Chapter Text
Andrew pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine with a frown, looking up at the dorm tower sitting on the side of the hill.
“Our new home, huh?” Nicky said, leaning forward between the front seats to look through the windshield. Aaron said nothing, just snorted derisively. Andrew didn’t bother replying to them and turned his attention to the young fox curled up in the shotgun seat on top of some sweaters.
Oi, he said silently and watched the fox’s ears twitch. Wake up. We’re here.
Fuck off, the fox replied sleepily, though he started to stir with a complaining whine. Ugh, it’s too bright.
Quit bitching, Andrew said and reached out to lightly touch the fox’s head. The fox leaned into his hand with a wide yawn and got to his feet. We’ll be inside soon.
“Aw, he’s awake,” Nicky cooed.
“Out,” Andrew said to his family and they unloaded onto the kerb. The fox stayed wisely away from their feet as they got their few suitcases and boxes out of the trunk and footwells; they hadn’t bothered packing furniture with them from the house in Columbia as they weren’t selling it, just taking their clothes and what few possessions they really wanted with them. For Andrew that was mostly books, and his plants and herbal supplies, and they fitted easily into a large duffel and a cardboard box. The three of them gathered up their things and headed inside. The fox stayed close to Andrew’s legs the whole time, leery of the unfamiliar place, but Andrew was used to it and they knew how to walk without tripping over each other.
They got more than a few funny looks from the few other athletes already moved in, and a couple of joking comments about taking school pride too far.
I don’t like it here, the fox sulked as they waited in the elevator.
Tough shit, Andrew replied, though he felt much the same already. They’d be living in these dorms for the next five years, and even with the building barely occupied it felt too crowded already. Andrew’s plants seemed to shiver in their box and he resolved to get them back into sunlight as soon as possible.
Aaron had the dorm keys the coach had mailed them a few days prior, so he took the lead and found their room. They piled inside and dumped their belongings in the living room. Andrew immediately went to the window and started taking off the protective screen while Nicky wandered about to check out the size of the rooms. Aaron went to the bathroom to piss, bored already.
Andrew’s fox did his own anxious circuit of the suite, poking his nose into each of the rooms and walking the perimeters to figure out the space, finding all the exits and hiding places.
Verdict? Andrew asked as he started unpacking his plants onto the windowsill; he trailed a finger over their leaves as they relaxed happily into the sunlight once more, humming contentedly in the warming soil.
We’ve been in worse places, the fox replied sarcastically and trotted back to him, ears pressed flat to his skull.
Stop being so dramatic, Andrew said, but reached down and lifted the fox into his arms, then leaned back against a bare desk by the window so the fox could perch in his lap. The stress in the young fox’s body dropped away rapidly and he pressed his head against Andrew’s chest.
I’m tired, the fox muttered.
Andrew cradled his palm over the fox’s head, shielding his sensitive eyes from the midday sun. You can sleep once we’ve unpacked, he said, though he knew anxiety would have the fox awake and stressed the rest of the day, and most of the night too. The fox yawned again, displaying wide jaws of sharp white teeth, and butted his head lightly into Andrew’s hand. His compact body was heavy, but Andrew was more than capable of holding onto him. He seemed to be falling asleep again, soothed by Andrew’s proximity, when there was a light knocking at the door. He had jumped out of Andrew’s arms in a flash, hackles up as he stood between Andrew and the door.
Andrew sighed and nudged him lightly to the side as he answered the door. There was a young woman waiting there, all sharp eyes and short, dark hair. Andrew absently noted the muscles in her bare arms and put a face to the name – Danielle Wilds.
“Hi there,” she said with a quick smile. “I’m Dan, team captain. Wymack said you guys would be moving in today. So, are you Aaron or Andrew?”
“Andrew,” he replied flatly, and gave her offered hand a quick shake. He felt his fox twining around his feet, torn between protectiveness and fear of the newcomer. Apparently deciding aggression was the way to go, he gave a short, loud bark and bared his teeth.
“Stop that,” Andrew ordered quietly, looking down at his feet.
The fox didn’t reply other than a short whine.
