Chapter Text
Moving into the dorms was a relief and wasn’t that ironic? Years trapped in the nest, living dorm life and, when presented with five months of significantly more autonomy, Kevin was eager to go back to a grey box with three other bodies in close quarters.
It’d been nice over the summer having the cousins rooming at Abby’s as well. When Kevin slept these days it was like the dead, no doubt his body trying to make up for more than a decade of raven days. But actually falling asleep- that was harder. Having someone else breathing in the room was enough to trick his mind into believing this was normal. That person being Andrew made something in him unclench. Kevin had enough self-preservation instincts from the Nest to know that despite the way Andrew was every inch coiled violence and unpredictability none of it was going to spill out over him. Andrew was dangerous but not to Kevin, not unless Kevin did something inexcusably stupid and hurt Aaron or, god forbid, Andrew himself.
The guilt of using his new teammates to try and fill the ragged hole where Riko had fit ate at him. His mind had walled off the ‘good’ Riko from the ‘bad’ and Kevin struggled to remind himself they were the same. The boy who’d helped him steal his mother’s letter was the same one who had enjoyed telling him he was replaceable. The boy who had been the only one to hug him in the years between his arrival at Edgar Allen and Jean’s was the same boy who’d broken his hand. He was the same boy who hurt Jean. Kevin shook off the thought, crushed thoughts of Riko back down where they belonged and guiltily pressed all thoughts of Jean back into their own sad corner.
“Come on Andrew! Move your foot!” Nicky’s complaint only earned him a blank stare from his cousin.
Kevin eyed Andrew as he shoved the couch into place even closer to the TV. It sparked even more complaining from Nicky about the ‘optimal distance’ from the TV. Kevin was pretty sure Andrew was just doing it to mess with him, it was working if Nicky’s increasingly piercing whine was any indication.
“It’s too close! We’re going to go blind.”
“I like it here.” Andrew’s deadpan made Kevin pat his pocket for Andrew’s meds. He was coming down again. He’d need to dose up before the meeting. Kevin didn’t want to risk making Neil’s first impression of the team any more complicated than it already would be. He suspected that Neil already being ‘in’ with Andrew was just going to make the upperclassmen more wary of him.
He supposed it didn’t matter all that much in the end. Seth was too much of an asshole for Kevin to bother trying to work with him. Dan and Allison, while annoying, were professionals on the court. Renee was Andrew’s friend, though how that worked Kevin had no idea. The real toss-up was Matt. Matt hated Kevin. Kevin wasn’t exactly sure why, he was the player whose skill Kevin had the most respect for after Andrew, but he’d taken offense to Kevin's existence as an assistant coach in the spring semester and Kevin didn’t have the energy to try and figure out what he’d done to earn that animosity. He also didn't really care… Matt played well even when the entire backline was full of people he hated.
The real question was how Matt and Seth would be rooming with Neil. If it got bad Kevin would insist Neil sleep in their room- his playing hadn’t suffered for a month on Wymack’s couch after all. It wasn’t like there was anyone they would be willing to trade to put with Seth and Matt. Nicky was a no for obvious reasons, Andrew wouldn’t allow him or Aaron that far out of reach, and Andrew himself would end up killing the striker within the hour.
Across the room Andrew abandoned his game of messing with Nicky in favor of jimmying the window screen and pulling out a cigarette. Kevin fought down the urge to tear into him. Andrew didn't care about Kevin’s lectures. Kevin was now distressingly familiar with how little any argument that Andrew was slowly killing himself meant to the goalkeeper. For now Kevin bit his tongue and stored up his arguments for the day when Andrew was off his meds.
With Andrew done antagonizing Nicky, the rest of move-in was quick. They didn’t have all that much stuff between them, only taking a couple trips back and forth between Abby’s and Fox Tower. They were mostly unpacked and contemplating a grocery run before Neil even showed up.
It had itched at him, knowing Neil was waiting around at the court alone, or at least without company beyond Wymack. He didn’t get why Wymack wouldn’t let Neil just move in. It wasn’t as if ‘the monsters’ hadn’t had access to him for a month. Wymack had seemed conflicted when presented with how well Neil got along with their little group. Sure, Aaron hated Neil for whatever reason but Aaron wasn’t openly antagonistic in a way that really mattered. Kevin had braced himself for having to argue for continued access to Neil but the coach had eventually given up and mumbled something about not getting paid enough to pick people’s friends.
