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Aaron
He was so done, his ass was numb. His back ached, neck felt stiff as shit. Katelyn wasn't responding and he had to sit inside a bus filled with these annoying teammates of his plus listening Nicky chattering non stop.
Had drained all his will.
As did his legs that were wailing to be stretched after having them in awkward positions the past hour or so. Failed attempts of finding one that didn't send jolts of tingling to his entire leg once the limb went numb.
Just like his right leg was doing now, he had been resting it on his left one - a terrible idea - at this rate he was going to go mad before they even reached the court.
In the meantime, he had spent staring at the message he had sent 10 minutes ago agreeing to meet with Katelyn the next day.
They were going to hang around the library to study, it was a safe zone where his brother wouldn’t show up...
Thinking of sending another text, an elbow hit his shoulder and brought him back to the present. “Who are you texting~?”Nicky pried over his side. “Wait- don't tell me. I think I know the answer.” his cousin grinned.
Urgh.
He turned his phone off and sent Nicky a glare to shut his mouth. His cousin just giggled at his response and turned to join the conversation with the others.
Aaron tried to ignore everyone and opened his phone once more.
An empty screen welcomed him back - no new messages - Katelyn was likely in class at the moment, and so would he. If he hadn't gotten robbed into playing the godly sacked sport they called Exy.
But a full scholarship was a full scholarship… even if it included exy practices he just had to suck it up and suffer.
He wouldn't have gotten a chance like this otherwise.
God he still hated it!
The sweating on top of irritating teammates that couldn’t mind their own business and Kevin’s annoying voice in his ear telling him what he was doing wrong, how he should do this and that. No Aaron not like that, no that's not it either blaa blaa blaa.
Kevin seemed to fucking love his own voice and Aaron wished he could put the man on silent mode when he started yapping endlessly.
One positive thing about the sport, the only positive thing about the sport was that it at least made him stay in good shape and Katelyn seemed to appreciate it…so it wasn't as useless a thing to exist as it felt most of the days.
If he just ignored Kevin, pretended the son of a bitch was an annoying fly and let him fly around, because someone would swat it for him one of these days.
Just get through the day, he told himself.
Play the damn game, get back and then he was free to meet with Katelyn over the weekend.
Endure this and he would get his reward.
That thought had to get him through this or he didn't know what would.
His left leg was going numb even after shifting his sitting position the hundred time on this fucking ride, it was prickling as he moved it and he hated the feeling of the nerves sending almost electric jolts to the limb - human body was such a mystery, why things worked the way they did.
Aaron wanted to learn everything about it, it was fascinating as it was annoying at the moment.
Why did our legs go numb when you sat funny you might ask? Why does it go numb in the first place?
Well the answer was simple: the pressure compresses your nerves when you sit a long time in the same position. Preventing your brain and leg stop ‘sending signals to each other’ the way they normally would.
The correct term for it was paresthesia.
And his entire lower half was in that numbness of paresthesia so when Wymack’s loud voice appeared, it was a pleasant sound to his ears as it meant they would soon get out of this vehicle, from these uncomfortable seats and be let out of this torture.
“Alright foxes rise and shine!” Wymack loudly announced, gaining everyone's attention as a way to tell they were here. At Binghamton, the match that they had against the Bearcats awaited them.
Phone buzzed on his hand when he tried stretching his legs, almost dropping it before turning the screen to himself, revealing a text from Kate - quickly opening his phone to read the full message before getting up.
[Kate: Yes, that's perfect! See you then, also good luck with your match! Wish we could have come to cheer you guys on!!]
A faint smile appeared on his lips, he tried to conceal it but he must have not been fast enough because his cousin catched on. “ohhh did your lady friend message you something nice ?” Nicky whispered like another annoying fly on his ear.
He wanted to shoo him away. “God Nicky, mind your own business.” he told the man while a police car passed them but he wasn't paying it any attention as it already disappeared and the sirens were shallow to his ears, focusing on his phone and quickly tapping with his fingers a reply.
Kevin was already stemming from his seat ready to go. As Abby had closed the engine soon after and everyone had gotten up ready to head out.
