Chapter Text
*******
Andrew sat in the Barons’ lounge pre-game, the entire team assembled as Michaels went over the season-opening game with the Detroit Racers (assisted by Myers and Oliver). Jean sat on his right and Ray on his left as their coach went over the line-up yet again, and there were the usual mutters at Andrew being the goalie in the second half of the game despite the fact that Riley had backed Michaels’ call on choosing him over Miller.
“All right, get out there and win,” Michaels finished as he clapped his hands. “Show them you’re still the best.”
The team more or less called out ‘yes, Coach,’ in unison as they stood and gathered their racquets before lining up according to their numbers; Andrew’s ‘3’ had been taken by Jean, of course, and someone had found it amusing to assign him ‘13’ instead, not that he was superstitious or gave a fuck.
After playing at Castle Evermore, he was used to being in a large stadium, but the noise from the crowd in all the seats (it was a sold-out event) made him blink as the team half-jogged out onto the court. The Barons were a beloved team because of their winning seasons and growing popularity, and it was predicted to be a good game to watch since the Racers would attempt to make up for their lack of skill with rough play (they hadn’t found a star player to replace Riko, may the prick rot in hell).
There were some boos mixed in with the loud cheers, probably from the Racers’ fans, though Andrew supposed some of the noise was directed his way because of the whole ‘coming out’ thing; he’d been busy with interviews leading up to the night’s game, both as a rookie player and as a ‘trailblazer’ despite the fact that a few other Exy players had come out over the summer break as well (including a couple of former Trojans). At least the Barons’ security team was doing their job and keeping any negative signs down to a minimum.
In the end, he didn’t give a damn because he was being paid to guard the goal, not be that ‘trailblazer’, so he joined the team in warming up and ignored the people in the stands – well, most of them. What mattered to him was the one person way up in a VIP box, probably busy chirping in some foreign tongue and under the watchful eye of at least one well-armed bodyguard (he better be under the very watchful eye of at least one well-armed bodyguard). Neil had received permission to miss out on a little practice and attend the opening game of the season, probably because Ichirou had a use for him.
Still, it meant that Neil was there to watch Andrew’s first professional game, would attend the post-game party with him and be in town for the weekend, before Andrew (and Jean) had to leave for a game in Boston and then Newark.
His boyfriend wasn’t the only one in town to watch the game, since Renee had called him the other day to let him know that she and Reynolds were flying in for a few days while Reynolds did some prep work for the upcoming fashion week in another month or so. They had plans to meet for brunch tomorrow, and would see if their schedules would match up another time before they both had to leave the city.
Bee had been unbearably smug when Andrew had mentioned that he’d have people watching his first game in person when she’d called earlier to wish him good luck.
(He supposed he should consider himself ‘grateful’ that she wasn’t up in the stands with some awful sign to cheer him on; she was busy getting things ready for the upcoming semester.)
He sat on the bench when it was time for the game to start, Ray next to him once again and Ben Zhan, a sub striker on his left side. “How bad do you think tonight’s gonna be?” Ray asked as he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.
“The Racers will try to take out the starting players, they always do,” Ben warned, his broad face set in a disapproving frown (once a Trojan, always a Trojan). “That’s why I’m glad we’ve got so many black birds out there right now, they don’t go down easily.” He smiled at Andrew while he made an abortive motion with his right elbow. “Sort of like you Foxes, tough as nails.”
“We’re not a bunch of weak turtles,” Andrew drawled, which drew the usual whining complaint from Ray, who grinned none-the-less at the slur against his former college team. Ben’s point was proven as Jean, Ally, Thom and Rory easily withstood the abuse that the Racers attempted to hurl at them, and Andrew imagined that if Neil was out there, he’d be taunting the assholes while he ran across the court.
Several red cards were handed out, all against the Racers, and a couple of yellow cards against the Barons before half-time, with the Barons leading by five points. Jean had taken a nasty body-check around the middle of the second quarter, which meant that he was raring to get back out on court (and prove his worth).
“And I thought Neil was an idiot,” Andrew murmured in French as he watched Jean hide a wince as the brooding bastard stretched his spine.
“I don’t want to hear it from someone who’s been sitting on his ass the past forty minutes or so,” Jean snapped. “At least you’ll have to work for once soon enough.”
“Probably, since you’ll let those assholes waltz on up to my goal.”
A muscle in Jean’s jaw twitched as he stared straight ahead. “I can only hope that the weekly sessions with Dobson somehow help Neil enough so he finally recognizes his truly appalling taste in lovers, but I know I’ll never be that lucky.”
Andrew gave the overly-dramatic bastard the finger, which made Ray laugh and go on about how the two of them were such great friends; Jean groaned as if in pain and buried his head in his hands while Andrew spent the rest of the break dwelling on just how his boyfriend was going to make up him suffering through this absurdity.
Once the game resumed, Andrew was out in the goal with Jean and Ray acting as defense, at least at first. Despite his comment from before, the French backliner (and Ray) did a good job of blocking the Racers’ offense from the goal, so Andrew had no problem shutting down the few shots which did come through. The crowd grew louder and louder when it became clear that the away team wasn’t going to score any more points in the second half.
As his first professional Exy game, he supposed it wasn’t a bad one.
The Racers weren’t the friendliest when it came time to do the post-game handshake, while some of the Barons who’d been standoffish with Andrew were all smiles and friendly pats on the back (or attempted pats on the back). He got stuck with a couple of short interviews (Daniels had coached him beforehand to say more than ‘it’s my job’, but they were still short) and then he could finally shower and change into the outfit he’d brought for the post-game party.
“Not bad for a lazy gargoyle,” Jean remarked as they left the stadium together. “Keep it up and you’ll be starting goalie soon.”
Andrew didn’t say anything in favor of lighting up his third cigarette for the day; he knew Jean was so obsessed with the starting line-up because the Frenchman was Moriyama property and so had to prove his worth out on the court, and that it was meant as a compliment. That Jean was looking after him (and Neil). Still, it grew wearisome to hear all the time.
They drove separately to the venue, some restaurant that Radcliffe had part-ownership in a few blocks from the stadium (and so not too far from home), where Andrew allowed the team’s captain, Willem Barkley, to buy him a drink for such a ‘good game’. He’d almost finished it when Neil (shadowed by Bren) finally arrived.
A few of the Barons called out to Neil as he made his way toward Andrew and Jean, pausing to give the French bastard a hug before sidling up next to Andrew; there were shadows beneath his pale blue eyes and a tremor to his smile which meant that he’d been heavily involved in Moriyama ‘business’ that evening. “Congratulations.”
Andrew clicked his tongue as he fought the urge to pull Neil close and check him for any signs of injury. "It's just a game."
The comment wrung an exasperated sigh from Neil. "I can't understand how someone so talented can care so little about something," he complained before he shook his head. "But whatever, let's not argue tonight." He leaned against the bar next to Andrew, an elegant display of lean limbs in the expensive, tailored black clothes he wore. "What did your friends and family think of the game?"
"More stupid congratulations," Andrew admitted; he'd checked his phone before he left the stadium and there'd been several messages and texts from former teammates, Wymack, Nicky and even Aaron. "Though Kevin's still upset that I didn't join the Sirens." That drew a scoff of disgust from Jean.
"Of course." Neil smiled a little at that as he motioned to the nearest bartender and ordered a water with lemon when the young woman approached. "He'll have to live with the disappointment."
"Hmm." Andrew flicked his fingers to indicate that he'd take another whiskey when the bartender glanced his way, while Jean held up his empty wine glass. "My heart, it breaks for him."
"I'm sure it does." Neil glanced around the crowded restaurant then shrugged. "These things are so boring," he commented in French.
Andrew agreed, especially considering Neil's dislike of drinking in public. "We're out of here in half an hour." When both Neil and Jean frowned at that, he shook his head. "They're lucky I showed up at all, half an hour is my limit."
“I actually feel sorry for that poor woman stuck doing your PR,” Jean muttered as he accepted a fresh glass of wine from the bartender. Yet for all his griping, Andrew noted the concerned glances he kept sending Neil’s way and knew his teammate would be relieved when Andrew got Neil out of there, got him somewhere safe and quiet where the little bird could rest at last.
Soon enough the Ravens’ season would start, Neil’s final one as their captain and in the Class I division, and between preparing for the upcoming games and dealing with Ichirou, Neil was clearly exhausted. Andrew wasn’t looking forward to traveling with the Barons, but between his team’s schedule and the Ravens’, there would be weekends when Neil would remain on campus (when even Ichirou would leave him the hell alone), when Marley and Dan would make sure that he stayed off the damn Exy court long enough to get some sleep.
The three of them drank and chatted in French (more Neil and Jean for the latter) while people wandered around them, content to ignore the crowd while those thirty minutes ticked down. Neil managed to snag a tray of chicken satay sticks and nibbled on one while Andrew and Jean ate the rest (Jean made his ex-partner eat another one before they were all gone), and then a beaming Ray came over with his wife, who was about half his size.
Andrew waited until the introductions were finished before he snatched at Neil’s left sleeve and pulled him away from the bar with the comment about it being past a certain birdy’s bed-time, and ignored Ray’s loud complaint as they left.
“I see you’re hard at work forming important bonds with your teammates,” Neil said, his voice bright with laughter as Andrew all but dragged him from the restaurant.
“Be quiet or I’ll form a ‘bond’ around your neck with my hands,” Andrew warned, which of course made the idiot laugh even louder. He clicked his tongue over how his threat was dismissed so easily and refused to show any emotion when Neil smiled at him while they waited for the valet to fetch the Ferrari (though there was a spike of annoyance when some damn paparazzi took a picture of them standing there together).
He paused in climbing into the car to make sure that Bren had left the building, too, already on his way to the SUV parked down the street, before he slid inside and fastened the seat belt. Once settled behind the wheel, he pulled out into the street and headed home.
“Such a long day,” Neil sighed as he rubbed at his eyes as if they pained him in some manner. “But I’m glad I got to see your first game.”
He would have been up early to practice before he flew to New York and put up with a bunch of Moriyama bullshit, then a short bit of the party on top of it – not to mention all of the practice during the week. “The team should be ready for the season,” Andrew chided as he navigated the city’s traffic. “You freak out like this every year.”
“I’m not… argh!” Neil looked ready to smash his fists into the car’s dashboard before he seemed to think better of it and let them fall into his lap instead. “I’m working with Ethan since he’ll be taking over as the captain next year, there’s been a lot of press around since this is the last year of there being any ‘Perfect Court’ on the team and the whole ‘wow, look at all the players who’ve come out now’ thing, and… and it’s just been busy,” Neil finished as he slumped down in the seat. “On top of making sure the team’s ready for the new season, which they are.”
Andrew didn’t say anything for about two blocks. “How are things with Bee?” He didn’t ask Neil what the two talked about during their calls, just as Neil didn’t ask about his own sessions, but it was his way of checking to see if his boyfriend was still going through with the therapy.
Neil rubbed at his eyes again as he sighed. “I don’t… some days I wonder if it’s doing me any good, but I suppose it’s helping?” He didn’t sound very certain about that as he gazed out at the street ahead. “I mean, she’s good at calling me on my shit in a ‘are you sure about that’ way that actually makes me feel bad, of all things.”
That was Bee for you. “You deserve it, considering the insane stuff you do.”
“I don’t want to hear it when she probably perfected the technique after dealing with you for these last few years,” Neil shot back as he twisted around enough to glare at Andrew. “You’re an asshole.”
“And you’re an idiot martyr.” Andrew rolled his eyes when his oh so mature boyfriend stuck out his tongue. “Way to disprove the ‘idiot’ part there.”
“Least I’m not a lazy goth bastard.” Neil hummed as he slumped against the seat and closed his eyes in time to miss the middle finger held up in his direction. “Tired.”
“Yes, being an idiot is so exhausting, I’m sure.”
“Why am I here?” Neil whined as he rubbed at his face.
“Because your junkie ass had to watch me out on court.” Not that Andrew cared at all about that fact, that Neil had gone out of his way to be there that night.
“You’re right, I am an idiot.” Neil gave a breathy laugh when Andrew gave him a light smack on the top of his head then was quiet for the last minute or two it took to reach the apartment building.
Since Neil was so tired, all they did was make out a little once they undressed and got ready for the night; when Neil fell asleep, Andrew stayed up a while longer to read, stretched out next to him in bed. If it weren’t for the fact that he could still feel the slight burn in his muscles from all the effort he’d put into the game earlier, he’d think it was some sort of a dream – the quiet apartment, the comfortable bed, Neil asleep next to him.
But he was stuck playing stupid stickball and had a flight on Monday morning, so he supposed that he had to accept it as reality.
He woke up when Neil attempted to sneak out of bed in the morning (probably to run around the trees with Jean), and took some smug satisfaction in keeping the foolish bird in place with kisses that soon led to much more pleasurable activities. Since they were meeting Renee and Reynolds shortly, Neil grabbed some toast and Andrew ice cream (it was the weekend so he didn’t give a shit about any ‘official diet’) to hold them over until they reached the restaurant where Reynolds had made the reservation for some fancy brunch.
