Chapter Text
Neil POV;
The first time Neil saw Harry, he was still getting used to the name 'Neil.' He tried to ignore the other boy, but it just wasn't possible. He was twitchy and looked around the room, and if Neil should hazard a guess, he was checking if anyone was watching him. Every time he didn't see eyes on him, he sighed in relief.
Neil got a bit paranoid with the way the other was acting, they shared a couple of classes, but thankfully, the guy kept to himself, so Neil tried to forget how the raven-haired boy reminded him of himself.
After all, he was bad news, he was still surprised that he had survived until now. He was almost eighteen and still kicking. If you would've asked him two years ago where he would be now, he would've answered in an unmarked grave about to be forgotten.
His mother had ended the same way.
Just when Neil thought Harry wouldn't be a problem, the asshole joined as another Striker on the Exy team with him, and just like that, he started to see Harry everywhere.
It made his skin itch and his feet tremble with the need to run, only Neil noticed he wasn't the only one keeping an eye out. He saw how Harry started to watch him. His eyes narrowed when Neil was seconds away from tearing away on the pavement. He watched when Neil flinched away from their Coach.
And Neil knew that he should go and forget Neil Josten already and run far away from Millport, even if Harry couldn't know his father, he was there, and he was making it harder for Neil to stay.
Neil was getting antsier and antsier with Harry close by. Neil didn't know what it was about the guy, but it just rubbed him wrong.
Or maybe he just didn't want to acknowledge that like recognizes like.
It was during the second month of the school year when they finally talked for the first time. Neil was happy to ignore the team outside training and games, but then Harry started to join him on his runs after. He always outran the guy, and Harry would give up after about thirty minutes to go shower. This made Neil resent him even more because he now had to wait even longer for a shower.
That day, they had a brutal training, and even Neil was exhausted enough to go without his run after, deciding to sit down and smoke until the locker room was empty.
It was about ten minutes after he saw the last person leave the locker room that someone sat next to him. He stiffened and almost growled when he saw it was Harry.
''The showers are empty, sorry for taking so long, I'll keep an eye out if you want- so you won't be disturbed.''
Neil recognized the accent immediately and was surprised that the guy was British. And no, he hadn't heard the guy talk before, they only yelled at each other during training with single words. Both happily ignoring each other the rest of the time.
Could it be-? He pushed the thought of his mother's family away and looked at the guy, but Harry wasn't looking at him, he was looking at a bulky ring he was twirling around his finger. Neil had seen the ring at multiple occasions, mostly when Harry was playing with it.
''Why?'' He asked, knowing he sounded incredulous.
Harry evaded his eyes, but Neil knew that trick. The guy wasn't nearly as shy as he pretended to be. Mostly because Neil had seen his eyes flash in annoyance or anger if something happened, like a bully threatening someone for money, but Harry held himself back multiple times. Not being as used as Neil was to play meek.
Neil knew everything about burying his temper, unfortunately, that was something else he had gotten from his father. However, as far as Neil could see, this guy was still learning.
''Because maybe you could do the same for me so I won't have to run with you until my legs fall off.'' He snarked back, startling a chuckle out of Neil.
This made Harry look at him, the green of his eyes suddenly shocking enough that Neil was surprised about them.
''You could just shower with the team,'' Neil replied, but Harry was already shaking his head.
''No, I can't.''
Neil didn't know why he asked, because he didn't care, he never did. Caring meant attachment, and he couldn't get attached. ''Why not?'' He bit his lip after and looked away, berating himself for being this curious.
Harry scoffed.
''You think the one on my head is the only one?'' Harry said dryly. Neil's eyes immediately flashed up to where he knew Harry was hiding a large weird scar with his hair. He only saw it when Harry was taking off his helmet, and his hair stuck up because Harry brushed his hair over the scar immediately. However, the scar was strange enough that Neil took notice of it.
Neil took a drag of his cigarette, and Harry followed the motion until Neil cradled the cigarette in his hands to smell the smoke.
''You want one?'' Neil asked, not wanting to think about what Harry was offering. He shouldn't be tempted. He shouldn't get to know anyone.
''Sure,'' Harry replied with a crooked grin.
They silently smoked for a couple of minutes until Neil's cigarette was down to the filter.
''So, you will watch the locker room now, and I will do the same for you tomorrow?'' Neil hesitantly asked. Harry perked up and nodded.
''Yes, I'm going completely bonkers with thinking someone will walk in. I hate it.'' He admitted softly. Neil just nodded, no other words were needed because he understood perfectly.
