Chapter Text
“He’s joining us earlier than we anticipated.”
“He’s a flight risk. This way there should be no more risk of him getting away from you. I’ve killed his mother. He belongs to you.”
“Six years old and already training in the Raven’s nest. He will be a player that won’t be rivaled.”
“Even if you find no use for him, your brother already enjoyed a piece of him last night. Who knew my useless son could have so many possible futures.”
“I am surprised Kengo didn’t keep him.”
“He’d already promised him to you.”
“Pleasure doing business with you Wesninski.”
“It was all mine Tetsuji.”
Nathaniel is passed, broken. Hurt. Bleeding. Still crying into the arms of Tetsuji Moriyama.
“My name is Riko.”
“Mine’s Nathaniel.”
His voice is quiet. He has to be quiet.
“I heard your father is the butcher. Does that mean you’ve killed people.”
“I’m nothing like him!”
Shut up. Don’t make people mad at you.
“Is he the one who gave you those scars?”
“Yes.”
“It’s okay, you’re safe here.”
He believed him. Nathaniel believed him.
“This is Kevin.
“Hi, I’m Nathaniel.”
“Can I call you Nate.”
“Sure.”
Kevin was Neil’s friend. And Riko promised to protect Neil.
“You’re such a pretty boy.”
“Leave me alone, I’m underaged.”
“Seven is my lucky number kid, I don’t mind.”
“Screw off.”
“The mouth on you! Riko isn’t old enough to protect you from us yet. I’d watch your mouth.”
“No! Stop!”
Nathaniel is left, bloody. Ashamed. Dirty. And he is left the same way when it happens again… and again… and again…
“Riko, they won’t stop.”
“I’ll protect you when I become captain. I promise.”
“I need help now. It’s been too long. It hurts.”
“Stop complaining Nathaniel. I’m sure you’ve had worse. Just wait until I am captain.”
“It’s been three years! I can’t keep doing this!”
“Nathaniel!”
He was tired. He was hurt. He was breaking.
“Nate?”
“Kevin?”
“Jesus what did they do!?”
“It’s okay. I’m fine.”
“Nate you’re bleeding.”
“That’s normal. Are you hurt?”
“Why would I be hurt? Jesus look at yourself- “
“They said they wanted to touch you. So I told them they weren’t going anywhere near you. They knocked me out before leaving.”
“What the fuck were you thinking!?”
“I won’t let them hurt you.”
“You need to look after- “
“No. I won’t let them hurt the only family who cares about me.”
He was a protector. A pillar of strength. A martyr. But inside he was just broken.
“This is Jean. He will be number four now. He is rooming with Nathaniel.”
“Do you really speak French?”
“Yes.”
“Kevin and I do too! Don’t speak it in front of Riko though.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirteen.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Too long.”
He was trapped. No way out. Not even a home to run back to. The nest wasn’t home. But there was nowhere else.
“Don’t you lay a hand on him!”
“Protecting Kevin and Jean!? You can’t have them hiding behind you forever! How long are you going to get on your knees to protect them for?”
“As long as it takes.”
Riko promised to be the protector once he became captain. Just two more years. Just two more.
“This needs to stop.”
“No.”
“Nate please.”
“I hate that word.”
“Nate it’s killing you.”
“It would kill me more to watch them do this to you two. I’m fine. I have you two to patch me up after.”
Just one more year. One more year.
“Captain Riko!!! Come on. You know you’ve got to try him out. It’s team tradition.
Kevin and Jean watch horrified.
Nathaniel glares.
“Riko you made me a promise!”
A dark laugh.
“And you thought I would keep it!?”
Betrayed. Bloody. Pain. Rage. Hurt.
“Kevin get over here now!”
“No, he’s not going!”
“Excuse me? Number Three I own him. He comes when I call!”
“You won’t hurt him!”
“I will, and you can’t stop me!”
“Use me instead. Don’t hurt him.”
“Nate!”
“Jean take Kevin and go.”
“Abram…”
“Go, Jean!”
“I’m getting really sick of this shit Nathaniel!”
“Shut up! You always say I am prettier to hurt than Kevin anyways!”
“That you are.”
There is a cruel smile. Pain. A hard floor. More pain. Pain. Pain. Pain.
“I’m going to get you guys out.”
“It’s not possible.”
“I’ll find a way.”
“Will this way involve you getting hurt.”
Silence.
“Nate!”
“It’s unimportant.”
“Not to us.”
“I’m getting you out and that’s final. And when I do, you will leave. Even if that means you leave without me. Do you understand?”
“No- “
“Kevin!”
“We won’t- “
“Jean!”
The two of them are his family. They are precious. Nathaniel is broken. Dirty. Used. Expendable. At least this way he was of some use to them.
“Neil!”
“Jean! What’s wrong!?”
“Riko is going to hurt Kevin! He looked ready to kill him!”
“Fuck! That stupid ERC rumor!”
Running. Panic. Anger.
Then.
Sound of a scream, and the smell of blood.
“Nathaniel do not interfere.”
There was bone. Fuck he could see the bones in Kevin’s hand.
“Jean take him and go to our room!”
“He wouldn’t dare.”
“It’s me you should be worried about Riko.”
“I’m going to tear you apart Nathaniel.”