“Hmm, Jean thinks you’re a horrid influence,” Neil informed Andrew as he checked his messages while his precious tea steeped, in-between bites of toast.
“Somehow I’ll find the will to live on.”
Neil smirked at the comment then licked at the crumbs coating his full bottom lip, which made Andrew almost bite down on the spoonful of ice cream as something twisted inside of his chest; over a year of… whatever between them, of being ‘together’, and the bastard could still affect him so damn much it was ridiculous. “Your strength inspires me. Meanwhile, Marley’s decided to have a scavenger hunt on campus this weekend ‘to help the freshmen learn the layout’.” He finished the last bite of toast with a pleased grin then went to fix the tea. “In other words, there’s going to be a lot of running around for stupid stuff for some people.”
“I thought that Dan wasn’t a fan of hazing,” Andrew said as he threw away the empty carton of ice cream.
“She’s not, so she’ll keep Marley and the others from getting too much out of hand, but she also thinks that Mike’s still a bit of a hothead while Diana needs to learn to speak up for herself, so she’ll most likely watch over everything and see how it plays out before she steps in, just like Coach.” Neil shrugged as he leaned against the counter with the mug held between his hands. “You have to admit, Marley’s damn good at pushing buttons but she doesn’t set out to hurt anyone… well, anyone who’s a teammate. She merely wants to smack Mike down a bit and teach him his place, and prove to the others that just because they’re low-ranked doesn’t mean they don’t have a voice.”
Andrew went over to stand in front of his lover, to reach out and tap his right index finger against the ‘4’ tattoo on Neil’s left cheek. “To toe the line but not be a doormat?” To be a good little Raven but not a broken little bird.
Neil’s gaze grew solemn as he tilted his head to the side, though a slight smile curved his lips when Andrew cupped his tattooed cheek. “Basically. I know you hate the whole pairing system and… well, you hate everything about the Nest and Castle Evermore, but we’ve done what we could to salvage the good parts of it. Discipline’s not always a bad thing.” He sighed when Andrew scoffed at that statement. “It’s why we win, you know.”
The fact that the Ravens recruited some of the best players in the division might have something to do with it, but Andrew wasn’t going to argue about such stupid things right then (or ever). “Not my team, not my concern. Finish your muddy water so we can leave.”
Neil gazed at him for a couple of seconds before he closed his eyes, much like a child trying to pretend that the big, scary thing would go away if he couldn’t see it. “I really do need to start making better life choices,” he said in a quiet, contemplative voice as if thinking out loud.
Andrew scoffed at that bit of nonsense. “You? As if that’ll ever happen. Now get moving, Josten.”
Whatever those words were being said in Russian, Andrew was rather certain they weren’t anything good. Hmm, he needed to download an app or something to start learning the language before Monday since it would give him something to do while traveling.
After a bit of glaring and swearing in incomprehensible languages (for now), Neil finally finished his tea and went to change into the outfit that Andrew had picked out for him to wear (no black, nothing Ichirou-bought) so they could leave. Neil looked good in dark grey skinny jeans and a deep blue knit jersey that showed off all the hours he spent out on court, while he gave an appreciative smile at Andrew’s all-black outfit.
Renee was easy to spot because of her hair, now dark pink with streaks of various shades of lighter pink and purple through it, like an autumn sunset complete with a golden sunburst clasp holding back some of the colorful strands from her smiling face. Next to her in her bo-ho glory (long, ruffled and lacy white skirt with a soft blue cardigan) was a regal Reynolds, dressed in some sharply tailored black pant suit and blonde hair twisted up into some complicated bun. She appeared ready to go out and take over half the city at any moment, haughty as hell and convinced that no one could stand in her way.
Some things never changed, Andrew supposed. Also, Renee owed him for this.
Neil glanced at the two women and came to a stop well behind Andrew as if using him as a shield while Renee got up to give Andrew a quick hug once he nodded in approval, then did his best to shuffle his chair as close as possible to Andrew’s once they sat down at the table – Andrew in front of Renee, Neil in front of a grinning Allison. The idiot’s obvious (to him at least, and Renee judging from the slight crease between her dyed brows) discomfort both annoyed and did that damn warm twisting thing inside of Andrew; Neil had no reason to fear Renee and could indeed look after himself, yet he clearly had picked up on the fact that Renee was more than she seemed and trusted Andrew to handle her.
“All right, I’m just going to say it, I still don’t get how someone like you, Minyard, landed a prime cutie like him,” Reynolds drawled as she stared at an uncomfortable Neil.
Andrew tapped his fingers against the butter knife laid out on the table as he gave Renee a narrow look. “Have your awful choice of a girlfriend stop eye-fucking my deplorable decision of a boyfriend before I’m forced to do something about it, such as remove her eyes,” he said in an even tone.
Reynolds arched an elegant eyebrow at that while Neil sighed and hung his head, yet Renee merely smiled. “I don’t think it’ll come to that.”
“Did I just hear the mo-ah, Minyard say the ‘b’ word?” Reynolds asked as she leaned back in the chair, her attention finally diverted from Neil. When Andrew merely stared back at her, she grinned. “Ha! That’s another bet I won!” Appearing pleased with herself, she pulled out her phone and started texting someone as their server approached the table to take their drink orders.
Reynolds ordered a pitcher of some sort of bellinis for the table, along with a virgin drink for Renee; Andrew waited for Neil to ask for one as well, and was surprised when nothing was said. “You’re fine with that?” he asked in German once the server left.
“Uhm, they’re not too strong, usually.” Neil glanced up from the menu and gave him a slight smile. “Besides, these are your friends.”
Well, that was stretching things with Reynolds, but despite her being a bitch, she could be (mostly) trusted. At least, Andrew could trust Renee to rein her in, if need be. “You better order something other than oatmeal,” Andrew said as he tapped their menus together.
“Uhm, how about some granola instead?” Neil said with a straight face as he read the menu, then laughed when Andrew gave him a narrow look. “What?”
“Never mind, I’m not letting you order.” Andrew snatched the menu away despite his boyfriend’s faint protest, then gave a smirking Reynolds a blank stare. “Yes?”
“If I’d known all it would take to make you semi-human was a cute redhead, I’d have kidnapped him during that first-“
“Allison,” Renee interrupted with a chilling smile while Neil stilled next to Andrew, who was debating if the fork was sharp enough to be shoved down Reynold’s throat or not. “What did we say about behaving today?”
“What?” Reynolds asked with a sour expression. “It was a joke, mostly.”
“I think you’re the only one who found it funny.”
It was quiet at the table until the server returned with their drinks and a basket of bread and pastries; Reynolds was quick to grab a glass, and even Neil didn’t hesitate to toss back the tart alcohol. The server remained to take their orders, and Neil smiled when Andrew ordered the buckwheat pancakes with fresh strawberries for the idiot, and the croissant French toast for himself.
Reynolds rolled her eyes at that, which earned her a slight nudge in the side, and got some boring egg white omelet with spinach and feta, while Renee also got the buckwheat pancakes, only with bananas and walnuts. After the young woman left with their orders, Reynolds began to talk about the fashion line she was working on and the pieces she’d designed for the upcoming fashion week.
Andrew found that he didn’t mind it too much, sitting there (the alcohol and sweets helped) while she and Renee talked about their work (more charity stuff for Renee) and their lives in Paris (Neil would comment about the city a time or two, since his past wasn’t a big secret anymore).
By the time their food arrived, Renee asked Andrew and Neil about how things were in their own lives, which meant that the conversation slowed down a little. Neil was hesitant at first to talk about the Ravens, cautious in regards to Renee and uncertain about Reynolds until they asked questions about Dan and Marley, which helped to put him at ease. Andrew didn’t have much to say other than New York didn’t suck too much and that he still hated Exy.
“You know, I almost didn’t bet that you’d go on to play it professionally,” Reynolds confessed after she ate the last bite of her omelet. “But I figured that if you could put up with Kevin and his obsessive ass, then there was more going on than was obvious.”
The ‘more going on than obvious’ sitting next to Andrew shifted in his chair as he glanced between Reynolds and Andrew. “Just how much do you Foxes bet on?”
“Too much.” Andrew huffed as he tapped his left fingers against the table. “Best get the lousy girlfriend into some sort of rehab program before that gambling problem gets out of control, Christian Girl, that or trade her in for a non-defective version.”
Reynolds glared at him while Renee smiled. “I think we have it effectively managed,” she told him. “And I’m happy with Allison.”
“Damn right she is, you miserable bastard,” Reynolds muttered. “You can bet on it.”
“Oh, Ally…,” Renee groaned while shaking her head in disappointment while Reynolds had the gall to smile with pride, and all the while Neil gazed on with growing horror before he turned to face Andrew.
“And you wanted me to become a Fox? Really?” he asked with evident dismay.
“Hey!”
Andrew threw his napkin in the dramatic little shit’s face. “You’d have fit right in and you know it.”
“Thanks so much.” Neil grimaced as he set the napkin on the table. “So happy about that.”
“I think you would have had fun as a Fox,” Renee said as she toyed with a strand of her hair. “We might not win championships, but we do enjoy ourselves.”
“Yeah, no psychos in charge,” Reynolds added, then seemed to realize what she’d said when Neil went still, Andrew took to glaring and Renee’s smile slipped. “Shit, I didn’t mean that.”
“Why? It’s the truth,” Neil murmured as he pushed aside his plate despite the fact that there was still some food on it. “Not like it’s a big secret, either.”
Andrew had shoved his chair away from the table with the intent of tugging Neil along to leave when Reynolds slowly stretched out her right hand. “No, it isn’t,” she said as she gazed at Neil with a slight smile, all artifice stripped from her face. “Just like it’s no secret that my parents basically disowned me, that they hated the fact that I dared to do something they disproved of, something so ‘common’, and that I was starving myself in an attempt to appear perfect before I said ‘fuck it’ to them and everyone else who couldn’t accept me as I was.” When Neil remained seated at the table and gave her a slight smile back, she lightly patted his hand and settled in her own chair. “It sucks when everyone knows all these personal things about you, but it’s not everything, it’s not what’s really important, and despite all the bad, something good came out of it, right?” She glanced over at Renee and grinned.
“Yeah,” Neil agreed as he leaned back in his own chair and smiled at Andrew, his expression genuine that time.
“If I have to sit here and listen to this shit, I need more alcohol,” Andrew complained even as he held out his left hand (beneath the table) for Neil to grasp.
“Such a bastard,” Reynolds complained while Renee did her beaming crap, but waved over the server to order another pitcher of bellinis (Neil and Renee asked for hot tea) – Andrew ordered rum-flavored bread pudding as well.
Renee and Reynolds talked some more about various Foxes after that, with Neil and even Andrew adding a comment here and there (they were amused about Marley dating Robin, and about Kevin’s ongoing attempt to win back Thea’s affections). It wasn’t Andrew’s favorite way to spend a Saturday afternoon (not even in the top 50), but he supposed it hadn’t been awful.
“Your friends are weird,” Neil commented as they drove back to the apartment building.
“I don’t want to hear it from the person whose friends consist of armed thugs, a melodramatic Frenchman and a fellow Exy junkie,” Andrew all but sneered.
“What’s your point?” Neil asked with a deadpan expression, only to smile when Andrew gave him the finger.
“Besides, Reynolds isn’t a friend.”
“Hmm, if you say so.” Neil checked something on his phone and shook his head. “Guess Bren’s happy, at least, he said the place had excellent waffles.”
Somehow, this was Andrew’s life.
Since it turned out that Renee was too busy to meet up with Andrew again that weekend (not a big deal since she’d be back again soon enough with Reynolds for some stupid fashion event), Andrew spent the weekend with Neil when his boyfriend wasn’t chirping for a certain insecure little prick or running around with a moody Frenchman. They hung out in the apartment, content to avoid the damn paparazzi and relax as much as possible before Andrew was caught up in the professional season and Neil with his last year in university.
“Good luck tomorrow,” Neil told Andrew before he prepared to fly back to Edgar Allan on Sunday evening. “Try not to drive Jean too crazy and keep winning games.”
“Hit Marley with a racquet for me,” Andrew countered.
“Maybe.” Neil’s smile wavered before he slowly leaned in for a goodbye kiss. “If you shut down the goal for me,” he offered before their lips met.
That had possibilities.
Andrew should be used to Neil walking away by then, to them spending a week or two (or longer) apart, but the closer it got to Neil being finished with the Ravens, the more impatient he became with the whole ‘long distance’ thing. Just two more semesters, less than a year and they’d be stuck on the same shitty flights together, that he’d be rooming with a martyr little bird rather than a gloomy French bastard.
He went to have a drink to deal with the fact that such a thing was an improvement in his life.