It didn't matter that Harry didn't want to run with him; he still joined Neil most of the time silently until he had enough or was out of breath. Harry could run for quite a while, and he definitely had a runner build, but it was clear to Neil that Harry wasn't used to running long distances. When Harry was done running, they both made their way to the locker room to check if it was empty, which was when Harry would go shower first, and Neil would stand guard. Then, they would switch, and after that, they would go their own way.
They didn't talk much, but sometimes, they talked about Exy, which was fine. Harry was pretty new to the sport, but it was clear he loved the violence of it all and was used to exercising and pushing his body to the limit. Neil wasn't used to playing Striker, even after all those years where he hadn't touched a stick, but he was, without bragging, the best on the field, with Harry closely following him.
Neil did need to watch his tongue because it almost became too easy to slip in his mother's accent while talking with Harry. Harry had given him some strange looks because of it but ignored it mostly. He knew Neil wouldn't tell him anything if he didn't want to.
They both ignored the bigger picture, which was that there was clearly something wrong with both their situations.
Neil didn't know how it happened, he really didn't! But after a month of standing guard for each other, smoking together, and talking sometimes, he started to look forward to seeing Harry at school. The shy smile he sometimes got told him Harry thought the same.
Even if they didn't trust each other with their secrets, they didn't need to. Neil would be gone at the end of the school year, and it wouldn't surprise him if Harry was thinking the same thing and would be gone as soon as he had graduated.
****
Neil had woken up to a nightmare about his father and couldn't stay in the building he was squatting in. He ran, his duffel bag slamming against his lower back with every step. He took the familiar path to the school and picked the lock to get inside. Making his way silently to the locker room, he fully intended to crash on the bench, not caring about the hard surface—he had faced worse.
But when he opened the door and was faced with a half-asleep Harry pointing a stick at him, he wasn't prepared.
His eyes grew wide. ''What the fuck-''
''Bloody hell! I could've killed you!'' Harry stammered out.
''You're a wizard?!'' Neil choked out. Of fucking course, the only guy he talks to in this school is a wizard, could this get any more terrible?
Harry opened and closed his mouth a couple of times and put his wand away before putting his hands on his face and groaning.
''Why do you know about magic?'' Harry whined through his hands.
''Because my father is a Squib,'' Neil responded honestly for the first time in forever. His father was from a Dark Polish wizarding family, but he was kicked out because he was born without Magic. His father wanted a child with Magic to get back at his family, and he had tried to 'make the magic come out' when Neil was younger, but Neil wasn't magical. He had learned that the hard way. Neil had always thought that it was this that made him hate Neil even more.
''Ugh, just my luck again, the only Muggle in this entire bloody school that probably knows about the wizarding world, and he's my friend.'' Harry then mumbled something beneath his breath Neil couldn't catch.
Neil, in the meantime, was frozen on one word.
''I'm your friend?'' He asked softly, making Harry look at him sharply.
''Of course you pillock, what did you think?'' He then held up his hand before Neil could say anything else and shook his head with a sigh. ''Neil, you're my friend, and at this moment, my only friend.''
Neil swallowed and looked away. ''You too.'' He replied simply.
''Good, then sit down and tell me why you're here in the middle of the night.''
Neil glared at him. ''Are you going to do the same? And we are just going to ignore the fact that you're a Wizard?''
Harry scowled. ''Yes, we are going to ignore that.''
''Fuck that!''
''Fuck you!'' Harry snarled back. They stared at each other for a few moments until Harry huffed in amusement. Neil bit his lip so he wouldn't burst out laughing, but it was futile. It didn't take long before they both were laughing too loud in the silent locker room and school. Neil didn't want to think about how he couldn't even remember the last time he had laughed like that.
''Okay, fine, we both have our secrets, but-'' Harry started but looked away with a frown as if doubting he should say what he wanted to.
''But, what?''
Harry shook his head. ''Forget it.'' But Neil was nothing if not stubborn.
"I just found out you're a Wizard. Tell me." Harry glared at him but sighed. ''Maybe we can help each other?'' Harry then tentatively asked.
Neil shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like where this was going. ''Help each other how?''
Harry gestured for him to sit, and Neil reluctantly sat.
''We're both running from something- don't deny it, and you don't have to tell me what from, I wasn't planning on telling you, but we both need help, desperately-'' Harry said while twisting that ring again.
''No,'' Neil responded, ready to get up and run. He couldn't drag Harry into his shit. His father would kill Harry, or worse if he ever found out Harry was a wizard.
