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Edens was quieter than usual, Andrew noted. He wasn’t sure if it was the inherent loudness of the Foxes, or the thin crowd of that particular night, but Andrew was thankful for the lack of bleeding eardrums nonetheless.
The Foxes, with the addition of Katelyn, were sitting in a large booth overlooking the dance floor. Out of the ten of them, everyone except Neil, Andrew, Renee, and Kevin were tipsy from the pre-club drinking game Dan had insisted on holding. Something about ‘team bonding’ was mentioned, but Andrew knew it was really just an excuse to consume more alcohol and try to pry into everyone’s business.
Nicky was enthusiastically telling a story about something Erik had done, keeping both Matt and Dan’s attention on himself. Allison and Renee were standing in front of the semicircle-shaped booth, Allison’s head on Renee’s shoulder. Aaron and Katelyn, sitting in the middle of the table, were leaning onto each other so heavily Andrew was surprised they hadn’t merged together yet. Kevin sat between Andrew and his twin, slouching backward so that his head rested on the wall behind them. Neil was sitting on Andrew’s right side, at the edge of the booth. Though he had promised he wouldn’t run, Neil’s instincts remained the same.
Neil rose, tilting his head toward the bar in silent question. Andrew didn’t openly acknowledge him, but slid out and began making his way over to the bar. He heard Allison say something about paying for the first round, and watched Neil guide the blonde over to the bar.
Neil was letting Allison hold onto his arm as she swayed slightly. She was talking animatedly, gesturing with a very serious pinch in her eyebrows. Neil was obviously trying hard not to laugh, yet there was an unmistakable fondness in his gaze.
“You’re just like a little deer,” she suddenly whispered, her eyes wide. “What will you do once we all graduate? I won’t be able to take care of my sweet baby Neil!” She started petting Neil’s auburn curls, an increasingly worried expression making its way onto her face.
“I’ll be okay, I promise,” Neil said, patting the hand that gripped his bicep. “I’ve survived alone for most of my life. Living at a university I like, playing the sport I enjoy, with the support system I’ve built, I’ll be okay, Ally.” Allison still seemed worried, but she nodded and let it go.
Andrew leaned in to whisper in his ear. “That was very mature, junkie. Who knew starting therapy could actually help someone?” Though his voice was terribly dry, Andrew trusted Neil to pick up on the fact that he was joking.
Neil rolled his eyes. “Shut up,” he grumbled. “You sound way too smug for someone who has just as many issues as I do. You might even have more.” Andrew’s lips twitched, and he flicked Neil on the forehead in response.
Andrew turned back to the bar and waited until Roland caught sight of them. The bartender gave Andrew a quick nod and mouthed, I’ll be there in a sec, before refocusing his attention on the drink he was currently making.
Andrew felt Neil’s fingers brush his knuckles, and he acknowledged it by lacing their fingers together. Though he didn’t say a word, Andrew felt the affection radiating off of his partner. He squeezed their joined hands tightly, whether in response, or in reprimand, he wasn’t sure.
A drink tray appeared next to Andrew’s elbow on the bartop, and he looked up to see Roland pouring a line of shots. “Whole team is here. You still want your usual?”
Andrew nodded.
“You drinkin’ or not, Neil?” Roland asked, already reaching for two cups of ice.
“Not,” Neil said. “Neither is Kevin.”
Roland hummed and added a third cup, before pulling out three Sprite cans and adding them to the tray. “Anything else?”
Andrew glanced at Neil, who only shook his head before Allison could say anything. She pouted, but didn’t protest. Andrew was sure she had wanted a fruity cocktail of some kind, but didn’t particularly care enough to ask why she had listened to Neil’s discouragement. Andrew grabbed the drink tray and began making his way back to their table, still hand-in-hand with Neil. Allison said something he didn’t hear to Roland before following.
They found the table completely empty, bar Kevin. “They went down to the dance floor,” the striker said, already reaching for a soda can.
“You wanna dance, Ally?” Neil mumbled, sliding in after Andrew did. He opened the second can of Sprite.
“No,” Allison said, grabbing a shot. “I’d rather just stay here.”
Neil shrugged, opening his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by a man stumbling over and almost knocking their drinks off the table. He was taller than Kevin, with prominent muscles that were hugged by a thick leather jacket. He had messy brown hair, glazed brown eyes, and smelled like a dumpster fire. Andrew congratulated himself on the fact he didn’t gag, but watched as both Kevin and Neil did.