*******
“Josten, that was a particularly brutal game out there tonight, any comment to those who say you’ve something to prove out on court?”
Neil could see Coach’s wince halfway across the room, along with Dan’s exaggerated disbelief, so he schooled some sort of mild expression on his face while Marley snorted in derision. “I, along with the rest of the Ravens, always have something to prove on the court, such as we’re still the best, but I suppose you could say tonight was about the fact that Breckenridge was oh so kindly throwing in our faces the fact I have a boyfriend and Marley a girlfriend, and somehow thought our choices in partners meant we were lesser players.”
“Yeah, like we haven’t been kicking butt all season long, and the past four seasons before that,” Marley added. “But it’s a new year so they, along with a few other teams, feel like they need something else to go on about in the pathetic hope it’ll give them some sort of competitive edge.”
“It’s clear they’re not going to win any other way.” Neil picked at the electrical tape wrapped around the base of the mic stand while both he and his partner nodded. “I kind of understand their frustration since it has to suck, always losing to us, to always being second-best, but they need to start dealing with all those feelings of inadequacies with more practice sessions or something, not by being a bunch of homophobic assholes.”
“Misogynistic homophobic assholes,” Marley clarified as she folded her arms over her chest.
“Misogynistic homophobic assholes with lousy defense.”
“Yeah, I mean, what’s up with that?” she asked as she turned to Neil while Dan’s face was buried in her hands and her shoulders shook, several reporters’ jaws hung open and a few others’ faces were lit up as if they’d just been given a present of some kind. “Did they lose a bet with the football team and have to take their rejects in or something? I swear a couple of those backliners tried to tackle-“
“All right, we’ve a bus to catch,” Noguchi called out as he half-dragged Dan through the crowd of reporters (with Janna trailing along a few steps behind). “That’s all for tonight.”
“Why do you always have to be rushing us out of interviews like that?” Marley complained once they were out in the hallway.
“See this?” Noguchi pointed to his head while scowling at her and then Neil. “The grey’s increased since I took on this coaching job, mostly because of you two.”
Neil had noticed that there were more grey strands in the last year. “I’m really good at applying hair dye, if you want any help.”
“Yeah, he helped Kinley, Allie and Teagan dye their hair red and black for Homecoming!”
Noguchi stared at the two of them for a few more seconds before stalking off while muttering in Japanese about lunatics.
“You two need to give poor Hiro a break,” Dan scolded as she slowly draped an arm over their shoulders and urged them down the hallway toward the bus which waited to take them back to campus.
“I don’t know why you think we’re picking on him,” Marley complained. “And he’s going to miss us so much when we’re gone.”
“Only because you’re teaching Ethan and Bailey to be just as bad and he can’t yell at you when you’re in New York and Seattle,” Dan said with a knowing smirk.
“Why do I get blamed for everything?” Neil asked as he stepped outside, goosebumps forming on his arms from the slight chill in the air; it was mid-October and he hadn’t worn a jacket for the interview, not when he’d still been overheated from the game and shower. At least it was a short walk to the bus and Bailey was quick to throw his jacket to him when he went past her seat.
Dan just waved him on while she sat down near Noguchi, which meant that Neil and Marley went on to their regular spots in the back for the ride back to Edgar Allan; Ethan and Bailey came back for a while to tease them about the interview while he checked his phone for any messages from Andrew (still busy with his own game – at least the Barons were winning) then noted that the Foxes had won against the Terrapins (Marley did a fist-pump in the air).
Marley chatted with the other players while Neil made himself comfortable (he missed Jean so much right then, missed having his partner’s dependable body to tuck up against) and drifted in and out for a while, content that Marley would block anyone from reaching him (content with the knife in his pocket). He was tired from practice and classes and the game, from spending most of the previous weekend translating conversations and documents at Ichirou’s mansion.
They stopped for a late night ‘snack’ and a chance to stretch their legs at some twenty-four hour rest stop where Neil got a bottle of green tea and vitamin water, respectively, and a granola bar. Marley huffed at that while she grabbed some fancy energy bar and a caffeine drink, but he just wanted enough to keep him up while he texted with Andrew for a little longer about how displeased his boyfriend was to have to share another hotel room with Jean (who was sure to complain the next day).
He missed Andrew so much, but he should be back in New York the following weekend, and in a few more weeks it would be Thanksgiving break. As much as Neil hated trying to match up their two schedules, the year was going by quickly between his senior classes, all the attention on his final season as a Raven – and a ‘gay’ player at that – and ensuring that the team would be fine once he moved on to the pros.
As expected, there was some harassment from the other Class I division teams over him, Marley and even Brian coming out as gay (Marley as asexual and Brian as bisexual), but the Ravens weren’t the only team to draw attention – for once. The Trojans had several players step forward as well – current and former – which seemed to prompt announcements from other teams, too. Not so much from certain divisions (the Midwest or Southcentral), but Breckenridge would face some censure from the ERC considering that players from the Hornets, Terrapins, Cavaliers and Jackrabbits had come out, let alone the Foxes – that was a good bit of the Southeastern division, so it wouldn’t do to have such negative publicity on display over the other teams’ failure to respect ‘diversity’.
It had been commented in one article that there had obviously been gay players in sports from the start, and now that someone had been ‘brave’ enough to step forward (to be outed and not deny it, more like), they weren’t going to hide any longer. Exy was new enough and different enough that the fans, a young demographic overall, were accepting and even embracing the players, while the rest of the professional sport leagues were watching to see what happened before any of their players risked their careers.
Since it was raining on Saturday, Neil sat on his bed when he talked to Andrew instead of sneaking out on the roof. “Excited to play Kevin on Tuesday?” He knew that Jean was looking forward to the game, at the least to match skills against Thea.
“I’m about to block him, he’s been calling me so much,” Andrew complained. “First he yells at me to make sure I’m practicing enough then he wants to know if I’ll have time to spend out on the court with him.”
Someone didn’t seem to realize that they weren’t on the same team anymore, did they? “To think you missed your chance to sign with the Sirens, I’m sure you’re so broken-hearted about that, aren’t you?” Neil teased as he laid back against the pillows stacked along the bed’s headboard.
“Imagine that, there’s something worse than being stuck with Moreau and you,” Andrew drawled, which made Neil smile. “Speaking of which, what are you doing today, other than tormenting Bren?”
“Hmm, I’m giving him and Janna a break since I have a paper to complete,” Neil admitted. “Just gonna stay in the house to work on that and some other stuff for my classes, especially since I’ll be with you next week and it’s our game with the Foxes the weekend after that.” Marley already had the freshmen lined up to keep them stocked on tea and snacks, and Dan was going to drop off some sushi for them to eat that night from their favorite place.
Andrew was quiet for a moment before he clicked his tongue. “Just studying? No extra ‘assignments’ or time out on the court?”
The question would make Neil frown if he didn’t know that Andrew’s concern was justified, or that his boyfriend was asking him rather than going to Bren or Marley. “Just studying,” he swore, “though if I get everything done early enough, I won’t complain about a chance to do a quick skirmish out on court.” He laughed when Andrew clicked his tongue again. “Some of us find it fun, you know.”
“Some of you have taken too many hits to the head, too.”
“Probably, but I’m honestly trying to stay on top of all my homework for once. Next semester should be easier, at least for classes.” The championship season schedule would be a challenge, but he just had to wrap up a couple of classes to finish his degree.
They talked a little longer, mostly about plans for the next weekend (Andrew said he’d make reservations at the one Cuban restaurant Neil liked) before Neil returned to working on his paper. After about twenty minutes, Marley came back from wherever she’d gone to talk to Robin (probably one of the lounges) with mugs of tea for them both.
“How’s SMF?” she asked as she joined Neil on his bed.
“Looking forward to returning to New York tomorrow.” Neil smiled as he accepted the tea. “I’m sure Jean’s going to have a long list of complaints when we talk later.” It amazed him how much his boyfriend hated to travel, unlike his partner, who reveled in being able to explore new cities after all the years restrained by Tetsuji’s (and Riko’s) tight leash. Yet Andrew would often indulge Jean by tagging along to various restaurants and museums (he said it got him out of the stupid team-planned events) – that was, if a certain ex-Trojan striker wasn’t in the same city by ‘chance’.
Marley snickered into her tea before she took a sip. “I love the pictures posted of the two of them – it’s like a dwarf and giant walking together whenever they’re out on the town.”
“You would find it funny, you tall freak.” Neil gave her a gentle nudge in the side once she lowered the mug. “How’s Robin? Tired of dating a reprobate like you, yet?”
“Hmm, no, she’s still under my wicked spell.” Marley waggled her eyebrows a couple of times while she grinned. “It’s going to be so nice to see her again.”
Now that Marley was ‘out’ as well, she could spend occasional weekends with Robin (and Meg) in South Carolina, and of course had been happy about the Fall Banquet. “She’s going to be lonely after this year,” he said, thinking of how difficult it was to move on without seeing Andrew at the games and Exy events.
“Yeah.” Marley’s smile slipped as she slumped down to rest her head on his shoulder. “But we’ll meet up whenever we’re able, and she’s made friends with a couple of freshmen and some Vixens so she won’t be alone even after Meg graduates and joins the Richmond Rebels with Kenny.” She gave a slight chuckle as she held the mug cradled between her hands. “She told me that her mom’s joined a local PFLAG group and is really getting involved. Guess she feels like she’s accomplishing more that way than some therapy group for parents of kids who were abducted.”
As someone who talked to a therapist once a week, Neil could see the attraction of being more proactive than just working through issues, especially after spending the last few weeks dealing with Stuart’s death with Betsy’s help. “Maybe her mom feels that it’s time to move on and that Robin would benefit more from that.”
“Yeah, that’s what Robin thinks, too. She’s just happy that her parents are accepting everything and our relationship.”
“Even if they’re not planning her wedding just yet?” Neil teased before he hid his smile behind the rim of his own mug.
Marley groaned and gave his left thigh a light punch. “Don’t go there, okay? Else I’ll start asking the MF if he’s going to make an honest Shorty out of you when you graduate!” She groaned again as if in pain and closed her eyes. “My mom means well, I get it. I’m the only one of her four kids in any sort of committed relationship – me, the one who never even dated before! Malcolm and Maddy are too involved in work while Max is such a heartbreaker, so apparently I’m her best hope of a wedding anytime soon.”
Neil was so glad that he was an orphan. “I think I can arrange for a faked death as a graduation present.”
“Really?” Marley sat up with a hopeful expression on her face. “Maybe not that I’m dead, but just… missing for a few years? Long enough for Malcolm or Maddy to notice some hot coworker or something? I can go play in Canada or Japan until then.”
“We’ll talk some more after I finish this paper,” Neil promised, then grimaced when she gave him a wet kiss on the cheek. “Gross.”
“You know you love it and me,” Marley said before she went over to her own bed to do her homework.
Neil scrubbed his cheek dry with the back of his left hand while he finished the tea, and checked an incoming text from Jean complaining about how Andrew insisted that they go out for ice cream before their game that evening. He reminded his friend that it was only for one season and then he’d be stuck rooming with the sugar addict, to which Jean replied that the current season couldn’t end quickly enough.
Smiling at the thought of the coming weekend when he could spend time with his boyfriend and best friend (and listen to them complain about each other in person), Neil set the phone aside and focused on his paper once again.
*******
“Christmas with the fellow psycho, huh?”
Andrew eyed his pack of cigarettes but decided not to have his second and last one of the day just yet; there’d been a few hints from the Barons’ coaches about him giving up the habit entirely as a New Year’s resolution, but he felt that only having two a day was more than acceptable until Neil graduated and was around on a regular basis (was there to serve as an adequate distraction). “Christmas with the strumpet’s family, huh.”
“I’d object to that name, but she actually finds it amusing when you call her that, you know,” Aaron informed him. “She’s even thinking of getting a shirt with it on it.”
That was… mildly disappointing. “If only I’d known in time, I would have gotten that instead of a gift card to Walmart for her,” Andrew lied – well, about the gift card (it was Starbucks since he’d heard enough complaints about how tired his brother and Katelyn were all the time because of their insane class and study schedules and so were constantly inhaling caffeine).
“Such a giver you are,” Aaron stated in a deadpan manner. “Makes me wonder why we’re not going to New York for the holidays. Oh, right, so I don’t have to witness you sucking face with your fellow psycho.”
“I’ll be sure to send you some pics and videos since I’m a giver,” Andrew ‘promised’ as he went to make some hot chocolate. “Help liven up the strumpet family visit.”
Aaron sighed in an extremely exaggerated manner. “It could be worse, I could be dealing with Erik and Nicky pawing at each other every two minutes,” he declared in a forlorn manner.
“They’re going to be posting pics of that shit online and spamming us with them via texts,” Andrew warned as he grabbed the milk from the fridge.
