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Despite however many shopping trips Neil was subjected to through the years, he still finds it tedious and was glad that Bailey had reminded him that he needed to buy a suit and had already gotten one before Nicky descended on him the week before the banquet to take him shopping. Nicky had been skeptical when Neil said he’d already picked out a suit but eventually gave up trying to pester Neil about it when he realized Neil wasn’t going to let him see the suit nor was he going to go shopping so Nicky could buy him a ‘better’ one.
Neil had gotten better at picking out clothes the longer he was with Andrew. The only reason he started to care about his clothing was because he liked the way Andrew’s eyes would linger on him in certain pants or would reach out under the guise of smoothing down his shirts when he was really feeling him up. So he started paying attention to what Andrew liked on him and began searching for clothes that put that look in his eyes while also made Neil comfortable. He’d also had Bailey with him when he went looking for a suit and the Hatfords and their people are known for being well dressed so he’s looking forward to the look on Nicky’s face when he sees what he picked.
The day of the banquet, Neil gets dressed at Bailey’s apartment so they could drive over together. He let the other man fuss with his hair while he talks about what to expect from Riko. “I’m sure it’s too much to ask that you keep your temper leashed. You Hatfords have never been great at that.” Bailey teases as they pull into the court parking lot. “From what I’ve heard, you aren’t any better, Hatford or not. I recall hearing about a certain dinner party where you got into a fight with the guest?” Neil throws back as they get out of the car and Bailey laughs loudly, “Which of the backstabbers told you? You’d think they’d be loyal to me what with how long we’ve all been together.” Neil refuses to name his informant much to Bailey’s mock indignation and they realize everyone had stopped talking to stare at them.
Neil is pleased to see Nicky’s mouth drop open in shock as he takes in his suit, but he grows uncomfortable at the stares and turns to share a look with Bailey who unfortunately seems to love the attention as he gives him a teasing smile before linking their arms together. Luckily Wymack arrives and orders everyone onto the bus before anyone can comment and Neil makes Bailey sit on the outside so he can keep avoiding everyone.
They converse in Italian for the ride, Neil refusing to acknowledge the foxes when they ask him anything and he sees Bailey hide a smile at his behavior. He hears Kevin start to panic the closer they get to their destination, so he leaves Bailey to whisper words of encouragement in French and have Kevin go through the grounding exercises since they worked last time. Once Kevin can breathe again, Neil heads back to Bailey who was talking with Allison. Neil knows he’s going to regret that happening, but he just shoved Bailey over and bites out a really in Italian when he sees Bailey’s trouble starting grin. Allison looks between them before laughing and heading back to Seth. “What?” Bailey asks innocently which makes Neil huff and reply, “You were leading her to believe that we’re dating, that’s what.” He had heard Allison ask how long they’d been together, and Bailey told her they met towards the beginning of the year. Neil knows there’s going to be bets about this by the end of the night. Bailey just laughs and they start debating the merits of knowing fencing.
Neil hears Dan’s curse when she sees the seating arrangements and he makes sure to sit on her other side, as close to Riko as he can get. Bailey gives his arm a quick squeeze as he sits down next to him and Neil watches as Andrew sits on Matt’s other side with Kevin next to him. He can tell that Kevin is scared but he’s putting on a good show of indifference. Andrew makes eye contact with Neil when he sees him watching and Neil flicks a look to Riko and back to give him a small shrug to let him know that he isn’t planning on backing down tonight. Andrew rolls his eyes but turns back to Kevin.
It goes the same, Riko and company taunt the foxes, but it doesn’t hurt them. They’d never care what Riko thought of them, so his words didn’t matter. Neil keeps quiet, he knows Riko will get to him eventually but until then Neil keeps an eye on how everyone is acting. He watches Jean the most, he was planning on helping the man escape earlier but he isn’t sure if Jean will accept it or not.