Nicky the clumsy bastard he was, accidentally pumped into Aaron sending his phone on the floor. “Fuck, Nicky!” he cursed under his breath because now he had to get it under the seat where it had landed.
“Sorry, sorry.” Nicky was already going out the bus with the flow of their teammates, sending apologetic looks before turning around.
Sighing, he crouched to look for his phone on the dirty floor.
When his fingers finally graced the phone, picking it up and getting up from his knees. He brushed his hands and the phone to his pants to get rid of the dirt.
Hurried to the front to leave and get his gear until his brother's voice stopped him in his tracks.
“-mr. time traveler.”
Could hear it in his brother’s voice, like he was making fun of whoever he was talking to. Aaron turned his head to the sound and saw Josten hovering over his seat to the back where Andrew had sat.
He stared at the redhead’s back in loathsomeness.
Earlier today, when Kevin had chosen to stay in the front to continue his conversation with the upperclassman and not join Andrew in the back like they usually would.
His cousin and he had gone with it, situating themself behind Kevin’s seat.
He didn't think Andrew would mind much being left alone in the back. Bet he would enjoy being left unbothered.
But then to everyone's surprise Josten had gone past them, not joining Kevin like Kevin had assumed and oh boy, Kevin had not been pleased.
When Aaron had realized Josten’s intent to go to the back, where his brother loomed alone.
He didn't like it.
He didn't like this either.
Staring at the back of the redhead's skull, Josten replied back to what Andrew had referred earlier, Aaron was able to only catch the last bits of it “-got your attention though, didn't it?” It was almost in a teasing manner.
It pissed Aaron for some reason, for many reasons he wasn't going to dwell on it now, before hurrying out the bus.
“What's taking them so long?” Wymack breathed, coming to bypass Aaron as he stepped outside. Long forgetting his numb legs, the prickling of them only a background sensation with the deep ugly emotion that had surfaced.
He went to join the others to gather his gear.
“It didn't brake right?” Nicky eyed the phone he was clenching on. Aaron looked at it too, screen intact and no scrapes on it. It would be a shit phone if it broke just from that.
“no, no it didn't.” The last words fell flat as Josten and his brother finally bothered to show up after Wymack had to yell at them to get moving and get in the line.
They hadn't even noticed him earlier, bet they didn't even notice the bus emptying out.
So keen on whatever discussion they were having, like they had been in their own world—there was a nauseating swirl somewhere in his stomach.
An unpleasant feeling settling at the bottom.
From the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but stare with hatred. The bastard carried himself like he belonged here, showing up and stealing his brother-
It just felt so unfair.
He couldn’t help but constantly be aware of Neil, because where his brother was, Josten followed close by, like a puppy, and not in a cute way.
Like a leech attaching itself onto someone and sucking their life force slowly.
Giving them the mark of danger by just existing.
So yes he disliked the man.
Once they were led to the locker room to wait for the time to pass so they could get geared up and begin the warm ups, Aaron found himself surrounded by excited teammates chatting around about the game and whatnot.
Kevin had tossed everyone the line ups to look over and memorize. While he was viewing the piece of paper, he could not help but see the odd pair and his focus was gone.
On the other side of the room quietly sitting was Josten beside his brother.
Aaron tried his hardest to just ignore them, especially Josten. The way he seemed so fine being beside his brother even in the silence.
Like it offered him some sort of twisted comfort.
So in peace.
It was the total opposite to him, he always felt uneasy in the silence his brother offered, never certain what the other was thinking at all. Getting nothing back felt like he didn't matter.
As if he was speaking to a wall.
He got his earplugs and turned the music on so he couldn't hear anything else and stared at the paper in hand before turning it over and grabbing a book from his bag.
===
The game was brutal as were their opponents but for some reason foxes were gaining points faster than normal…or actually the other team was just not gaining them.
The main reason must have been because Andrew was actually playing, participating more than usual for once. Guarding the goal like he should.
And Aaron wanted to know what chanced, why had he suddenly decided to care?
What was the reason?