“Fuck. That’s it, I’m turning my phone off after this call. You need me, send smoke signals or a carrier pigeon, I’m going stealth until after the New Year. Have a Merry Christmas and lots of fun with Josten,” Aaron wished him before hanging up.
And that was that, Andrew supposed as he set his phone aside (and debated blocking Nicky because the pest probably would spam the heck out of it with perverted pics of him and Erik which were supposedly ‘festive’ – yes, for a bacchanal, maybe) so he could concentrate on the hot chocolate before Neil returned from spending some time with Jean (supposedly at some French Romantic artist exhibit at the Met, but he suspected that there might be some shopping snuck in as well).
He’d just finished preparing his drink (with some whiskey thrown in) when there was a knock on the door; he went to open it and wasn’t surprised to find Bren on the other side. “If you lost a certain birdy, I’m not helping you find him.” Not with how crazy the city had become in the last couple of weeks thanks to all the tourists visiting for the holidays.
Bren chuckled at the remark as he stepped into the apartment. “Nah, he’s busy hiding your presents right now in the other flat, which you didn’t hear from me.” The large bodyguard groaned as he rubbed at the small of his back and headed straight to the kitchen, where the bottle of whiskey was still left out, and helped himself to a full tumbler of the stuff; Andrew didn’t complain about it since Bren had been stuck out in those crowds watching over his boyfriend for the last few hours. “Fuck me, but it’s a mess out there. Red was getting squirrelly in the crowds, we had to leave the Met early so they’ll probably go back after the holidays to see the rest of the exhibit.” Bren paused to drain about half the glass of the potent alcohol as if it was water. “Might want to cancel tonight’s plans.”
In other words, Neil wasn’t in any shape to go back out; Jean was probably doing his best to calm Neil down before he came over, intent on honoring their plans for dinner on Long Island as an excuse to drive Andrew’s new Maserati Levante S GranSport. “He’s an idiot,” Andrew said as he added more whiskey to his own beverage.
Bren winced at that remark but didn’t argue. “He hates letting you down.”
Neil was spending his winter break with Andrew (aside the times when the insecure little prick required a little bird to chirp and tweet), so that wasn’t an issue. “He should know better by now.”
“Yeah, well, for some reason he has a soft spot for you.” Bren grinned before he finished his drink. “I know, I’ll see myself out and tell Janna we’re doing a movie marathon tonight.”
Andrew didn’t bother with resetting the alarm since he knew Neil would be stopping by soon enough, especially when Jean sent him a text about ‘pushy fans’. Anger welled up inside of Andrew as he read it, as he imagined Neil stuck out in public as strangers dared to step too close, to not respect his personal space… but there wasn’t anything he could do since he hadn’t been there, could he? The fans tended to give him space because despite Daniels working with him the past few months, he still had the dangerous reputation and was known to be a standoffish asshole, while Neil was the precious Raven #4 who smiled for the camera (had been taught by Tetsuji and Riko to behave when out in public so the Moriyamas could make even more money from him).
He had a pot of tea brewing when Neil snuck into the apartment, quiet on his feet but betrayed by the faint ‘beep’ of the alarm going off at the front door opening. Andrew turned around in time to watch a hollow-eyed Neil enter the kitchen, dressed in his Foxes hoody and loose sweatpants with damp hair (he had soaked in the tub) and bare feet.
“Hey,” Neil said, voice almost as quiet as his steps.
“Hey,” Andrew echoed as he held out his arms, an invitation for an embrace which Neil eagerly accepted; not quite terrible, then, but still not good.
They stood with their arms wrapped around each other for about a minute before Neil pulled away, his eyes downcast. “How long until we have to leave?”
Andrew pushed him toward the counter. “I cancelled the reservations,” he said while he poured the tea for his idiot boyfriend. When Neil blinked at that, he motioned toward the fridge. “I can either make something or we can order in.”
Neil hesitated again before he hopped up onto the counter. “You wanted to break in the new car.”
“We have over a week to do that.” Andrew handed him the mug then poured the last of the hot chocolate into his own. “Take-out?”
A grateful smile slowly spread across Neil’s handsome face. “Yeah, anything but Chinese.”
He’d been at the one restaurant because of Ichirou for the first two nights of the holiday break. “Italian it is,” Andrew decided as he reached for his phone so he could order some cheese lasagna for himself and lobster raviolis for Neil, along with stuffed mushrooms and lots of garlic bread. Once that was done, Neil talked about how Jean was busy packing for his flight in the morning, so he could spend the holiday with Jeremy and the man’s family.
“Jeremy’s talking about coming out next year, he’s tired of waiting for his contract with the Sea Lions to expire and honestly? He doesn’t know how he hasn’t already been outed, considering how much of his off-time he spends with Jean.”
Andrew gave a slight shrug as he opened a bottle of wine for them (mostly him) to enjoy with dinner. “No one on the team’s going to be surprised when Jean finally announces that they’re dating.” There were always a lot of eyerolls and knowing smirks when Jean told them that he had plans with Knox or the man showed up at a Barons’ event as Jean’s ‘plus one’, but Jean was too respected as a player (and, to be fair, a person) for anyone to give him (too much) grief. Andrew still received the occasional catty remark from an older player or two, but it was clear that upper management supported him being on the team, that the fans weren’t abandoning the sport because he and other players had come out, and the Barons were well on their way to another championship season.
No, at that point, people disliked him because he’d proven himself better than them, that his stats as a rookie goalkeeper were among the best in the league (top three overall, actually). Riley was still the starting goalie, but once the older Baron had his turn in the goal, then Andrew took over – and Michaels had made it clear that if anything happened to Riley, that Andrew was the starting goalie.
He supposed the only thing that kept the veteran players from hating him outright was that he (along with Jean and the rest of the black birdies) let it be known that he was willing to wait until Riley retired in another season or two to take the man’s place, to put in his ‘dues’. Riley just wanted to hang in a little longer, bank some more money and then bow out, while Andrew wasn’t in any hurry to work too hard.
He and Neil watched a ridiculous horror movie while they ate since he wasn’t in the mood to put up with stupid holiday ones, Neil tucked against his side and sleepy after eating all those carbs (even if Andrew had finished his raviolis and ate most of the garlic bread). It might not be the same as driving around in a nice new vehicle, but as he’d said, they had other nights to do that, had so many more chances to do it (he was daring to believe that at last, damn Bee).
The shadows were gone from Neil’s pale eyes the next morning, which meant that Andrew kept him there instead of allowing him to go running around Central Park in too-tight spandex, kept him in the nice, warm bed where Andrew made him shiver and moan with his hands and mouth, made that lithe body arch into his touch while his own desire coiled tighter and tighter inside of him. The sound Neil made when Andrew finally thrust into him, such a shuddering, drawn out gasp… he closed his eyes to savor it as well as the incredible sensation of warmth engulfing him as he sunk in deeper, of wiry limbs wrapping around him (to let go at the quietest of words or briefest of glances).
“Drew… oh hell, more,” Neil pleaded as he bucked his hips, a hint of blue gazing at him from between heavy-lidded eyes. Andrew leaned in to nip at his lover’s full bottom lip as he tangled the fingers of his left hand in Neil’s sleep-tousled curls, his right hand braced on his boyfriend’s hip as he began steady and deep thrusts.
The brush of Neil’s dry lips against his jaw, his neck, made him tremble as pleasure jolted through him, as did the gentle scratch of nails along his scalp and shoulders. There was the tickle of his name breathed into his left ear, the press of strong thighs against his hips, tightening heat around him… all of it dragging him deeper into a mire of ecstasy that stole away all breath and thought until he was drowning in it, in the sensation and the passion-darkened blue of Neil’s eyes.
He couldn’t even hate the loss of control when the orgasm finally hit, the slight gasp that slipped free or the lethargy which had him slump against his lover, which made it all right to just rest until his heartbeat slowed down and limbs felt like working once again – especially when Neil stroked fingers through his hair and along his upper back in such a soothing manner.
“Hmm, nice,” Neil said in a sleepy manner.
“’Nice’?” Andrew repeated with disdain as he managed to lift his head. “Do you feel as if there could be room for improvement?”
The smile on his lover’s lips just then was too innocent to be trusted. “Would I ever?” When Andrew’s eyes narrowed, it took on a wicked edge. “Well….” Neil laughed when a hand was shoved in his face while Andrew sat up. “Aw, I was just going to say that another round would make it perfect!”
“Someone’s greedy,” Andrew complained even if he somewhat agreed, a bit bemused at how one day Neil was content with merely being near each other and another he was up for repeated rounds of sex; he supposed it was a sign that Neil was indeed exerting that ‘yes or no’, wasn’t letting Andrew force him into anything.
“Uhm, can’t we go with ‘very satisfied’?” Neil offered as he followed Andrew into the bathroom.
“Damn right.” Andrew pulled the smiling idiot into the shower. “You’re going to buy me breakfast,” he insisted, mindful of Neil’s reactions to see if it would be delivered or if they would go out to the one restaurant which made the waffles he liked.
Neil’s expression brightened even more, so he took that to mean that the trauma from the day before had been… well, settled for the time being. “Oh? And what do I get for it?”
Andrew started the water flowing, nice and hot, before he kissed his too-noisy little bird quiet. They got clean eventually, with Neil a bit wobbly on his feet (and definitely no complaints) by the time they were done, and dressed for the cold weather with Neil in a thick grey sweater and jeans while Andrew dressed in his usual black.
Bren complained about having to go out, which wasn’t much of a surprise. “At least you’re not up at the crack of dawn,” he said while Janna gave him a kiss on the cheek, happily dressed in sweats for what looked to be a day spent in the apartment.
Neil pulled the hood of his dark grey coat (some gift from his cousin, Jamie) over his head before they left the apartment building in an attempt to hide his hair (Andrew wore a black wool cap), but there were only so many short young men in their neighborhood, and the ‘4’ tattoo was a dead giveaway. They ran into a few people who recognized them on the way to the restaurant, people who wanted to take their pictures and to chat about Exy for a minute, which Andrew allowed from afar but the moment they got too close (that they appeared ready to touch Neil), he glared at them and said in a tone thick with reproach that they were out on personal business so go away.
Two women grew offended at the statement, but for the most part, the fans apologized for bothering them then thanked them for the pictures they’d already taken before moving on. Neil was quiet until they reached the restaurant and were seated. “You could get in trouble for that,” he said in German.
“For what? I didn’t tell them to fuck off right away, only when they failed to respect personal space.” Andrew leaned forward with his elbows on the table and gave Neil an intent look. “You may owe that prick money and loyalty, that doesn’t mean it allows other people to touch you, do you understand?”
For a moment something dark and violent flashed across Neil’s face, made his jaw tense and eyes flare, then he shook his head. “I don’t let them… not exactly.”
“You stand there and ‘smile’ while they throw their arms around you for the sake of a damn picture.” Andrew had seen the pictures and wanted to stab the people who posted them in the eyes. “No more.”
Neil held his gaze for a couple of seconds before he glanced away and fumbled with the napkin set out in a fancy fan pattern on the table, which was right when their server, a young man with his hair pulled back in a ponytail, came over to take their order; Andrew got his chocolate, chocolate chip waffles and Neil a bowl of stone-cut oatmeal with lemon curd and blueberries. The guy left to return with their drinks, which was when Neil sighed as he slumped in his chair.
“I… don’t like it when they do that, but what about you and Jean and-“
“No more martyr bullshit,” Andrew gritted out through clenched teeth. “You tell them to take a pic from a distance but you’re not their friend, Neil. If they want you to sign shit or pose for a buddy pic, they can pay for it at some special fan event – that should make the insecure little prick happy, no?” That was what he’d worked out with Daniels and Radcliffe, after all – he wouldn’t be ‘unnecessarily’ rude to the fans, but if they wanted more than a casual pic of him and a ‘polite’ (for him) hello, then they would pay for it.
It was quiet for several seconds and then a wobbly smile spread across Neil’s too-damn handsome face (Andrew knew why everyone wanted to cozy up to his boyfriend, and it wasn’t because of some damn stickball sport). “Okay.”
“Damn right,” he grumbled as their server returned with his hot chocolate and the little bird’s tea, just in time to falter as that smile strengthened.
He heard a few people mention their names while they ate and was certain pictures were taken as well, but for the most part, they were left alone during the meal. Since they were out, they stopped by the one nearby grocery store to pick up a few things, where Andrew’s cold stare kept everyone but a teenager wearing a Baron’s jacket from approaching them for a picture.
Later on, Ichirou interrupted things by calling Neil away for some meeting, but Jamie had him back by the time Andrew had finished the stuffed shells with vodka sauce he’d made for dinner.
“Carbs again?” Neil asked as he shuffled into the kitchen after changing out of the dress clothes he’d worn to Ichirou’s downtown office (one of Andrew’s Barons’ sweatshirts and pajama pants). “The break’s not going to last that long, you know.”
“Hush,” Andrew chided as he pointed a spatula at his boyfriend. “I can always try something with that ‘veggie pasta’ crap.” As expected, Neil grimaced at the idea. “I thought so.”
