heartbeat ~ a f t g

Neil

Andrew was the only monster that Neil couldn't figure out.

Kevin was easy: still terrified of Riko and the rest of the Moriyamas, a complete control freak and incredibly powerful, but with no confidence to show it. Nicky was utterly devoted to his long-term boyfriend in Germany, and was the twins older cousin who'd adopted them when their mother died. Aaron hated his brother, and hated being identical to him even more. But Neil had seen him sneaking out of the house more than once on the broken security cameras he'd hacked, probably to see a girlfriend, and hoped that he had enough sense not to bring it up with any of them. Andrew had been pretty explicit about his opinions on Aaron's relationships, and Neil didn't doubt his word, especially as he hadn't broken his promise to Neil yet.

But after three months with the monsters, Andrew was the only one that Neil couldn't pin down any specific facts on. Knives in his sleeves, a incredibly dangerous power, possessive and never without a cigarette in his hand, he was a math problem that Neil couldn't solve.

***********

It was a Monday. Kevin was sitting on the couch, half-asleep with a awful hangover from the night before. Nicky was on the phone to Erik, slurring his words with a cheerful expression on his face. Aaron was typing away on a screen, and Andrew seemed content to flick through channels on the TV. Neil watched them, thinking what a wonderful, messed-up family they all were, when a knock sounded at the door. It shook them all out of their peaceful silence, and Nicky stretched before rising to his feet and trudging down the hallway. The sound of an opening door reached their ears, then a moments silence, then a crash that sounded like a phone shattering. Andrew was on his feet in an instant, followed closely by Neil and Kevin, Aaron trailing behind.

"Are you going to let me in, Kevin? Don't you know it's rude to leave guests waiting outside?" The man on the other side of the doorway was smiling, pleased at the reaction he'd received. There was a smaller figure tucked into his side, and together they stepped onto the polished floor, boots squeaking. Neil saw Andrew pull a knife out from his sleeve.

Riko Moriyama grinned unpleasantly as he surveyed all five of them standing dumbstruck. He turned on his heel and strode down the hall, leaving them to trail after him.

"Really, Kevin, now that you've recovered you should come back to Evermore. You'd be a valued teacher, especially with all the knowledge you've gathered from living with- them." Riko shuddered. He and Jean Moreau were lined up in the centre of the room. Nicky and Aaron were sitting tense on the couch, Andrew leaned against the wall next to Neil, and Kevin looked like he was going to faint from his position beside the TV. "We would all love to have you back, and you would do so much better with us." Kevin didn't speak, and Neil suspected that he would throw up if he tried. Riko had been the one to break his hand, and that had never left Kevin, ingraining fear deep into his brain. Riko's power was manipulation, and it suited him well. Neil felt a sudden urge to speak up, to defend Kevin from this man.

"No, he wouldn't."

All eyes snapped to him, and Riko looked confused for a moment. Neil felt Andrew's hand snake round his wrist in a silent warning, but he ignored it.
"He wouldn't be better off without you. In fact, he'd be much, much worse. You think that you're so much better than us? Really? when everyone knows that the only reason you get people to attend your school is because they owe you. Money, service, whatever. The point is, you don't know shit. Kevin is the strongest he's been when he is here, and he doesn't need you're shitty promises, or your fucked-up lies. I know that you are he reason for that little accident, a year back. So you really think that after everything you've done, he'll come crawling back? Dream on, bastard."

Riko's lips tightened. He started forward, striding across the room towards Neil, but Andrew was there in a second, knife out. He raised it so that it was level with Riko's neck, and casually twitched his fingers on the hilt. Riko stuttered, his face turning red and blotchy, clutching at his chest. He stood like that for a minute, before taking a deep breath and turning on his heel. He cast Neil one final look, bubbling with hatred, then strode out. Jean followed him like a shadow, and the door closed behind them. The front door banged shut a moment later, and Neil let out a shaky breath.

Kevin was the first to move, stumbling to his feet before speeding out of the room and into the kitchen. He came back with two bottles of whisky, and cast Nicky and Aaron a meaningful look. They scarpered. Once they were out of sight, he collapsed onto a chair, head in his hands. Andrew was beside him, one hand on his neck, urging him to 'Breath, Kevin. You're safe now, they can't hurt you. I told you I'd keep my promise, didn't I? And now I intend to. You believe me don't you?'

Kevin nodded along, but as soon as Andrew let go, he drained one of the bottles in a long gulp and slumped back on the cushions, closing his eyes defeatedly. Andrew stayed for only a second more, then straightened up and grabbed Neil by the arm, pulling him out of the room and along the corridor, until they reached Neil's bedroom. "The fuck was that about?" Andrew's smoke-roughened voice invaded his senses. They two of them were centimetres apart, with Neil's lower back digging into his beside table. "I- I had too, Andrew. Riko- I mean-" Andrew shook his head angrily. The space was growing smaller every second.

"You just put a target on your back, fucking idiot. The yakuza will be after you now, all because you humiliated their most promising student." Andrew pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, inhaling the smoke with his eyes half closed. He took a step back, and Neil missed the closeness desperately, the same way he'd missed his NeuroPatch when it had first been removed. And then, before he could think logically, his hand was shooting out and closing around Andrew's wrist. His voice sounded strange and needy to his own ears.

"Stay?"