Then he noticed how hyped their entire team was because of it, everyone smiling and overjoyed that their goalkeeper was participating for once.
Andrew didn't seem any different, with his apathetic expression he always wore, there wasn't much that changed except the way he played now, usually he would do the bare minimum. Now he was occasionally giving the backliners shit to do their job as he swept the ball off their side, blocking many shots that fired their goal.
Josten was grinning head to toe, running player by player with the ball like a madman.
Even Kevin screamed a little less.
They were scoring points after points and the other team did not like it. Thus, a fight broke out soon after…Alisson was arguing with another Bearcat’s player and whatever she said to the other equaled in: name calling, yelling, hair being pulled and puncturing sharp nails.
He was drenched with sweat after the whistle blew to separate the two team members and signaling for a short recess.
Lucky for their team Allison only reserved a warning because she hadn’t started it, the other girl however got a red card.
Throat dry as he made his way to the bench and looked for his water bottle, taking heavy gulps from it once he got his hands on it.
“what's gotten into you guys!” Matt exhaled somewhere and he heard Dan agree to whatever they were talking about.
Aaron wasn't trying to listen because to be honest he didn't care as he swept his neck and face with a clean towel and waited till the game would continue again so it would be over sooner.
“how did you bribe the monster to play like that?” Allison's voice joined in the conversation. And that got Aaron's attention, head turning straight to the person she was asking it from.
Instantly curious about the subject.
Josten chuckled before responding “oh wouldn't you want to know.” he said with mischief that made Aaron squint his eyes because what did that mean?
“bet you “asked” again” his cousin finger quoted.
“And? What if I did?” Responded Josten, snarky.
Aaron’s hand stilled for a second, forgetting the sweat he was supposed to swipe, too stunned to move. Because was it true?
Had Josten really asked Andrew to play like that and Andrew had just agreed.
Again!?
What the hell was going on?
“Who are you?” Nicky asked wide eyed. Aaron would like to know that too, who was Neil Josten.
“And what do you have on him?” Allison added.
And what was he hiding, while pretending to be harmless. Aaron wanted to know how the team couldn't see it, the fakeness of it all.
He had scoffed loudly enough for the others to hear without meaning to, turning his eyes elsewhere when the blue ones met his. Cursing to himself in his head when he heard Allison whisper “ what got his panties in a twist.”
Well the answer would be Joste , the answer was always Josten. If there was a problem it was likely his fault anyway.
===
“you're amazing.” he heard Neil say, behind him as he went to his own locker, then silence and “shut up, junky .” With that Andrew walked further in the locker leaving Neil at the entrance.
Who stood there like he had stepped on a mine.
Then the boy snapped out of it as fast as it had appeared, but Aaron had seen his shoulders tense, eyes that were full of joy a second earlier telling his brother ‘how amazing he was’ and then the fright materialized out of nowhere.
Questions, questions and more of them seized up each time he noticed something with their newest fox, who just didn't seem to fit right.
Why would Andrew let Neil stay?
Neil came with only one duffel bag, with his shit colored contacts and hair dye, and a tendency to lie about everything like a pathological liar he seemed to be.
Anyone could figure out he wasn't right, or were the others blinded by his innocent act?
Aaron had figured he was hiding from something, but from what?
Andrew must know, he wouldn't have let him stay here otherwise, but if he knew… Why was Neil still here? Why was Andrew letting a bomb stay if it could blow over all their faces anytime.
Neil Josten was trouble in Aaron's eyes and he could not figure out why his brother had let it remain with them.
What good would it bring in the end?
Josten was moving past the locker to wash his face or that what he had heard Neil say to the others. Aaron knew he shouldn’t but he could not help but want to follow him and give some peace of mind.
To get some sense into anything that was going on. Andrew wasn’t telling anyone even if he asked, so Josten it was.
So he slid out, while nobody paid attention, walking smoothly to the area Josten had gone.
He was washing his face when Aaron reached him, Aaron was surprised that Neil hadn't noticed him drawing closer, usually he was so jumpy and conscious of his surroundings.
To the point it was freaky, the boy was not right in any way. He was the most wrong Aaron had ever seen a person be.
