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Andrew should have known, in all seriousness that this would eventually involve and need more attention than a few traumatized and jacked 20 year-olds. But he didn't want to bother Neil anymore than he needed to. The man was single-handedly keeping him afloat-- need money for food and groceries? The man was sent to him within seconds. Isn't comfortable at the dorms anymore? "You little shit, please don't tell me you just bought me a house." Having a bad night? Warm hugs and ice cream showered him within minutes.
Neil was the reason he was happy.
Neil made him comfortable in his own skin, provided for him, would kill for him....has killed for him.
Neil was his protector, as much as it pained Andrew to think. Think because he would never say it out loud, Neil has a big ego as is.
The point is the Foxes are some weird and pained creatures that come with trauma and history. If it isn't abusive parents, it's crazy psychotic foster siblings, if it isn't a runaway it's a damn child of the mafia. Things were okay for a while. He got Nicky to finally realize his parents were good for nothing animals, and that he deserved better, when Kevin came he made sure to keep him alive, if that meant drugging a few people in the process so be it. He managed to get Matt completely sober, he was done for good though everyone's gratitude wasn't exactly directed at him because of his way of doing things. He couldn't save Seth, but he made damn sure that Allison was okay, that she wasn't going to go insane.
Aaron...Aaron was Aaron. Their relationship was as bland as ever.
"Hello? Earth to Andrew?" Nicky waves his hands dramatically. "What do you think we should do?"
Right.
"Well..." Andrew hummed, "All we can do is wait."He shurgged. Because what else could he fucking do?
"Wait? Are you out of your damn mind?" Allison screeches. "Riko practically said he was going to take Kevin the next time he saw him, and we're suppose to just wait? What the hell is wrong with you?"
It's always what the hell is wrong with you. But what is he supposed to do?
"Do you have a better idea? To storm the damn nest with our damn raquets?" Andrew seethes. He should be happy he's able to be angry to begin with, his withdrawal was no thanks to Neil, once again. Though, he sort of wishes he could go back to being dazed and apathetic when it comes to days like these.
"You seriously don't know what to do?" Matt asks, a small hint of concerns as his eyes trailed to Kevin who was hyperventilating in the corner.
Andrew has had enough of the conversation. Has had enough of the crazed looks they send him when they realize he in fact does not have all the answers to the pathetic shit show they call their lives. He doesn't want to be here. He doesn't want to be here. He doesn't want to be here.
"I don't want to be here." He states and leaves the room before they get the chance to yell at him.
Andrew: lets leave
Neil: I can't exactly leave just yet
Andrew: I'm sure Jean can handle the rest just fine.
Neil: Something happened with the Foxes. Are they being little shits again?
Andrew: How'd you know?
Neil: I'll be home with ice cream.
Andrew: ....
Neil: And doughnuts.
Andrew: Thanks
Andrew looks out at the cars passing by cigarette in hand. Neil had helped him quit but days like this make him think he deserves just a few puffs of the nicotine. He didn't like feeling like this, feeling useless. His ability to take control of situations made up for the amount of times he hadn't been in control. The times he had said stop, please, stop, stop, stop for everyone to ignore his wishes. He made sure everyone was alive. Hell, he'd practically killed someone for Aaron so he could finally live with someone that didn't abuse him senseless. He made sure to keep Riko out of Kevins way when Kevin came to the Foxes. He'd harmed the people that were being homophobic to Nicky. Was this all in vain? Did it not matter? Should he have stayed in the shadows and let the universe run its own course?
No, of course not.
The Foxes deserved someone to protect them. Whether or not they noticed it or cared for it didn't matter, it shouldn't matter.
But why do they only care about him when it comes to these situations. Why don't they bother with him until they need help with something. Was he taking this too seriously? Was he overthinking this? Nicky liked him, he had his own role as a protector when it came to he and Aaron. Was he a monster, still?
He sighs and ruffles his own hair.
Andrew: Am I still a monster?
Neil: No.
Neil: I'm picking you up. Jean can figure the rest out.
Andrew: Okay
Andrew sighs and waits on the curb, he chooses to ignore the gut wrenching nerves. He shouldn't leave Kevin in this state no matter how much it bothers him. He sighs and pulls his phone out again, the newest edition, the most expensive phone.
Andrew: Changed my mind.
Neil: No.
Andrew: Can't leave Kevin rn
Neil: Something happened with Riko? Hold on. B there soon
Eventually there was a red head sitting right next to him, arm around Andrews waist, hand rufling the blonde locks.
"Is Riko being a problem again?" Neil asks.
"I just don't know what to do. I can only keep him away from Kevin for so long before he decides to--"
"Andrew just say the word. Jean and I have been working on this for ages, just say the word and--" Neil starts but Andrew puts a hand up.