Andrew, from his position by the window, perked up a little and announced, “Boyd and Neil are here.”
Kevin leaned out the window alongside him, as if seeing them for himself would change something and huffed when Andrew grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled him back a bit.
“I’m not going to fall,” Kevin protested when Andrew stubbed out his cigarette and reattached the screen.
“Don’t tempt me,” Andrew muttered. He didn’t move away from the window though and he didn’t move Kevin away beyond that one step away from the supposed danger. They listened to Nicky clattering around in the kitchen, reorganizing their meager kitchen stuff as they watched Matt and Neil make a few trips back and forth between Boyd’s truck and the entrance of the dorm with a few minutes between each trip.
Nicky eventually caught sight of them watching the proceedings and joined them, noting jealously that it looked like Matt had gotten a new couch.
“What’s in the bag?” Andrew asked, clearly noting the same as Kevin that Neil was apparently lugging that duffle he’d moved into Wymack’s with along on each trip.
“Hm-” Nicky hummed curiously, “Is that the one he asked Wymack to lock up for him?”
Kevin noted the way Andrew’s gaze turned a little too sharp, curiosity more hungry than idle. He hoped Neil knew that his privacy was time limited.
Privately Kevin agreed with that look. He was curious and wanted to see whatever it was that Neil was so protective of. Whatever Neil was defending he wanted access to, wanted to jealously hoard more of the picture that was ‘Neil Josten’.
“Can we go snooping?” Nicky asked when neither of them responded to his musing.
Kevin’s frown echoed across Andrew’s face. Of course Andrew should also know whatever it was but Nicky’s nosiness could fuck off.
When the pile of Matt’s belongings had dwindled to nothing, Kevin’s stomach made the unpleasant cramping feeling that reminded him he hadn’t eaten yet.
“Grocery run?” He asked Andrew, earning a shrug from him and an enthusiastic agreement from Nicky who rushed off to make a list. “I’ll get Neil?” Kevin asked and when Andrew didn’t answer he took a better look at his expression, looking for something to guide him. The tight lines around Andrew’s eyes made Kevin wince and he fished out the pill bottle, handing it over.
Andrew eyed it warily but took it from him after a long moment and dry swallowed one of the stupid pills.
“Tell Nicky he has to drive on your way out.” Andrew instructed, retreating to the bathroom, and shutting the door with a nap. Kevin felt himself wilt under the stress in Andrew’s tone and did as he was told.
Two doors down Kevin stopped and knocked on the dorm Matt, Neil, and Seth would be sharing. The muffled sound of a voice too deep to be Neil made its way through the thick wood door and Kevin heard the plot of heavy footfalls approaching as he schooled his expression into something vaguely pleasant, trying to start the interaction off the neutral territory. Unsurprisingly Matt’s frown was less than welcoming when he opened the door to see Kevin on the other side of it.
Matt was the best player on the team with Kevin still working through his injury, he received the least straight criticism from Kevin during the spring while he was playing ‘coach’. Still, either Kevin’s attitude towards the rest of their teammates or his connection to Andrew had firmly slotted him in the ‘enemy’ column. Kevin admittedly hadn't done much to fix it- Boyd played well, that was all Kevin needed from him. Except now- now he needed to be let in so he could get Neil.
“Kevin,” Matt’s cool greeting was better than a door slammed in his face he supposed. “What do you want?”
“Is Neil here?” Kevin asked, eyes looking over his broad shoulder and catching the still-surprising shock of auburn hair coming out of their room.
Matt turned to follow his gaze and pointedly didn’t move out of the doorway. “Do you want to talk to him?”
Neil looked between him and Matt confused but didn’t let that stop him, “Yeah, of course.”
Matt clearly didn’t love that answer but he finally stopped playing gargoyle and left enough space for Kevin to not need to talk over his shoulder.
“We’re going to the store, want to come?”
“Sure,” Neil shrugged. “I need to get some stuff anyway. Give me a second.”
Neil retreated to his room and Matt followed after him, leaving Kevin lurking in their doorway awkwardly.
Matt didn’t even bother trying to whisper, shooting Kevin a suspicious look over his shoulder as he trailed after Neil. “You don’t need to go with them. You could come to the airport with me if you want. We could swing by the store on the way back-”
Neil’s exasperation was clear, Kevin guessed this was probably not the first example of Matt’s dislike for ‘the monsters’ in their short acquaintance. “Matt it’s fine, No use making two trips.”
