Why'd you have to go and do that?

by exy-and-i-know-it (knockyasocksoff2022)

Summary:

"The ERC had an end-of-year meeting a few days before the southeastern district's winter banquet. The NCAA advisors got everyone talking about Riko and Kevin. They had some concerns about the season, they said. They were sure Riko was holding Kevin back, that Kevin was selling himself short so as not to outshine Riko on the court. They wanted to know if it was Coach Moriyama's doing. In response, Moriyama pitted Riko and Kevin against each other. Kevin won fair and square." Wymack said, "If he hadn't, maybe things would have turned out differently. As it happened, Coach Moriyama dismissed Riko, and as soon as he was gone, he broke Kevin's hand."

"I brought them here," Wymack said. "Kevin and Riko showed up at my hotel room at the winter banquet with Kevin's hand a bloody mess. Kevin didn't want us to notify the Ravens or take him to a hospital, so Abby bandaged him up as best she could, and I put him on the bus back to South Carolina with us. Riko hasn't left his side since."

But is that really what happened?

Chapter 1: Blackbird singing in the dead of night

No sound can be heard from inside the boardroom. The Master ensured that when he installed several layers of soundproofing, but that doesn’t stop Riko from trying.

 

While Riko presses his ear desperately to the wall, Kevin sits frozen in place, back ramrod straight, hands folded neatly in his lap, perfect and paralysed. He has never been more than a pet, and pets who bite their masters get put down. And Kevin? Well, he may as well have taken one of Riko’s fingers.

 

His own finger ache in his lap. The pain should be blinding, but after years of sprains without being allowed to wear braces in public, he can barely feel it.

 

What will it be, he wonders. Needle in the arm? A classic. Gun to the back of the head? That would be in line with the Moriyamas’ M.O.

 

Oh- oh, God. 

 

Kevin feels sick. He’ll be lucky if his end is that quick. They’ll let Riko have his fun with him first, he’s sure. 

 

The worst part is the waiting. He wants- nothing, wants this to be over, wants someone to hand him the collar. He’d put it on himself, hand Riko the leash and let him pull until there is only Raven Black and then nothing at all.

 

When the door handle begins to turn, Riko matches Kevin’s stillness.

 

And, God help him, The Master looks so young. He stands tall, cane at his side, an indicator of authority, not disability. If Kevin lives, he will have to endure decades more of this man. Kevin does not want to live. There is no reason for him to live anymore.

 

“Gentlemen, I will speak to the boys about our conclusion alone. We shall reconvene at half-past.”

 

The members of the NCAA Exy board file out of the conference room with silent nods.

 

“Kevin, Riko, come.”

 

Kevin startles to hear his name, for once, called first. Riko notices as well and glares brutally at him. Kevin is more afraid of The Master.

 

The Master gestures for them to sit across from him at the table, so they do. Kevin remains frozen, Riko remains seething, and The Master’s face is an amalgamation of disappointment, resignation and fury.

 

“Both of you must know that I met with these very gentlemen just recently. You must also be aware of certain recent rumours. In fact, the last meeting was the reason for your scrimmage. It was determined by me, after that meeting, that to quell said rumours, I would have the two of you work things out, as brothers do. I’m sure I needn’t say more as the results speak for themselves.” The Master’s gaze is an eclipse over the already dark room. “It would seem that the NCAA’s assessment was, for once, accurate. Kevin, I must commend you on your performance.”

 

Oh, who would’ve thought his praise would be more damning than his criticism? 

 

Riko turns on Kevin with an expression like death, and then he lunges.

 

The cane comes down hard, the metallic tip pinning Riko’s hand to the table. Kevin can already imagine the bruise beginning to form beneath the skin. “As for you, Riko, we have no more use for you.”

 

“What?” No? No, it was never supposed to go like this? ‘ Isn’t this what I wanted? ’ ‘ No, no, not like this! ’

 

The room is spinning, the world has tilted off its axis. Kevin’s mouth is dry, his pulse is fast and loud in his ears. It was supposed to be him; it was always supposed to be him. How could The Master throw away Riko? Cruel, lovely, terrible, perfect Riko?

 

Riko’s face is a mask of shock. Melting wax. A single tear rolls down Kevin’s face. The Master rounds the table and presses his cane into Kevin’s hand. Riko does not move, nor does Kevin. The wood is cold in his grasp. It feels like steel. It feels like ti will shatter and cut him into a million tiny pieces.

 

“Do what we must.”

 

We . For the first time, he is part of this, truly . After all this time of chasing acceptance only to be stuck licking Riko’s heels, he is one of them: a Moriyama. And he hates it.

 

The door closes with a click, a handgun with the saftey off. When Kevin turns to face Riko again, he’s on the ground in front of him, right hand held out like an offering.