“I suppose I should be grateful there isn’t chocolate in this,” Neil sighed as he sat down at the small table.
“I’m saving cheese enchiladas with mole sauce for New Year’s Eve,” Andrew informed him, and ignored the pained moan from the Exy junkie.
Ichirou left Neil alone after that, busy with his own holiday plans, which meant that Andrew and Neil got to enjoy some peace and quiet. After the last few years spent in Columbia with his brother, cousin and Kevin, it was a bit of an adjustment to have so much ‘personal space’, to only have one other person around (though there were calls and texts from Nicky, Bee, Renee, Kevin and even Aaron despite his claims to shut off his phone – and messages from a few Barons as well, such as Ray). The two of them spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the apartment, content to lounge around, to read (mostly Andrew) and draw (Neil) in-between watching movies or talking to their friends and family (more Neil) and cooking.
Neil bought Andrew an elegant wool coat for winter (he suspected that Jean had helped with the selection), a couple of cashmere sweaters and some new armbands that appeared to have been custom-made, while Andrew bought a variety of sweaters and shirts for Neil in colors other than black and red (more clothes to replace the Ichirou-bought ones).
He didn’t care about the presents, they weren’t important, it was more having someone there to smile at him when he woke up, someone who left him alone when he just wanted to read in peace yet handed him a cup of hot chocolate or coffee when he wandered into the kitchen a couple of hours later and showed him some ridiculous text from Marley or Jean or Bren. Someone who allowed him his space (who respected his boundaries) but who clearly enjoyed his company all the same.
Someone who made him think that there would be more (many more) such Christmases in the future.
“Thank you for the dealership gift card,” Bee said when she called on Christmas. “It’s too much, really, but now I can get new tires and brakes and have some leftover.”
“Take advantage of having one of your broken things making it to the pros,” Andrew told her while he leaned in the kitchen doorway with a mug of spiked hot chocolate in his hand and watched while Neil sat on the couch and texted with someone (probably Marley, considering the occasional grimace).
“You know I don’t like the ‘b’ word,” Bee chided.
“Fine, ‘dented and dinged’,” Andrew corrected with an eyeroll.
“Much better.” Bee hummed with delight for a moment and he could hear Wymack and Abby’s voices in the background. “How are things there?”
He stepped back into the kitchen before he answered. “We’re making sushi for dinner tonight, so I may be done in by spoiled fish of all things.” That drew a laugh out of Bee, as he’d expected. “It’s… it’s not bad,” he admitted.
“Meaning it’s good. You deserve good, Andrew, the both of you do. Accept it and enjoy your lumpy sushi rolls – spending the holiday together like this is such an important step for the two of you.”
Part of him knew that, and part of him insisted that it was just another day, that it wasn’t any big deal. “I think Wymack should cut you off now.”
“Ha! We’ve hardly touched the good stuff, I’ll have you know.” In the background, Wymack could be heard shouting ‘merry Christmas you miserable midget’, followed by Abby yelling at him to not say such mean things. “I do hope you have a wonderful holiday, Andrew – you and Neil.”
“We’ll manage somehow,” he assured Bee. “Same to you and Abby, though your best chances lay in ditching the old man as quickly as possible.”
Bee laughed at that and promised to call him on New Year’s Eve, certain he’d survive the sushi-making attempt. Andrew grunted before he hung up and went over to the couch to see what his little bird was up to, and frowned when Neil held up his phone to show what appeared to be a Patel family photo: there were two older people, three younger adults and a miserable-looking Marley, all of them gathered in front of the most garish-looking Christmas tree Andrew had ever witnessed (so many lights) and wearing matching hideous holiday sweaters (all bright colors and snowflakes and did they light up?).
Andrew stared at it for a few seconds before he clicked his tongue. “Send it to me.”
Neil appeared surprised by that but complied. “Uhm, why?”
“Because I’m going to send it to Nicky.”
Neil’s fine brows drew together at that answer and he nibbled at his full bottom lip for a whole five seconds before he gave in to his curiosity. “Okay, why?”
“Because it’s going to drive him crazy trying to top it next Christmas,” Andrew informed his boyfriend; his cousin wouldn’t rest until he outdid the Patel’s Christmas tree and found even more hideous versions of their sweaters, and when he sent Andrew a picture of the results? He’d send it off to Marley (or more accurately, to Robin so she could send it to Marley’s mother), and so escalate the holiday war up another level.
It provided him a slight amount of amusement.
Neil seemed to figure that out after a couple of seconds, and after opening and closing his mouth a couple of times, fixed Andrew with a cold stare. “No holiday sweaters, ever.”
“Fuck no,” Andrew agreed.
“No tree over three feet all.” That was the height of the small tree that Neil and Jean had currently in their apartment – already pre-decorated and lit. Andrew had the impression that they’d gotten it as an attempt to ‘fit in’ with the holidays and had no clue what to do with it, really.
“I’m not stomping around in the cold to cut down some monstrosity and deal with pine needles all over the place,” Andrew insisted. “Or bothering with more than putting something in the corner and plugging it in each year.”
“Okay.” Neil set his phone aside and turned on the couch to better face Andrew. “I don’t… I mean, it’s about… well, the holiday… I don’t….”
Andrew slowly reached out to slide his hands around his lover’s hips and, when Neil nodded, pulled him onto his lap. “Screw tradition, it’s what we make of it, right?” After being disappointed all those years in foster homes, after all the terrible memories of the day… he was willing to create something new with Neil.
Sometimes one of Bee’s many lectures stuck.
“Yes,” Neil readily agreed with a smile. “It’s about us,” he breathed out before he leaned in for a kiss.
That was perfectly fine with Andrew.
*******
“It’s just not the same without the runt here,” Bren complained as they made their way to the Away locker room at PSU. “I mean… who do we threaten?”
Janna knocked her right elbow into her boyfriend’s side while Neil stifled a grin even as he agreed with his friend. “Uhm… you can try to threaten Meg, but she may beat you up for doing it.” A year or so he would have found such a statement ridiculous, but his friend really had been working hard on standing up for herself and her self-defense skills, so he wasn’t surprised when Janna nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Bren scoffed and shook his head. “Not gonna threaten a sweetheart like her, but maybe those gits who give her such trouble?” When Neil and Marley nodded in approval, he grinned as if they’d given him a present while Dan sighed and covered her ears in an attempt at denial. “Smashing!”
“Get ready for the game so I can go talk to Wymack and pretend I don’t know a damn thing,” Dan proclaimed, but she ruined it by tousling Neil’s hair and fist-bumping with Marley before she went to check that the freshmen were doing all right.
They were back at PSU for the first round of championship games – the Ravens had placed first in the division, with Breckenridge second, followed by the Foxes and Blackwell in fourth place. As usual, the Foxes had a rough start to the new season after Andrew, Aaron and Nicky graduating, causing them to lose a few games, but they soon adjusted and Neil expected them to do much better in the championships – not enough to win, but to at least place well.
He was learning to deal with the stress better, helped in part by everyone’s ‘support’ (yelling at him to not overdo it). The main goal was still to end the season undefeated, which was obtainable due to the fact that the Trojans and the Foxes weren’t at their peak because of personnel changes, but he wouldn’t take anything for granted until the final game was won.
The Ravens quickly changed out in the Away locker rooms and met up in the lounge for Noguchi to give them a simple yet heartfelt prep talk, followed by Neil and Marley going off for the pre-game interview where they answered questions and seemed to surprise the reporters by not tearing into the Foxes; they were honest by saying that the Foxes weren’t as strong as previous years with Andrew in the goal, but the team was still in contention for the finals and never one to underestimate.
They returned to the Away locker room to find two guests waiting for them – Betsy Dobson and Robin Cross. When Neil gave Betsy a slight smile, Marley ran toward Robin and engulfed her in a hug while the gathered Ravens watched on before dragging her off into the women’s locker room for some privacy.
“Ah, let’s go… here?” Neil said to Betsy as he motioned toward the men’s locker room, all the while shooting Bren and Janna a narrow look to have them wait in the lounge as he also wanted to talk to the psychiatrist privately.
“That’s fine.” Betsy, dressed in a PSU sweatshirt and an orange skirt that reached her ankles, smiled at him and waved to Dan before she entered the locker room first. “You look well. How are things?”
“Fine.” Neil winced a little and shook his head. “Ah, they’re going all right,” he admitted as he went to his locker to fetch a bag he’d brought from New York to hand it to the woman. “This is from Andrew.”
“Thank you.” Betsy gave him a pleased smile as she accepted the gift bag and reached into it for the wrapped box; Neil and Andrew had been in Chinatown when Andrew had spied something he insisted was ‘perfect’ for the therapist, a glass-blown Kirin with gold highlights which Neil had taken great care bringing to South Carolina. “Oh, it’s beautiful,” Betsy exclaimed once she unwrapped it.
“I’m glad it’s still in one piece.” Neil exchanged a smile with her while he sat down on a bench. “Andrew will tell you that it’s nothing, but he put some thought in selecting it.”
“Of course.” Betsy was careful in wrapping it back up and putting it in the bag. “And how are you? Is everything going well? It’s the championship season, after all, and Andrew’s even busier traveling now.”
He was used to Betsy’s insightful questions at that point and shrugged. “I wish I could spend more time with him, but I remind myself that it’s just a few more months at this point. The breathing exercises you’ve taught me help when dealing with the playoffs, and really, the Foxes and the Trojans are still building up their teams after losing their most valuable players, and they’ve always been our main competition. I tell myself to look at the stats before I work myself up – well, me and Dan and Marley and Noguchi and everyone else,” he admitted with a bit of ruefulness as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Betsy gave him an approving look while she nodded. “I know it’s difficult for someone like you who’s so used to doing everything by yourself, but you have a very strong support structure there, Neil. And while I wish the Foxes were ready to storm the playoffs, I’m not going to argue with your assessment,” she agreed with a rueful smile. “What makes me very proud right now is that you are listening to others, that you’re accepting their input and help. Just keep remembering that you’re not alone, all right? It doesn’t mean that you have to accept their help for everything, but know that they’re there when you need them.”
“I know.” Neil nibbled on his bottom lip as he twisted his hands in the hem of his Ravens jersey. “Andrew won’t let me forget that, either.” He huffed when Betsy laughed at the remark. “Yeah, I think if he doesn’t call me ‘idiot’ then something’s wrong.”
“Andrew has a unique way of showing affection.”
“Or something,” Neil said, and shook his head when Betsy’s smile slipped. “I’m not arguing with you, not when he’s always been there for me. I might not always agree with how he’s been there for me, but I know that much.”
Betsy’s smile returned as she held up the gift bag. “I’m grateful that you acknowledge that, and that’s on a personal level, not a professional one. I feel the two of you will have to work on that some more, but the main thing is that you know you’re there for each other and the how… well, the how can use some fine-tuning, no?”
“Yes,” Neil agreed as he stood up. “But we are working on it.”
“Which is the most important thing in any relationship.” Betsy hesitated a moment before she held up her arms. “May I?”
Neil hesitated as well before he nodded, and was surprised by how pleasant it was when Betsy hugged him. “I feel that the best thing that could have happened to each of you is that you two met,” she continued as she stepped back. “And that’s a personal opinion.”
“I do, too.” Neil smiled as he motioned toward the door. “So, any conflict when it comes to cheering tonight?”
Betsy laughed as she gave him a gentle rub to the middle of his back. “I’ll wish both teams the best and leave it up to the fates.”
He nodded at her answer, which seemed very diplomatic considering everything, and glanced around the lounge to find that Marley wasn’t there while the rest of the team was waiting to go out onto the court to start their pre-game activities. Sighing a little over having to fetch his vice-captain, he headed to the women’s locker room with Ethan and Bailey falling in step behind him.
Upon opening the door as slowly and quietly as possible, he found Marley and Robin wrapped up in each other, entwined in an embrace where they exchanged light kisses while stroking their hands over each other’s heads and backs in gentle, stroking manners. He had to admit it was decidedly less heated than what he and Andrew had been ‘caught’ in after being away from each other after a month or so… but still, they were holding up things so he started to bang his fist against the nearest locker without any remorse.
When Marley and Robin jumped away from each other and gaped at him, he gazed back without expression. “We do have a game today, you know. And it would help if you’re not consorting with the enemy, you tall freak.”
Right away, a stern-faced Ethan jumped in. “I think they call for the firing squad down here when you do that.”
“Oh no, I believe tar and feathering is more appropriate, all things considered,” a disapproving Bailey suggested. “Can we tar and feather her, Captain?”
Robin’s eyes grew wider and wider with each suggested punishment while Marley’s face grew mottled with anger, until she muttered a curse beneath her breath and stalked out of the locker room with Robin in tow. Once out in the lounge, she spun around to face Neil, Ethan and Bailey while the Ravens grouped around them.
