Chapter Text
Neil was good at a few, specific things. He was good at lying. He was good at hiding. He was good with knives. He was, however, not good at convincing Allison to let him hide in the stable until the gala she had been forced to organize was over.
From early in the two’s odd relationship, Allison had had the power to convince Neil to do things that some people might consider weird or insane. Things such as replacing all the sugar in the Reynold’s household with salt and the coffee grinds with fine dirt. One would think that that’s not something worthy of the label “insane”. However, the fact that Neil was simply a kitchen helper at the time made it infinitely more dangerous and, by default, interesting. Allison had a way of roping Neil into many different things, from fashion shows to pranks to late night tea raids which ended in the pair sitting on the roof, talking until the sun came up. The two people came from completely different worlds, and yet, they fit together like a puzzle.
And this power is how Allison managed to have Neil standing in front of her many mirrors as she tried to wrestle his fiery locks into a respectable hairstyle.
“It’s never going to stay,” Neil sighed for the umpteenth time as a strand of his hair fell into his eyes.
Allison made a high pitch noise of annoyance and yanked Neil’s head back. He grimaced at this, but remained still as she worked. He could see her forehead wrinkling in concentration and he felt the sarcastic comment die on his lips. Instead he turned his attention towards the tie around his neck. He had spent the last 15 minutes trying to tie it as Allison fussed around his hair, but so far, it was still the same unknotted cloth as before. He knew he could simply ask Allison for help. He knew he probably would need to ask her for help eventually, but he was a stubborn individual, so he had thus far refused to ask for help.
“Remind me why I am going to this charity gala?” Neil muttered in annoyance.
“Because, I was roped into helping with the annual Moriyama galal, and as you are, in fact, my butler and right hand man, I am requiring you to be there,” Allison paused for a moment to let that sink in again,” Besides, it’s not like you have much of a choice, do you?”
In response, Neil rolled his eyes and made another attempt at his tie. Allison watched this through the mirror, having apparently given up on slicking back the red curls. When Neil inevitably ended up with a horribly tangled knot that in no way resembled a tie, Allison just pinched the bridge of her nose, carefully avoiding her expertly applied eye make up, and swatted at his hands. Neil automatically dropped the cloth, happy to be rid of that responsibility. He instead engaged in the task of zoning out as Allison jabbered on about this or that. She always did have a talent of knowing which servant was with who, who was pregnant, or who was planning on murdering her step mother next. It was often the latter of those, seeing as how she was always on the look for a brilliant way to execute the plan herself.
Neil was brought back to the present by Allison’s hand on his shoulder. She was looking into his eyes, blue on blue, a determined look set into hers that Neil hoped was echoed in his own.
“We just need to get in there, remind that Moriyama brat who the real beauties of this world are, steal some sweets for the others, and maybe cause another scandal,” Allison listed, never breaking eye contact, her tone indicating that she was making sure Neil was alright with that,” Are you with me?”
Neil felt his mouth twist in a small, wicked grin.
“Of course I am.”
Allison removed her hand from his shoulder and looked down at him fondly,” That’s the spirit, now move your lazy ass, it starts at sundown and afternoon is already almost over.”
Neil resignedly stood up, allowing Allison to smooth out the wrinkles of his jacket as he examined her makeup. Once they had cleared each other, Neil bowed comically deep and held out his hand.
“My lady,” He smirked, his blue eyes glittering with amusement,” May I have the honor of escorting you to the gala?”
“Of course,” Allison responded, over dramatically placing her hand in his, eyes also sparkling with laughter at the inside joke the two shared.
Many years ago, when Neil had first arrived, the Reynolds had apparently considered raising him as a suitor for Allison. They eventually decided against it, instead giving Neil a job in the kitchen, but that didn’t stop Allison from running to Neil the moment she was told, tears of laughter spilling from her eyes. As of that day, the two of them had sworn that if it comes down to it, they would marry each other, if only to avoid the inevitable arranged marriage Allison would be forced to endure. ‘This way, we can love whoever we want and not get judged,’ Their thirteen and fourteen year old minds had reasoned and so far, at the ages of 21 and 22, that thought had yet to be proven wrong.
Neil led Allison through the halls of the family home. He had long since grown used to the extravagant decorations and architecture of the mansion, but he couldn’t stop the small feeling of awe that blossomed in his chest everytime he walked through it. As a child, he had been deprived of all things of beauty and even though he had lived in the mansion for years, his inner child always found it fascinating.
He felt his breathing pick up as the pair neared the outdoor plaza where the ball was being held. His mind yelled at him to turn around, to run, to leave this mansion and get as far away from everyone who knew him. He sucked in a slow breath as Allison’s hand squeezed his own in reassurance. Neil knew it was for her own good as much as his own. He could see her own chest rising and falling in fear as she tried to ground herself. He squeezed back and she turned to him, her blonde hair swishing over her shoulder, curls bouncing. He offered her a small smile which she returned before it turned into a smirk of defiance.
“Are you ready to fuck up some rich assholes night?” She whispered.
“Sounds like the makings of a delightful evening,” He whispered back, a cruel grin crawling onto his face before he shoved all feeling away and developed a blank mask as the large doors in front of him creaked open.
___
To say that Neil didn’t enjoy galas would be an understatement. He loathed them. The people who gossiped and laughed annoyed him. The dances always took up too much space. The crowd surrounding him made him feel like he was drowning and everything was entirely too loud. But, there was still the promise of good food, and Neil was one who enjoyed good food. So here he was, shadowing Allison as she flitted around like she was born for this, and she was. He kept his face blank in an attempt to quell anyone interested in trying to talk to him and slowly sipped his way through a glass of soda water he had discovered. He tried to zone out of his surroundings as a way of escaping the impending boredom, but he was blissfully rescued from having to do so by a movement in the crowd. He glanced over at the disturbance to see two men who could not have been more different.