 

“Riko, what are you-? Get up!”

 

Riko’s jaw is set, eyes closed, betraying nothing. “No.”

 

Kevin hates it, hates him, hates himself. “Riko, please-”

 

Riko’s eyes fly open, the brown flashing to black with something worse than anger. “You heard what he said. What are you waiting for? Just do it already!”

 

“I can’t.” Kevin holds out a hand, a lifeline. Riko bats him away.

 

“Fucking do it! Your mercy’s just making me sick.”

 

It’s Kevin’s turn to say, “No.”

 

“Then you’re weak. He never should have picked you.”

 

He- oh, Riko . Curse him for always knowing what to say. But he always has, hasn’t he? That’s why he’s

 

Riko’s lips curl up, “Or is that not it? Do you want me to beg? Because I won’t.”

 

Kevin is appalled; he staggers back at the accusation, cane falling from his grip and clattering to the floor.  “Of course not! But I can’t- I won’t do this!”

 

“He’ll kill me either way, and” Riko’s next words are so quiet, Kevin would swear he’d imagined them, “I’d rather it be you.”

 

‘ Does he want to stain me with his death or… ’

 

He looks so young, down on he floor like this. It’s only six months, six months that Riko always hated, even before Kevin ivertook him in height, but now… “Fine. But not like this.”

 

Riko scoffs. “Of course you’d want to kill a man with honour.” The tone is biting, matching the sneer on his face, but he stands anyway. “First blood, then?”

 

Kevin has no idea what he’s doing, his voice shakes. “Sure.”

 

Trying his best to remember what he knows about duels, he insists they stand with their backs together and take ten steps away. Riko cackles, an unstrung sort of sound.

 

“Ichi. Ni. San. Shi. Go. Roku. Shichi. Hachi. Kyuu. Juu.”

 

As soon as they finish, they spin to face each other. 

 

Kevin freezes. 

 

Riko charges, eyes glazed over with still unspent rage and jealousy.

 

Riko grabs the cane from the ground, and when Kevin begins to move again, to push back, to run away, it’s too late. The strike is sloppy, but powerful, and when the cane collides, a sickening crack echoes around the room. The pain is like nothing he’s ever felt before. It feels worse than any blister. It feels like a burn. Years and years of microfractures and sprains propagating out across his hand until bone bursts through skin. 

 

Kevin screams.

 

And Riko just watches, brown eyes wide, so wide.

 

“R-riko? Wh-”

 

The door swings open. A bomb.

 

The Master enters, followed by several armed men. He takes a moment to survey the scene. Kevin’s ruined hand and Riko with his cane. Riko lets the cane go, and it once again clatters to the floor, staining the black carpet almost imperceptibly with blood, but it’s too late.

 

“What have you done?” The Master’s voice is a near-silent roar. The brightest afternoon, the coldest midnight, like a fever. He gestures to one of the men, and the man presses a revolver into his hand.

 

‘ No! Not yet. I don’t want to die! ’

 

But The Master isn’t pointing the weapon at him. “Riko, come here.”

 

Somehow, that is even worse. Maybe it’d be kinder to let Riko be remembered as a star but though thought of his death is suddenly unbearable (maybe it always had been).

 

“No!” Kevin lunges forward, reaching out with the remnants of his hand. A fire ignites when his fingers close around Riko’s arm, but he ignores the pain as he’s done so many times before. He ignores the pain and runs. 

 

There’s another door to the room, hardly used, which looks like a panel in the wall. Kevin doubts The Master realised he saw it being used (back when he and Riko used to sneak around Catsle Evermore, giggling and ducking away like The Master didn’t have eyes on them at all times). Even if he does, it doesn’t matter now.

 

Kevin slams his weight into the panel, and it releases him, but he doesn’t stop. He can’t. He won’t, not until this place is just a memory. He’ll probably die before then, but he’s dead already, so he may as well.

Chapter 2: Take these broken wings and learn to fly

(A/N: I kind of hate this. I feel like it's horribly out of character [likley because I haven't read the Kings Men all the wya through yet and will probbaly ahve to EHAVILY edit this after I do] and oh my gods can I get an f-bomb count but here you go...)

For the first time in his life, Kevin doesn’t think about each step as he takes it. He doesn’t think about a bad idea, this is. He doesn’t think about the men chasing him. He doesn’t think about the blood dripping from his hand as it comes apart. He doesn’t think about the boy coming apart at his side. He doesn’t think about the way the sun glints off the pavement, signalling when he leaves the stadium, the way he hasn’t seen it in years.

 

West Virginia is cold this time of year, but the atmosphere is one of cheer, false as it may be. Edgar Allan is hosting the Northern District’s Banquet, and all around staff make preparations for tonight, straightening things or shouting orders off clipboards. It must be perfect for The Master. And it is, the halls are decked, it’s the picture-perfect Hallmark holiday party. 