''Just wait a minute! We can work together! Don't you see?'' Harry was standing now and talking quickly with his hands raised in front of him, getting frantic about making Neil listen, and so help him, he did. His mother would've killed him if she knew. ''-The people looking for you are searching for a lonely boy on the run, the people looking for me are searching for a lonely boy on the run, but what if we're together? People are already joking about us looking like each other during practice because we're both short and have black hair, why not play into it? Why not fake it? Nobody looking for me will think twice about two brothers or cousins, whatever; I guess the same goes for you-'' Harry lost his fuel and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, not knowing the situation Neil was in, of course.
Neil chewed his bottom lip before replying to Harry. ''Just for this school year?''
Harry fell silent, doubt entering his eyes. ''Maybe? O-or we could do this longer? I-I don't want to be alone.'' He admitted looking away from Neil again.
Neil almost immediately shook his head.
''It's dangerous; I am surprised I'm still alive; I never expected to reach eighteen.'' Neil replies honestly for the first time in a long time, wanting to crush the hope in Harry's eyes because his own was rising.
Even if his mother had just died eight months ago, he feels like a husk being alone. He isn't living, he is just surviving, and he knows it. And Harry is doing the same, he can see it in his eyes. He doesn't know in what Harry is entwined, but it can't be as bad as his father.
But it's tempting. Too tempting.
A humorless smile grazed Harry's lips. ''I won't be eighteen for another twenty months, I still can die before that, and to be honest, until I ran, I never expected to reach that age either.''
Neil huffed. ''It's crazy.''
Harry grinned at him. ''I work well with crazy.''
Neil finally understands why his father wanted a Witch or Wizard in the family this bad.
Hell, if he had known how easy Magic makes dealing with shit, he would've searched for - and paid off a Witch or Wizard ages ago.
For example, Harry had researched for a couple of hours before placing a charm over the whole school, making them think Harry Black was now called Harry Josten and making sure nobody would come check out the Magic used on the Muggles in the school with some kind of ritual.
Neil initially refused for Harry to keep his first name, calling him an idiot for keeping it. But Harry was as stubborn as he was and didn't want to part with it.
Harry then went to some sort of magical market the next day to get earrings that would hold a glamor. Neil could use it too, so it had multiple functions; Harry wouldn't get arrested because he spelled a Muggle with a glamor spell, and they would look even more alike with the same eye color. Even if Neil was hesitant to wear anything recognizable (such as the earrings), he did love the fact he wouldn't need his contacts anymore. And he would never see the flash of blue again that made his skin clammy and his heart jump as long as he wore the earring.
Apparently, Harry was an emancipated minor. Because of this, he could use Magic without notifying the Ministry, but if he used a spell on a Muggle, they would find him to interrogate him. (And punish him if he was found guilty).
And with the help of Magic, within two days, they were the Josten brothers. Harry was younger than him, just sixteen, but he admitted that when he came to sign himself up for school, he didn't understand the school system at first, he then panicked and had the Goblins send transcripts to place him in senior year. The same Goblins have helped him get a legitimate ID as Harry Josten with the correct hair and eye color. It was better work than Neil had ever gotten from his mother's contacts, so they had one made for Neil too with a driver's license.
Neil had laughed at the schooling explanation. God, he couldn't even remember the last time he had laughed this much.
Harry explained that the Goblins would never rat him out to anyone, which is how he could use their services and access his own money without problems. Neil was skeptical, but Harry insisted on using their services.
The two new 'brothers' started talking a lot, they didn't tell each other everything, but that was expected. They also wouldn't ask for the details the other didn't want to share. Neil and Harry did make the deal that if the other was in danger of being found, they would make sure they would be safe and run - without looking back. Because they didn't want to be the reason the other got hurt.
Harry was on the run from some dark wizard who was trying to kill him, but Neil could tell there was more to it, not that Neil was completely open about his own dilemma, he explained that his father had been in some nasty business and his mother stole money before taking Neil and running away. He only told Harry that they had been running ever since, until his mother died.
He didn't explain that his father was the one searching for him or that he would also kill Neil if he got the chance.
Harry was an orphan and had been since he was just one year old. Neil couldn't help but imagine how his life would've been if his parents had been dead since then.
Harry's godfather had died in June, which was the reason Harry left England.
Neil had started talking in his mother's accent and admitted that his mother's family lived in Britain, not giving any more information about the other side of his mob family.