And he needed to know what the fuck he wanted with from his brother.
He waited and stared down as Josten paused, becoming aware of someone else's presence, shoulders tensing slightly before he turned his head to Aaron's direction.
The confusion was written so clearly on the other's face as he opened his mouth. “Aaron.” Josten stupidly said through the still running faucet, eyes moving past Aaron's shoulder for some reason like he was looking for something.
Then he returned his gaze back at Aaron disappointed. Aaron’s jaws clenched.
No, Josten was undoubtedly not looking for something but someone . He felt his irritation only getting louder as he stared at Josten, waiting for him to say something stupid again with the stupid look on his face.
“What?'' Josten asked when he got tired of the silence. Like he didn't know. Aaron tsked.
“What do you want?” The other questioned, clearly uncomfortable with Aaron’s stare. Yeah, serves you right. You intruder son of a– he was getting so pissed at even looking at Neil.
What was so interesting about him that his brother let him stay? Neil was such an annoying, stupid kid who didn’t know when to shut up and back off from things that weren’t his, when he should just leave.
He didn't deserve to even breathe the same air- taking Aaron's rightful place that he had always wished to have. Taking it from him the second he had stepped foot to Palmetto and slowly gotten Andrew somehow under his thumb, past those sturdy walls like it was no biggie.
Aaron couldn't fathom it, wouldn't accept the fact that someone other than him had gotten past those spiky walls Andrew had set. Even when he himself had not even been allowed near the so-called wall, no he had been pushed meters from it with a sign that said: minefield, do not cross.
He had tried for years to get past there with no luck. So how had Josten managed to get past the warning signs without being blown off.
What was so different about them?
“I'm his brother.” Aaron said out loud. I'm his brother for goddammit, not you, why are you by his side when I should be there.
“I know…” Neil replayed after he had coughed clearly hiding a beginning of a snort.
It made him even more angrier because Josten didn't get it. “Do you?” Aaron deadpanned, he had to tell him to make him get it. “you get here from god know where with your sketchy lying ass and all the sudden–” you get Andrew to talk, to do things, show some emotions other than apathy. Be a fucking human being for ones. Why?
What's so fucking special about a nobody like you?
How did you do it?
That was the hundred dollar question, wasn't it? Why you and not me? “I'm his brother, not you.” it sounded as pathetic as it felt to say.
“I am aware” Neil raised his hands as if surrendering.
In Josten’s face, crossed a few emotions; confusion as he replied, then a short understanding like he could read Aaron the same way he somehow did with Andrew.
How had Josten even learned to read his brother when Aaron had tried the past years to find a way to connect, miserably failing and somehow a kid with lying issues succeeded in under 8 months.
Then Neil looks at him like he was being a fool for no reason. That it wasn't worth getting worked over. “Aaron we have a game-''
And there it is again , Neil gazes past him and Aaron can swear, on Josten's face there’s a soft hidden smile.
So out of character, so disgustingly—almost— sweet.
He didn't like it, at all, the look on his face.
Because Aaron had seen the look a few times when Neil thought no one was looking. He hadn't thought anything of it then, but now he was reconsidering…because it couldn't just be nothing.
“and then, there's that.” Aaron states, disgusted. Has Neil lied about not swinging? Had it been another lie? The bastard reeked of them, Aaron wondered if anything was real of the man.
Neil looks at him like he was speaking gibberish, no clue what Aaron’s talking about. So Aaron enlightens the poor bastard. “The way you keep looking at him, being all glued to him all day like a love sick puppy, it's disgusting really.” His brother is not even gay, so why do you look at him like that, what's wrong with you, what do you want from him?
“Aaron-” Neil tries to object.
nu-huh he wasn’t going to let this pass. “He's not gay and you didn't swing right? So what do you think you're doing?” What do you want from my brother?
“It's none of your business.” Josten bites back. None of my business, he says?
“Yes it is, he's my brother and you are like poison, leave him alone before he gets himself into whatever shit you're in.” Because something is not right with you, and sooner or later it's gonna catch up with you and people around you, like poison. He gets closer to Neil's face. “you're poison ” he says.