 

It’s perfect for Kevin, too; he nicks a jacket from a caterer when they aren’t looking, shrugs it on, shoves his hand in the pocket (silently cheering when he feels a car key), and slows to a more reasonable pace. It’s agonising to walk so slowly, but he needs to avoid attracting any more attention than they already have.

 

“Stop!” Riko’s voice is a cracked whisper, almost as bad off as Kevin’s hand, eyes still blown wide, darting around like a cornered animal.

 

Kevin doesn’t stop. “We can’t. They’ll kill us.”

 

Riko looks back, yanking Kevin’s shoulder in a way that makes the pain trickle down to his injured fingers. “We’re dead anyway, what’s the point. If you go back now, then at least one of us will be good for something.”

 

“Is Exy all you care about!?” Kevin startles when he realises what he’s just said. Of course, Exy is all Riko cares about; there has never been anything else. And now, there never will be.

 

“Yes! And I thought you did too, but I see you’re 2nd for a reason.” Riko’s expression darkens, “If you don’t care, then go. Abandon your mother’s legacy, and I’ll stay and do what you couldn’t.”

 

Kevin shakes his head, putting his hood up, “Fuck you. No. We’re going.” He tries to grab Riko, but Riko locks his knees. “He said it himself, he doesn’t want you!”

 

Riko spits on the sparkling pavement. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

 

Kevin pulls, but Riko doens’t budge. “What? You broke my hand, and now you don’t want to drag me down?”

 

“I want nothing more. Let go of me, or I’ll scream.” Riko starts to open his mouth.

 

“You won’t. The Master doesn’t want me either. And you’re a coward who’d rather die than be second best.” The words taste like blood. Even an hour ago, he’d have never dared to say them out loud. “It means less than nothing to win against a cripple. There is no honour in that!”

 

“Who said anything about honour? Do you not know where we are, what we are? We are the best, and we didn’t get here by being noble . This isn’t one of your fucking fairytales.” Riko’s tone is mocking as he jabs a finger at Kevin’s chest, “If you want to stay on top, you must give up nothing, certainly not for a has been. That is why you’re second.”

 

“Maybe you could beat me now, maybe. But even if he takes you back, and that’s a big if , the damage is done. You will always be second to me. If you want me dead, then kill me. Or turn me in and have him do it. I’m sure he’ll finish you off right after.” Kevin hates standing so still. The Master has eyes everywhere, but the cameras have a slight delay; it feels as if he’s on borrowed time. 

 

(A/N: I apologise if the use of “cr’pple” offends anyone. I wasn’t sure I should use it, but I think it reflects how Kevin feels about himself in this moment. If I should change the word, please let me know.)

 

“He doesn’t want you either. You’re done. Gone. He hasn’t discarded me publicly yet, and he needs at least one of us, even just to avoid suspicion. And the one of us who can play is me.”

 

“Sure. Go back, then. See how thrilled he is to see you after this.” Kevin holds out his hand. Riko says nothing, simply staring at the mangled bones. “You’re right. He’ll take you back. He has to, but it won’t be like before. Your life will be hell. So stay, see if I care.” And Kevin does care, so much, of course he does.

 

Riko glares, but Kevin can see the moment he gives up, “Where?” An admission that he wants to live, at least more than he wants Kevin to lose.

 

The one secret he’d kept from Riko. It bounces painfully off the walls of his skull. “The less you know,” Riko seems to accept this for now. Kevin hates it. He hates that there’s still enough anger in Riko’s posture that he can’t trust him, the only boy he’s ever really known, with the truth.

 

-

 

The vans, all nearly identical, are parked in a line. Kevin examines the key in his hand; it’s for a Chevrolet. There are five Chevrolets in the first row.

 

‘ Fuck it. I’m dead either way .’

 

He takes a breath, says a prayer, and picks one. God must’ve felt sorry because the key fits perfectly into the lock. Kevin doesn’t waste any time; he finds masks and gives one to himself and Riko, then a glove to contain his cracking hand, then he drives.

 

It takes all of his willpower not to tear out of the lot, but that would only give them away. He manages until the highway, then stomps on the gas. The vibration prickles his hand in a way that sends bile up his throat, but he swallows it down.

 

-

 

Riko, for his part, stays silent until they pass the sign welcoming them to Nashville. “So, are you going to tell me where we’re going now?” He laughs then, an empty sound, “I mean, do you seriously think there’s a place he won’t find us? Are you an idiot? I didn’t think you were, but I guess I’ll have to admit I can be wrong sometimes.” He’s baiting Kevin, but Kevin won’t take it, not now. He’s too tired.

 

“The Terrapins are hosting the Southeastern District’s winter banquet this year. I know someone who can help us.”