Blood. Pain. None of it mattered. He dragged himself back to Kevin. He had failed Kevin. He had failed Kevin so bad.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I’m getting you out of here. Tonight. I can’t take both of you- “
“Get Kevin out. You and I will be fine here.”
“I can’t leave you two!”
“Yes you can! I’m taking you to your father! You tell him who you are! And you get back into playing shape! You best Riko at his own fucking game!”
“I can’t- “
“You can! You are the best striker on the court, and you are my brother! You can and you will!”
Nathaniel has to pull Kevin out, his hand over the striker’s mouth.
“You’re stealing the master’s car!?”
Silence
“Nate! He’s going to kill you!!!”
“I don’t care. You’re getting out of here.”
The drive takes close to six hours. But it’s worth it when Neil drops Kevin at the front.
“Don’t come back.”
“What about you and Jean?”
“I’ll get Jean out and send him your way soon.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Nate- “
“Go Kevin! You need to check out your hand. I want you on the court again. Promise me. Promise me even if you have to play right-handed.”
“Nate- “
“Kevin! Promise me!”
“I promise.”
When Neil arrives back to Edgar Allan, he takes both his and Jean’s beatings. And an extra one for taking Jean’s. He can’t move after. The ravens have fun with him then.
“Jean I am so sorry!”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I let you get raped. It should have been me. I’ve failed Kevin and now you- “
“You have taken this shit for how many years for us!?”
“That’s not the point- “
“No! You don’t get to apologise to me! Not when this is the first and only time it’s happened to me here!!! Not when you spent so many years being raped and tortured in mine and Kevin’s stead!!! You owe yourself more than that!!!”
Silence
“Abram?”
“This will not happen again.”
Abram what are you going to do?”
“You’re getting out of here.”
“Abram stop.”
“No! I won’t allow them to hurt you!”
Nathaniel makes a call.
“Lord Kengo. Thank you for seeing me.”
“I understand you have a request for me.”
“An offer.”
“Speak.”
“Let Jean go. In return I’ll be yours from here on out.”
Silence. Then a small smile on the Lord’s face that sickens Nathaniel’s stomach.
“We have a deal.”
Nathaniel packs Jean’s bags that very same night. He grabs Jean and pulls him as fast as he can go.
“Abram! What’s going on!?”
“I freed you! You are free! Go to Kevin! Play Exy at Palmetto with Kevin.”
“Impossible- “
“Would I lie?”
“... Abram what did you do?”
“Don’t ask me that question.”
His skin crawls as he thinks about what he did for Jean’s freedom. But he regrets absolutely nothing.
“Abram what did you- “
“Nathaniel! Where do you think Jean is going?”
“Jean is leaving. Orders of Lord Kengo.”
Silence. Then a choked sob.
“Abram what did you do?!”
“Go, Jean!”
“Grab Moroau.”
“No! You will not touch him again. Jean get out and never come back. Don’t make what I had to do, have been in vain.”
There is silence. Then running footsteps. Then the slam of the front door.
“I will kill you.”
“Your father won’t like you much after that.”
“What?”
“Daddy likes me more than you now Riko. He won’t be happy if you mark me up.”
Riko doesn’t. Apparently water torture can be done with minimal marks.
“Whore.”
“Slut.”
“Disgusting.”
Neil tries to ignore how much he hates the words. The Ravens can’t touch him anymore, not with him being Kengo’s.
“My father is dying. He will be dead soon. When he goes, I will be getting rid of the whorish deal you have with him.”
“Please my Lord! Kevin and Jean deserve better than the nest.”
“You are nothing but a whore who jumped into my father’s bed. My mother had to listen as you two had your fun.”
“My Lord, I only did what I had to to have my family survive. Please give me the chance to show my skills.”
He had to keep Kevin and Jean safe.
“I have no need for a whore.”
“I can play Exy.”
“You are untested.”
“Then test me. One season!”
“Give me time to think about it.”
Ichirou leaves without a second glance.
“Nate, did you hear? My father is dead!!!”
Fear. No protection.
“I’ve been waiting for this day a long time Nate.”
“Riko stop.”
“No. You can’t deny me anymore! Tie him down! I am going to break him once and for all.”
Neil screams for the first time in years that night. Screams for help and mercy. But none comes, and none is shown.
“I’ve thought about your deal. I’ve decided that you have one year. Move to Palmetto. If you win championships, then I will allow you to live your own life. You will of course play professional Exy and give us some of your profits.”
“What about Kevin and Jean?”
“They are free still, no lines attached. However I’m not offering them or you any protection, if they get dragged back then so be it. And if you get dragged back so be it. I am giving you a chance.”
Ichirou turns to leave.
“And if I lose?”
“Then you have choices…”
Neil packs his bag quickly. He’s almost out the door when Riko catches him.
“You aren’t leaving Nathaniel.”
“You can’t stop me!”
“I can break you.”
Neil lost his voice from screaming, but still he got his broken body out the door and onto a greyhound bus. He’d left his bag. But it didn’t matter. The words Ichirou had said still echoed in his ears.
“If you can’t win championships you will have three options. One, Return to your father. Two, Return to Riko, or Three, I will sell you to a trafficking ring I am trying to get to back off quietly.”
Neil’s head rang and he knew he wanted none of the above.
If Neil didn’t bring the foxes to championships. If they lost. Neil would put a bullet through his own head.
He would get away and stay away. He wasn’t going back.