Chapter Text
Colombia’s summers weren’t as bad as Milport where it would get near 115 degrees, the small town heating up like it was inside an oven.
Neil had opened the bedroom windows so a slow breeze slipping in, aided by a stand-up fan in the corner which were on its last legs. Something about Andrew’s bedroom with the afternoon heat and golden light made Neil feel lucid, dreaming on the cusp of sleep but not yet given in. They were only here for until Saturday, when the Fox tower opened again for a new year. Aaron’s trial had ended a week ago and he had fled to spend the remainder of the summer break with his girlfriend. Nicky had embraced the domestic homeliness of Abby’s, at least that was his excuse to stay back when Andrew and Neil headed to Colombia.
At first, he was concerned that Andrew’s family were all split up, something which didn’t happen often, but they were all so tired. Digging up the past, all of the so-called monsters needed a break to collect themselves in the present and let the re-opened wounds heal.
Now, Neil was glad it was just Andrew and him. The trial had taken a toll over his psyche, the kind which was impossible to hide completely. It was in the frequency of nightmares and the dead eyed stares which held the residue of the childhood horrors brought to light in front of his family. Neil knew that those kinds of memories aren’t going away, even for Aaron’s non-guilty verdict. The mind twists and turns the results of reality, playing the scenes of life over and over, more gruesome every time. All he could do was watch, be there when he wakes and turn on the stove to make another cup of hot cocoa.
He could smell Andrew’s cooking downstairs, pasta and garlic bread was the unspoken agreement at the store. It brought him out of his mind, he wasn’t sure how long he’d been lying down for, not sleeping, but almost felt like it. Blinking his eyes, Neil rose and slipped on a spare black hoodie and shorts before heading down. On the kitchen counter was two bowls of spaghetti and a log of garlic bread, already cooked. It was barely 5pm but Neil didn’t complain, he’d skipped lunch and the last time he ate was a banana after his run.
“Eating early?” he asked.
Andrew just grunted as he took piece of garlic bread, shoving it in his mouth and taking the two bowls to the couch. Some reality show was playing, brainless TV which they both needed to absorb but pay no attention to. A kaleidoscope to watch flashes of colour, without the image behind it.
Neil hummed as he took his second bite. For a college kid, Andrew was basically as skilful at cooking as they got, all the culinary show tips and recipes his perfect memory stores coming into use.
Their week in Colombia was almost over, but it’d been a much-needed break from the chaos of Palmetto and family. The two of them had slipped into an almost domestic rhythm; Neil’s runs, Andrew’s late morning reading, lunch made in between kisses if it was a good night, a drive through back streets if they wanted to.
Neil stood up, carrying both their bowls over to the sink and begun washing up. He felt a bit robotic, going through motions he knew he should without fully being present. Today had been a bit blurry, the world around Neil moving too fast for him to take in as his brain hit capacity. Distantly, Neil though it would’ve been scary if he wasn’t with Andrew at home in Colombia, safe and comfortable. The blond man continued to stare at a spot above the television, his mind seemingly lost in itself.
This state of quiet co-inhabitancy lasted until the next morning, when they packed up the Maserati and headed back on the I-20 towards Palmetto. The Fox tower looked the same as it did last May, when Neil Josten first stepped foot in Palmetto, but that was a lie. He knew this place now as the home he made it to be, not the death sentence he had waited for as a freshman.
Moving all their things up to the dorm was easier than it would’ve been as Nicky, Aaron and Kevin were already back. Andrew’s brother was staying with Matt and two of the new freshmen down the hall.
They had been moved to a corner dorm, facing out to the carpark. His mind automatically supplied the three stories down wouldn’t be too hard to scale. Neil ignored that. A kitchen was to the left of the entry where a short hallway led down to the bathroom, storage cupboard and bedroom. The living room was right in front of the front door, already furnished with the signature bean bags. Nicky was sitting on the ground, playing with the cords of the TV, probably doing more damage than help.
“Hey guys! Oh my god, it’s been so long since we’ve all been back”
After weeks of Andrew’s quiet companionship, Nicky’s full-on joy was a shock.
“Hi Nicky, how was Abby’s?”, Nicky jumps up and practically skips over to hug him.
“Oh, it was great, having actual food, not just stuff we cook up or college hall food”, he exclaimed, a sly grin on his face, “How about you and my favourite cousin?”
Andrew had already escaped down to the bedroom with the suitcases, leaving Neil to answer.
“Yeah, good.”
“Yeah, good? Seriously? Nothing more to share?”, Nicky had that smile on his face.
“No”, his voice came out harsher than expected, but Nicky didn’t seem phased.
“What? Don’t want to share all the lovey dovey stuff you guys get up to when no ones around?”
Neil wasn’t sure why it stung so much.
That was a lie. He did know because it had been his life recently. It was the trial, it was Andrew’s monotone voice as he documented his childhood’s monsters for the whole room to hear. It was that night where Andrew looked him in the eyes when Neil assumed that he would sleep on the couch, and the man told him to stay.
They didn’t sleep, just stared at the celling half a meter apart. Neil filled Andrew’s past-ridden brain with thoughts about space travel and good stories about Europe, skipping over the dark parts of the most brutal years of his life. Andrew knew that but still listened earnestly. They didn’t do the coupley things, that wasn’t them. Nicky was just joking, his mouth moving faster than his brain. He didn’t mean it, Neil knew that.