“Neil-” Matt’s protest was more than a bit condescending at this point. Kevin was kind of surprised Neil wasn’t pushing harder. He had no trouble pushing back against him in practice. Kevin had been incredibly relieved the first time Neil had given as good as he got and still finished the practice smiling at him.
Neil reemerged from the room and Kevin caught his gaze. Neil rolled his eyes in exasperation and Kevin smothered a chuckle in return as Neil responded, more firmly this time. “It’s fine, promise.”
Kevin kind of hated how much he liked that Neil was so sure about that.
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Grocery shopping with Andrew was always an exercise in holding his tongue. There was a distressing amount of ice cream and candy in the cart. Kevin’s stack of vegetables and protein bars looked ridiculous sharing space with diabetic nightmare. Nicky and Aaron’s snacks and frozen burritos were at least somewhat nutritious. There were vegetables listed in the ingredients and none of the packages had more than 50% of the daily recommended amount of sugar or salt.
Neil had picked up a basket of his own at the entrance and filled it with store brand granola bars, coffee, and what looked like half the fresh fruit selection available in the produce section. Kevin admired the prioritization of ‘actual food’ and glared at Andrew even as he opened a bag of gummy worms and started snacking on them in the store, clearly unconcerned with Kevin’s judgement.
It was going relatively well until Andrew jerked the basket out of Neil’s hands and put the whole thing into the cart.
“I can carry it,” Neil protested, reaching to retrieve it, and frowning when Andrew jerked their cart out of the way.
“People who look homeless get free food.” Andrew declared and Kevin didn’t bother to hide his startled laugh at the affront on Neil’s face. Andrew wasn’t wrong. Neil was in D1 athlete shape but he looked like a twig in clothes far too big for him.
Neil’s indignant “I have money!” just earned him a skeptical eyebrow raise.
“So you like the homeless look?” Andrew mocked.
Neil’s chin jutted out, stubborn glare in place despite the lack of heat behind it. “Maybe I do!”
“Good for you, no one else does. We’re buying something your size so you don’t embarrass us.” Andrew steered the cart towards the clothing section and ignored Neil’s protests as they passed by homewares and kids toys, Aaron and Nicky abandoning them at the electronic section.
Neil eventually seemed to accept his fate as he sighed and stopped protesting just grumbling something about it being stupid that you could buy food and clothes in the same store.
Neil reported his size to be at least two sizes too large and Kevin rolled his eyes, grabbing something more in line with his frame and tossing it at Andrew to hold up alongside the shirt he was already measuring against a miserable looking Neil’s back.
Andrew and Kevin weeded through the dubious quality clothing offered at the superstore and managed to accumulate a handful of casual clothes that would actually fit him. Andrew was tending towards a lot of blues and Kevin mentally agreed, they’d look good with Neil’s eyes.
The only clothing Neil didn’t look actively antagonistic about them adding to the cart were a few pairs of running shorts that were made with some sort of soft material that he kept rubbing between his fingers.
They reconnected with Aaron and Nicky in the seasonal section that was overrun with ‘dorm essentials’ and exhausted looking parents trailing after freshmen. Nicky mimed eating popcorn as a middle-aged couple argued in the aisle full of trash cans and Tupperware and Neil snorted a laugh.
“Oh honey but you need fourteen sets of sheets! If we don’t get you this magical comforter you will surely die!” Nicky dramatically waved a set of sheets at Neil in the bedding aisle after watching a mother drop half the aisle into the cart much to her daughter's chagrin.
Neil shoved him out of the way good naturedly and grabbed an ‘all in one’ bag of bedding with a scoff. “If I don’t buy you this pillow how will you know we love you?” Nicky’s falsetto followed them out of the aisle with a laugh.
The only thing Neil actually seemed to spend any time checking was during their trip to the office supplies as he picked up a personal safe. He ignored the intense stare Andrew shot him and Kevin assumed Neil was buying a solution for whatever was in that duffle.
By the time they took their overfull cart to checkout Neil had negotiated his ability to pay for his dorm supplies and the running shorts he actually liked. The food and the rest of his supplemented wardrobe went on the belt with the rest of the cousin’s and Kevin’s things.
They divvied up the bags in Neil’s still-empty room, Aaron and Nicky retreating back to their dorm with the food they’d picked and leaving Andrew and Kevin to help Neil dump his new belongings in his room once they’d managed to locate every food item that had gotten mixed in with everything else. The teenager checking them out had packed the bags like he had a vendetta against organization.
