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They were gone.
Neil’s hand trembled slightly as he dug through the key holder next to the front door.
They were gone.
He couldn’t find them anywhere. This couldn’t happen. He needed them.
Something inside him snapped and Neil let out a ragged breath, throwing himself away from the holder.
Back now pressed against the wall, Neil grabbed his arms, digging until he could feel pain. He rocked back and forth slightly, his body unknowingly trying to calm him.
They couldn’t be gone. No one would take his keys unless it meant they didn’t want him here anymore. Maybe Andrew finally got bored of him.
This wasn’t his home anymore.
Neil stood abruptly, causing him to bang his head against the wall. He clutched it, grimacing as he all but sprinted to his room.
Their room.
He threw open the closet, rummaging around until he found the old and dirt duffle bag that had kept him sane while on the run.
Neil started stuffing clothes into it, not caring what it was. He shoved and shoved until it was full.
Then, Neil marched back to the door, throwing on his shoes. He took one look around the dorm before he knocked over the key holder and left.
-
Andrew turned the key slowly, in case Neil was sleeping and pushed open the door.
The first thing he saw was the random pieces of objects and keys scattered across the floor.
Red flags went off in his head right away.
Andrew shoved the keys into his pocket and made his way to the bedroom, “Neil?”
No response.
The door was open ajar. Andrew pushed it up completely and his heart dropped when he took in the sight.
The closet was open as well as their dresser. Clothes littered the floor.
Andrew walked in slowly, taking in the scene. Neil’s phone sat to the side of their bed. He picked it up, hands shaking slightly and flipped it open. It was dead of course.
Before Andrew caught up with his brain, he was out the door and pounding down the stairs of the Fox Tower.
He couldn’t be gone.
Bursting out into the open, Andrew whipped out his own phone and called Kevin. Neither he nor Nicky had been home when this had happened or else he would’ve been called but he needed someone else to know.
“I’m busy.” Kevin said by greeting.
“Neil’s gone.”
“What?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself, Day.” Andrew gritted his teeth, his feet pounding down on the pavement.
“Where did he go?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be calling you.” Calling Kevin was a mistake.
“And-“ Andrew hung up on him.
Fuck.
Andrew couldn’t lose him.
-
Neil made it less than an hour before he collapsed on ground near a gas station.
Palmetto’s made him weak. He couldn’t even fucking run anymore.
Still, he didn’t get up. Could he really go back to that place if he was so unwanted? Neil didn’t know.
That thought spiked his pulse again and soon, tears was streaming down his face even though Neil Josten did not cry.
He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t run.
Neil held onto himself and sobbed into his arms. He didn’t know how long he had been there and really he didn’t care. The only thing he could focus on right now was hurt.
Really, Neil didn’t know why he was feeling sorry for himself. Andrew had always told him this wasn’t forever. That he would get bored eventually.
Maybe it was the fact that all the other foxes had agreed with his decision. His keys wouldn’t be gone if that wasn’t the case.
Still, that didn’t feel right either.
They had given him a home and ripped it from him like that. That was the worst part.
Neil took breaths he couldn’t take, listening to the small hitches in his voice.
Air.
Foxes.
Palmetto.
Exy.
Keys.
Andrew.
“Abram.” A hand wrapped around his neck and dragged him forward. It was warm and familiar. Neil let himself get lost in it before he realized who it was.
“No.” Neil whipped his hand up but it didn’t matter because Andrew was already taking his hand away.
They sat in silence, staring at each other, neither one daring to move first.
Why was he here, if he wanted Neil gone? It made no sense.
Finally, Andrew opened his mouth to speak but Neil beat him to it, “You don’t get to… come here after that.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow and if it were any other day, Neil would’ve laughed. Now it just annoyed him.
“Don’t do that. Talk to me.”
“Okay.” Andrew’s nostrils flared and it was then that Neil realized he was breathing heavily. Had he run here?
“What happened, Neil?” Andrew asked, slouching like he was trying to make Neil feel as unthreatened as possible.
“You’re asking that? You should know!” Neil growled.
“Well-!” Andrew took a deep breath, calming himself, “Well clearly I don’t so remind me.”
Neil stated at him, angry and disappointed. Did taking Neil’s keys mean so little to him he’d already forgotten about it?
He opened and closed his mouth, not knowing what to say. Andrew waited patiently and it only pissed Neil off more.
“You took my keys.” Neil whispered finally. Andrew’s eyes went wide and it was the most emotion Neil had seen him show in a long time. His mask cracked as his eyebrows bent and his mouth wobbled.
Andrew reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of keys, Neil’s key, setting them on the ground between them.
Neil look at the keys, then Andrew before he reached out and took them. The familiar weight settled into his hands and Neil traced the edge, rememorizing its pattern.
“Don’t give these to me out of pity, Andrew.” But he squeezed them tighter, never wanting to let go.
“I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.” Andrew growled.
“Why’d you take them in the first place?” Neil spat. He didn’t want to argue with Andrew but he needed to understand.
“Because Nicky is a twat who doesn’t realize he had other people’s possessions in his hands!” Andrew sucked in through this teeth, “Nicky took my keys on accident and I needed the maserati so I took yours because I assumed you wouldn’t need them for the day.”
Neil’s stomach dropped, “So, you and the other foxes… weren’t plotting to get rid of me?”
Andrew scoffed and stood up, “You’re an idiot.” He lit a cigarette and began walking back the way he came. Neil sat and watched him before Andrew turned around and glared at him.
“Are you coming? It’s cold and I want to go home. Preferably with you.” Neil smiled slightly and stood up, joining Andrew’s side.
They walked in silence, Neil casually stealing Andrew’s cigarette while Andrew watched him.
They had almost arrived back to the tower when Neil felt something wrap around his hand and he looked down. Andrew had grabbed it and locked their fingers together.
Neil blushed slightly, it felt more… intimate than he was used to.
“I’m not gonna get bored of you.” Andrew told him.
Neil laughed, “Thank god.”
“No god, just me.” Neil laughed harder, squeezing Andrew’s hand.
Before they entered the tower, Andrew stopped them and spun Neil around. They looked at each other and Neil knew what to say before Andrew even asked.
“Yes.”
Andrew rolled his eyes, “I hate you.” But he didn’t kiss Neil. Instead, Andrew pulled him into a hug, like he was trying to get as close as humanly possible to Neil.
“Oh…” Neil whispered, wrapping his own arms around Andrew’s neck. He felt his tears coming back and wondered why something so small made him feel so much.
“You’re home, Neil. Don’t leave.” Andrew buried his face in Neil’s neck.
“Ok.” They stayed like that for a few more minutes before Andrew pulled back only to move in and peck Neil’s lips.
“Come on. Day’s probably having an aneurism wondering where you are.” Neil could feel his smile spreading and followed Andrew into the tower.
Andrew didn’t look back to see if he was following, he knew. Because Neil would follow Andrew anywhere.