“Hey, babygirl, wanna come hang out with me?” the man slurred, leaning precariously close to Allison. He reached forward, groping at her bare shoulders before trying to move beneath the hem of her silvery tube top.
Allison pushed him away, saying, “I’m good right here, thanks.”
“C’mon, baby, don’t be like that,” he whined, his voice barely understandable. “These shorties can’t be satisfyin’ ya.”
Allison wrinkled her nose and sunk slightly into the booth’s cushions. “I’m still okay here.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Andrew had never seen her look so uncomfortable. She began edging toward Kevin slightly, who immediately reached out to pull lightly on her wrist and get her out of the man’s reach.
“Babe-” the man started again, trying to climb into the booth this time.
Before Allison could react, Neil had grabbed the man by the collar and had practically thrown him back several steps. “Back up, asshole. She has obviously told you, twice, that she’s not interested. Fuck off!” The redhead’s eyes blazed with anger, his teeth bared. Kevin wrapped an arm around Allison’s shoulders, and she leaned slightly into his side.
“Listen here, you tiny dick-” the man snarled, his face turning red.
Andrew scrambled to Neil’s side, already pulling out a knife from his armbands. “Back. The. Fuck. Up.” The man clearly wasn’t done, but the sharp object halted any other protests. He muttered something under his breath, and disappeared into the crowd.
“You good?” Neil immediately asked, turning around and checking Allison over.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Allison said hoarsely, looking significantly less drunk. She was shivering.
“If I’m not allowed to use that word, neither are you!” Neil said petulantly, pushing Andrew back into his spot. Neil plopped down next to him, and curled into Andrew’s side.
By the time the Foxes finally decided to leave, the club was nearly deserted and most of their group was completely wasted. Andrew watched as both Dan and Matt tried to keep each other upright, while simultaneously stumbling every other step. Katelyn and Aaron weren't faring much better.
Nicky, as drunk as he was, somehow still managed to keep himself upright and maintain a very, very loud conversation. With himself.
Though the other had been getting progressively intoxicated, Allison had stopped after a few more rounds. Andrew wasn’t sure as to why, though the way she kept glancing around herself and rubbing her shoulders gave him a rather good idea. Kevin, Neil, and Renee were still completely sober, as was Andrew, though he had taken a spare shot or two interspersed throughout the night.
They made their way out of Edens’ back door and into an alley behind the bar, and started walking toward the parking lot on the other side of the building. Aaron and Katelyn led the group, with Nicky, Matt, and Dan tripping over themselves in the middle, Allison, Kevin, and Renee walking with their elbows brushing, and Neil and Andrew tagging along at the rear of the group.
Andrew opened his mouth to say something to Renee, but before Andrew could say anything, a beer bottle came flying straight toward where Allison was standing. Andrew watched as Neil grabbed both Allison and Renee’s wrists, and managed to yank them out of the way.
Nicky let out a yelp as the bottle shattered near his feet.
Andrew whipped around and saw the heckler from earlier come into view. Yet, this time, he was flanked by two friends, both of whom were just as built, just as tall, and just as intimidating. But what really bothered Andrew was the glint of knife metal he saw, and the sound of a gun safety clicking off.
He felt Neil creep up behind him and carefully slide two blades out from under his armbands, never allowing his fingers to brush against Andrew’s scarred forearms. Neil then withdrew his fingers, but remained so close to Andrew he could feel Neil’s breaths on the back of his neck.
“Is there something we can help you with?” Renee asked, her voice deceptively gentle. She stepped up beside Neil. Andrew watched her tense slightly and carefully hold her own knives behind her back.
“Just wonderin’ how much I’ll need to pay for you to spread those thighs for me, babygirl,” the heckler cooed, voice disgustingly saccharine. He sounded like he was trying to coax out a baby deer.
“I’m not for sale, asshole,” Allison snapped, moving closer to Kevin. “And even if I was, you wouldn’t be able to afford me.” She sniffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
“You’re just a rich little slut,” he said, batting away Allison’s words. “You need a real man to show you how to have a real good time.”
“She’s already said she’s not interested,” Kevin snarled, looping his arm around Allison’s waist. “Can you just back off?” Andrew was surprised at the amount of venom in his voice, but felt something akin to approval flicker in his chest.
“Oh, is your boyfriend getting jeal-” the man started.
Andrew watched Neil slam the heel of his hand into the guy’s nose, almost as if he were in slow motion. “Just shut the fuck up already, you pompous dick!” Neil snapped, shaking out his hand. “She just. Doesn’t. Want. You.”