“Nicky, shut the fuck up.”
Neil knew it wasn’t the words that hit him, but the tone. He sounded like frozen steel, the room went silent and Neil could feel Aaron look up from his textbook.
Neil escapes the dorm quickly, unable to look at Nicky’s fallen expression. Why the fuck did he say that? He should’ve just kept his mouth shut, he’s vice-captain for god’s sake. His limbs felt heavy and the hallway looked off-centre. The sounds of the elevator sounded faraway as he reached the ground floor, quickly exiting the tower into the carpark. Neil pinched his wrist, trying to bring himself back without the haze over his mind.
Everything was too noisy, too much. He breathed, one in, one out. Forcing the metronome of his breathing to become constant. Forcing the air inside himself, before letting it go like a loose balloon. Neil wasn’t sure how much time passed, but suddenly he heard Andrew’s footsteps stop behind him. He was expecting the man to say something about upstairs, demand some sort of explanation Neil didn’t have, but after a second he turned towards the black Maserati.
“The others are riding with Matt”, was all Andrew said, as Neil climbed into the passenger seat.
The car ride to the court was quiet, the lull of the radio and the droning engine. When they pulled up to the Foxhole, Neil felt more settled. Andrew looked across to him, his eyes were searching as Neil watched him back. After a second, he nodded before a small smirk slid onto his face.
“Ready, Captain?”, Neil just hid his face in his hands.
“Coach really hates me, doesn’t he?”, but he couldn’t keep a small smile off his face. Neil knew he’d probably hate captaining at some point, but the idea of being appointed and belonging here, it did feel good, that he can’t deny.
“Must be payback after last year”, Andrew mused, unbuckling and kicking his door open. Neil ran his fingers through his hair, tugging a bit to bring himself into the present. The muddlediness of the morning still at the back of his mind, but he had a job to do. Undoing his own seat belt, he slipped out of the car.
“Let’s go see this shitshow”, he muttered to himself.
~
“Finally, you’re here”, Wymack grumbled.
“Sorry Coach”, Neil responded, already knowing Andrew wouldn’t. As the both of them sat down, Neil on the end and Andrew between him and Kevin, he caught Nicky’s attempt at subtly innuendo of wiggling his eyebrows, pretending nothing happened. Neil just sent a flat stare and turned back to the Coach.
“Welcome back, Maggots. As we all know, these new freshman are here for this year, Sheena Fraser, Jack Wheeler, Florence Reyes and Leonardo Van Der. Play nice, Foxes.”
Neil had already scoured their files for months, but it was different meeting them in person. He hadn’t gone to scout any of them down, like Kevin and Andrew had for him. He doubted the Butcher’s son be the best introduction to any recruits, even if not for the trial happening. Not to mention the knife scars and burns on his face which would put-off most people, even if they were Foxes.
Jack had spiky, dirty blonde hair, and glaring right at Neil. He was Kevin’s pick at a striker and his tape and stats showed how much of his skill and confidence was followed by a lack of teamwork. Neil could see how much of an asshole he’d be when he got a chance to open his mouth, so in his captain fashion, he turned back to Wymack and ignored the man. Coach talked about the schedule and up-coming training times, all the same as last year.
“So, that’s all cleared up, we have another piece of news”,
“Another school transfer, Coach?”
“No, no, thank fuck”, the man laughed breathily, “Since we’re National Champions and being the first team to win outside of the Big Three, we have some press opportunities”
Neil noted the unsaid ‘and beat the Ravens’.
Wymack had already brought these options up with Dan, Kevin and himself at the end of last season. Broadcasts wanted Dan and Kevin, considering they were the Foxes Captain and Kevin Day, but most had also wanted Andrew and Neil, both for their own Exy performances and probably the incident after the game ended. Despite having been a few months, the press still hadn’t died down, like blood hounds, on anything surrounding the Foxes or Riko. Neil didn’t think that would change for a while.
After the meeting, Neil was feeling optimistic for the future right up until the point when the Foxes began training. It started as a scrimmage, and as Neil and Wymack watched from the sidelines, his hopeful idea for the coming year was crumbling.
“How are we going to do this?”, he hadn’t meant to say it but Wymack must’ve heard.
“It’s like this every year, don’t worry kid. The difference is that last year it really changed.”
Neil was still silently shocked at the sloppy plays and snapping comments being flung between teammates.
“What if it doesn’t? Change, I mean.”, Neil didn’t want to think at how small his voice sounded. It wasn’t like him to be so helpless. He cleared his throat.
Wymack had a firm tone to his voice, “Don’t worry, kid. You out of all people.” Neil had no response to that, instead just watched the ball slam against the plexiglass inches a foot away from their heads.
Neil hears Kevin walk up beside him, the man’s eyes still on the court where the freshman were. The play had broken up already, insults being flung but it had yet to get physical.
Sighing, the man said “It’s going to be a long season”
“Stop repeating lines, Day. Save that for the press”, Kevin brows furrowed for a second before grumbling his response.“You’re an asshole”
“Just figuring that out?”
Kevin just redirected his whining to the Coach.
They had work to do. The freshmen were hostile and suspicious, everyone had something to say. After the historic win, the team would never be the same again, but now Neil was leading his family into another year. It should be crippling pressure, but Neil couldn’t help a smile at the future.