Dead Girl Walking ― Aaron Minyard

61. long story short

and he feels like home
if the shoe fits, walk in it
everywhere you go
― taylor swift

♦

MARA AND NEIL MET KEVIN OUTSIDE OF HIS HISTORY CLASS. He drew up short when he spotted the twins, rightfully suspicious. 

"We're going to Abby's," Mara told him in French. "We have to talk to Jean."

"Not right now," Kevin said. 

"Yes now." Neil put an arm out when Kevin looked ready to walk away. "Ichirou just came to see us." 

Kevin choked on his first denial. His second attempt was hoarse with disbelief. "Don't joke about such things." Neil stared back at Kevin in silence until Kevin flinched and looked to Mara, who's face must have convinced him. He took a half-step back. "No. He won't even meet Riko. He wouldn't come here." 

"Come on," Mara said. 

Neil must have messaged Andrew on their way to Fox Tower, because he was waiting for them on the trunk of his car. 

It was a short drive from the dorm to Abby's. Neil knocked despite her door being almost perpetually unlocked, and Abby answered a few seconds later. She frowned at the sight of them on her doorstep but moved aside to let them in. 

"Don't you have class right now?" 

"No," Neil said. "Where's Jean?" 

"He was asleep the last I checked on him."

"It's important," Neil said. "We'll wake him up."

Abby studied Kevin's bleak expression a moment before stepping aside. Mara led the way down the hall, leaving Abby staring after them, and knocked twice on the door before pushing it open. 

Jean startled awake at the noise and started to sit up. Moving was a mistake, judging by the sound he made as he sank back to the mattress. 

Mara went to the bed and sat down, close enough to be some comfort for the news she was about to break. 

"Hello, Jean," Neil said. 

"Go away," Jean said, voice raw with loathing. "I have nothing to say to you." 

"But you'll listen," Neil said, "because Ichirou knows where you are now."

It was enough to get Jean's undivided attention. Kevin sat down on Jean's other side, white-faced all over again at the sound of Ichirou's name. 

Mara told them about Ichirou's visit: why he'd come, how he'd chosen to spare their lives, and what it would cost them to repay his favor. Kevin and Jean listened to it all without saying a word. 

"It's not a pardon, and it's not freedom, but it's protection." Mara looked from one shell-shocked face to the other. "We're assets for the main family now. Riko can't do anything to us without Ichirou getting involved." 

"The King's lost all his men and there's nothing he can do about it without crossing his brother," Neil said. "We're safe—for good." 

Jean made a terrible sound and buried his face in his hands. Kevin opened his mouth, closed it again, and flicked a haunted look down at Jean. 

When it became clear that was all the reaction they would give, Neil left the trio to each other's questionable comfort, and Andrew went with him. 

In the quiet of their worlds falling apart and rebuilding in rapid succession, Jean whispered, "Riko will be furious."