“Ow!” The thwack to their head didn’t actually hurt, it wasn’t Ash’s goal to concuss him or anything, but it didn’t stop Leo from flashing them a petulant look. Though they were currently complaining about their sister, Leo tended to think the two of them were more family than some of their siblings, and it regularly showed during moments like this. “Jesus Christ. We don’t talk about women that way.” He repeated, holding back the eyeroll that he wanted to pair with it - if it put Ash at ease, he could follow instruction. Regularly, Leo forgot that some language was deemed as offensive, merely grouping everyone together in one big asshole category - but he could learn. He was open to it, at least, though it was doubtful that the word would leave his vocabulary at any time. He’d just aim it towards more deserving people.
Gnawing on his bottom lip, Leo took in just how distressed Ash looked. He felt powerless to do anything to help them, damage between Ash and their sister clearly already done - even if they looked and acted different, it baffled him that this Grace Connor could forget her own sibling. Leo couldn’t stand most of his family, would love to forget some of them, but couldn’t if he tried. “You didn’t do anything fuckin’ wrong. You did what you had to to survive - it makes you, like, smart, dude. And really fucking strong.” Leo insisted, worrying over how downtrodden and shaken up Ash seemed to be. Usually, Leo viewed them as larger than life, idolising them in a way he’d never really done before, but now they seemed so incredibly small. He wasn’t an expert when it came to words of comfort, but he’d always been fiercely loyal and protective, heart and stomach twisting at the sight. “A gift card’s kinda wild though. For where? Somewhere good, I fuckin’ hope, she kinda owes you big here.” In the back of his mind, Leo had already taken note of their sister’s name. Grace Connor. Easy to remember, probably just as easy to find.
Grinning fondly, Leo dutifully filled Ash’s shot glass with Crown Royal - the wine could be saved for nursing later, when they were already drunker than they should be and wanting to keep the buzz going. “You love me,” he snickered, pressing his forehead against theirs momentarily, “and everything’s gonna be fine. Just trust me - I know my shit. I got you, ‘kay?” Though he was primarily known for his biting personality, Leo could be gentle when he needed to be - mostly, for those he genuinely loved and cared about. It was easy, actually, to be soft when one felt so safe, Leo had come to learn. Lifting the bottle, Leo cheers’d them with a quick, “Masel tov!” before taking a shot straight from the source.