“Going to show us what this is for?” Andrew kicked the edge of the box the safe came in lightly.
Neil hesitated for a long moment, exchanging an oddly charged look with Andrew before sighing and yanking the bottom drawer of his dresser open and pulling something out from under a mess of faded clothing.
It was a binder. A binder with a lot of him on it. Like pictures of him, and a few of Riko, must mostly him… what the fuck? Kevin wasn't sure what his face was doing but Andrew’ eyebrow had risen nearly to his hairline in surprise and Neil was beet red.
“So a stalker book?” Andrew probably would have managed to be amused at the awkwardness of the moment even without his unnatural mirth.
“I- It’s-” Neil’s stuttering explanation petered out after a single word.
“Kevin you have a superfan!” Andrew was clearly delighted by the situation and Kevin was still trying to figure out what was going on.
Neil protested Andrew’s accusation loudly “No!”
“No?” Andrew asked, too much teeth in his grin. “So it’s a hate-stalker situation?”
“NO!” Neil protested again, flustered in a way that was distracting enough to tear Kevin’s attention away from the binder and back to him. “It’s a decoy.”
“A decoy?” Kevin found himself asking.
“All my documents and my emergency stuff are in here. The pictures are for- camouflage.”
Oh… that actually made a little sense. It certainly didn't look like that.
Horrifyingly, Kevin felt a little… let down? God. What was wrong with him? Kevin was not disappointed. That would be insane. He did not want Neil to be an obsessive stalker.
“And you couldn’t just use class notes or something? It had to be Kevin and Riko?”
Neil shifted uncomfortably and just shrugged in response and Kevin barely resisted the urge to press on that discomfort.
Neil pinched the bridge of his nose. “It being weird and creepy was the point.” He sighed and avoided Kevin’s gaze as his blush managed to get brighter. Fascinating. “Besides, I was following you and Riko in the news anyway. was so jealous of you, kind of obsessed with your career. I guess I kind of latched on to you and Riko etc. I knew- I didn't think I’d ever- I figured if I couldn't have it anymore at least I could kind of live vicariously through you?” Kevin blinked dumbly at the admission, still a little too focused on how embarrassed Neil was to fully take in the new information. “I was so jealous when Jean went to Evermore.” Kevin flinched at the name but thankfully neither Neil nor Andrew noticed.
Neil flipped to a page that was a bifold of an article from the first game of his freshman season and pulled a piece of paper that looked like an insane word-search filled with random numbers interspersed with letters out from behind the panel that had Kevin’s press photo printed dead center.
“My Uncle’s number is on this-” Neil explained a complicated method to deciphering his mother’s handiwork and Andrew picked up the sheet when it was offered. Kevin relaxed a little- once Andrew knew it he would know it forever. Hopefully they’d never need it but it helped to have just in case.
“Just-” Neil started and then swallowed thickly, “Don’t call him unless it’s actually an emergency? He’s not thrilled I’m doing this. I don’t need to give him more reason to insert himself.”
When Andrew returned the paper and it was back in between the highlights of Kevin’s college career, Neil tossed the binder, full of Neil’s secrets and the unsettling sight of his own face grinning alongside Riko's, into the safe and locked it.
Neil seemed committed to shaking off his embarrassment and his forced casual attitude finally gave way as Andrew bullied him into throwing away a couple of the ugly shirts that had wound up on the floor in pulling out his duffle.
By the time they got to bedding Kevin judgmentally watched Neil put sheets on his bed without washing them. He ended up insisting on Neil washing the clothes first at least. Neil’s wide eyed “Of course I will.” was less reassuring than it should have been.
The majority of unpacking complete to Neil’s satisfaction, if not Kevin’s, Neil trailed them back to their dorm. Aaron had disappeared in the interim, something about picking up books before the team meeting.
Kevin managed to talk Andrew into letting him throw on one of the Trojan’s games from the year before that he’d only rewatched a couple times before and Kevin was thrilled when Neil locked in on it and argued with him over the best Trojan plays, and the recently graduated captain’s terrible footwork, and if the Trojan’s unwavering good sportsmanship was a handicap or not. Kevin was having a great time and even Nicky was throwing in a few comments here or there. Andrew was being uncharacteristically tolerant of the Exy talk and was only expressing his boredom by beaming them with grapes- Kevin assumed Neil’s fruit had gotten mixed in with the cousins after all- at their faces.
