The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 3:38 AM EST

Andrew crosses the room to stand at Neil's side and catches Kevin's chin in his hand. He turns Kevin's head to inspect the new ink. "He is going to be furious." "Fuck him," Kevin says, sliding a little further down the door. "Fuck all of them. Waste of time to be angry. They should be afraid." "Hell hath no fury," Andrew says.

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*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 3:40 AM EST

Kevin gestures feebly to Neil, so Neil presses the bandage back into place over swollen, reddened skin. Neil drops his hand back to his side and clenches his fingers into a fist to hide the excited tremor. He doubts either Kevin or Andrew notice; they are too busy staring each other down. At length Andrew smiles, slow and cold. It is the first time he's smiled since coming off his drugs, and Neil can't help but stare. "Now it's getting fun," Andrew says. "Finally," Kevin says, equal parts exhaustion and exasperation.

Art used with permission by Emry-Stars-Art. Thank you @emry-stars-art!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 7:05 PM EST

"You two could at least say hello," Wymack says, somewhat aggrieved. "There's no point," Kevin says. "All they are is a distraction." "It's called a support network. Look it up." "Thea is watching from South tonight," Kevin says, looking to the elevated VIP box. It is too far away and too high up for Neil to make out any faces, but there is a small crowd gathered at the windowed walls already. Knowing the Court is here to watch them play sends a chill through Neil's veins. Kevin drags his stare back to Wymack's face and says, "and my father comes to all of my games. That is enough." On Wymack's other side, Abby's gaze softens. Wymack's jaw works for a moment before he can say in an even tone, "Your mother would be proud of you." "Not just of me," Kevin says in a rare bout of humanity.

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*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 3:48 AM EST

Andrew pushes him up against the wall with heavy hands and hard kisses. "Junkie." "I've been waiting for that since June," Neil says. "You've been waiting longer." Andrew doesn't bother denying it.

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*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 3:34 AM EST

"You did it," Neil says, too stunned to manage anything else. "Let Riko be King," Kevin says, with the exaggerated enunciation of the thoroughly sloshed. "Most coveted, most protected. He'll sacrifice every piece he has to protect his throne. Whatever. Me?" Kevin gestures again, meaning to indicate himself but too drunk to get his hand higher than his waist. "I'm going to be the deadliest piece on the board." "Queen," Andrew says somewhere behind Neil. Neil hadn't heard him get out of bed, but of course the bang of the door would have woken him. A sober Andrew is as light a sleeper as Neil was, maybe moreso because Andrew was used to unfriendly people sneaking into his room. Neil looks back at him, but Andrew is studying Kevin.

Art used with permission by Emry-Stars-Art. Thank you @emry-stars-art!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 3:32 AM EST

Neil forgets the stench the second he see's the bandage on Kevin's face. It is too much to hope for and too impossible to believe in, but Neil freezes in his tracks and stares. Kevin pushes the door closed and stumbles backward into it. He almost falls, braces himself in the nick of time, and stares blearily at Neil. That is about all Kevin can manage, it seems, so Neil goes to him. Kevin makes a limp gesture near his side. Neil works a corner of the tape up and pulls the gauze off Kevin's face. It feels a bit like falling and a bit like flying; Neil's stomach bottoms out a second before adrenaline floods his veins. Kevin had worn a "2" since his first days in the Moriyamas' cruel care. Riko and Kevin used markers for years, writing over their numbers any time they threatened to fade. As soon as they were old enough they'd switched to a more permanent ink. Now that number is gone, covered up by the jet-black image of a chess piece. Neil's knowledge of chess is hazy at best, but he knows for sure that isn't a king.

Art used with permission by Emry-Stars-Art. Thank you @emry-stars-art!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:04 PM EST

Neil wishes he could smile, but it takes all his strength just to look at Riko. The Raven captain and Exy King is staring at the scoreboard like he expects it to change. The Foxes are running for each other, still screaming their fool heads off, but the Ravens stand still as stone. It is the first loss in Edgar Allan's history, and they'd fallen to the unlikeliest of opponents. Neil sucks in a deep breath that rips him open on its way down. "I'd ask you how it feels, but I guess you've always known what it's like to be second, you worthless piece of shit." Riko finally drags his gaze away from the board. He stares at Neil, blank-faced and stunned, and then revulsion twists his expression into something terrible. His racquet goes up over his head but it takes Neil a moment to realize Riko really intends to take a swing at him. Dan screams his name from halfway across the court, but there is nothing Neil can do except watch Riko's racquet start down. He barely has the strength to breathe. Dodging is out of the question. Riko's racquet gets close enough that Neil hears wind whistling through the strings, and then a second racquet comes out of nowhere, big and bright and orange. Andrew puts everything he has left behind his swing and catches Riko across his forearm. Bones give a sickening crunch as they shatter. Riko's racquet clatters harmlessly off to one side, and then Riko is the only one screaming. He stumbles a few steps away from them before falling to his knees and holding his arm to his gut. Andrew puts his racquet down in front of Neil like a shield and watches Riko's breakdown with a bored stare.

Art used with permission by Rosiethorns88. Thank you so much @rosiethorns88!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:05 PM EST

Neil loses sight of Riko when the Foxes swarm him. Gloved fingers pat his head and shoulders, looking for any sign that he's been hurt. Neil tunes out their frantic demands, more interested in listening to Riko's endless, agonized screaming. Then Dan catches his face in her hands and gives him a shake. "Neil," she says, so desperate and afraid Neil has to look at her. "Hey," Neil says, hoarse with exhaustion and heady triumph. "We won." Dan throws her arms around him and buries a choked laugh against his padded shoulder. "Yeah, Neil. We won!"

