Chapter Text
Cassidy leans over the rail, arms crossed and eyes scanning the crowd below intently. The conversational buzz fills the massive open space of the lobby, even all the way up to the second-to-last floor where Cassidy is standing. He has no hopes of picking up any specific information in the conversations, but it’s just something to fill his time. The social symphony becomes the soundtrack to accompany the stunning balcony view.
The green and gold stilted archways, the crystal chandeliers providing a warm, yellow glow...it's quite a sight. Honestly, the entire city of Monte Carlo is a sight—the Hotel Arche included—and he finds himself lucky to be in such a beautiful place.
But the business at hand is far less beautiful. It’s taken a fair bit of planning, but Cassidy has tracked someone here; someone who will be able to pay the expenses of this lavish trip in spades, should he succeed in capturing them.
Despite the generally upscale yet lax nature of the event and the people around him, a sudden feeling sinks in Cassidy’s stomach. It’s something familiar and unsettling; and it means he’s being watched.
Cassidy doesn’t panic. He knows if he does, it could compromise everything he’s done up until this point. Unmoving from his position, he casually peeks over both shoulders of his long, faded, crimson jacket. From just his peripheral vision, he can’t see anything out of the ordinary. Maybe it’s someone down below? Again, he looks but can’t find anyone that senses to be looking directly at him.
“Looking for something?” A familiar, gravelly, masculine voice speaks from behind Cassidy, and he immediately swivels his entire body around. He grips the rail with both hands, trying to smoothly recover the very obviously startled movement he just made. Surely enough, the voice matches who Cassidy thought it was.
“Well, if it ain’t my favorite Shimada brother,” Cassidy grins, offering out his right hand. “Fancy seeing you here.” Hanzo makes a light scoffish sound before accepting the handshake.
“Likewise,” Hanzo says amiably. His trimmed mustache and beard lift with his almost devilish smirk, eyes quickly glancing Cassidy down then up. “You are looking well.”
“Likewise,” Cassidy echoes, chuckling. He watches as Hanzo adjusts the tie ever so slightly before running his palm over his perfectly styled, lightly gelled hair. Cassidy swears that he smells the slightest hint of a heady, earthy cologne as Hanzo moves.
The dark blue tie fitting snugly around the base of the man’s neck is quite the fashion statement on its own. It’s bold and confident, but not to the point that it’s gaudy or garish. Cassidy wouldn’t mind using it to pull the man into a deep, needy kiss before stripping that pinstripe vest off of his strong, yet elegant body. Hell, he wouldn’t even mind bending him over the railing to rail him.
Cassidy finds himself wondering if that strange sensation he felt was actually a pre-emptive arousal, like his body knew Hanzo was nearby. Hell, how could he not be, with the way his fellow bounty hunter presents himself in the presence of such high-class company? There’s absolutely no denying that Hanzo’s looking fine as ever, and Cassidy is going to reveal his lustful hand if he isn't careful.
“I must say,” Hanzo says, barely loud enough for Cassidy to hear him. “It’s quite unlike you to be so on-edge….jumpy, even.”
“Hard not to be when my Hanzo-senses are a’tinglin’.” He silently kicks himself for saying something so stupid. It sounded so much better in his head, but it’s too late now. The words are out of his mouth, and he hopes that his fellow bounty hunter has no follow up questions or statements. But knowing Hanzo…
Of course, the man laughs incredulously and shakes his head. “Really, Cassidy?” He says flatly. “Your ‘Hanzo-senses’?”
"What?" Cassidy grimaces, feeling his face heat as he continues to regret his word choice. "Not my fault I can pick you up within a country mile.”
"Perhaps you're right," Hanzo shrugs. "If I'm so easy to detect, I should work to correct that."
"Speakin' of, what are you doing here anyway?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Hanzo snides cryptically.
"Yeah, I would," he deadpans. "That's why I asked." Cassidy pouts for a moment while Hanzo responds.
"I could ask the same of you."
Cassidy overlooks the crowd below again, watching them enjoying their cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. No one here seems to have a care in the world, including the person that has drawn Cassidy here in the first place; that person who’s unaware of the position in which they'll be finding themselves.
"C'mon, Hanzo," Cassidy smirks, unmoving his gaze from below. "This is the Étoile Gala. Anyone who's anyone is here tonight. And lots of those anyones have a lotta enemies."
"High paying enemies, at that," Hanzo adds. Cassidy slowly turns his head to look at him, smiling smugly.
"So you do know why I'm here." He scoffs lightly. "Smart man as always, Shimada." His sideways glance meets the sideways glance from the man beside him.
"And a smartass man as always, Cassidy."
The two men fall silent, the roar of mingling attendees still coming from below. After that initial reunion, neither of them know what to say, it would seem. Cassidy’s not surprised, just deeply disappointed. They haven’t seen each other in well over a month, maybe closer to two, yet Hanzo hasn’t called or written or tried to make any other kind of contact with Cassidy. Then again, Cassidy had many chances to do the same and also didn’t. Such is the life of a “complicated” relationship, Cassidy silently resigns with a sigh. The impatient tapping of Hanzo’s brown shoe against the epoxy floor pulls him out of his thoughts.
"Well, I hate to chat and run," Hanzo continues, eyes glued to the silver watch on his wrist, "but I have business to which I must attend. Surely you do as well.”
“Always somethin’ to do, that’s for sure. You goin’ to the dinner?”
“I plan to.”
“Well, maybe I’ll see ya there.” Cassidy says. He’s half joking, but half of him actually hopes that he’ll be able to catch up with the other bounty hunter. Hanzo laughs.
“Perhaps.” Hanzo gives a small, polite bow. “I must take my leave.”
Cassidy tips his hat. “See ya around.”
Cassidy watches Hanzo turn and walk away. As good as Hanzo’s ass looks in those well-tailored slacks, Cassidy would just love to pull them down around his ankles and have a little fun. Hanzo must sense the man’s lusty gaze, because he turns his head back and scoffs with a stern glance. Cassidy abruptly looks away with an awkward cough, trying to brush off the fact that he was obviously staring. He swears he can hear Hanzo saying, “That’s what I thought," as he begins to walk away again.