Chapter Text
It was almost midnight when three cars entered Wesninski Manor. Andrew was sitting on the window ledge, a glass of champagne in his hand and a tense Neil between his legs. From that position, Andrew watched as Ichirou Moriyama got out of the driver's seat of the first car to park, closing his jacket with a serene expression on his face.
Right behind him, in the second car, were Riko and Tetsuji.
"Riko probably used the fact that I'm here to be allowed to come," Neil said, taking Andrew's champagne glass and taking a sip. Andrew raised an eyebrow at him. "They always use the Ravens' training to justify Riko's absence, but if one Raven can be here, why not another?"
"It makes sense," Andrew said as he looked back at the three men. Ichirou was saying something to Riko, who did not look happy but didn’t speak once while listening. "Neither Riko nor Tetsuji are wearing gloves."
Neil laughed.
"Kengo never allowed any of them to use it. With Ichirou it wouldn’t be any different."
"He'll be quite irritated when he notices I'm using it, then."
They smiled at each other, but the smile only lasted until Nathan approached them.
"Did Ichirou arrive?" he asked, clearly not at all happy with the “Little Lord”’s, as Andrew heard everyone refer to Ichirou outside of his presence, delay.
"Yes, father."
Nathan ran his hands over his own arms and cleared his throat. "Very well, then. Dinner will be served soon. ”
With that, Nathan gave Andrew a nod and walked away.
Neil sighed and stole another sip of Andrew's champagne.
"You know, there's a table full of champagne flutes right over there."
"You're closer," Neil smiled as he drank, but his smile died when the door was opened and the three Moriyamas entered. Together, it was easy to notice the difference in their upbringing - while Tetsuji and Riko exuded arrogance, forcing others to remember that they were also Moriyama and looking at everyone as if they were inferior, Ichirou didn't bother looking at anyone, knowing that he was superior to everyone and didn't need to remind them of that.
"Nathan’s annoyed," Neil said, watching Ichirou walk over to Nathan, greeting the man with a hug. Nathan grinned at the man, but even Andrew could see it was fake. "Ichirou delayed his entire schedule for the night."
"I wonder how much of this delay was planned."
"Probably all."
Andrew snorted, laughing and Neil gave a half-smile, looking at Andrew. With the look on his face, Andrew gave in and pulled Neil by the tie and kissed him calmly.
Afterwards, they joined the other guests around the table, but before Neil could sit down, Nathan sent him to check on Mary upstairs. Neil gave Andrew a look, who just shrugged and took his seat.
Andrew didn't know who was responsible for choosing the seats, but he would be very much grateful for that person - only in his mind, of course - for putting him next to Neil, although he didn't appreciate the fact that he was sitting across from Riko.
Riko hadn't seen him yet, too busy trying to get into the conversation between his brother and Nathan, but when he did Andrew made sure to greet him with the new glass of champagne in his hand in a discreet but clear mockery.
The surprised glow on Riko’s face only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to make Andrew's whole existence worthwhile, especially when his face contorted at the sight of Andrew's gloves. It was one of the best feelings in the world.
Neil returned to the living room, smirking at Riko as he passed Andrew and Andrew remembered then why he was so attracted to the idiot. He watched Neil whisper something in his father's ear, who waved and dismissed him, then Neil went back to Andrew's side, stealing his glass of champagne.
"After it passes through my hands, does the champagne change its taste?" he asks as Neil takes a sip. Neil doesn't answer, but he laughs and drinks some more. Andrew steals the cup back. "Grab your own."
Dinner starts to be served at that moment, so all the guests go to their respective seats at the long table. Nathan sits at the head, with Ichirou sitting to his right and Neil to his left. Andrew sat on Neil's left and Riko on Ichirou's left. Tetsuji was on the other side of Riko and the chair on the other side of Andrew was empty since it was the reserved chair for Neil's mother but she was not allowed to come, despite Nathan mentioning an uneasiness when someone asked about her.
The first five minutes pass in silence, with only the sounds of cutlery filling the space.
Until Riko opened her mouth.