Finally, Riko turns to sneer at Neil, “Is that why your new child is being so quiet?” Neil feels the foxes’ attention turn to him but he just looks at Riko. “He doesn’t have anything ‘nice’ to say?” Dan tells Riko to leave him alone and Neil just keeps staring, he knows Riko is getting frustrated by his lack of response. “What a coward,” Riko said with exaggerated disappointment. “Just like his mother.” Neil stays silent, he is past the time when Riko’s words would have set off his temper and he has come to accept that his mother was only marginally better than his father, or the Moriyamas. Riko’s smirk falls as Neil doesn’t rise to his bait and Neil can feel Bailey stifle a laugh because he knows that while Neil hasn’t said anything yet, he’s planning on ripping Riko apart.
The foxes go quiet as they wait for the next move. Riko wears anger badly, probably a strange thing to notice as he’s being yelled at, but Riko’s eyes seem to bulge out of his head the madder he gets and there’s something stuck in his teeth and it’s hard for Neil to keep from laughing. Oh, apparently he hadn’t been successful because Riko falls silent, and everyone is looking at him as he lets out another laugh. “Sorry, continue. I’ll take it more seriously this time.” Neil says when he gets ahold himself, he makes the other foxes laugh and the ravens’ eyes widen in surprise.
Riko goes to speak, and Neil can’t help himself, “Actually, you know I get it, being raised as a superstar must be really, really difficult for you. Always a commodity, never a human being, not a single person in your family thinking you’re worth a damn off the court—yeah sounds rough. The other foxes and I talk about your intricate and endless daddy issues all the time.” Neil ignores Kevin’s choked “Neil”
“I know it’s not entirely your fault that you are mentally unbalanced and infected with these delusions of grandeur, and I know you’re physically incapable of holding a decent conversation with anyone like every other normal human being can, but I don’t think any of us should have to put up with this much of your bullshit. Pity only gets you so many concessions, and you used yours up about six insults ago. So won’t you just shut the fuck up and leave us alone.” Neil lets the silence sit for a moment as jaws drop up and down the line before adding, “Also, I don’t know if you were aware of this but there’s something stuck between your teeth and you might want to fix that before talking to anyone else, they might laugh at you.”
Dan sends a laughing Matt to get Wymack and Neil feels Bailey rest his head on his shoulder as he tries to smother his laughter. He looks at a pale Kevin as Jean tells him about having to have better control over the butcher’s son and waits until they are changing seats to promise to explain everything later. He sits beside Bailey and listens to the foxes retell his tear down of Riko and locks eyes with Andrew who raises an unimpressed eyebrow to which Neil gives a small smile.
When they are told to go mingle, Neil stands off to the side with Bailey as he keeps an eye on his teammates. “Well at least when you go off you don’t hold back. That was beautiful. Though when you started laughing during his rant, I was ready to stop you from killing him, your great aunt is known to laugh like that before she guts someone.” Bailey says and Neil pictures his great aunt May and can’t say he’s surprised as she gave off a vibe not to be messed with.
Bailey tries to get Neil to dance but Neil refuses. He already will have to put up with the foxes about bringing a date, he doesn’t want to give them more reason to think he’s dating Bailey. They make their way over when the ravens corner everyone else and Neil gets to see Dan nail one of them in the groin with her heels again much to his delight. Then Neil lets Riko drag him into the locker room. He knows Bailey had seen him leave and this time he wasn’t afraid of Riko. He knows he could kill him here and now if he needed too.
“Nathaniel, it has been so long.”
Neil doesn’t respond, knowing that will upset Riko more than anything he could say. “Imagine my surprise when I learned that Nathaniel Wesninski had joined teams with Kevin. I was ready to yell at Kevin for keeping such a secret from me but from what I just saw, he has no idea who you are.” Riko pushes closer, crowding Neil against the lockers. “I was surprised that he didn’t recognize me either, but I had been planning on telling him after the banquet anyway so thanks for helping out.” Neil can tell that Riko was frustrated by his lack of fear, and he just waited calmly for Riko to speak. Riko slams him into the lockers, “You will regret that you stopped running. By the end of the year, you’ll join me in the nest, and I’ll take great pleasure in teaching you to speak only when I tell you too. Or I’ll give you to your father so he can take his time killing you.”