Mr. Kevin Day stood at over six feet with dark brown hair and piercing green eyes that flitted back and forth through the crowd, alert and ready. A black mark shown clear against the tan skin of his cheek, a ‘ii’ glaring out at the crowd. By his side, Mr. Andrew Minyard stood at 5 foot nothing with blonde hair and a pair of lazily sharp hazel eyes. His mannerisms, as opposed to Mr. Day’s, were slow and unheeded by caution. Neil watched with mild interest as Mr. Day seemed to make eye contact with someone sitting at the host table. He raised an eyebrow at the noticeable tense of Mr. Day’s shoulders and the quick movement of Mr. Minyard’s arm towards the other man’s wrist. Interesting indeed.
Looking around, Neil saw that Allison was laughing next to Lady Renee, who smiled around a small glass of champagne. The pair stood away from the crowd, in their own bubble, flirting and giggling like the adorable couple they would eventually become. Neil was proud of the two women, finally taking the step to talk to each other after dancing around each other for years. Allison had finally realized that she was in love after she had watched a man publicly ask for Renee’s hand, or perhaps it was later that night as she lay weeping in her bed and Neil had smacked her upside the head, yelling at her to move her ass and go to the love of her life. However, the means didn’t matter, it was the end that counted.
“Nathaniel Wesninski,” A lazy voice drawled to Neil’s left,” What a….pleasant surprise.”
Neil spun quickly to be greeted with the disgusting sight of a smirking Riko Moriyama, golden child of the Moriyamas and nephew of the decorated general, Tetsuji Moriyama. He was a pompored, childish brat who physically grew up but never quite made it to his 20’s emotionally. An asshole was how Neil often referred to him, which was normally accompanied by an agreement from Allison. However, Riko never seemed to pick up on the fact that Neil hated every ounce of his being.
“Hello, Riko, what do you need?” Neil managed to mutter, sounding half friendly.
“Well, I just figured I would pop on over and ask how the servant’s life is,” Riko smirked, raising a champagne glass to his twisted lips,” The Reynolds must treat you rather well.”
“They do indeed,” Neil said, grimacing internally.
“I know that life can be hard but I’m sure if you would reconsider my offer…” Riko begun to go off on a grand tirade and Neil quickly blocks out his disgusting words.
As Riko drawled on like some sort of bogus politician, Neil slowly began to move away, nodding occasionally in case Riko cared enough to notice anything about his surroundings. Eventually, he was far enough away that he quickly ducked behind a curtain, letting out a breath he had been holding in ever since he had arrived. The curtain was floor length and hid a window seat the perfect size for Neil to curl up on and watch the drama that was assured to happen. He leaned his head against the overly ornate wall, sighing in relief to finally be out of the public eye.
“Would you look at that? A servant all dressed up and playing hide and seek.”
Neil whirled around in surprise. Andrew Minyard, in all his short glory, had opened the elaborate window and now leaned against the frame. Hooded eyes seemed to scan Neil from head to foot, apathetically and silently judging.
“What could make you run into my hiding place, little rabbit,” Andrew hummed as he took a sip from the whisky glass in his hand.
“I could ask the same of you. You’re what? Five feet tall?” Neil heard himself retorting without a single thought.
Andrew’s eyes flicked to meet Neil’s. Hazel gazing into icy blue.
“What a surprise,” Andrew muttered,” Despite being a part of the Reynolds household, you appear to have some semblance of a personality.”
A smirk found its way onto Neil’s face,” Are you insulting the family I work for?”
“Perhaps I am,” Andrew challenged, wind blowing through the open window, ruffling the loose strands of blond hair.
“If you were, then I would have to say you have hurt the noble honor of the Reynolds,” Neil exclaimed, voice dripping with over dramatic sarcasm.
“If I was then I would have to say that was certainly not my intention,” came the equally sarcastic reply.
Neil leaned against the opposite side of the window frame, head cocked to the side, curls framed by the moonlight,” Then what was your intention?”
Andrew smirked as he replied,” Simply trying to make polite conversation.”
“If that’s your idea of a polite conversation, I’d hate to have a civil one.”
At this remark, Andrew’s smirk only grew. He opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off by an arm darting around the curtain and latching onto Neil.
Neil’s yelp was drowned out by the sound of an almost impossibly high whisper.
“Neil Abram Josten! How dare you hide from human interaction?!” Allison shrieked, seemingly attaching herself to the shorter man,” I raised you better than this!”
“You didn’t raise me-” Neil started muttering but was cut off by Allison pressing her finger to his lips.
“Shush honey. I did.”
Neil glanced over to see Andrew was watching this interaction with the same apathetic gaze he always seemed to have. Once again, he raised the whiskey to his lips before twisting around to step off the window sill.
“So long, Neil Abram Josten, may we never meet again,” He said solemnly before tapping his index and middle finger to his crown and disappearing around the curtain.
“Why are you talking to a Minyard?” Allison asked, but Neil’s voice failed him when he tried to explain.
Allison narrowed her eyes in suspicion and tried to peer into Neil’s soul.
“Did he try to do something to you?” She asked quietly.
“No,” Neil was quick to correct,” He was just…..interesting.”
“Hmmmm,” Allison hummed, eyes narrowed,” Whatever you say.”