossing his face. He enjoyed scenes like this, or what was about to occur. Harry naturally had a heroic, protective demeanor to him, and it tickled Perry to see him use it. Of course, he wasn't bigger than fuck, but once the guys threatened his life, and saw Perry, it was all good. Julian watched this scene play out, shifting his gaze from Perry to Harry, confusion becoming more apparent on his face.

"So," Perry finished, staring down the two men who were practically cowering. "That's it. Get the fuck out of here." He nodded his head towards the hallway.

"This party sucks!" One of them said, grabbing the other and fleeing.

Perry turned to Julian. Harry looked at him, and then at the boy. Julian stared at both of them.

"Alright, Julian, let's find your clothes and get out of here," Perry said quietly, looking around for any signs of clothes.

"I can't leave," Julian said.

"Come on, Julian," Harry said. "Don't worry about anything...money..." he shrugged. "Fuck all of that."

"You can trust us," Perry added. "We're here to help you."

"You might want to use the Perry-voice," Harry muttered through the side of his mouth.

"Harry!" Perry rolled his eyes. "Julian, Kid...really, it's okay."

"No!" Julian clawed at his hair. "I can't leave! I just can't!" He began stuttering like crazy, breaking out into another cold sweat.

"Perry voice," Harry mouthed, calmly watching the fit.

Perry sighed. He cleared his throat slightly and put on a mean face. "Julian Wells," he said quietly, but darkly. He didn't have to raise his voice with that kind of tone. "Get your ass up NOW, find your clothes, and follow us."

Julian stood up, taking the tangled bedsheet with him. Wordlessly, he obeyed. Harry found a ratty shirt and jeans, wordlessly handing them to the boy. He looked around for underwear, but didn't see any. Julian dressed quickly, and stood, waiting. He was trembling violently. Perry motioned for him to follow and Julian did.

As they left the house, a few stares came their way, but Perry ignored them. Harry stared back, daring any comments. Julian kept his eyes glued to the ground.

--------

Julian vibrated against the seats the entire way back, muttering incoherently, sweating and groaning. When they got to the house, Harry looked at Perry. "Is he staying here?" he asked quietly.

"He has nowhere else to go," Perry replied, just as quietly, but in a flatter tone.

"Oh, I know..." Harry scratched his nose. "I'm just...surprised...I guess..." he turned to the backseat. "Hey, Julian, it's gonna be alright."

Julian only stared at him, like some abused animal cornered in the back of a cage, afraid of human touch. Perry and Harry climbed out of the car, and Perry wordlessly gestured for Julian to do the same. They went into the house and Julian stood by the front door. Harry went to the fridge and retrieved three bottles of water, tossing one to Perry. He approached Julian and held the other out to him. Julian took it, his hands shaking.

"It's a withdrawal," Perry explained, seeing the slightly confusion on Harry's face.

Julian sipped at the water, and after a few sips, began glugging it down, soaking the front of his ratty shirt. Perry and Harry tried not to stare too much.  Julian downed the bottle and staggered backwards, leaning against the wall.

"Poor kid," Harry muttered.

"Yah..." Perry stared into space, frowning. He turned to Julian. "I guess I'll contact your father, let him know you're safe." He looked at Harry. "Maybe in the morning?"

"Morning's good," Harry replied, looking at Julian.

"Morning?" Julian muttered, blinking heavily.

"Yah, you're going to stay here, at least until tomorrow morning," Perry explained. "Let's get you some sweats."

"No, I c-can't stay," Julian slurred. "He'll be looking for me."

"Who?" Harry's brows furrowed.

"His pimp," Perry explained.  "Keep up, Harry."

"Julian, he won't come looking for you here," Harry said, trying to help. "I mean, Goddamn. He doesn't even know us."

Julian nodded briefly and muttered a thank you. Harry offered to get him some clean clothes and a towel, motioning towards the stairs. "Come on, a showere will do you good."

-------

While Julian was in the shower, Harry and Perry sat on the sofa, their silence louder than anything. Harry glanced down as Perry's fingers absent-mindedly brushed across his hand, threading their fingers together. Harry leaned on his shoulder. "He's a good kid, right?"

"I think so," Perry muttered, leaning over to kiss his forehead. "It's scary when you don't have anybody."

Harry smiled a little and craned his head, trying to get in a position to kiss him on the lips. Perry tilted his own head, helping him.

To Be Continued....