Within seconds, the friend on the left was holding a knife and started approaching them with a predatory gait. The man’s eyes flicked to Renee before he started in on Andrew.
Andrew ducked cleanly underneath the punch the man threw, and swung out his own hand to swipe his knife down the man’s flank. Andrew heard a vicious growl to the left of him, and assumed that the other friend was surprised by how much he was struggling with Renee.
The man Andrew was fighting had an obvious strength about him, but was struggling to keep up with the speed at which Andrew sliced and kicked. He was getting more and more frustrated the longer he was unable to knock Andrew out. When Andrew hesitated a bit too long on ducking another punch because he’d been checking over Neil, the man managed to pin Andrew to the dumpster, knock the blade out of his hand, and pull out a knife of his own. Though Andrew refused to appear fearful, his breath caught at the sharp object nonetheless.
“Little bastard-” the man began, bringing the knife toward Andrew’s neck. Andrew slammed his knee into the man’s dick before the blade connected with flesh. The man released a shout and Andrew watched apathetically as he collapsed onto the ground. Andrew then kicked his stomach before punching him in the temple hard enough that the man fell unconscious.
Andrew glanced around himself to find Natalie beating the crap out of her opponent. The man had an array of knife wounds, and was covered in already-purpling bruises. The man looked like he was about to pass out.
A clang from the other end of the alley drew Andrew’s eyes to where Nathaniel was standing, facing off with the man who’d heckled Allison, and a second man who had appeared out of nowhere. Though Andrew tensed at the thought of his partner getting hurt, watching for a moment showed Andrew just how well Nathaniel was faring. The first man was barely standing, though Andrew wasn’t sure if that was from the alcohol he’d consumed or the punches he’d taken. The second man worried Andrew, slightly, because he had a gun in the waistband of his jeans. Nathaniel, however, seemed completely unbothered, continuing to rain down knife cuts and vicious kicks on the two men.
It was only when the second man reached for the gun and clicked off the safety that Andrew stepped forward. Natalie beat him to Nathaniel’s side, however. Nathaniel somehow managed to disarm the second man with ease, and sent him to his knees, just as Natalie picked up the original heckler and put a knife to his throat.
At the sight of the blades so close to their faces, both men obviously sobered. The original heckler began blubbering something, trying to shrink away from Natalie. The second man stood silently, glaring up at Nathaniel’s face, and remained completely still.
“Can you behave?” Nathaniel asked, his voice devoid of emotion. “I would prefer not to leave with a body tonight.”
The original heckler mumbled something under his breath that made Natalie slam the butt of her knife into his temple, hard enough that he was knocked out. The other man’s eyes widened.
Nathaniel turned his head and began saying something to Natalie, but the second man moved, suddenly. He grabbed the knife from Nathaniel’s hand and sunk it deep into his shoulder.
Andrew’s heart stopped in the few moments he watched his partner get pinned to the brick wall behind them, seeing blood spreading over the fabric of the shirt he was wearing.
Nathaniel’s facial expression didn’t twitch. His eyes were cold, calculating, his jaw set against the pain. He seemed to breathe out before wrapping his fingers around the man’s wrist, pushing down on the pressure points in his arm, and managing to release his grip on the knife. Nathaniel then managed to rip the blade from his flesh and cleanly slit across the attacker’s throat.
The man gurgled for a moment, scrabbling for purchase, before collapsing on the ground. His eyes, which had been wide and crazed, now dulled to a lifeless gaze. Blood began spreading across the pavement.
Andrew stared down at the man dispassionately before glancing up at Nathaniel. Ice-blue eyes bored into him, as if searching for signs of fear or disgust, before they flicked to behind Andrew.
Andrew glanced behind himself, and tried to gauge the Foxes’ reactions.
Matt and Dan looked vaguely horrified as they stood on either side of Nicky, trying to keep him from collapsing. His cousin had vomited on the sidewalk and promptly passed out. Katelyn’s eyes were wide, and scared, while Aaron seemed like he was trying very hard not to look at the body on the ground. Kevin looked slightly nauseous, but he also had an approving sort of gleam in his eyes. Allison was trembling like a leaf, yet her shoulders were back and there was a wisp of confidence in her stance.
Natalie looked utterly calm, almost removed, as she looked between the Foxes and where the man lay. She stood up, and wiped her sweat palms on her thighs, before slipping her blades back into her boots. Nathaniel glanced at Natalie for a moment, and the two communicated silently before he pulled the Maserati keys from his pocket and tossed them to her.