 

“Don’t be naive, Kevin. There’s no one here whom he can’t buy, and every mile you drive just digs us in deeper. Turn around now, and this can still be a misunderstanding.” It seems Riko regrets his earlier sentiment. Kevin doesn’t blame him, every bone in his body aching to listen and go back to the only thing he’s ever known. He keeps his eyes straight ahead, hands gripping ten and two for dear life.

 

“Turn around.” It’s supposed to be an order, but Riko sounds more resigned than anything.

 

Kevin unlocks Riko’s door, an invitation. Riko barks a single humourless laugh and locks it again. “You’re speeding, Kevin. I don’t want to get fucking road burn.”

 

“You could’ve stayed,” Kevin says, knowing he would never have left him. Maybe in another universe, but not in this one. He hadn’t even meant to grab Riko; it’s just that there was nothing else to do. Whenever he’d dreamt of freedom, Riko had never been there. It wasn’t until there was a gun to his head that he realised that he could never have one without the other. There is no two without one. There never could be. 

 

How this is actually going to work? That’s one of the things that Kevin can’t think about right now.

“You grabbed me.” Riko points out at length.

 

Kevin says nothing. There’s nothing to say, not when blood is filling his glove and dripping down his arm, marring the sleeve of his new suit.

 

“Fuck you, Kevin!” Riko stomps his foot, temper returning in the face of the punishment he’s managed to outrun for so long, “I wanted a quick death, but now you’ve- You should have fucking left me.”

 

“That wasn’t an option.” It wasn’t. Kevin can’t imagine being in this truck alone.

 

“You’re sick.” Riko spits, “He’s going to torture me, you know?”

 

“That’s funny coming from you, Riko.” But Kevin’s vision is beginning to fog from the pain, or maybe he really does need glasses. He keeps driving, slowing as he enters the tourist district.

 

“He’s going to make you watch.” Riko stomps again when Kevin doesn’t respond, “Don’t act like you give a damn when you’re only making this worse. For both of us… or do you want to watch?”

 

“Fuck you. He’s not going to find us. I have a plan.”

 

“And it’s driving to every hotel around only to stop at none of them? What the fuck are you looking for anyway- Oh, don’t start fucking crying. You’re still the Queen, you know. You still have it all. He might take you back as a coach at least.” Riko scoffs, “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, watching all of us from your high horse. I have nothing; he’s decided I’m worthless. Do you see me crying?”

 

“I’m not crying!” Kevin’s voice cracks up an octave the way it hasn’t since he turned 16.

 

Riko dissolves into heartless laughter.

 

But before any tears can escape down Kevin’s cheeks, he sees it. A bus so orange it hurts, decorated with white fox paws “Palmetto State University Foxes” spray painted on in shitty Versity letter stencil. Kevin pulls in much too fast and slams the brakes. Riko looks up at this, and then to Kevin.

 

“Are you. Fucking. Kidding me, Kevin Day?”

 

All Kevin can do is shake his head.

 

“Have you gone fucking mental? This is literally the easiest team to buy off. Look at their pitiful bus, they can barely- wait, this isn’t because of that goalkeeper, is it? You think he’ll help you? Did you forget he turned us down? What makes you think he’ll want you now?” Riko’s eyes fall on Kevin’s hand, his cold gaze damning.

 

“Shut up!” Kevin’s voice wavers again, hitching and nearly breaking under the weight of a sob.

 

Riko stares at him in alarm, but there’s nothing he can do to punish Kevin now. Kevin starts to get out, but Riko grabs him, pinching his broken hand. Pain rips through him, but Kevin keeps his mouth shut. “If you didn’t want this, you could’ve just let me have it, you know. He would’ve kept you on. But, oh no, you couldn’t let it go, you’re just as bad as I am.”

 

“Fuck me for wanting something, then? Yeah? Is that it?” He tries to wriggle free, but the movement only makes it worse. He can barely meet Riko’s eyes, but looking away leaves him adrift and unsure.

 

“You had everything you were ever going to get. And you could’ve kept it if you weren’t so damn proud.”

 

“I-”

 

“You don’t fucking get it, do you? I never realised it until today, but I was always going to lose. The Master made sure of it. Whether it was on the court with you or in that room, I’ve been a dead man walking for I don’t know how long. You should’ve just pushed ahead when you could; let me fade away slowly. Hiding your skills like I’m some charity case? You’re pathetic. I fucking hate you, you know that?”

 

Kevin gives up, settling back into his seat. “What else was I gonna do? I’ve always been number two; I don’t know how to be anything else. I don’t know how to be better, I’m trapped forever at second. You made sure of that. How could I have even tried to be better when 2nd place is branded on my fucking cheek?”