“Who’s this?” Dan asked, looking thrilled and not a bit concerned at the half-feral animal eyeing her ankles.
“My familiar.”
Dan crouched down and held out her hand with an absurd cooing noise. The fox retreated warily, edging back around Andrew’s legs as a shield.
I’m not a kitten, the fox protested with as much dignity as he could muster while bristling up his fur to seem like more of a threat.
“What’s his name?”
“None of your business, and get away from him,” Andrew scowled.
“Alright, alright,” Dan said airily and stood up with her hands up high. “No need for the attitude, just trying to be friendly. Haven’t met anyone’s familiar before.”
Yeah, Andrew supposed as he gave her a quick once-over. He was getting weather vibes from her, something to do with storms. No wonder Neil was so spooked. He leaned down and dangled his fingers near the fox, who clamped his jaws around Andrew’s fingers firmly but without force, careful not to puncture his skin. He huffed and chewed Andrew’s fingers for a minute to calm himself, growled warningly at Dan to stay away, and retreated under the desks where it was darker and safer. Andrew could see his pale eyes glinting watchfully, though.
Nicky and Aaron wandered out from where they’d been unpacking in the bedroom, no doubt curious about all the voices. Dan introduced herself again and Andrew went back to his plants, making sure they were all happy and getting as much sun as possible, and watered one or two who were getting thirsty. He tuned out the conversation Nicky was having in the doorway, and kept methodically unpacking his things. He knew the fox was watching him from his little hidey-hole, making sure he was safe and keeping an eye on things.
I’m fine, he said.
Neil just whined quietly and laid his head on his paws.
After a little while, the rest of the Exy team came over to inspect the new arrivals, seeing as they were all on the same floor. There was loud and chatty Boyd, grumpy Gordon, snippy Reynolds and the oddly placid Renee Walker, and a couple of mouthbreather fifth-years. Nicky greeted them all enthusiastically, Aaron with vague attempts at politeness, and Andrew nodded and shook hands when demanded. Nobody seemed to have noticed the fox under the desk until all the moving bodies, strange scents and loud voices got too much, and he started crying and yipping in distress, walking tight circles under the desk and shuddering all over.
“What the hell?” A few people muttered, looking around for the source of the noise.
Andrew sat down in front of the desk and ducked his head under it. “Shh, shh,” he said softly, holding his hands out. Calm down, Neil.
I don’t like this, his fox replied piteously and pressed himself into Andrew’s hands, twisting and rubbing against his palms.
I know. Calm down. I’m here.
Neil whined some more so Andrew scooped him up into his lap, caging him comfortably between his legs and arms under the desk. You’re being pathetic, he informed his familiar, but didn’t stop gently stroking over his thick fur until the shaking stopped. He rubbed carefully behind the fox’s ears and over the back of his neck until Neil was curled up in his arms again. He wasn’t happy, especially as Andrew knew the team was staring and trying to see what was going on and could feel their gaze just as acutely as Neil, but at least he wasn’t freaking out.
You’re safe, Andrew said, and dug a piece of jerky out of his pocket, put there just in case something like this happened. He offered it to the fox and kept stroking behind his ears as Neil chewed on it, neatly distracted.
He carefully eased under the desk, for once grateful for his short stature, and held his familiar close in a warm puddle of fur and limbs. Neil tucked his head into Andrew’s chest again and sighed, flicking his tail over Andrew’s arm.
Silly animal, Andrew chided him quietly.
Yep, Neil agreed and licked at his fingers, trying to get all the salt and flavouring from the jerky off his skin.
“Is he calmed down now?” Nicky asked from a little distance away, the apparent spokesperson for the bewildered team. Andrew grunted an affirmative and Nicky turned away to briefly explain about Andrew’s familiar being mostly-nocturnal, and not liking the stress and noise.
“Can we see?” Boyd asked, looking far too excited; it always irked Andrew, people’s fascination with familiars. Yeah, they weren’t super common among their generation of witches, and there were way too many inaccurate myths and folk stories about them, but that didn’t mean everybody had free license to look and touch and ask deeply personal questions.
Neil, Andrew said as he rubbed between the fox’s ears. They want to see you. Best to get it over with.