Neil shows him off his face. “What the hell do you have against me?!” Neil snaps trying to keep his voice down “It's not for you to decide what I do or don’t, this has nothing to do with you to begin with!”
That’s where he was wrong. “It's got everything to do with me, you're gonna get him killed, you're gonna get everyone killed one of these days!” just- just like- “Just like Seth .” he venomously spits.
Seth had fucking died! Yes he was an asshole but he was an asshole who was dead because Riko hadn’t liked what Neil had to say and killed the weakest link.
Neil looked like he’d been slapped, body tensing with anger. “That's foul and you know it.” he tells Aaron.
Can’t take the truth, can you? “But it's the truth and one day it might be my brother’s turn.” He needs Neil to understand that , that his slip up had cost a LIFE. And who was to say that it wouldn't happen again!
“It won’t, I won’t let it happen.” Neil’s voice sounds so certain, so sure of himself.
But Aaron wasn’t having it. “What can you do? You couldn't even kill for him, so it had to be me?!” That got another hurtful look out of the redhead.
It was just another truth, Aaron had killed Drake which Neil failed to do. So now Aaron carried blood in his hands for the rest of his life. He wasn't regretting it, it was self defense. He would do it again.
“I was going to-”
“do it?” He finishes for Neil. “yes!” Neil pipes. Why did you hand me the weapon then? Why?
“Would you do it now?” Would you have done it if I had waited? “Of course!” Neil raises his voice just slightly so that Aaron can hear the cracks behind it.
If that was such an easy answer, how about– “What about now, would you kill someone else for him?” because surely Neil would need to think about it, but the man doesn't even hesitate before telling him that ‘yes, yes he would if needed.’
Aaron pauses, staring at him unsure if he should ask the next question that popped in his mind—well he just might—even if he knows what Neil's answer will be.
“Then would you die for him?” Aaron asks knowingly. Neil certainly wouldn't die for him.
Why would he?
The only person Aaron himself would be willing to die was Kaitlyn, no questions asked. Katelyn, the only normal thing in his life. He would die for her because she was worth it. Worth dying over if she got to live.
Andrew and Nicky were a maybe . He felt like he owned that much for Nicky and for Andrew…it was complicated.
The unexpected “yes” Neil replies almost too fast confuses Aaron, Yes? Did Neil just say YES why the fuck- why would he-
Aaron gapes, realizing it was the truth, because when Josten had said it for some reason he sounded almost in pain.
It sounded the most truth he had heard Neil ever tell.
So determined on the matter. And Neil doesn't have a reason to lie about this.
Aaron doesn't get it, none of it why would Neil die for his brother? it doesn't make any sense, he doesn't understand—except he does somewhere in himself he can see it clearly now.
“And you didn’t swing?” Aaron rolls his eyes, “un-fucking-believable, you have the hots for my brother-” don't even try to deny it, it's so obvious now.
“I don’t- “
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“Andrew’s different- you wouldn’t understand.”
“Maybe and to be fair I don't give a shit, but if you hurt him. You're dead . It wouldn’t be the first time killing for him, you know.”
“I know.”
They stared at each other in the small awareness of understanding that spread between them for the first time as the silence stretched, it lasted for a second or two before there was the sound of referees opening the doors and with that Aaron sent him a final glare and a knowing scoff before turning to walk to the line.
Neil's feelings didn't matter because they wouldn't be reciprocated. Andrew wasn't gay…
===
Now his game was a mess, because he couldn't stop thinking about the earlier conversation. And Kevin was screaming for him to get it together after he lost the ball twice already. He just wanted the game to be over with.
Even with how messy the last ends had been, they had still won.
The other team was bitching about their loss, they tried to pick a fight with them so the coach pulled everyone aside so no fights would arise.
And now he got to escape to the showers and be done with the day, then he remembered the torturous drive back and he was praying for his legs not to drop dead.
He stayed under the warm spray longer than he had meant to, but he leaving the showers meant having to deal with everyone.
He kind of wanted to avoid Josten and his brother for a while to gather his thoughts, but the universe had other plans clearly.