"You know, Nathan, you should take a closer look at some of Nathaniel's friendships," he said, bringing a papaya fork to his mouth and looking directly at Andrew. “Especially when this friendship is a guy with a taste for other guys. It can extend to him. ”
Neil and Andrew exchanged a look, but none of them opened their mouths to answer Riko.
It was Nathan.
“I don't see why this is a problem. I'm aware that Andrew likes other guys, after all, it would be strange if he didn't, considering that he and Nathaniel are dating.”
Andrew took a sip of his champagne and watched Riko's smile falter. Neil put his hand on Andrew's knee and squeezed it lightly and Andrew knew he was struggling not to laugh.
Riko blinked and opened his mouth to say something more, but Nathan was no longer paying attention to him, turning to Ichirou and asking about his sick father. Tetsuji said something in his nephew's ear, who was looking at Andrew and Neil angrily.
Andrew was having a great time.
When dinner was over, Ichirou and Nathan retired to the next room. Riko seemed to see this as his chance to be an idiot, but Neil didn't give it to him, raising his hand and making Riko shut up before he even spoke.
“I know what you're going to say, so don't say it. And don't you dare use Andrew against me or his family, and that includes the Foxes, against him, because you're going to regret it. ”
With that, Neil pushed his chair and got up. Andrew followed suit and followed him out of the dining room, not caring that the event was not really over yet.
But instead of heading for the stairs, Neil pulled Andrew into the kitchen.
"Ichirou said you need to stay with me," Neil said, sitting on the kitchen counter, pulling Andrew between his legs. He gave Andrew a light kiss on the nose and hid his face in the crook of Andrew's neck. "Go with me?"
"You don’t have to ask."
He feels Neil smile, so Andrew puts his arms around Neil's waist and hugs him.
Andrew doesn't know how much time they spent there, but it was enough for Andrew's legs to get tired and Neil to doze on his shoulder.
Apparently, it was also enough for one of Ichirou's men to look for them. Andrew knew he was not one of Nathan's men because none of Nathan's men wore a red vest with an embroidered M, so it was quite visible whose employee this person was.
Andrew patted Neil on the neck when he saw the man, waking him up.
"Ichirou requests your presence," he says and then leaves. Andrew comes to think that he was a hologram for the speed with which he disappeared.
They find Ichirou in Nathan's office but the owner of the place is nowhere to be found, as are any of his men. Ichirou doesn't seem surprised to see Andrew there, just indicating that they should sit down.
"First of all, I am not here as your superior, Nate, I am here as that boy you used to hide with at dinners when we were children and complain about our parents," he says, looking at Neil the whole time as he speaks and Neil smiles, but his smile doesn't reach his eyes and that's how Andrew knows it's a good memory, but it probably didn't have a good result. Andrew winces. “As you know, my father is dying. And as you know, I don't intend to keep any of his subordinates and that includes your father. ” Neil nods in confirmation. “You were raised to be your father's heir, just as I was to be my father’s. But even if I can't get away from it, God forbid Riko to take charge of everything, you can.”
Andrew looked away from the man in front of him to look at Neil, who looked surprised, to say the least. Andrew knew that Neil thought this meeting was just for Ichirou to remind him of his duty.
"I don't understand…”
"You have a choice; you can choose how you want to spend the rest of your days. Of course, limited to what brings profit to my family, but still. You can continue to be your father’s heir, or you can pursue a career in Exy. ”
Neil opened and closed his mouth a few times before looking at Andrew and laughing.
"I ... really ..."
Ichirou was amused. “Yes, Nate. But,” he continued, returning to his serious expression. "You have to be the one to eliminate your father and his inner circle, Lola and Romero Malcolm, and Jackson DiMaccio included.”
Andrew couldn't say he was surprised. It was clear that that freedom would not come easily. Also and foremost, Andrew knew how Neil felt about killing people, so he put a hand on Neil's neck and squeezed lightly, letting him know that he wouldn't have to do it alone. Neil looked at Andrew for an instant before standing up and saying.
“I choose Exy, sir. Let me know when I have to take care of my father. ”