“Such a traitor,” Kinley said with blatant condemnation. “Sleeping with the enemy.”
“I don’t know how I can trust her anymore,” Mohit proclaimed while he shook his head in disapproval.
“Fuck. You. Fuck all of you,” Marley spat. “All last year Neil played around with the monkey fucker and now you’re giving me shit about Robin? Really? I should-”
She finally seemed to realize that the Ravens were grinning at her, including Neil, and threw her hands up in the air. “You’re all assholes, you realize that? Assholes.”
“Yeah, but you love us,” Neil taunted as he approached to give her a hug, which she grudgingly returned while Robin slowly smiled as it sunk in that it was all one big joke.
“And you sorta deserve it, after making a bunch of us hustle for the past few years,” Ethan pointed out with a grin.
“Yeah, yeah.” Marley waved off the critique while Robin hid a smile behind her hand. “Be thankful that this is my last year, you ingrates.”
“Hmm, this is rather interesting, seeing an assertion of dominance in the Raven hierarchy – it makes me wish I could be around a bit longer,” Betsy remarked as she adjusted her glasses. “However, I do believe there is a game that I need to watch instead.” She gave Neil a ‘thumbs up’ sign before she left, along with Robin after a quick kiss with Marley.
Meanwhile, Bren wandered over from his spot against the one wall to nudge Neil in the side. “Pretty bad sign when the psychiatrist is fleeing, no?” he joked while Janna gave Marley a consoling pat.
“I think basically everything to do with us is a bad sign,” Neil admitted. “Now let’s get going.” Noguchi was yelling that to everyone else in the lounge, while Dan must be off talking to Wymack again.
The Ravens headed out onto the court for their pre-game prep (with a slight detour for Neil and Marley to give Meg a hug and a quick hello), and soon enough the game began. As expected, the Foxes put up a good fight but they lost by seven points; Robin and Hayes did a decent job in the goal, but they weren’t Andrew. Still, they did better against the Ravens than Syracuse or Binghamton, and it was their only loss in the first round of playoffs so Neil was confident that the Foxes would advance another round or two, and make it to the semi-playoffs most likely.
Sooner or later they’d give the Ravens a real challenge, could be the team that broke Edgar Allan’s winning streak or stole the championship from them, but Neil was determined that it wouldn’t be that year – he was doing everything he could to ensure it wouldn’t be next year or the year after that, either, when Ethan and Bailey took over. The stats weren’t there for the Trojans or the Foxes to pull an upset while he remained the Ravens’ captain, but he wasn’t going to take anything for granted and he did his best to give the team’s future captains everything they needed to continue the Ravens’ legacy.
He refused to let it be said that he let them down (to let Ichirou believe him to be a failure).
“Don’t work too hard,” Marley ordered as she gave him a hug when he went to shower and she, along with Ethan, was off for the post-game interview; he and Bren had to catch a flight to Chicago where he would be busy with some marketing campaigns for Brine Racquets and Nike, while she was staying at PSU with Robin and Meg (and Janna) until Sunday.
“Don’t cause too much trouble,” Neil told her, then rethought that. “Don’t get caught, okay?” He walked away to the sound of Marley’s laughter and washed quickly so he didn’t miss his flight, once more taken back by the individual shower stalls at PSU; he tried to remember when showering in front of other people had bothered him, that rush of embarrassment over revealing his scars and nudity to strangers, but the emotion had long been burned away by painful experience at the Nest, like so many other things.
What would it have been like if he’d joined the Foxes instead of being dragged off to Edgar Allan? He thought that something would have happened between him and Andrew regardless, but what about Jean and Marley? What about Stuart and-
Neil forced such ‘what ifs’ out of his mind because it didn’t matter in the end.
Bren took advantage of the free drinks on the flight to Chicago, as well as the mini-bar in their hotel suite (back at the Langham) while Neil chatted with first Andrew then Jean before going to bed. The next day was busy, was full of photo shoots where he endured the outfit changes and people fussing with his face and touching him to arrange the clothes or pose him this way or that; he’d officially signed with the Barons right after the new year, so there were even a few pictures with him wearing Barons gear.
Kelly Daniels had been assigned as his official PR agent and flown out to Chicago to oversee the campaigns, even if Neil was still a Raven at the time. The young woman worked with the photographers and argued about a few shots, especially when it came to the Barons gear, and surprised him by calling for a couple of breaks.
She came over during one of them with two take-out cups in her hands, one of which she handed to him. “Andrew says that you like tea. Is black okay?”
“Yeah.” Neil accepted it while Bren gave the woman, dressed in form-fitting dark blue jeans with bright red velvet combat boots and a matching velvet blazer over a black t-shirt, a considering look. “Uhm, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She took Bren’s looming presence in stride and gave Neil a considering look of her own. “You’re quiet, but in a different way than Andrew. I can tell you’re used to doing this stuff, which makes sense because your photos definitely sell, but you can speak up more, you know. Don’t let them boss you around so much.”
Neil didn’t say anything as he fussed with the cup of tea because… what could he? Ichirou told him where to go and he went, and that was never going to change, no matter what Andrew said or wanted.
Kelly stood there for a couple of seconds and sipped what looked to be some sort of coffee latte before she sighed. “Okay, so that’s why you have me now.” She actually grinned as she tapped her black-painted nails against the cup. “Trust me, I don’t have a problem yelling at these guys, not when I’m now in charge of one of the most popular players in the league. Just don’t threaten to stab or fire me as much as your boyfriend does and we’ll get along fine.”
“Oh.” Neil thought about that and offered her a slight smile in return. “I think that’s doable. Besides,” he pointed at Bren, who stood there with his arms folded across his broad chest. “He usually does the threatening for me.”
“I like tea, too,” Bren said with what might be considered a friendly smile.
“Let’s be honest, he really likes whisky but tea will do in a pinch.”
“Huh.” Kelly eyed Bren for a couple of seconds then shrugged. “Two teas next time, whisky’s saved for the bar or a really shitty day, and you’re still not the worst client I’ve dealt with.” She gave them both a slight nod then went off to yell at the person in charge of the wardrobe about something.
“Not bad,” Bren said as he snatched at Neil’s tea for a sip.
Neil let Bren drag him off to some fancy steakhouse for dinner (‘I promised the runt that I’d make sure you ate for once’) before they returned to the suite where he soaked in the tub before going to bed. The next day was an early flight back to Charleston, where he got in a quick skirmish on court before settling down to do homework.
Marley showed up when he’d just finished a short essay in Russian, all mopey about having to leave Robin again, so he listened to her whinge for a short while before kicking her off his bed so she could do her own homework. Later that evening, they’d just finished dinner with Ethan, Bailey and Dan when Quentin appeared with a puzzled expression on his face. “There’s some guy here to see you two.”
Neil tossed the last bit of clementine into his mouth while Marley set her phone aside, which she’d been using to show pictures of Robin and Meg to Dan. “Who is it?” she asked, sounding more curious than suspicious (Neil was definitely suspicious).
“Jeremy Knox.” Quentin knew the name because of Jean, but seemed just as confused as the rest of them as why Jean’s boyfriend was at the Nest instead of New York or San Francisco.
It was quiet at the table for a moment, and then both Neil and Marley scrambled to their feet, quickly followed by everyone else. “Oh, I have to see what this is about,” Marley muttered.
“It better be good news or else we’re going to finally find out how to fit a body in the incinerator,” Neil said. When Dan gave him a disapproving look, he glared back. “It’s about Jean.”
“Yeah, one for all and all for one, homicide or whatever else it takes,” Marley agreed. “We’re hardcore and loyal as fuck.”
“You’re budding psychopaths, is what you are,” Dan informed them with scathing disapproval. “I refuse to believe that the correlation here is me, I’m willing to bet the insanity and general bloodthirstiness level of this team are going to sharply drop once you two maniacs graduate.” She gave a pointed look to Ethan and Bailey as she spoke.
“Uhm… and I’m willing to bet we can fit Knox’s body in the incinerator, he’s not that big,” Ethan argued with a sheepish grin while he motioned in the air with his hands as if measuring something.
“Will we use any power tools to chop him up? I love power tools,” Bailey stated with a hopeful expression.
Dan’s expression crumpled for a couple of seconds before she took a deep breath. “It’s not me,” she repeated. “It can’t be, Renee likes me.”
Renee also liked Andrew, but Neil kept that fact to himself – also, they reached the one lounge room where a clearly suspicious Bren and Janna were keeping watch over a fidgeting Jeremy Knox; Neil felt bad because he’d hoped to give his friends a ‘day off’ since they’d spent most of the weekend apart.
“Neil!” Jeremy called out as soon as he spotted him. “How are you! You look well! The Ravens are doing great so far, congratulations.”
“Uhm, thanks.” As always, Jeremy’s cheerful nature overwhelmed Neil even as it made the others (save the bodyguards) smile; he stood to the side while Jeremy gave Dan and Marley a hug, bumped fists with Ethan and introduced himself to Bailey.
“Why are you here?” Neil asked once that was out of the way, seeing no point in being ‘social’ when there was something that might affect Jean to be dealt with. “Is Jean all right?” He’d exchanged texts with his friend earlier to wish him a good game with the Miners.
“Yeah, he’s fine,” Jeremy assured him. “I wanted to get your opinion on something, yours and Marley’s since you know him best.”
Ethan, Bailey and Dan drifted toward the snack bar and fridge as if to make themselves less noticeable while they eavesdropped as Neil folded his arms over his chest. “Such as?”
Jeremy glanced at Bren, Janna and Quentin, who sat down at one of the small tables and made it clear they weren’t leaving, and sighed. “Right,” he said, used to bodyguards (Declan) being near Jean and seemed to resign himself to the audience. “So we’re in the playoffs now, too, which is why I’m in the area. And depending on how all the teams do, there’ll be some trading done in a few weeks, definitely over the summer. I’m going to announce in the next week that I’m gay, the Sea Lions already know, and that Jean’s my boyfriend, in hopes of getting traded to the Barons or a team closer to New York.”
Well, it had been coming, Jeremy’s announcement about his sexuality, but the ‘boyfriend’ one? Neil shared a look with a grinning Marley and let out a slow breath. “Is Jean on board with the whole ‘boyfriend’ thing?”
Jeremy took to fiddling with the buttons on the front of his pale blue shirt. “I was going to surprise him?”
“Oh wow, we won’t have to kill him, just help Jean hide the body,” Marley declared in French while Janna buried her head in her arms and Bren groaned as if in pain.
Neil could sympathize as he felt a headache begin to bloom behind his eyes. “Just why, why do you think that’s a good idea?” he managed to grit out rather than give in to the impulse to yell.
“Because it’s romantic?” Jeremy asked in a subdued voice while edging backwards, which made Neil think that there was something wrong with his face just then. “I’d wait until we play each other and-“
“Okay, first can I say that I called it? Second, how bad is the bail going to be when Jean impales this idiot with a racquet in front of a full stadium of people?” Marley asked a swearing Bren. “Quarter of a million?”
“What?” Jeremy’s face paled while Dan, Bailey and Ethan started a betting pool on the bail money.
“At least,” Bren agreed. “Depends on if the moron over there survives or not, I’d say.”
“Jean is going to be very motivated to inflict a maximum amount of damage,” Neil stated as he pulled out his phone and started texting Jamie about emergency funds. “I’m going to be motivated to go down on the court and join him.” He sent off the text to glare at the suicidal idiot. “No surprise announcements, especially in front of thousands of people, have you learned nothing in the past year or so?”
“But I… I thought he’d like-“
“No!”
Jeremy winced at having everyone in the room yell at him and sighed. “Grand gestures aren’t good?” he asked while appearing like a kicked puppy.
“Hon? Grand gestures like planning a really romantic vacation when the two of you want to get away for a weekend or a week is nice, or going to someplace special instead of just the usual restaurant are fine. Maybe springing a purchase that they really need if you can afford it and it won’t make them feel guilty, but never do the whole ‘let me proclaim my love or pop a question in front of a ton of strangers’ unless the other person is really into that shit,” Dan explained as she left the counter to give Jeremy a gentle pat on the shoulder. “I don’t know Jean as well as these two do, but I’m certain that he’s not one of those people.”
“He’s not, he’s so not,” Marley agreed. “I mean, I sorta want to see Surfer puppy try because the carnage will be interest-ow!” She glared at Dan for smacking her on the right shoulder. “But yeah, the legal fees are gonna be a bitch.”
“I stand corrected, you’re a full-blown psychopath,” Dan muttered.
“You say that like it’s an insult,” Marley sniffed.
Meanwhile, Jeremy rubbed at his temples as if he had a headache as well (good). “Okay, so no big proclamation when playing the Barons, I just still come out? That’s fine?” He gave Neil a hopeful look for some reason.
“That’s fine, do the announcement but don’t mention Jean,” Neil clarified (as if he had all the answers). “I’m sure people will figure things out soon enough, and make sure Jean knows you’re doing it beforehand.” Jeremy nodded quickly enough, which gave Neil hope that his friend was up to date with at least that much of the plan.
