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It should have been a normal day at Camp Campbell. Neil and Andrew woke up, yet again, curled around each other. In the other tent, Kevin woke up to Nicky and Aaron throwing cushions at each other over his bed. The Foxes arose as they normally did, they went to breakfast as they normally did, and they started their camp activities as they normally did.
But at the sun hit its peak, a black car pulled up at the entrance to the camp, and Neil and Kevin immediately stopped what they were doing and gravitated towards each other. Nicky leaned towards Andrew.
“Is that the FBI agents?”
Andrew said nothing as two men in suits approached, grave looks on their faces. He shuffled closer until he could hear them even as they leaned down to whisper to the pair.
“We think the Malcolms know where you are.”
Kevin flinched and Neil stiffened immediately. “What does that mean?”
“It means…” The taller of the two agents, Towns, peered around the campgrounds. “It means that Camp Campbell is no longer safe for the pair of you. For any of the campers. It means… this camp might have to be temporarily shut down.”
“No,” said Neil without a moment’s hesitation.
“Neil,” sighed the shorter agent, who must have been Browning. “It’s what’s safest for everyone-!”
“No,” repeated Neil, raising his voice. “No!”
“Neil,” said Andrew quietly, and he fell silent. “You have to keep yourself and Kevin safe.”
“I don’t wanna leave you.”
The silence that fell over the camp was palpable. Emotions that Andrew had long-since buried deep down welled up inside him, and he stepped into Neil’s space, wrapping tight arms around him in a vice-like grip.
“We both have people to keep safe,” said Andrew slowly. “This is only a temporary separation.”
“I thought we’d have more time.”
“Me too.”
They separated with desperate looks. Neither of them would go any further with the physical affection, not with the other Foxes hanging around, but the need to lean forward and kiss Neil until neither of them could breathe was overwhelming. Andrew settled for taking one of Neil’s hands in his and pressing a light kiss to the back of it.
“I love you,” he said, so quietly that only Neil could hear it.
Neil smiled a half-hearted smile. “I love you too.”
Watching Neil drive away with Kevin and two FBI agents was difficult. Even more so was when Betsy started telling the others when their parents would be there to pick them up. Andrew retreated to his tent and slid his armbands on.
Nicky peeked in a moment later, and was immediately taken aback by the empty look on Andrew’s face.
“My parents will be here soon,” he said, his voice hoarse.
Andrew ignored him for a moment. “I’m not leaving.”
“Andrew-”
“I told Neil that this was a temporary separation,” said Andrew. “So I won’t leave. You think Luther will let us back here when he sees that none of us have made any improvement?” Nicky said nothing. “I would rather die trying to keep Neil safe than live life without him.”
“You’re fifteen,” said Nicky quietly. “It’s just a summer love.”
“No,” said Andrew. “Do I seem like the type to have a summer love?”
It was a very obvious no. Nicky sighed, tilting his head.
“If you’re staying, I’m staying,” he said.
“Don’t be stupid,” snapped Andrew. “You’ll die.”
“Yeah,” said Nicky. “But as you said, I would rather die trying to get Neil and Kevin back than go back to a life where I have to fear my parents just because of who I love.”
Andrew eyed him thoughtfully for a moment, then reached into his armband and began flipping a knife in one hand, before handing it to Nicky, hilt-first.
“Don’t die,” he said, which was the closest Andrew had ever come to admitting he cared for Nicky’s life.
Nicky took it and hurried back out of the tent. When Andrew emerged some twenty minutes later, all of the Foxes were gathered, with varying degrees of weapons. Renee, of course, had her own set of knives, which she had apparently shared with Allison and Seth. Matt had wrapped his fists and his talking was slightly slurred, so Andrew assumed he’d put in a mouth guard. Dan had an Exy racquet in her hands. Even Aaron was settled in next to Nicky with shards of glass from the broken beakers on the table next to him.
“What are you doing?”
Allison scowled. “What, you think you’re the only who cares about our little assholes?”
