[fic] thorn in my skin

nakasomethingkun:

Title: thorn in my skin

Pairing: Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard

Rating: T

Warnings: Violence, character injury

Summary:

These days, both of them are able to sleep on the same bed without any weapons underneath their pillows and on their person, and Andrew is not sure what he wants to do with this knowledge. They have poured years into forging their armors, and now they are stripping them, piece by tattered piece.

(or: the five weapons Neil has at his disposal + one weapon he wields without knowing it)

1.

Andrew has seen Neil throw a punch only once. The guy he punched didn’t get back up to retaliate after Neil delivered the right hook, but then again, Andrew had never held any expectations on a temperamental child like Jack. Matt has brought up the legendary union between Neil’s fist and Riko Moriyama’s face numerous times, recounting the tale with rigorous enthusiasm, but Andrew would rather not think about that if he can help it, especially not after he finds out what provoked Neil to do it.

This time though, the man who Neil just decked gets back up after spitting out a broken tooth. He is a solid foot taller than Neil, but Neil, being who he is, does not appear troubled in the least. His mistake, however, is not him appearing calm and thus almost arrogant, but it’s him turning his back on his offender to talk to the woman whom Andrew assumes he is trying to defend.

Andrew is already making his way through the throng of dancing people before his mind even registers it. He really shouldn’t have sent Neil inside first when he was looking for a parking spot; he takes his eyes off Neil for one second – before he can make it to the bar where Neil is, the man grabs Neil from behind in a chokehold.

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