 

“There are advantages to being second, you know. Nothing I’d trade first for, but you don’t know how good you’ve got it. You are allowed to fuck up, and yet you never do.”

 

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

 

“You read so much, so don’t tell me you don’t know the story of the bird and the cat.” Riko doesn’t wait for an answer. That’s good because Kevin hurts too much for words, “I’ll tell you anyway. The Master owns an exotic bird and a common cat. The bird is trapped in its golden cage, longing for freedom, whilst the cat is free to go wherever it wishes but stays inside. The bird asks the cat why it doesn’t leave, and the cat just laughs.” And so does Riko, a broken, slightly off sort of sound. “The Master even gave you a second chance, something no one else’s ever gotten from him. And I fucking offered myself. You had the cane in your hands, and I would’ve taken it gratefully. You should feel damn lucky. But you and your goddmaned bleeding heart couldn’t do it. If you’d broken my hand, he’d have let me live. But you didn’t, and then he was going to shoot me, and I was ready. At least it would be over quickly. But you, you arrogant bastard, Proud Kevin Day, just had to go and mess up the natural order of things, and now you’ve ruined yourself. You had every chance to ditch me. Can’t you see you did this to yourself, with your” Riko sneers, “mercy.” Riko makes a gagging noise.

 

“Riko…”

 

“It’s not your selfishness that’s killed us, Kevin.” Riko gets out of the van, slamming the door shut, but he doesn’t go far. In fact, he barely makes it a metre before he rips off his mask and gets sick in the grass.

 

Kevin rushes to him, always a step behind, always in his shadow. “Breathe.”

 

“Says the man whose bleeding out. Your ‘selflessness’ hurts, Kevin.”

 

Selflessness. Selflessness? What? Kevin, ambitious, ever striving, son of Exy, Kevin has never been described as selfless by anyone. To hear the word from Riko… He said it like an insult, but-

 

“Don’t just stand there, imbicle!” Riko’s words bring Kevin’s attention back to the present, where the only boy he’s ever known is bent over panting like he’s been shot. Kevin remembers the day he and Riko learnt the word ‘imbicle’. They’d had so much fun using it every chance they got. It’s been years.

 

Kevin rubs a cautious hand over Riko’s back, touch feather light in case it’s the wrong thing to do. But Riko doesn’t lash out, and slowly, he stands, bracing himself against Kevin. He looks pale, with a smattering of beauty marks and his tattoo like glaring neon signs that he belongs to someone else.

 

Something in Kevin’s chest shatters. Not his heart. A lung, maybe? 

 

“You’re cold…”

 

Riko spits again, bile staining the ground.

 

And Kevin laughs, he really does, so hard it hurts his bruised ribs. The fresh air chokes him in a wonderful way. Why, at death’s door, does he feel so free? His hand is numb now. ‘ Probably not a good thing. ’

 

For a precious moment, for right now, The Master can’t touch him, or Riko. But when he looks to Riko, the laughter dies in him like someone poured bleach down his throat. Riko looks… lost. 

 

Before he can say anything, someone is approaching them, an employee by the look of her shirt. Kevin pulls Riko into a hug to hide his face. It’s a bit awkward because of their height difference, and Kevin doesn’t want to look like he’s strangling him, so he lifts Riko up a bit. Riko lets him, a dead weight, as if all the fight has left him, along with the contents of his stomach on the ground. It terrifies Kevin.

 

“Sir, if you’re not a guest, you can’t park here- oh!” The woman’s face turns from annoyed to shocked when she sees Riko.

 

Kevin braces himself to be recognised, but the only emotion on the woman’s face is concern. She looks at Riko nervously, “Erm, sir, are you well?”

 

Riko doesn’t grace her with an answer. Kevin grips him tighter with his good hand to keep him from saying something nasty, though it seems like a pointless precaution at this point. The last thing they need to be is arrested.

 

The woman looks to Kevin instead, “Is your boyfriend alright?”

 

Kevin blanches. “He’s- uh, we’re not- I- I’m straight!”

 

Riko makes a choked sound and begins coughing. Kevin tries to bury the relief he feels at any movement at all. The woman flinches at his outburst, “Oh, I am so sorry for assuming. Uh, but at any rate, do you plan to stay here? If not, I’m afraid you’ll have to park somewhere else.”

 

“No, we’re staying. How much for a night?” Hopefully, they wouldn’t be staying any longer than that.

 

The woman nods, names the price, and Kevin hopes that the Master hasn’t cancelled his credit card yet.

 

-

 

He hasn’t. Kevin exhales a sigh of relief when the transaction goes through, taking the room key with his press smile, though he doubts she can see it behind his mask. He shouldn’t linger, but “Do you sell alcohol here?” He knows he won’t get carded. He hasn’t been carded in at least a year.