“We’re staying,” said Dan firmly, adjusting her grip on the racquet. “Betsy and Wymack just went to get into Campbell’s stash of weapons, and Abby is getting the medical supplies together. We’re not letting Camp Campbell go that easily.”
Before Andrew could say anything more, there was a snap in the distance, and he caught sight of movement in his periphery.
“Duck,” he said.
Renee was the first on the ground, and she tugged Seth and Allison down with her. Aaron and Nicky followed closely behind, and then Dan and Matt dragged each other down. Andrew ducked just in time, as a shot ran out through the camp just above where he had been standing. He scanned the treeline and caught sight of two figures, stood at opposite ends. One of them, a man, had a gun in his hands, and the woman was clutching her own knives, though these seemed made for throwing.
Before Andrew could make a move to respond in kind, though, another shot ran out through the campground and the man fell with a cry, clutching at his shin.
The woman turned in outrage towards the man, and Andrew took the opportunity to throw one of his knives, which planted itself in the tree beside her.
She turned, and threw one back, but it was easily batted away by Dan’s Exy racquet. Andrew hadn’t even noticed her getting closer to him.
“You’re welcome,” she bit.
“Fuck off,” said Andrew, but it was paired with a begrudging nod of approval.
Dan didn’t respond, choosing instead to rush towards the woman with the Exy racquet held high above her head, ready to bat away any stray knives.
Renee, on the other hand, led Allison and Seth in the direction of the man, all of them with knives brandished.
Andrew decided that they were probably more than capable and turned to follow Dan towards the woman. Dan had already reached her and was doing her best to catch her in the chest or stomach with the racquet. Andrew thought it was probably a good move, as a winded assassin was a vulnerable assassin. The woman, however, seemed more than capable herself of avoiding the racquet, and had begun to lash out in kind with knives.
Just as it seemed Dan would get a cut to the side, Matt came running past and caught the woman with a weak hit to the shoulder. She didn’t seem put off, though given the angle and surprising lack of finesse, that was hardly surprising. Matt shuffled in front of Dan and followed it up with a stronger punch to the abdomen, which left the woman gasping.
Andrew lunged forwards with a quick twist that left her on the floor below him, a knife to her throat.
**
Betsy had called Browning as soon as she’d heard the first shot.
David had been on his way to help out the kids, but found that by the time he arrived, he was too late. He was just about able to help them restrain the two assassins with a mixture of rope from the obstacle course and handcuffs which Andrew provided with no explanation as to where he’d gotten them, though the coy way he presented them made it more than clear.
They organised a watch system whilst they were waiting for the FBI agents to arrive, but it proved to be pointless because they arrived before they had even decided. Towns and Browning were the first out, brandishing their guns, but once they’d ascertained that the danger was contained, the door flew open and Andrew was met with an armful of Neil.
“You should have left,” said Browning, though the statement seemed only half-hearted because he was too full of glee at the sight of the Malcolms restrained so easily by a group of teenagers.
“I’m getting emancipated,” said Neil quietly into Andrew’s neck, and Andrew held on tighter. “Kevin too. I won’t leave you again.”
“I’m not going to force you to stay.”
“You’re not forcing me.” Neil leaned back and cupped Andrew’s face in both hands. “I have been literally tortured and leaving you behind was still the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
Andrew grimaced. “Alright, whatever. This isn’t a rom-com.”
“The Malcolms are in custody,” said Neil, pulling away from Andrew to gesture towards them, much to Andrew’s dismay. “Jackson is dead. So is my father. Patrick was caught attempting to flee the country. There’s nobody left from my father’s inner circle. I’m as safe as I’ve ever been. I’m staying.”
“You fucking better.” Andrew grumbled, pulling Neil into his embrace again. “I won’t do that shit for you again.”
“For me?”
“Idiot.”
Andrew pulled Neil into their tent for a proper reunion. Sans handcuffs, unfortunately, but that could be saved for next time. They had all the time in the world.