"Why am I so useless with you?" Andrew asks pathetically.
"Is that what these Foxes are saying about you? That you're pathetic if you don't save their asses every other fucking day?" Neil seethes and stands up abruptly.
"What are you doing--"
"I'm sick and tired of these damn idiots being ungrateful of all the shit that you--"
Andrew sighs and shakes his head. "How's Jean?" He asks trying to change the suspect.
"I got him out of the Nest free from harm, he's training to take my place."
Andrews mouth twitches. Neil was only Neil to him, Nathaniel was his actual name and he killed his father to take over the crime Empire his father built. Nathaniel had killed his father after he had killed his mother, had waited, and trained, and learned how to do it. What once was an Empire that was under control of the Moriyamas was now its own ruling Empire, no strings attached. He'd built a new crime Emipre from the floor up, he had ears and people everywhere. Andrew didn't get involved, what Nathaniel did wasn't any of his business, Neil liked to keep his lives apart especially considering the fact that he was training an ex Raven to take over after saving him from the nest and getting him out safely. The only thing he knew about Nathaniels life was that he had people everywhere, he built an Empire with not one single alliance filled with people he knew he could trust, there were people working at bars, at foster homes, at casinos, at damn grocery stores trained to kill with the quick swing of a dagger.
Jean would inherit the Empire, Neil didn't want it anymore not after he met Andrew.
"Who the hell are you?" someone asked, voice gruff.
They looked behind them to find his twin brother. No one but Jean knew about their relationship, but it wasn't because they were particularily hiding it, people just didn't ask, and they didn't bother bringing it up.
"I'm his boyfriend, I'm assuming you're Aaron."
"Boyfriend? Andrew doesn't have a boyfriend."
"He does, I'm literally here, saying I'm his boyfriend. You can't get any more boyfriendy than this." Neil says, waving his hands up and down at himself.
"What the hell?" Matt says from behind Aaron, "Who are you?"
"Oh great, first I have to stop my torturing and now I have to deal with a meet-and-greet?" Neil says exasperated.
"Torturing? What are we talking about?" Allison asks.
Eventually everyone is settled back in the dorm, Andrew doesn't give a shit about PDA anymore so he firmly sets himself on Neil and drinks his hot cocoa.
"Hey you little shits, I'm Neil. Andrews boyfriend."
The team is speechless.
"I know you all have big mouths, why are you all silent now?"
"You? Neil? Boyfriend?" Aaron stutters out.
"I'm here to deal with the Kevin situation." Neil nods, "So you're all better out my way because your mere presence is pissing me off."
"That's Andrew's boyfriend all right." Wymack grumbles, "And what are you gonna do, kid?"
"Murder the Moriyamas and take Riko into my custody, what else would I do?"
The room is silent.
"Listen, I'll only say this one and I know none of you are stupid enough to go to the authorities--"
"He runs the damn authorities." Kevin says, speaking for the first time after his panic attack.
Neil eyes him, "You know me. How?"
"I heard Jean talking about you, he's dead now. They told me you killed him."
Andrew looks up at Neil and pushes himself closer to the red head.
"I got Jean out, he's alive."
"What?" Kevin whispers, "How? He was a Raven the Moriyamas--"
"He was no Raven. He was one of my family's men. They put him in to investigate the Ravens and the Nest. We're going to burn the whole thing down."
"And the people there?" Dan says, her voice stern as if she wasn't talking to a murderer.
"The people worth living are going to get out. You don't have to worry about Thea." Neil says, and Kevin's shoulders slump down in relief.
Neil stares at the team. The team stares at Neil.
Neil eyes narrow, "You're all crazy for making Andrew into this grand anti-hero. Why would any of you think Andrew could keep you all safe from your ridiculous backstories alone?"
The teams eyes narrow into slits, they open their mouths.
"No." Neil states. They close them.
"Nicky you care about him. I like you. Allison, Andrew tried to keep him alive, Seth ignored Andrews warning to stay inside, Kevin, there's so much one person can do to fight off an entire Mafia. Aaron stop throwing hissy fits about your mother, she should have died ages before Andrew got his hands on her."
Andrew looks at the team with their mouths wide open and their eyes turned away in shame. At least they knew now.
"I'm burning the whole damn place down soon. You all stay in the dorms as much as you can. Don't go out whatsoever. Andrew isn't obligated to help you all."
Andrew looks down at his nails. Then lazily looks up at Neil who's looking at him with so much adoration it was almost suffocating.
"C'mon baby lets go buy you a new car, these idiots aren't worth our time."
"And have dinner with Jean?"
"Whatever you want my love."
"Great."