Nicky went to answer the door as Neil caught three projectile grapes in a row and ate them with a defiant grin at Andrew. He offered the fourth to Kevin who took it, rolling his eyes at Andrew.
Matt came in when Nicky moved out of the way and the expression on his face was confused enough for Kevin to be offended. What, the ‘monsters’ could have fun? They were friends, after all.
“Hey,” Matt broke the silence awkwardly and Neil turned to look at him. Andrew took the opportunity to beam him in the side of the face with another grape, only grinning when Neil turned to glare heatlessly at him. “Dan and Renee are back. Want to come meet them?”
Kevin noticed the invitation was only for Neil and rolled his eyes. Neil shot him a questioning look, not asking for permission so much as input. Andrew kicked his foot and grinned with that manic edge. “Go assure the other kiddies that you’ve survived our quality time, Josten.”
Neil shrugged and shot the three of them a ‘see you later’ as he followed Matt out of the room. Kevin ignored the impulse to follow along. Neil was fine.
Andrew grinned at Neil when he looked back before leaving, “Don’t wander too far. You’re riding to the court with us later.”
Neil snorted a laugh and pulled the door closed behind him.
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To say Neil’s first meeting with the full team went poorly would be an understatement. He’d come back from meeting Dan and Renee with a shrug and an exasperated, “Why does everyone think I can’t take care of myself?”
Andrew’s smile in response had been sharp and Kevin winced. If they pushed too hard with Neil he suspected Andrew would start pushing back. No one wanted to see that.
So things with the group before Seth and Allison arrived were okay but not exactly warm and fuzzy. The atmosphere just entirely soured the moment they walked in. Allison was clearly on a tear about something, sending Seth sharp looks and eyeing Neil with a kind of predatory intent that made Kevin want to intervene. Only the entirely unimpressed look Neil shot him when Allison perched herself well inside his personal bubble stayed him. Neil wasn’t uncomfortable, just annoyed.
Seth lasted all of ten minutes before throwing his first slur. As usual the feeling of bile rising up his throat made Kevin still. Andrew, as usual, was the only one to stick up for Nicky and Kevin felt that self-censure tear him to pieces. He edged around a dark pit of shame that stayed carefully unacknowledged and reminded himself that he was so upset because things like Seth said would hurt Jean. They hurt Nicky. Nicky was his friend too. Jean and Nicky didn’t deserve that shit. The fact that he couldn't even look at Andrew or Neil was irrelevant. It did not mean anything.
It didn’t mean anything to him that Wymack didn’t say anything. I didn't mean anything to him that this was normal for the sports world. It didn’t mean anything that no one but Andrew stood up for Nicky. He risked a glance at Neil and wasn’t sure what to make of his annoyed glare at Seth mixed with his own silence. He supposed he couldn’t expect Neil to stick up for someone he wasn’t all that close with. It wasn’t like Kevin did either… That well of self-hatred never did run dry did it?
“Enough!” Wymack finally shouted, calling an end to the antagonism that was quickly boiling over into conflict. “Let’s just get through the rest of this damned meeting. You’re back on campus less than a day and I’m already dreaming of retirement!”
Kevin slouched in his seat and tried to just zone out. He failed.
“Meet the new striker sub- Neil Josten. Questions, comments, concerns?” Wymack waved vaguely at Neil who looked horrified to be the sudden center of attention.
“I’m fucking concerned!” Seth spat scathingly, shooting Neil a decidedly unimpressed glance. “He’s a fucking rookie, I thought the idea was that we were trying to suck less this year-”
“Neil is already a better player than most of this team. With a bit more practice he’ll be the starter and your shitty attitude can ride the bench.” Kevin spat without thinking. Andrew huffed a laugh next to him and Kevin winced at the unfiltered rage that overtook Seth’s expression.
“What the fuck did you just say?” Seth shouted.
Kevin just glared, keeping his mouth firmly shut. He refused to apologize or walk it back. It was true. Seth had a shitty attitude and he was only marginally better than Dan or Allison. He hadn’t earned that superiority complex. He hadn’t bled for it.
“You fucking piece of shit-” Seth flying up out of his chair and advancing on Kevin wasn’t a surprise. Andrew getting between them in a heartbeat wasn’t a surprise. Neil appearing at his side and shoving Seth back with enough force to topple him back into his chair was.