They didn't receive any weird looks, which made Neil even more paranoid in the beginning, but Harry calmed him down. He explained that Magic would work, that Muggles don't notice the little things and that their brains would find a way to explain the weird things away. Neil didn't know if he should be insulted or not.
Neil thought Harry was optimistic, but nothing seemed to have changed, the only thing that had changed, was between Neil and Harry, who were now practically joined at the hip. They started sleeping in the locker room, together but with their own stuff and homemade bed. Harry admitted to having money for a house, but he knew even with his emancipated state, people would ask too many questions.
Neil would talk about his father and his henchmen/woman in the dark of the night as some sort of twisted nighttime story, and Harry would talk about dark rituals and Magic that felt twisted, wrong, and foul.
When Harry was tired of running but still wanted to move, he proposed that they start doing their own Exy training, just extra training to get better at working together on the Court.
Neil will never say no to Exy, not if this is the last year he can play it. Harry seemed to think the same, even if his true passion was Quidditch.
The way he talked about the flying sport, it was clear the sport meant the same to him as Exy did to Neil.
During Christmas break, Harry took them to a Wizarding district before taking Neil to a Quadpot game (the American variant of Quidditch). Neil didn't know the rules and wasn't as invested as Harry was, but it was very violent and cool to see, he could admit it was more dangerous to play than Exy and how it was amazing to see the Witches and Wizards fly like that.
Neil had arranged that they would stay in a hotel for the duration of the school vacation, even if they still broke in the school to play Exy on Court.
It was the best break Neil had ever had.
''This doesn't make any sense.'' Harry grouches while looking down at his Math homework.
Neil leans over to take a look, and his eyebrows rise. ''Sure it does.''
Harry rolls his eyes. ''No, it doesn't, you are just some kind of Math wizard,'' he mumbles the last part, and Neil elbows him in the side.
''So you're the real wizard, and I'm just a Math wizard? Mhh, I take Math Wizard. It makes more sense.''
Harry snorts, ''Only to you, everyone else would rather stab their eyes out when they look at these numbers.''
''Don't talk about Math like that! They can't help it that they're underappreciated.''
''And there you go, talk about Math like they're some sort of maiden!'' Harry exclaims while throwing his hands in the air.
Neil chuckles and takes another drag of his cigarette before passing it to Harry so he can have one.
''I'm just glad I'm going to graduate this year,'' Harry sighs out, the smoke pooling out of his mouth.
''Say it in Spanish,'' Neil says in Spanish, making Harry groan, but he does as told.
Neil is not satisfied with the pronunciation, so he lets Harry repeat it at least three times before he accepts it.
They have been making plans to go to Mexico after graduation, but the plans are not set in stone. Harry had admitted he would like to go to Brazil, something about a snake, but Neil's Portuguese is too rusty, so they would both need to learn a new language, which is possible, but not before they leave, so Harry is learning Spanish and a bit of German for now because German is the language Neil is best in.
''Do you think tonight is the last game?'' Harry asks while putting his Math homework away.
Neil nods. ''Yeah, I can't imagine Collins blocking the goal long enough for us to get ahead.''
''Fucking Collins.'' Harry grumbles.
They are silent for another moment before Harry gets up and kicks at Neil's foot to get him up too. ''Come on, I know you need at least ten laps before you can play tonight. And you still need to eat.'' Harry says while pinching Neil's arm as if he isn't just as thin as Neil. They both have gained some pounds they desperately needed, but Neil hasn't eaten well since he has been on the run, only eating what was available. Harry had told him how he had been starved as a child, and still has trouble with eating enough. He says it helps to have Neil with him to make sure he eats enough himself because he worries more about Neil.
Neil doesn't know what to do with that kind of declaration. But he feels the same about Harry. He has taught Harry how to pick a lock, even if Harry can easily get in with just a simple spell. He is teaching him multiple languages and helping Harry with his homework; he's just trying to be there for Harry. Something he wished he had since he was little.
Neil pushes Harry away from him after the pinch but can't help but grin. He hadn't expected to have this just a few months ago, but Neil needed the easy way they help and are there for each other to feel alive. He knows that now.
''Josten's! Can you join me for a moment?'' Their Coach yells from the stands beneath them.
Harry shoots a nervous look at Neil, and Neil can't help but step forward a bit. Not that Harry needs anyone to shield him because he can handle himself better with Magic than Neil can with a knife, but Neil feels responsible for him.