 

“For an additional charge, yes.”

 

“Thank you, ma’am.”

 

“Enjoy your stay, don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.” She says, but her face is bored, just another overworked service worker. And by the grace of some god, not an Exy fan because even with Riko unmasked, leaning heavily on the counter beside Kevin, tattoo on full display, she didn’t even blink.

 

Kevin hurries him up to their room anyway.

 

Thankfully, they get an empty lift, but when the doors open, two girls are waiting for the lift. Two blonds, one natural, one dyed. The Foxes’ numbers #7 and #9. They haven’t looked up from their phones yet. They get in before Kevin and Riko can get out.

 

“Ugh,” Alison Reynolds groans, “I can’t believe him. This asshoke wants me to buy him vodka. What kind of asshole drinks cheap hotel Vodka? Do they even sell it here?”

 

‘ Shit! ’

 

Number nine says something, but Kevin isn’t listening. They can’t see him, not yet. Nit until he talks to Coach David Wymack. Once again, he’s acting before thinking. He shoves Riko against the wall.

 

“Wh-”

 

And silences him with a kiss. 

 

It’s uncomfortable, mostly because he has to lift Riko a bit again, but it’s a real kiss, the kind that keeps Riko from protesting.

 

He hears number nine squeak in surprise, but refuses to look back, burying himself deeper into Riko. He breaks contact for just a second to assess Riko’s reaction, but keeps close enough that it still looks like they’re kissing. Riko’s eyes burn with fury. “You fucking fa-” but Kevin puts his okay hand over his lips.

 

In Japanese, he says, “Act like you like it. I don’t need assault charges today.” Commanding Riko fills Kevin with cognitive dissonance even more than running away with did, but Riko doesn’t want to be recognised any more than Kevin does, so he’s forced to comply. And then they’re kissing again, Riko’s arms wrapped albeit awkwardly around Kevin.

 

With his okay hand, Kevin manages to press one of the buttons. It’s probably a higher floor than theirs, but there are probably stairs they can take back down. They should’ve taken the stairs in the first place.

 

After what feels like forever, the lift reaches the lobby and the girls get out, seemingly unfazed by the sudden “PDA”. As soon as the lift closes again, Kevin jumps away, backing across the lift, bringing his okay hand up over his face in anticipation of Riko’s retaliation.

 

But Riko just stands stock still, “Tell. No one. Someone else finds out, you die. Do it again, you die.”

 

“Yes, Riko.” Kevin bows his head. It’s a great relief to be taking orders again.

 

“Good, dog.”

 

The lift dings and lets them out on the ninth floor. A jump from here would kill them both.

 

In the corridor are, “More fucking Foxes?” Kevin groans, pulling Riko into the stairwell across from the lift.

 

Riko hisses angrily.

 

Kevin shrugs, “It worked the first time?”

 

A glare, but then, it’s Riko shoving Kevin to the wall. Hey’re close enough to fool an observer but not touching. Kevin tries not to go cross-eyed staring at Riko.

 

In low Japanese, he growls, “Just because I’m pretending to be a fucking queer, doesn’t mean you get to be on top. Did you forget?” He crushes a thumb against Kevin’s cheek.

 

Kevin shakes his head. It seems somehow stranger to wrap his arms around Riko when Riko’s the one “kissing” him, so he doesn’t. But it works, Foxes number one and four walk by with barely a glance at them. 

 

“Seth’s going on a binge again.” Number one sighs as she leads the way down the stairs.

 

“Nicky’s taking bets on whether Wymack and Abby will officiate things tonight. I saw the way he was looking at her on the bus, I’m betting 20.” Number four says through laughter. He whoops. “Stay out of room 902, tonight, y’all.”

 

“Yeah, Allison is going to have to deal with Seth’s hangover herself cause Abby’ll be busy.” Both Foxes collapse into riotous laughter at that, nothing like The Nest. A Raven could never make that sound.

 

But now they have Coach Wymack’s room number. As soon as the Foxes are down the stairs, Kevin pulls Riko back into the corridor.

 

The room is easy to find, right across from the stairs. Now all they have to do is knock.

 

Before Kevin can raise his functioning hand, Riko grabs it. “I will not.”

 

Kevin seethes. They’ve come all this way, they can’t just- it just comes out, the dam holding back years of anger and hurt broken, “You will.”

 

Riko lets him go like he’s a hot pan.

 

Shaking, Kevin raises his fist and knocks.

 

The sound is so quiet, too quiet.

 

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Can’t even knock.” Riko kicks the door thrice, violently.

 

And then there are footsteps.

 

Kevin’s heart pounds. He wants nothing more than to run, but it’s too late now.