“Okay, I can treat him to something nice afterwards,” Jeremy mumbled, his expression a bit distant as if he was already planning something. Neil almost asked… but he figured the less he knew, the less he had to clean-up (at least right away).
Maybe Jean should have asked for Stuart to deal with Jeremy when Neil had offered….
They spent a little longer talking about where to take Jean out to dinner and then Jeremy stuck around for part of the team’s evening practice; Neil might think the man a moron when it came to relationships (and was certain Andrew would have things to say in his regard on that topic), but Jeremy was without a doubt one of the best strikers in the professional league, good enough to give Kevin Day serious competition. Neil had missed playing against him since he’d graduated, and looked forward to facing off against him in a few months… if the Barons didn’t recruit him soon.
“I should have wagered money on the damn thing,” Marley grumbled as they got ready for bed. “Why’d Surfer puppy have to ruin things by coming here to talk to us?”
“I’m not in the mood to have to bail Jean out anytime soon or flee the country with him,” Neil stated as he stretched out beneath his blankets. “Been there, done that. You can have fun running around Europe for a few years.”
Marley clicked her tongue in disappointment. “Land yourself a grumpy boyfriend and all of a sudden you have no sense of adventure, I see how it is.”
“You willing to leave Robin behind as you go off on that adventure?”
She was quiet for a few seconds. “Okay, probably good we averted the very public homicide even if it would have been fun to watch.”
He thought so.
*******
Andrew suspected something when Jean, the annoying French bastard who loved away games, wasn’t excited about playing the St. Louis Explorers during the semi-finals. That suspicion only grew when Neil was uncharacteristically subdued when talking about the game, when he wished Andrew a safe flight and good luck but used his homework as an excuse to end the call after a few minutes.
When Jean was busy texting during much of the flight, and Andrew caught sight of a familiar avatar on his friend’s phone.
He wasn’t jealous of the bond between the two men, not when Neil didn’t object to him spending time with Kevin when the annoying asshole showed up in the city with a spare day or weekend and demanded that Andrew practice with him, or called to talk about Exy or Thea – Neil still carried a bit of a grudge over Kevin abandoning Jean in the Nest, but for the most part they got along (Neil ‘played nice’). Nor did Neil object when Renee was in town, even if those ‘relationships’ weren’t quite on the same level as what Neil had with Jean and Marley.
Something was going on between the two birdies, and Andrew thought he knew what it was – one Paul Nichols, a former Raven who’d graduated right before Neil’s official start at Edgar Allan. He’d been there while Jean had grown up at the Nest and his first two years as a Raven… and from what Andrew could tell, he’d been there when Neil had arrived at the Nest.
He’d also been mentioned in Lev Federov’s online posts, but just an offhand comment about ‘joining in’ before the posts had been taken down. It wasn’t enough information to cost the man his career, especially since none of the little birds had chirped or sang a confirmation… but Andrew had filed away anything he could find out about the dark secrets that had been mostly swept beneath the figurative rug, that Neil hadn’t haltingly confessed to during their weekends at the cabin.
(Neil had told him about Riko making him choose, to it either being him or Jean and of course the damn fool martyr had offered himself up. Of course. Had sat there glassy-eyed one day and recounted a time in a hotel room, another when Marley had been forced to watch, had tried to explain why he’d made the damn deal with Ichirou. But Neil had been vague on details and names, and Andrew hadn’t been able to press because he’d barely held back the acid-hot fury inside of him as it was after hearing that much.)
(Andrew had known he’d find out everything one way or another, wasn’t going to rest until he did, but he wouldn’t hurt Neil while doing it.)
Any suspicions Andrew had were confirmed when the Barons stepped out onto the Explorers’ court, when he watched Nichols deliberately target Jean, to do his best to pin the backliner against the wall or knock their racquets together so he could lean in close and whisper something to him; Jean’s body would stiffen and it would take him a beat too long to react, to shove Nichols away.
Nichols was clearly doing his best to rattle Jean, to throw him off his game, and Andrew had no doubt that if it was anyone else than the Frenchman? It would work and the prick would break through the Barons’ ironclad defense. But Jean was used to people tearing at his walls and battering at his weaknesses, that and he had Thom out there as a partner.
“Ray.”
“Eh?” Ray leaned in closer to Andrew but was still mindful not to touch. “What is it?”
“Number 18.” He gave a slight nod toward Nichols. “He’s fucking with Jean.” That got Ben and Mika’s attention, too.
“Really?” Ray paid closer attention while Mika, an offensive dealer, took to cursing beneath her breath. “The bastard is, isn’t he?”
“We can’t have that, can we?” Mika said. “No one messes with my sweetie.” It was an ongoing joke amongst the Barons about how she, along with a few others (not just women) had taken it upon themselves to ‘protect’ Jean since they had declared him the ‘sweetest’ guy on the team.
Andrew thought they were all oblivious idiots since Jean was an overbearing grouch, but whatever. They just better accept that Neil was off-limits and not even think to try that shit with his boyfriend.
Jean got pulled a little into the second quarter, his face pale and haggard when he came to sit next to Andrew, while Ben and Mika got subbed into the game shortly after that. Ten minutes later, Mika earned a yellow card when she tripped Nichols, and judging from the grin on her face, she felt it well-earned.
Andrew waited until the mid-game break to say something. “He’s one of them, isn’t he? Nichols.”
Jean pretended not to hear him and continued drinking, so Andrew stared straight ahead as he fought not to clench his hand around the bottle of sports drink it held. “He… he was one of them with Neil, wasn’t he?”
That got a reaction, in that Jean choked on his drink and coughed a few times while Ray patted him on the back. “That… let it go,” Jean all but pleaded as he gazed at the concrete floor in the locker room. “It’s in the past.” There was an edge of desperation in his deep voice.
“Which is what he’s throwing in your face today.”
Jean flinched at that. “Let it go,” he pleaded.
“No, because Neil will be out there next season,” Andrew told him; he refused to allow someone who’d hurt his lover get anywhere near him again, let alone touch him, to whisper reminders in his ear and bring up those awful memories.
Andrew hadn’t been able to prevent those awful things from happening to Neil, but he’d do whatever he could to keep them from hurting Neil again, just like Neil had tried to keep Drake away from him.
With that in mind, he got up and threw away his drink before he grabbed his phone and made a sign that he was going to call someone. Michaels gave him a warning look over his actions, but Andrew held up three fingers to indicate that he’d be back in a few minutes, which appeased his coach.
He didn’t intend to call anyone, nothing that would leave a trace; instead, he stepped out into the hallway where he knew a certain bodyguard would be waiting.
“Well?” Declan pitched his voice low as he pushed away from the one wall he’d been leaning against.
“It’s him,” Andrew confirmed.
Something akin to pleasure flashed across the British man’s face. “All right, I’ll let her know.”
‘Her’ being Jamie; Andrew still didn’t care much for the Hatfords, but he had to admit that Jamie appeared to be a bit more ‘hands on’ than Stuart and once he’d confessed his suspicions about who was in St. Louis to Bren and Declan, the bodyguards hadn’t wasted any time reaching out to their ‘boss’ to put a plan in motion once it was confirmed that Nichols had taken part in abusing Neil and Jean.
More than anything, Andrew wished that he could put his knives to good use and carve up the bastard himself… but there were downsides to being a famous Exy player. No, what mattered in the end was that in a few days, Paul Nichols would die from a gruesome accident which in no way could be connected back to Neil or him, and that would be one more demon laid to rest for Neil (and Jean).
Riko and Tetsuji were dead, Stuart had dealt with Lev Federov, Daniel Bautista had killed himself when the whole ‘scandal’ had broken and his name had been listed in both Federov and Ross’ posts, but Mike Johnson was still out there. Oh yes, at least one naughty bird for Andrew to deal with, one way or another, for daring to hurt Neil.
There was also Ichirou, but that would take a lot of careful planning.
When the game resumed (with the Barons leading by five points), Andrew was in the goal with Ray and Toni as defense. It was halfway through the third quarter that Nichols was once more out on court, and as expected for a prick like Nichols, he was back at his dirty tricks against Toni, who was good but could only take so much battering before she let the Explorer through.
(There might have also been something said to her and Ray before they went out on court.)
Andrew was ready and waiting, though and easily caught the ball as it sailed toward his goal instead of merely deflecting it. He held the ball in the net of his racquet for several seconds as the players began to fan out on the court in preparation of him flinging it as far down the other side as possible, including Nichols, so he waited until the bastard was past the half-court mark before he moved.
The ball sailed through the air and smacked into Nichols’ upper right thigh hard enough to make an audible sound and knock the prick onto the floor. A referee called a halt to the game while a medic came out to check Nichols, who Andrew was reasonable sure didn’t have a broken leg.
If he did? Oh well, just an added bit of misery before the end.
Since no one could prove that it hadn’t been an accident, the game resumed once Nichols had been half-carried off court, with Andrew admonished to watch his throws. He gave a slight shrug and shared a lingering, satisfied look with Jean, who came out to replace Toni, before the buzzer sounded.
Sometimes it wasn’t too bad, being stuck playing stupid stickball.
*******
“I think that’s everything.”
Marley sounded sad as she boxed up the last of her personal items; the room that Neil and her had lived in for the last few years (him the entire five years at the Nest, her the last four) was now little more than black walls and bare furniture, save for the stacks of boxes and luggage scattered about their beds and desks.
He’d suffered so much pain in this room, could still remember Federov and the others pinning him onto the bed and raping him (he could think of it like that now), of Riko hurting Jean while he watched. Yet there had been all the nights when Jean had held him close (had held him together), the times when they’d stretched out on the same bed to study or watch games or movies together, replaced by the times when Marley had been there.
The few nights when Andrew had given him something better to remember, had chased away the pain and nightmares with pleasure.
In the end, the companionship and good times had outweighed the bad, but Neil would be glad to leave the Nest behind at last. He’d always be a Raven, would always be #4 of the Perfect Court (always bear the number on his cheek, always bear the scars he’d gained here), but at least he could leave the cold rooms and days without seeing any sun behind.
It was difficult to believe that he’d spent five years as a Raven; at some points it seemed that the years would be endless, but now that he looked back? He couldn’t believe they were over, especially the last few months which had been spent in preparation of his graduation and the harsh demand of a championship season.
Yet it was time to move on, finally, for him to leave and start his professional career in a new city (even if he still belonged to Ichirou).
At least Jean and Marley and the rest of the Ravens would always be there for him, of that he had no doubt, just like he’d always be there for them. That made it a little easier to start the new life, one with the Barons, with Jean out on the court with him again and Andrew.
“You sure you’re going to be able to fit all of that in your car?” Neil asked since Marley’s stack of boxes was bigger than his own; they both were driving back to their respective ‘homes’ in their Maseratis, him with Andrew in New York City and her with Robin to Portland.
“Ha, ha, very funny.” Marley glared while she nudged a box further away from the edge of her bed. “The one good thing about being stuck in a small room was that we never had too much space to fill.”
There was that; he now had more than a duffel-bag full of possessions, but not too much more, especially after his little ‘breakdown’ upon learning about Stuart’s death. It helped that Andrew had asked him to get rid of everything that Ichirou had bought him over the years, so he didn’t have much more than a couple of nice quilts, a few souvenirs, various gifts his family and friends had gotten him, his laptop, sketch pads and books, and ‘Andrew approved’ clothes.
“Come on, we need to meet up with Jon and get going,” Marley told him as she fussed with the skirt of her black and red dress before she picked up her black graduation gown with matching black and red mortar board hat. Neil grabbed his gown and hat as well and left the room without another look; Quentin would be by to supervise having their belongings loaded into their cars at some point soon.
Janna was outside the room and gave them a warm smile as they headed to one of the common rooms, the halls quiet since a lot of the Ravens had already returned home for summer break; Neil had been surprised when many of them had offered to stay for his and Marley’s graduation, but it was such a short period already, the four weeks they had off, that he told them it was unnecessary.
They’d stood by his side as the team won their latest championship game, had helped him close out the ‘Perfect Court’ era without a loss and gave him hope that Ravens’ legacy would continue onward for a while to come, and Dan had arranged a celebration the next night for the team before the majority had gone on their way. That had been more than enough for him, Marley and Jon.
Still, Ethan and Bailey were still there, busy taking in a few last minute sessions with Neil, Marley and Noguchi before they became responsible for the team in another month, and Andy had hung around because he only lived a couple of hours away.
“I still can’t believe this is happening,” Bailey remarked. “I mean, are we ready? Really? I don’t know if I’m sarcastic enough yet to take your places.”
Noguchi gave the new vice-captain a weary look before he gazed at Dan. “I’ve suddenly decided that I want to retire so now they’re your problem. Have fun.”