Natalie turned to the Foxes. “Why don’t I come and drive you guys back to the house?” Dan, Matt, Aaron, and Katelyn all gaped at her blasé attitude. Andrew was sure they were questioning how much alcohol they had drunk and whether or not their drinks had been laced with hallucinogens.
Kevin’s movement back toward the parking lot, arm linked with Allison, was what snapped the other Foxes out of their shock. Andrew wasn’t really sure how the eight of them were planning on getting to the house, but shrugged it off. Right now, the priority was to deal with the two unconscious men and the dead body.
It was almost sunrise when Andrew and Neil returned to the Columbia house. They were completely covered in sweat and dirt, and Andrew was sure they had to be at least a little bit of blood.
Though Nathaniel had called his uncle for resources in order to properly dispose of the three men, it had quickly become obvious to Andrew that this was something his partner had done before. Once Stuart had provided them with cleaners, a bone saw, plastic wrapping, and some shovels, Nathaniel had easily set upon breaking down the body and digging a hole in a place where it was unlikely for it to be found.
Natalie had called them, at one point, to ask if they needed some help, but Andrew immediately declined. Nathaniel had proven to be quite capable singlehandedly.
Andrew led Neil up to his room, bypassing the sleeping Foxes scattered throughout the living room. With the exception of Aaron and Katelyn, it seemed that the entirety of their group had decided to remain downstairs.
The two of them stripped down silently, tossing their clothing into a corner to burn later. They then got into the shower together, washing each other efficiently, clinically, and very rapidly. Though Andrew felt a dull sense of arousal as he stared at his partner, neither of them were in the right headspace to give their genitals any more interest.
After pulling on pairs of sweatpants and loose hoodies, the two of them made their way to the kitchen and set a pot of coffee to brew. Neil stood directly in front of the counter, staring absently at the tiling. Andrew reached out and laced their fingers together before slowly allowing his head to rest on Neil’s shoulder.
“Should I feel guilty?” Neil whispered, giving their joined hands a squeeze. He seemed very far into his own head.
“Probably,” was the only response Andrew could provide. Because it was true. Neil should feel guilty, for hurting anyone, much less killing three men. And yet, neither of them seemed particularly interested. Andrew knew Neil was more worried about the reactions the Foxes would give him, when they woke up.
Neil snorted. “We really are made for each other.” His voice was flat, but he turned his head and gave Andrew a quick kiss to the temple.
They heard faint movement in the living room, so the two of them poured cups of coffee and made their way over to face the Foxes.
Renee was the first to see them, and she immediately stood up and enveloped Neil in a hug. They stood like that for a moment, basking in brittle comfort only someone else like them could provide.
Nicky only lasted thirty seconds before he cleared his throat. It was obvious he had a million and one questions to ask.
“Yes?” Neil asked politely, trying to avoid the question.
“Stop being an ass,” Nicky scolded. “I want to know where you learned to fight like that?”
“My mother,” Neil responded, tensing slightly.
“How do you know about using knives so well?” Dan asked. Her voice was tentative, but solid enough Neil probably felt compelled to answer.
“Lola.” His voice was so hollow that Dan immediately let it go.
“Did you kill him?” Allison asked, as blunt as always. Nicky and Matt both squeaked at the implications, but they seemed curious enough not to interrupt.
“It was dark, Allison,” Neil said, his expression apathetic. “Who knows what happens to drunk, lonely men who try to act tough in sketchy alleyways. Probably got robbed or something.”
Allison narrowed her eyes, but one look from Renee had her simpy crossing her arms and huffing petulantly.
The silence lasted for all of two seconds before Matt burst out with, “You were so badass, Neilio! You were all like, ‘bam, bam,’ and the guys were all like, ‘woah, help!’ And you just totally kicked ass.” Matt resembled a puppy with the way he seemed so enthusiastic that Andrew could almost make out a wagging tail.
That seemed to break the tenseness of the room. The Foxes began teasing each other, and giggling, and kept giving Neil compliments. Neil was turning so red Andrew wasn’t sure if he would stay that way permanently. Aaron and Katelyn eventually made it downstairs, and then the Foxes decided to go out to lunch.
Andrew knew that their secret was safe with the Foxes. And he also knew that Neil (and maybe him, too) were right where they belonged, in a group full of messed-up kids with fucked-up morals and too many issues to count.