Chapter 3: All your life

(A/N: This chapter is kind of short and my Grammarly is misbehaving again (aside from the fact that the "update" the company gave it [some AI bullshit I think] made it shitty anyway) so fuck it. Humans make mistakes and its beautiful. Enjoy.)

 

The footsteps stop. “Hey!” The door handle turns. “Which one of you,” the door swings open, “yahoos is…”

 

Coach David Wymack’s face is not dissimilar to the screen of a computer lagging and restarting as he takes in the sight that is the two boys at his door. 

 

Wordlessly, Kevin pulls his face mask down, revealing himself.

 

And Kevin had never noticed before, because he’d never looked, but now he can’t help but see it. Maybe it’s just his imagination, wishful thinking, but he swears that when Wymack’s expression shifts he can see pieces of his own face looking back at him.

 

Kevin falls to his knees. “Please, we can’t go back. We can’t!”

 

“Okay, er, alright, let’s- Come in.” He grabs Kevin and Riko, one with each arm, firm but gentle and tugs them inside. As soon as the door closes, Kevin cracks, cracks, cracks, and cracks, and breaks. Riko sinks down beside Kevin, the one behind his two.

 

Wymack lets go immediately, calling over his shoulder, “Abby, get in here!” Then he turns back to Kevin, “You’re hurt. Where?”

 

Kevin can’t help himself, he holds out his hand.

 

Wymack winces at the sight of it, Kevin does too. He hadn’t looked until now, had tried his best not to, but now there’s no denying the damage. Before either can say anything, the Foxes’ medic, Abby Winfield arrives, clothes thrown on, dark wet hair in a messy bun as if she’d just come from the shower, first aid kit in hand. 

 

Abby gasps when she sees the wreckage. A war played out on the back of Kevin’s hand.

 

“You need a hospital, Kevin.”

 

The use of his name makes Kevin jolt, but then he remembers who he is. “No! No hospital! You can’t! He’ll find us!”

 

At that, the attention falls on Riko, hovering over Kevin, still pale and smelling of sick (a far cry from his usual haughty composure), but otherwise unharmed.

 

“Riko, right?”

 

“You know who I am.” he snarls.

 

Abby purses her lips, trying her best to look unafraid of the boy a full three inches shorter than her, then says, “Yes, I do. Now could you tell me what happened?”

 

Riko looks to Kevin, a trapped animal once again. If they knew the truth they’d never let him stay.

 

The room is deadly silent.

 

Kevin's mind swirls with possibilities, scenarios buzzing by too fast as to allow him to dwell too deeply on the specifics, only the panic settling deep in his bones.

 

‘ They'll take him. They’ll throw him out. They’ll beat him. They’ll kill him. I’ll never see him again! ’

 

Kevin chokes out, “The Master broke my hand.”

 

Abby gasps again.

 

“Master?” Wymack’s expression, raw anger, makes Kevin draw up tighter.

 

“Coach Moriyama.” Riko says. Kevin swears his voice wavers, but he’s not sure if it’s real. “That’s what he makes us call him.” Riko shivers, but Kevin still flinches when he puts an arm around him, a feeling of wrongness washing over him until Riko digs his nails in.

 

“You’re kidding.” Wymack huffs under his breath in a tone of a man who knows they aren’t. He exhales sharply. Then louder, “Okay. Abby’s gonna patch you up. I’ll gather my team then we’re getting the fuck out of here.”

 

“What?” Kevin’s throat is dry, his breath tastes like iron. 

 

“We’re taking you back to Palmetto.” Wymack says, trying to keep the stress out of his voice.

 

Riko rises to block his path to the door. “Why?” 

 

Kevin mourns the loss of contact even though he knows he had no right. He has always been RIko’s to hold, never the other way around. But now, gods, he just wants someone .

 

Wymack sighs heavily. “The fuck you mean, ‘ why ’? You said you can’t go back so I’m sure as hell not gonna make you.”

 

“And bring hell down on yourself?” Riko snaps.

 

“Look, I don’t know what you think we are, but I make a living dealing with hell, what everyone else’s deemed the worst of the worst. We can take it.”

 

Riko stabs a finger towards the still shaking Kevin, “No one can ‘ take ’ The Master. Look how he treats his prized possessions? And he doesn’t give a damn about you.”

 

“Riko, kid, we’re Foxes. No one gives a damn about us. But damn if we’re not gonna try. We don’t know how to do anything else.”

 

Riko is silent for a moment, still guarding the door. 

 

“Kid, I gotta get my Foxes. Move.”

 

Riko glares, “How can I be sure you’re not going to call him?”

 

Kevin looks up at that, head jerking so quickly it makes him sick. Abby startles at the movement, but Kevin hardly notices.

 

No twenty minutes ago, Riko was demanding they go back to Edgar Allan, and now he’s… doing everything to make sure they don’t? The sting of antiseptic as she preps the wound steals Kevin’s focus before he can dwell too deeply on it.