They walk down, ready to run at just a moment's notice. If necessary, Harry will apparate them to a safe place where they can travel further through Muggle means. Making sure they can't be followed by Neil's demons or Harry's.
Coach Hernandez is beaming at them and claps Harry on the shoulder. Neil always flinches away from the coach if he reaches out, but Harry doesn't have the same response, Harry does tense if the Coach shows that kind of affection, but he doesn't jump like Neil does.
Neil is a bit envious.
''There you are! Good game tonight, it's too bad we've lost, but I just wanted to say I'm proud of you two, you turned the whole season around. I've never seen such fast Strikers!'' He gushes, making them both shift uncomfortable.
''Thanks, Coach,'' Harry says, it sounds genuine, but Neil knows better, Harry is still bummed because Exy is now over.
''Have you sent out your college applications?'' He says, looking between them.
Neil nods even if he's lying through his teeth. ''Yes, we haven't heard back, though.''
''Okay, okay, good.''
Harry looks incredulously at their coach. ''How is that good?''
Neil hits him on the shoulder and says in German, ''You're supposed to be the nice, meek guy, not snarky.''
Harry gives him a deadpan look that conveys 'look who's talking' but bashfully rubs his head and smiles at Coach Hernandez. The man doesn't seem to mind, though, he seems to be almost shaking with enthusiasm. For what, Neil doesn't know, but he doesn't like it.
It doesn't take long for the man to start talking again. ''There is someone here for you,-'' Neil and Harry both secure their bags and are ready to start running when another voice speaks up.
''Where the hell do you think you're going?''
Neil pushes Harry behind him and hears Harry huff behind him. ''We just forgot something at home, nice to see you, bye-''
''Now, hold on, I haven't even made my recruiting speech.''
Harry steps up next to him, much to his dismay. ''Recruitment? For what?''
Neil watches as the guy steps into the light, his eyes narrow when he takes the other man in. ''College Exy, of course, you're both good enough to join my team.''
''Bullshit! How can you know? Nobody recruits from Millport, nobody knows where it is.'' Neil tries.
''He's here because I sent him your files. He was looking for someone to join his Striker line, and I figured it was worth a shot. I didn't tell you because I didn't know if anything would come of it, and I didn't want to disappoint you two.'' Hernandez tells them. Neil can feel Harry vibrate next to him in anger, but he keeps it locked up.
''You did what?''
Hernandez looks a bit uncomfortable now. ''I tried contacting your parents when he asked for a face-to-face tonight, but they haven't returned my messages. You said they'd try to make it.''
''They tried. But couldn't make it.'' Harry tells the coach with cold indifference.
''I can't wait for them,'' the other coach interrupts. ''It's stupid late in the season for me to be here, I know, but I had some technical difficulties with my last recruit. Coach Hernandez said you still haven't chosen a school for fall. Works out perfectly, doesn't it? I need more people on my team, and two Striker subs would fit perfectly, hell, you have already played with each other, and you need a team. All you two have to do is sign the dotted line, and you're mine for five years.'' He then looks at Harry. ''I understood you're an emancipated minor-'' His eyes become dark at that, and Neil leans against Harry a bit. The Coach's eyes follow the movement immediately. ''- but still graduating this year with your brother. Your hard work is commendable, let's see how you translate that in Exy.''
Neil's breath is pushed out of him when he recognizes the coach talking to them. ''Foxes, you're from Palmetto, you signed Kevin.''
Harry stiffens next to him and Neil sees him reach to his wrist where his wand is kept.
In the months after Christmas, Harry and Neil had become even closer, starting to rely on each other as they did on themselves. Neil now knows about the Prophecy, Dumbledore, and Voldemort, while Harry knows about the Nest, and, more importantly, his father.
The only thing Harry doesn't know is Neil's real name, just like he doesn't know Harry's. He only knows that Harry Black was fake.
They also have yet to show each other their scars, but Neil has seen one in Harry's hand and some on his arms. The one on his hand disturbed him the most, he recognized Harry's handwriting from his homework, but he doesn't ask. He does know that Harry wouldn't do something like that willingly.
Coach Wymack throws a stack of papers in front of them, startling Neil from his thoughts. ''And now I'm signing you both.''
''You can't be serious.''
''Very serious, and very out of time.''
Neil looks at Harry and sees that Harry is already looking at him. In soft German, Neil says. ''Kevin can recognize me.''
Harry's eyes cloud over in worry and anger. ''We will be on the telly, everyone can recognize us. Maybe less from my world, but from yours?'' Harry lets the sentence hang there, knowing just as Neil does that Neil will be dead if he's recognized by his father's men.