She grinned and shook her head. “Just think, another few years of suffering through them and you’ll be ready to smack down those wimpy professional players with ease.”
“’Suffering’ is right,” Noguchi agreed while he approached Marley and gave her a hug. “Even if you were a pain in the ass during press-time, I’m still proud of you,” he told her while Marley’s face grew flushed. “The Peregrines are damn lucky to get a striker like you.”
“Thank you, Coach. Now I almost feel bad about all those interviews.” She sniffled a little as she stepped back.
He next gave Jon a couple of pats on the shoulder. “And I know you’ll do well with the Waves. Barnett’s lucky to add you to his defensive line.”
A proud grin spread across Jon’s face. “Thank you, sir, that means a lot coming from you.” Jon had always been on the quiet side after what had happened to him his freshman year, but he was a good backliner and Neil hoped that he had better luck with his next team.
When it was his turn, Noguchi gently tousled his hair. “I’m glad that Jean and Andrew are going to be there to look after you. Someone has to watch your back while you’re tearing up the court and then those poor reporters.”
“Really?” Neil asked as he arched an eyebrow. “You’ve been waiting how many years to tell me that, haven’t you?”
“Hell yes,” Noguchi agreed with a laugh. “It’s only fair when you’re leaving me with your two wannabes.”
“I’m stuck in a goal, Bailey’s gonna be the one running around court,” Ethan argued.
“Uhm, that’s probably not the best argument,” Bailey tried to tell him. “Especially when I’ve seen you talk back to the reporters, too.”
Neil decided that it would probably be a very good thing if he headed over to the auditorium right then, where they were holding the ceremony (Castle Evermore was too big and important for a graduation, apparently).
They rode over with Dan, Neil leaving behind the Nest without a backward glance; he knew he’d probably be back at some point because of Court and Ichirou, but it wouldn’t be the same – not when there was already talk of Andrew making Court sometime next year. This part of his life was well and truly over.
(He refused to think about how he could return to the Nest under worse circumstances.)
Andrew and Jean were waiting for him in the auditorium parking lot, as was Jeremy, and off to the side was Robin and Marley’s family. His partner went running to hug her parents while Neil held out his arms for Jean to embrace him (the tall bastard even lifted him off the ground a little) while Andrew clicked his tongue in disgust.
“You did good for once, devil,” Jean murmured against the top of Neil’s head. “Another championship and you actually graduated.”
“So they tell me,” Neil laughed as he stepped back. “I won’t believe it until I have my diploma in hand.”
“Probably for the best,” Jean agreed with a slight nod as he stepped back as well; Jeremy was quick to grab his hand; as expected, shortly after Jeremy had ‘come out’, the press had realized that the two were more than friends, which Jean hadn’t denied and Jeremy had been all too happy to confirm. It wasn’t official yet, but Jeremy would be transferring to the Barons over the summer, which meant that Neil was going to have to work hard for his spot on the starting line-up.
He couldn’t complain too much, not when Jean was so happy (even if the crusty bastard wouldn’t admit it).
“I won’t believe until I see it, too,” Andrew remarked as he tugged Neil toward him. “I’m waiting for this to be one big joke and you only got us here to play a stupid stickball game.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Neil said with a smile, and laughed when Andrew gave a light stomp to his foot. “Hi.” His smile grew wider as he slowly draped his arms over his lover’s shoulders; Andrew was dressed in a fitted black suit with a dark grey shirt beneath and no tie, his short blond hair styled back from his handsome face. “You look nice,” Neil murmured in German.
“You look slightly less like an idiot than usual,” Andrew responded as he tugged on Neil’s black robe, which he’d put on over his dark grey slacks and pale blue shirt (which Andrew had picked out) before climbing into Dan’s truck.
“Too bad they don’t give out degrees for that.”
“You’d graduate with honors, then.” Andrew slipped his right hand around the back of Neil’s neck to pull him in for a kiss, to which Neil eagerly complied despite the various people milling around them.
The past three weeks had been them traveling to various cities and Neil working for Ichirou and finals and… and no more. No more. From that day on, they got to work together, travel together, live together; Neil shivered in both anticipation and a bit of fear at that thought, at being so closely intertwined with Andrew. He didn’t want to mess things up, to ruin anything, and spending so much time together increased the odds of him doing just that.
Andrew had just pulled away with a slight frown when Marley’s loud voice rang out. “Hey now, save that stuff for after the ceremony, you two!” Then she barreled into Neil, her arms wrapped around his shoulders. “Come on, Shorty, you need to meet the fam! You too, Crusty!”
“If only to better understand how such an abomination as you came about,” Jean complained, but he followed the two of them over to Marley’s smiling parents and her siblings, with Andrew and Jeremy trailing along.
Marley obviously got her height from her mother, who was a lovely, tall and slender woman with a few streaks of grey in her long, dark brown hair. Her father was a couple inches shorter and had the same golden brown eyes, as well as seemed to possess a similar perverse humor as his daughter – so much so that while Neil usually wasn’t comfortable around older men, there was something about Manoj Patel which put him at ease. Maddy was the spitting image of her mother, Riya, albeit a few inches shorter, while Max and Malcolm were like Marley, a blend of both parents. They treated Neil and Jean like family (fortunately Marley stepped in to prevent any hugs) and thanked them for watching out for Marley the last few years, and it was clear that they adored Robin from the way that Riya and Maddy kept hugging her.
“I still can’t believe that you’re the one who got the sports scholarship and are going on to the pros, Mar,” Max teased his sister as he tugged on her ponytail.
“Maybe if you didn’t enjoy fighting while out on the ice so much, you’d be some big hockey player right now,” she shot back as she slammed her right arm into his abdomen.
“But that’s what you do with hockey!” he insisted even as he winced.
“My beloved children, I’m so proud,” Riya scolded as she pushed them apart. “And shouldn’t you two go join the others?”
Neil checked his phone and winced. “Right.” He leaned in for one more kiss with Andrew. “Bren and Janna should have seats for you.”
“Make sure you don’t trip or anything.”
“Thanks so much.” He waved goodbye to his friends before he and Marley left, the two of them fumbling with their hats as they joined the other graduates queueing up for their seats near the stage.
He got a few side glances from the other students around him and a couple of ‘good lucks’ and ‘great season’, but for the most part was left alone (something he was going to miss once he was off-campus). There were texts on his phone from Meg, who was busy with her own graduation ceremony, as well as Jamie and his family in the UK wishing him ‘congratulations; they’d wanted to come watch him graduate, especially Jamie, but it had been decided that it was best not to even if people knew about the connection between him and the Hatfords. Instead, Jamie had plans to take him and Andrew out to dinner in a few nights, while Andrew was treating him to a week in London as a graduation present (where he’d see the others).
There was even a short message from Ichirou, to which Neil responded ‘thank you’ after a moment’s hesitation; the man was polite yet distant with him, was honoring the boundaries which Neil had put in place after Stuart’s death so he continued to be respectful yet distant in return.
All too soon Neil’s name was called so he crossed the stage to receive his diploma, and felt his face grow hot as Bren shouted ‘yeah Red!’ and the rest of his friends clapped and cheered. He even thought he saw a sliver of a smile on Andrew’s face from where they were seated near the front, but it may have been his imagination.
He cheered when it was John’s and then Marley’s turn, proud of his teammates for doing so well (for surviving and even thriving), and the three of them posed for a few pictures together after all the names were called and the boring speeches finished. Jon went off to join his family while Marley and Neil rejoined their friends and loved ones, which meant more pictures and hugs.
Dan had just finished smothering him while Ethan examined his diploma. “Another year for me – my parents are already arguing over which team I should join,” the new captain said with a slight eye roll. “I keep reminding them it all depends on which ones make an offer, and let me tell you, I feel sorry if that doesn’t include Chicago or Boston because my parents are gonna have words with them.”
That drew laughs from most of the people gathered in the small group. “Let me guess, that’s your parents’ hometowns, huh?” Jeremy asked.
“Yep, hometown pride,” Ethan agreed. “At least both teams are good, and I already know that the Barons are square with goalies for now.” He grinned at Andrew who gave him a blank look in return.
“And I’m a backliner, so maybe I can squeak on in the Barons in two years since you guys are doing great with strikers right now,” Bailey added. “I didn’t get enough time to play with Jean!”
“Hey! Give the west coast some love!” Marley complained.
There was various bickering and teasing for a little longer, but Marley’s family wanted a tour of campus before their dinner reservations to celebrate her graduation while Neil and Andrew had plans to get on the road while it was still daylight, which meant that Jean and Jeremy had a flight to catch (to California). It was time to say ‘goodbye’.
Dan grabbed Neil again for another hug. “I know we’ll see each again, but take care, all right? Don’t overdo it too much, kiddo.”
“I won’t.” For once he didn’t struggle to pull away until she let go.
“And you.” Dan surprised him by smiling and giving Andrew a slow pat on the left shoulder. “Don’t let him drive you too crazy as you look after him, okay?”
Andrew was still at first then gave a slight shrug. “I’ll dump him on Jean when he gets really annoying.”
“Ha!” Dan moved on to hug Jean and Jeremy (since she’d been invited to dinner with Marley) while Marley hugged Neil.
“Like Dan said, we’ll see each other soon enough, especially once the season starts. I really can’t wait to kick your ass out on court, Shorty – you and MF here.” She smiled as she stepped back, but there were tears in her eyes.
It would be difficult when a few days passed without her being there, when he started up practice without her on the court, when he played that first game without her right there on the bench or waiting for him to throw her the ball… but they’d play together again eventually. “I bet I make Court first.”
That made her laugh. “You’re on, you short little shit!” She wiped away a tear which slipped free while Robin sidled toward him for a hug.
“I’ll look after her,” Robin promised as she gave him a tentative hug. “She’ll be okay.”
“I know.” He gave her a quick squeeze then let go. “And good luck with the Foxes, Captain.”
She blushed at that and thanked him before she rejoined her girlfriend, and watched on while Neil said his goodbyes to Ethan, Bailey and Andy. Once that was done, he gave Jean another quick hug then left with Andrew, Bren and Janna a short distance behind them.
The Maserati was toward the back of the parking lot, with a black SUV next to it, and Neil smiled when Andrew went straight to the driver’s side. His boyfriend removed his suit coat while Neil took off his gown and threw it in the back seat (Andrew draped his coat in an orderly fashion), then they both climbed into the vehicle and waited for Bren and Janna to do the same in the SUV.
“Hotel in three hours?”
“A little longer than that,” Andrew said as he held up his phone, which had the directions to the resort in Southwest Pennsylvania where they had reservations to spend the night.
“Not the way you drive.” Neil laughed when he was poked in the side of his face with the phone. Andrew shook his head in disgust and, after the phone was docked in its stand, started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
They were out on the highway before he spoke again. “What was that back there?”
“Hmm?” It had been a long day (a long week, really), so Neil’s attention had drifted in the last few minutes. “Back when?”
“In the parking lot. What’s wrong?” Andrew glanced away from the road for a couple of seconds to give him an intent look. “You won the championship game and graduated.”
“Yeah.” Neil rubbed at his left cheek and let out a slow breath. “It’s just… you’re stuck with me now, at home and at work. Sure you’re not going to grow tired of me?” With Jeremy switching teams, it had been decided that he’d move into the apartment with Jean – in the spare bedroom at first – so it just made sense that Neil move in with Andrew rather than deal with the two of them. It wasn’t as if he spent much time in the apartment with Jean if Andrew was around, and Jeremy had a lot of friends and family who would want to visit.
Andrew was quiet for a mile or two before he clicked his tongue. “I’ve been stuck with you in one way or another for almost five years, all that’s changed is that you’re around enough for me to throw off the balcony when you really get annoying.”
Neil found himself smiling as he twisted in the seat to better face his lover. “Oh, that’s a new way to kill me, though I guess maybe it’s an extension of ‘throw me off the roof’?”
“You’re doing that ‘annoying’ thing right now,” Andrew informed him in a flat tone of voice.
“I think it’s my default.” Neil laughed when Andrew made a show of reaching over as if to undo his seatbelt while speeding up. “At least I do the dishes? And keep the bathroom clean.”
“We’re going to have a discussion about your early morning runs,” Andrew said as he slowed down a little. “Those won’t be a regular thing.”
“Hmm.” Neil nibbled on his bottom lip as he considered that. “What if I get up without disturbing you?”
Andrew snorted to show what he thought about Neil’s chances of doing that, which was slightly offensive. “And if you do?”
Neil reached out to thread the fingers of his left hand through Andrew’s right one. “Well, then I’ll just have to stay in bed with you – I’m sure we’ll figure out something to do.” Be it sleeping or something more enjoyable, Neil trusted Andrew to choose what was best for them both. “Does that work?”
It was quiet for several heartbeats before Andrew’s fingers tightened around his own. “134%, Josten,” he answered, a husky note to his deep voice.
Neil looked forward to seeing how high the percentage was raised in the upcoming years.
*******