As he was toweling his hair fully clothed, ready to join his team in the locker room so they could leave.
Neil was the last one showering and he finished quicker than Aaron had anticipated, before Aaron had chance to flee out the changing room.
For whatever reason, Neil seemed to be in hurry, because the first thing Aaron could see was skin, a torso that had more with scars than actual shin, some more sharp or jagged than others, but they were everywhere.
What caught his attention was Josten's right shoulder, the fleshy area there.
“What the hell happened to you?” Aaron grimaced at the healed burn mark, if Aaron didn't know any better he would say someone had stuck a burning hot clothing iron there.
Neil quickly put on the shirt. Aaron heard him mutter out ‘life’ while stuffing the rest of his things inside his duffel “Where's Andrew?” Neil asked.
“Why do you care?” Aaron asks back, with the way Neil stares at him, he yields. “He went to tell Renee something, jealous?” he couldn't hold back the taunt.
“get out and tell him to come here”
“And if I don't?” Aaron questions. you're not the boss of me.
“Just get out of my face and go bother someone else." scowling, Aaron turned away.
He went to the others who were for some reason only in the other half the room. He saw Andrew and Renee talking in whispers about something. Josten, you have no chance, he thought.
“should someone go and check Neil?” Nicky asks.
Andrew looked like he was about to head to the changing room where Neil was.
But then the changing room’s door banged open revealing Josten with a frantic look.
Something flew in the air and a man was grunting in pain. Aaron turned to the noise and saw the scene at the same time as everyone else.
There was a knife sticking out of the security guard and blood smeared on the white shirt that had the security sewed on.
Aaron stared at it wide eyed.
There were yells and panic.
Aaron returned his stare at Neil, who was holding a knife, a similar knife that was now on the guard's chest. “Everyone go into the locker room now! Neil yelled through the screams.
“what did you do!” Dan yelled in horror. “Neil, why would you?” Matt asked, shocked. “Oh god” Nicky shrieked. Wymack yelled for “Josten!”.
“Renee, get them inside!!”
He saw faintly how Neil ran into the guard, stabbing his hand, sending a gun spiraling and falling.
Aaron was being pushed inside the changing room, Andrew was gripping over him and Nicky getting them to move and get further into the room.
Renee had convinced everyone else to go there too. Wymack wasn't having it tough. “Minyard what the hell is going on!” Wymack demanded, phone in his hand.
“Call the police,” Andrew told him. “and tell them-” Andrew hesitated, he never hesitated. “tell them- that there's a gun man trying to kidnap your player.”
“Andrew what the hell?” Aaron asked. Neil clearly threw the knife first, there was no gun man?? that was just a security guard that Neil had attacked. A FUCKING SECURITY GUARD he wanted to yell.
“Andrew, I can't lie about this to the police,” their coach said.
“It's not a lie, Kevin will inform you.” Andrew leaped when a gunshot echoed to them and something dropped, like a body. “I need to-” And Andrew was out of the room.
what the fuck what the fuck. “What the hell is going on?!” Alisson was the one to open her mouth. “what did he mean-”
Then came a scream, it was Josten yelling “behind you” to someone and then it was quiet and another gunshot rang in the air.
“Renee what's happening?” Aaron asked as Renee was the closest to the door.
At this time Wymack was calling the police and Abby was trying to keep the others calm even though her face was just as pale.
“Kevin man you gotta speak if you know something” Matt told him and everyone nodded along. Kevin was probably the palest, he was pale as a ghost, shaking his head.
Then a female voice echoed eerily, it was faint at first but got louder every word.
“Eenie meenie miny moe~
Never let a runner go~
if he runs, make him beg~
gouge his eyes and break a leg.~”
A door had been yanked open as the voice sounded closer. Aaron’s heart was hammering in his ears. Had they entered into a fucking horror film?
Everyone looked so frightened , waiting for the next drop.
“Hello, Junior.” the unknown female voice said. “ Oh ! what do we have here?!” Door banged closed. “You damn child, decided to finally join the family business huh?”