''We can't play for you,'' Neil says in English to Wymack.
''I misheard you,'' the gruff man responds. Neil shakes his head. ''You signed Kevin.''
''And Kevin picked you both, so-''
Neil has heard enough, he runs, Harry on his heels.
Neil leads the shortest way to freedom, they will have to find a way to finish their high school somewhere else or maybe only take the exams, he thinks Harry can pass them, he's smart enough to do so, maybe the Goblins can help them-
His thoughts stop when a racket ends up in his sternum, he's on the floor gasping for breath while also checking for broken ribs when Harry crashes next to him on his knees with a fierce glare aimed at his attacker.
''Bloody wanker! Who the hell do you think you are?''
The person who hit him in the stomach laughs.
Neil hears someone enter the room behind them and tenses when he hears Wymack's furious voice. ''God dammit, Minyard! This is why we can't have nice things!''
''Oh, Coach! If he were nice, he wouldn't be of any use to us, would he?'' Neil looks up with a glare and sees Andrew Minyard. Goalie for the Palmetto State Foxes, and best friend of Kevin. Shit. Because if Andrew is here-
Andrew looked down at him and tapped two fingers to his temple in salute. ''Better luck next time.''
''Fuck you!'' He spits out when he finally can breathe again and accepts Harry's help to get up.
''Who's racket did you steal?'' Neil bites out. Andrew looks unconcerned at the accusation. ''Borrow. Here you go!'' He says with a manic grin before tossing the racket at Neil.
Neil doesn't reach out to catch it, making Andrew click his tongue.
''We won't sign for you,'' Harry says to Wymack, stepping in front of Neil. ''We can't play with you.'' Neil jabs Harry in the side to silence him, already seeing how Wymack picked up those words.
''We're not good enough, so you're just wasting your time here,'' Neil says instead, looking at Harry to silence him. Harry crosses his arms in annoyance.
''We know-'' Another voice comes from the dark side of the room. Neil hears Harry snort before he whispers something to Neil about dramatic like a Black. Neil, who understands what he means by that, puts his hand in front of his mouth to hide his smile. ''-but we're still signing you.'' Kevin Day says, looking all high and mighty, he hasn't changed a lot in terms of behavior. He lost all the child roundness in his face and shot up in height, towering over both Harry, Neil- and Andrew because the menace was just 5 feet.
Neil feels closed in, and he reaches out for Harry's sleeve, not wanting to lose the other boy in the confrontation. Andrew clocks the movement and tilts his head like a bird.
Neil looks at Kevin, waiting to be recognized, but Kevin isn't even looking at him. He's looking at Harry. Harry is looking back in curiosity, knowing from Neil's stories how the man can rant and is already expecting something like it. Kevin swallows heavily and steps up to Wymack. ''Make them sign.'' He says before leaving the room without a look back. Wymack frowns after him. Andrew seems confused too, but laughs before sauntering after Kevin.
''Well, alright,'' Wymack says before rubbing his starting beard and turning to the two Josten's.
He scrutinizes them, and Neil wants to squirm but holds himself back.
''Are your parents going to be a problem?''
Wymack has no idea how much they are going to be a problem.
''Probably,'' Neil admits.
The coach sighs and rubs his face with his large hands. When he puts them down there is determination edged into his face.
''I can fly you out immediately after graduation, we can find accommodation for the two of you-''
''We haven't signed,'' Neil says stubbornly. ''Why would we?''
Wymack seems to pull himself up even more. ''Because everyone deserves another chance. And you two-'' He waves his hand at them, making them both look at each other to see if something is wrong. They both wear baggy clothes and look like they normally do. Harry's hair is a wild mess, and he has bags under his eyes from the nightmares he gets almost every night. ''-you two need something to hold on to.'' The coach finishes.
Neil clenches his jaw and looks at Harry again. ''What are you thinking?''
Harry sighs and combs his hand through his hair. ''It's crazy.''
Neil can't help but grin. ''You say you work well with crazy.''
Harry huffs in amusement. ''I do,'' they both turn to Wymack who is looking at them with his arms crossed. He gives them the pack of papers again.
''Your name on the dotted line, and you will become Foxes.''
''Well, I can't say I've ever been called a fox before,'' Harry says with a sigh before signing his name on the packet with his name. Neil does the same, feeling as if he's signing away his life.
If he survives the following year, he will be very surprised, but he can still play Exy and has Harry by his side.
He'll be fine.