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*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 7:56 PM EST

Wymack has a few minutes before starting line-ups are needed on the court, so he pulls his small team close enough that they can hear him. "I suck at this pep talk thing, but Abby threatened me with gruesome death if I didn't make some sort of effort tonight. This is what I've come up with after an hour of hard brainstorming. I haven't rehearsed it yet, so you'll have to pretend it's something polished and encouraging. Deal?" He looks around at them, catching and holding each player's eyes for a moment. "I want you to close your eyes and think about why you're here tonight. Don't tell me 'revenge' because you've already gotten it just by being here tonight. "This isn't about Riko anymore," Wymack says. "This isn't about the Ravens. This is about you. This is about everything it took you to get to this point, everything it cost you, and everyone who laughed when you dared to dream of something big and bright. You're here tonight because you refused to give up and refused to give in. You're here where they all said you'd never be, and no one can say you haven't earned the right to play this game. "All eyes are on you. It's time to show them what you're made of. There's no room for doubt, no room for second guesses, no room for error. This is your night. This is your game. This is your moment. Seize it with everything you've got. Pull out all the stops and lay it all on the line. Fight because you don't know how to die quietly. Win because you don't know how to lose. This king's ruled long enough—it's time to tear his castle down."

Art used with permission by Kurra. Thank you @kurra!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 9:04 PM EST

Cameras are waiting by the court door for the Foxes' starting line-up, so Neil follows Kevin over. Kevin stands calm and quiet until a referee opens the door for them. Before he steps on Kevin taps the butt of his racquet against the floor and passes his stick to his other hand. He strides to half-court head high and left-handed, and the crowd goes wild.

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*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 3:30 AM EST

At last Neil's thoughts slow to a drained crawl and he gets up to sleep. He only makes it a few feet from his desk before the suite door opens and lets Kevin in. Kevin reeks so strongly of alcohol Neil can smell him halfway across the room.

Art used with permission by Emry-Stars-Art. Thank you @emry-stars-art!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 9:33 PM EST

The only Raven making a second appearance on the court tonight is Riko. The other two filing on are brand new, another striker to balance Riko out and an offensive dealer Neil remembers from last October's game. The Ravens intend to tear the Foxes' defense wide open, and by this point it won't take a lot of work. They are almost halfway through the second half. Even though the Foxes are built for the long haul they are quickly running out of steam. It costs them too much to go up against a team like this. "They're not fast enough," Andrew says. He has to mean their defense line, so Neil says, "I know." "Are you tired?" Andrew asks. It isn't concern, Neil knows, but that doesn't make it a less confusing question. He hasn't gotten the ball often enough tonight to be tired, but he can't say that with Matt standing two feet away from him. "Not yet." "Then I'm taking my turn. Matt," Andrew says, and Matt turns toward them immediately. Andrew lifts a finger from his racquet to point at Neil. "We're subbing Dan for Neil and Neil for you." Matt stares. "We're what?" "You're limping," Andrew returns. Neil hadn't even noticed, too focused on the ball and the Ravens. He shoots a startled look down at Matt's feet like he can somehow see the source of Matt's pain. "You're no use to me right now. Get Abby to put a brace on that. Neil can hold them in the meantime." They've said all night that speed is the fatal weakness on their defense line. Neil is the fastest player in Class I Exy, but how Andrew thinks this is a feasible solution Neil doesn't know. Neil wants to point out every reason this is a bad idea, but he doesn't have the right to turn Andrew down. "I started this game as a backliner, remember?" Neil says to Matt. "The Ravens put me up against Riko when I stayed with them in December. I know how he moves." "Two weeks of practice don't make you ready to face the best striker in the game." "Kevin's the best striker," Neil corrects him, "and I don't have to be the best backliner to counter Riko. I just have to be faster than he is. We both know I am. Trust me. I can keep him away from Andrew while you rest." "Coach will never go for it," Matt says. "Tell him he has to," Andrew says, like it was that simple.

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*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

Kevin shows off his new tattoo as soon as they've all gotten on the bus. The team's celebration make it hard for Neil to sleep, but he can't begrudge them their excitement. Wymack doesn't react with more than a quick, tight smile, which means he'd known about it before any of them did. Neil thought of the tribal flame tattoos on Wymack's arms and wonders if Wymack recruited his own artist for the job. It would at least explain how Kevin got back into the dorm last night when he could barely walk.

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:10 AM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The buzzer goes off again, and Neil's heart stops. The ringing in his ears isn't all him. His teammates are screaming, wordless war cries of disbelief and victory. Neil's fingers shake so badly it is almost impossible to get the straps of his helmet undone, but finally he manages to throw his helmet off to one side. He blinks sweat out of his eyes and looks up at the scoreboard. Ten-nine, Foxes' favor—Kevin had scored in the last two seconds of the game.

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:03 PM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

Telling the others what to do is every bit as awful as Neil expected it would be, but Neil doesn't have time to hesitate. They have a game on Friday and Neil is the only other person who knew all of the Ravens' drills. He walks his teammates through them, knowing they can't master them in such a short time but needing them to know what they are up against.

Day: Thursday, April 25th / 26th* Time: 10:15 PM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 9:08 PM EST

Kevin scores just three minutes into second half. Neil wasn't the only one who'd forgotten what Kevin was like at his peak. The Ravens had written Kevin off when he broke his hand then learned his right-handed style when they realized they'd be facing him again. Even if they'd known this was coming they wouldn't be ready, because Kevin is no longer afraid of showing Riko up. He exploits his former teammates' weaknesses every chance he gets and, without Jean around to overhear, uses French to call warnings across the court to Neil.

Art used with permission by rainbowd00dles. Thank you @rainbowd00dles

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.