Was she talking to Josten?
“The police are on their way!” Wymack told everyone, some of them calmed at that but tensed on the next words being spoken. “Get up and come here if you don't want Romero to blow his brains out or should we take a life for a life, after all you killed one of us not that i cared for that but it's only fair don’t you think?”
What was happening? Who had a gun pointed to their head? Aaron got wobbly up taking support from his knees.
“Don't!” Neil's voice begged. Aaron needed to see what was happening.
“Then, lower the gun and kick it here if you don’t want the boy to die.'' something drops and it screeches on the floor. Aaron was moving slowly, step by step.
“Come here.” The woman ordered . There's the sound of steps and something hitting a wall.
Murmurs that couldn't be heard. Foxes whispering and looking horrified at each other.
“As fun as this has been.” The woman says and Aaron is closer to Renee now “We need to get going now and we just might spare the others if you don't make this hard for us. Capiche?”
“You aren't taking him anywhere!” he hears his brother shout in which the woman responds “Oh why's that?” a short pause before she adds. “You wanna come too?”
“Actually that would be fair trade wouldn’t it, one of us here and one of you with us” there was a high pitched laugh that followed after.
Then it was silent again.
Something being hit and the woman saying “Through the back.”
Josten was yelling in panic “Wait! Leave him!" Aaron’s hands were shaking.
“stay quiet and cooperate if you don't want him to die.” Aaron hears, and he sees a limb body of his brother being carried.
No No this can't be happening, where are they taking him, Is he alive!
He wants to shout and get answers but his throat is clogged shut.
When he realized what was happening his body screamed at him to move and stop it, to run but Renee was holding him.
“no let go” he pleads, “we need to- '' do something.
The last thing he sees is Neil Josten’s back.
And his own yelling buzzing inside his head “you better keep your fucking words Josten!” Aaron had screamed past the pile in his throat.
you said it.
you told me, you would kill and die for him.
now you have to live by it.
you promised.
In the end, he had been fucking right. “I fucking told him” Aaron says when it’s quet, i fucking told him he would get him killed.
“They took them, oh god!” Nicky panics “police do we-“ Nicky's breathing is irregular but Aaron can’t seem to care. It was all Josten’s fault, all of it.
Everything.
“Who were they?!” Dan finally asked when it was safer to speak.
“Kevin please if you know something…” Abby tries to get the man to snap out of his own panic. “I can't.” he mutters over, repeating the same words.
“My brother is being taken to god knows where with who knows what kind of people and it's all his fault, Kevin start speaking now!” Aaron snaps, shaking.
He didn't want Andrew to get hurt or worse…Neil can go and die in a ditch all he cares about but his brother, he can't lose him yet!
“Aaron, you need to calm down, the police will be here right this second, we will figure this out, we will get them back.” Wymack promises. But Wymack wouldn't know that, Andrew could already be dead.
Kevin wheezes, “Neil’s not coming back.”
“What do you mean?” Renee asks calmly. “Yeah, Kevin, what do you mean he’s not coming back, why wouldn't he come back!” Nicky worries.
“It's his father,” Kevin mutters quietly to himself. What, his father? “Kevin if you don't start explaining right now, i swear to god-” Aaron is getting closer to Kevin, fists clenched tight.
Kevin looks like a dear caught in headlights.
“they're as good as dead, we will be lucky if they don’t kill us too!” Kevin mutters out hysterically, when he sees Aaron nearing him.
“His father?” Wymack confirms.
Kevin just nods repeatedly “he’s gonna tear Neil apart for running.” Kevin is not making any sense. “He's lucky he stayed alive this long.” He wails tugging on his hair.
“What about Andrew, he has nothing to do with the shit Josten’s involved in!” Aaron needs to know.
Kevin just shakes his head, not meeting his eyes. As if saying…
“If-if Neil ever comes back…if he comes out alive I'm seriously going to kill!” His body was full of rage and fear, he felt like he had been played.
If Neil costs him his brother, he would be tearing the poor bastard in shreds if he dared to survive and come back.
He swear on it.
Fuck you Josten.
Fuck you…