Neil snorts at that, “Oh, I guess the main branch has failed to inform you, that makes sense what with how utterly useless to them you are.” Neil smiles as Riko slams him back again. “What is that supposed to mean?” He growls out, hands tightening on Neil’s shoulders enough that there’ll be bruises. “It means that Nathan is dead, as are most of his people. So that little threat of yours is no longer viable. And let’s face it, you’ll never come anywhere close to Nathan’s level of cruelty or skill.” Neil uses Riko’s shock to push him away and he sends the bastard his father’s smile, “But I can assure you that I am my father’s son, and I learned well so if I were you, I’d be careful getting on my bad side unless you want to experience it firsthand.” Neil’s smile grows when Riko flinches from his hand, and he leaves the locker room to find Bailey.
He stumbles on Andrew first, who had been making his way to the locker room but stopped when he saw Neil. They both turn to watch Riko brush his way past them, but Neil huffs out a laugh when the man refuses to look at him. Andrew watches him go before turning back to Neil. “Do I even want to know?” and Neil shakes his head, “Probably not, but I will tell you that he almost pissed himself which was pretty funny.” Neil moves to stand in front of Andrew, “Were you looking for me?” he asks, smiling at Andrew’s scowl. “Matt said he saw you walk off with Riko, and coach sent me to make sure we didn’t lose one of our players.” Andrew starts to say something else when Bailey finds them.
“Neil. I’ve been looking all over.” Bailey cries as he throws an arm around his shoulder. Neil turns to give a questioning look at Bailey but all he gets is a large smile. “It’s not surprising that you couldn’t find me at the dessert table, maybe try somewhere that I’d willingly go to.” Neil tells him, wiping a smear of icing off his cheek, making Bailey give an exaggerated wince. “How was I to know that you hadn’t snuck into a cupcake until I tried them all.” Neil snorts at that but turns when Andrew starts walking away. He sees a dark look before Andrew is out of sight. “What just happened?” Neil asks no one in particular but Bailey turns from watching Andrew leave to give Neil a hard stare. “He probably thought he was interrupting couple stuff.” Bailey says and keeps watching Neil, who has to stop himself from going after Andrew to explain how wrong he is.
Bailey must see something in his eyes because he smiles slightly, “Thought you didn’t swing?” He makes sure Neil can tell he’s joking rather than accusing him and Neil sighs. “I don’t, but Andrew is different.” Bailey lights up, “Is this a recent thing or have you been trying to keep Stuart away from him?” Neil lets Bailey pull him towards the others and realizes they are leaving much to his relief.
Once they are seated, Neil switches to Italian. “It’s complicated. I don’t think Stuart would be able to intimidate him, and actually I think it might be entertaining to lock them in a room together and just watch what happens.” Neil says and Bailey laughs asking to be invited. “But I know that if it’s not him then I won’t end up with anyone. There’s no one else that could possibly keep up with me or keep my interest and I know if I tell Stuart that I found one person he’ll be even more pushy about me being able to find someone else.” Neil admits and Bailey looks a little shocked by how honest he was.
“You’re talking like it’s over before its even started. From what I’ve seen I think he’s interested in you.” Bailey says and Neil nods, “It’s not that he isn’t attracted to me, but I’m keeping such a large secret from him, one that has knocked everything out of balance between us and if there’s anything Andrew hates its being on unequal footing. So when he finds out, he might decide that it’s not possible and if so I don’t want Stuart trying to set me up on dates to get over my heartbreak. Better he has no idea unless things work out between us.” Neil glares at Bailey to get him to promise not to tell anyone and they sit quietly for the rest of the ride.