Rainbow Connection, AFTG ✔️

2.2

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
JAMES

Kevin walked in six days after James woke up. Porter was right behind him, and though James saw other Foxes in the hallway, Wymack closed the door behind the first two, shutting himself and his team out.

There was a weighted silence. It seemed to be suffocating them all. James didn't want to break it, and neither did either of them. Porter broke first, offering a dry, humorless attempt at a joke, "Congratulations on your break-up."

Kevin snapped his head towards Porter with a sharp glare, and Porter didn't react. James shocked himself when he couldn't control the laugh that shot out of his mouth. Maybe he was turning delirious, or maybe he was high off morphine, but James chuckled to himself while Kevin and Porter stared in shock.

When he got annoyed by their wide-eyed gazes, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you not going to ask how?"

Porter looked visibly uncomfortable, and Kevin looked ill. James could read their emotions better than either of those two constipated and thick assholes could. Months apart from the men had changed them in obvious ways -- James could feel the missing pieces of information he needed to collect -- but they were still the same scared boys he grew up with. James bet Kevin would crack first. James was right.

"What did Riko do?" Kevin asked.

"He broke my leg," James replied seriously. Kevin didn't think it was funny, apparent from his blank expression, but James muffled his laugh. "I guess he doesn't like to be predictable. Wouldn't break the same bones twice, now would he? He did go for the left leg though. Guess the next time will be a right arm or leg."

"James," Porter joined the conversation with a quiet voice. James' laughing melted in an instant. Ten years with Porter and he was never one to be quiet; even when he was sure Riko would kill him, Porter said he'd go down shouting. He tilted his head and gave Porter his attention. "What happened?"

"Riko wanted Nathaniel to come to Evermore over the holidays," James muttered, "Or...Neil, or whoever he wants to be. I told him if he came, I'd leave. And Nathaniel came. Riko didn't let me go so easily."

All the warmth had let Kevin's face, and pure confusion had taken over Porter's. After a beat in silence, Porter asked, "Who the fuck is Nathaniel?"

James' eyebrows raised, but his face still burned it he expressed too much, and he went flat again. He looked at Kevin, studying him; he'd drawn his lips into a thin line, trying obviously to be rid of his emotions, but James couldn't place a finger on what Kevin was feeling. "He doesn't know," James said, not asking. "I thought he would."

"He is right here," Porter sounded annoyed and quick to judge, just like his usual self. "Kevin," He turned to Kevin with an embarrassingly shameless look, desperately distressed and thinking Kevin would ever offer any guidance. "What do you two know?"

James honestly didn't think Kevin would answer. If Kevin hadn't told anyone about Neil, Kevin was scared. He'd known since the fall banquet; why didn't Porter or that little Minyard know?

"Neil's real name is Nathaniel," Kevin answered honestly, quiet and pale. He obviously didn't want to be in the conversation, but he glanced over at Porter and sighed, "His father is the butcher of Baltimore, he works for the Moriyama's."

"Neil does?!" Porter whisper-shouted, eyes wide with alarm. Kevin shook his head, but before he could answer, James did.

"His father, Nathan Wesninski. Riko's had it out for him since the day he realized who Neil is." James explained, "Neil and his mother have been on the run from the Moriyama's for eight years. He was supposed to be one of us."