Neil stared down at Seth, face a worryingly blank slate, eyes darting around to the other upperclassmen watchfully but not worried. He seemed entirely unconcerned about Andrew’s knife and the calm he turned to regard Andrew with made Andrew’s grin spread wider. Kevin shivered, not entirely certain what sensation sparked the reaction.
Renee and Allison jumped in, getting ahold of Seth, and distracting him enough to keep him in his seat. If the viscous glare he shot Neil was any indication this was very much not over.
Andrew kept laughing to himself, the unhinged glee interspersed with him repeating an unfamiliar German word and making himself laugh even more.
Neil shot Kevin a confused look and Kevin just shrugged. He’d picked up a handful of phrases just by living in such close proximity to the cousins but this wasn’t one of them. Neil repeated the word, glancing questioningly at Nicky. His mouth formed the word in a perfect echo of Andrew despite the unfamiliar language. Then again. Neil spoke French, maybe he’d picked up other languages running across Europe.
“German folklore,” Nicky offered, “It’s like a rabbit but with like fangs?” Nicky put his hands up against his face and dropped his pointer fingers in a childish depiction, “And like wings? I think?”
Andrew nodded and grinned at Neil again enunciating, “Rabbit”. It was less derisive than it had been when he’d first gifted Neil the mocking nickname in Arizona.
The excitement over with for the moment, Wymack dropped the bomb about the Ravens moving to the Southeastern district.
“Great so we’re stuck with even more bullshit thanks to Day,” Allison spat, still holding a furious Seth’s hand. “Can’t wait for another round of police raids and vandalism. Remind me why he’s still here?”
Wymack scrubbed his palm across his face, exasperation clear in his tone. “Anyway! The Ravens are coming south. We can expect them to be antagonistic. Keep an eye out and report anything suspicious to campus security.”
Matt and Dan grumbled but nodded.
“We’ll have increased security for games and around the athletes dorm. Obviously Kevin is still a sticking point so you will let me know if anything happens or anyone shows up that security needs to deal with.” Kevin tried not to be put-out that that last bit was aimed at Andrew.
Andrew shrugged, “If there’s anything left, sure.”
Wymack rolled his eyes skyward as if praying for patience that had long ago fled. “Josten, how likely is it that you being here is going to be a problem with Riko?”
Kevin winced and eyed Neil- probably yes. If Riko recognized him then he’d make it his mission to make his life a living hell. Neil may belong to Kengo now but Riko wouldn’t take a slight like that sitting down. Neil was meant to be his, or Tetsuji’s which Riko acted like equated the same.
“Wait, why would Riko care about Josten?” Allison interrupted Neil before he could answer. “Actually, why the fuck are you all buddy buddy with the monsters?”
Neil shrugged and just gritted out a vague, “Riko and I have met.” Hilariously it wasn’t really an understatement. The issue was not the actual lived history between the two but the ‘what if’.
“Of course Neil’s friends with us, we’ve been hanging out for weeks while you all were gone. What, did you think he’d just hide away in Wymack’s apartment?” Nicky reminded them glibly before adding, "Besides, Kevin and Neil are like long lost besties or something. They played little leagues together as kids.”
Aaron scoffed echoing, “besties” under his breath humorlessly.
“We literally met once eight years ago,” Neil grumbled and Kevin had to suppress a smile. True, but that encounter felt so monumental in his memory- the promise of a friend, the way playing with him had felt so different than with Riko, the horror of Neil’s father, the dejection when Nathaniel disappeared, and that promise of a new friend went with him.
“You made an impression,” Kevin snarked in French and Neil’s nose crinkled as he chuckled back, a softer smile taking over at the teasing. Kevin hummed with pride at earning the positive reaction.
When he looked up everyone was watching them, including Andrew whose gaze was far more pensive than Kevin usually saw him under the influence of his meds. Kevin felt his cheeks flushing much to his own confusion and he looked pleadingly back to Wymack, hoping to move things along.
Taking mercy on Kevin or just out of patience with the lot of them, Wymack called the meeting to an end and reminded them they needed to have their check-ins with Abby before they left.
“Alright, newbie first!” Dan announced, pointing at Neil, no doubt hoping to get him out of the room so they could talk about him.
Neil just shook his head and Abby spoke up for him, “Already did his this morning. Seth, honey, why don’t you come in.” Kevin’s stomach twisted at the sad look Abby shot Neil and how it paired with Neil’s obvious discomfort.