 

“You can't be. But, look where you are, I’m all you’ve got. And if what you say is true, he’ll get you no matter what I do, so move.”

 

“I’m coming with you.” Riko declares.

 

“Knock yourself out, but I’ll tell you they probably won’t be thrilled to see you. Especially Andrew. I’m aware you two’ve met.” Wymack raises an eyebrow.

 

Riko steps aside.

 

Wymack leaves the room.

 

As soon as he’s gone, Riko heads deeper into the room. Kevin follows him with his eyes until he trunks a corner. He’s gone for less than a minute, returning with a bottle of alcohol.

 

Kevin tries to ask the question with his expression.

 

“Everyone knows the Foxes are alcoholics.” Riko shrugs, uncorking the bottle violently and handing it to Kevin. Abby starts to protest, but decides not to. Kevin chugs it until he can’t breath and then hands the half empty bottle back to Riko.

 

“Damn you! It’s been a week since I’ve had a drink.”

 

“If you want to be in pain, by all means, I’ll stick my finger down your throat myself, but otherwise there’s no point in bitching after it’s already in your system.”

 

Kevin manages a slurred “Fuck you.” before the drink’s full effects overtake him. Then he passes again.

 

Riko flanks him, scrutinising Abby as she works. Abby tries not to take it personally, not when everyone knows how close they are. 

 

“How long until he’s fixed?”

 

Abby makes a noise, her grip on the cotton swab faltering,“Fixed?”

 

“Yes,” Riko growls, “fixed. How long?”

 

Abby sucks in a breath, “Well, that would depend on what your definition is. I’ll be done patching him up in a few minutes but this is by no means a permanent solution. He’ll need much more advanced care than I can give him here and even then it could take months to heal… and with physical therapy, it could be up to a year.”

 

“A year.” Both Riko and Kevin express their disbelief simultaneously. Kevin numb, Riko incensed. Kevin knew, in the back of his mind, that he was no good anymore, but…

 

“Yes, Riko, a year. And I know how important Exy is to both of you, just look. I mean, his hand is shattered. I don’t know how this even happened. Every bone is cracked to some degree or another. There’s surely nerve damage… forget Exy, the joints may never work the same again.”

 

Kevin faints. Riko doesn't catch him, too much in shock. His partner, the only one anywhere near good enough to play with him, may never play again. ‘ Isn’t this what you wanted? ’ 

 

“No. Not like this. I-”

 

Abby steels herself. “Riko, I know this is hard for both of you but please move, I need a full view of the wound.”

 

Riko, for once in his life, obeys, settling himself in the corner to watch this strange woman glue Kevin back together.

 

-

 

As soon as Abby tries the last stitch, Riko is there. Abby jumps up, holding her hands above her head in surrender.

 

“Okay, I’m gonna give you two some space. I’m sure you have a lot to talk about.” And with that she heads into the hall. Riko locks the door behind her.

 

“I’m sorry.” Kevin slurs because it’s all he knows how to say. “Sorry for being a shitty second. Sorry for being t-too good. If I hadn’t then,” a hiccup cuts him off, “maybe none of this would’ve happened… sorry.”

 

Riko doesn’t know what to say. There's no clear expectation, no script written by his uncle he can use here.

 

“I’m sorry for getting you in trouble with Master.” He hiccups again, tears flooding down his drunkenly pink cheeks, “I don’ wan you ta die.”

 

“There is no Master anymore.” Riko lies. “I have no Master. I am free to do as I wish.”

 

Both boys pause at that, neither knowing what to do with the prospect of such freedom. Before they can figure it out, the door handle is turning.

 

“Hey! You two, open up!”

 

Riko looks to Kevin, a look on anyone else Kevin would say was asking for permission. Kevin nods. And Riko unlocks the door. A bizarre feeling fills Kevin, just the alcohol probably.

 

Wymack stands alone in the doorway, still somewhat pissed. “Come on, Abby’s already with the others on the bus. We’re gonna haul ass.”

 

With one last look around the bland hotel room, Riko snatches the bottle from the table and hauls Kevin up.

 

“This is it?” Riko asks in apprehensive Japanese.

 

Kevin only hums, “Your back’s to the corner~” he begins to sing. “Don’t be a fool anymore~”

 

“Kevin, what are you-?”

 

Kevin pays him no mind, swaying drunkenly, the words blending into one. “Make no mistake where you are~ You're goin' no further~ Until it's over and done~”

 

(A/N: I’m so sorry if I mischaracterised Abby, I just feel like she shows up not enough for me to have a good grasp of her. I didn’t want to make her too wimp because she definitely is not but she is still soft EX; her reaction to Neil’s scars in TFC. I hope I did okay.)