Neil huffed but agreed cautiously.
“One at a time, and keep your voices down,” Andrew allowed, his own voice plainly irritated.
Boyd was the fastest on his feet and first in line, kneeling by the desk with a wide smile. Andrew scowled and kept a protective hold of Neil as the fox turned in his arms to assess the new potential threat.
“Oh my god,” Boyd said softly. “This is so perfect. And he’s gorgeous.”
Neil leaned a bit closer and sniffed at Boyd’s offered fingers. To Andrew’s surprise, he even licked the guy’s palm. Boyd looked absolutely charmed. He’s a plant witch like you, Neil said in explanation. I can smell it on him.
Andrew jerked his head and Boyd pouted but obediently shuffled away. The rest of the team each got a good look, and Neil stayed pressed into Andrew’s chest for the rest of them, wary. He barked at Renee when she held out a hand, and she calmly stepped back, not looking at all offended.
Dangerous, was all Neil would say about her, and shuddered until Andrew could stroke him back to calmness. He promised himself he’d keep a close eye on her; Neil might have his twitchy, animal-reflex paranoid moments, but his instincts had always been good and Andrew trusted him more than any other living entity.
“If everyone’s done gawking, are we gonna get food or what?” Aaron drawled. “We’ve been packing and driving all day, I’m starving.”
Jealous much, Andrew said, and Neil laughed quietly in the privacy of their link.
The others all began making plans, something involving a pizza joint downtown, and Neil started getting anxious again.
If I go with them, it will be quiet and calm in here, Andrew pointed out. You can get settled and sleep for a while. I’ll bring you back some meat.
Neil reluctantly agreed and stepped out of Andrew’s arms so he could get up, yawning again. Andrew ignored all the stares and comments and went to the bedroom to change into something a bit better for dinner out somewhere, rather than just for moving. He said goodbye to his plants, offered a last quick stroke to Neil’s head, and firmly locked the door behind them all as they left.
He didn’t like being separated from his familiar for too long, but they both knew Neil needed some time to adjust and rest, and Andrew should keep face and pretend to socialise with his new teammates. He listened as the others chatted raucously, absorbing little details about their lives (boring) and their hopes for the upcoming season (ugh) and offering very little back even when asked. He checked in with Neil every so often, feeling out their bond for a sense of his emotional state; at this distance, words were hard, but he could feel Neil’s presence like muffled music in another room. He seemed to have fallen asleep soon after the team cleared out; Andrew caught vague glimpses of dreams in black and white from a low perspective when he wasn’t concentrating on his surroundings. He ate all of his own pizza, but picked off a handful of chicken and beef bits and wrapped them in a couple napkins.
Nicky smiled at him for that and Aaron rolled his eyes. Nobody else except Renee noticed, and she said nothing, just watched him. When he met her stare challengingly she gave a sweet smile and turned away.
Andrew endured the team dinner as long as he could, bored out of his skull and annoyed at being away from Neil for so long. Luckily, Aaron started getting grumpy first and Nicky decided to herd his asocial cousins away before either of them could insult their new teammates too badly on the first night. The Exy line wandered back to dorms together, and Andrew tolerated Wilds talking at him about the classes she was taking this year, not replying in any way – not a word or glance or gesture, but she didn’t seem to mind. He thought he understood her determination when she edged near to him at the doorway, peering through.
Fuck’s sake.
He hip-checked her out the way and closed the door in her face, uncaring about her vaguely shocked expression. Nicky started on him at that, but Neil’s arrival shut him up. Neil had waited until he could be sure it was just the three of them, apparently, and now he shot forward to check them all. He sniffed at Nicky’s shoes, sneezed, and circled around Aaron watchfully. His inspection was apparently up to snuff and he sprang around Andrew’s feet instead.
We’re all fine, Andrew said and stepped over the excitable animal to sit in one of the beanbag chairs instead. Did anyone break in while we were gone?
No, Neil replied with a hint of offended dignity, even as he pranced and bounced around Andrew’s seat, buzzing with energy after his short nap. I want to play.
You always want to play, Andrew replied with a quiet sigh, and fetched a well-worn and tooth-marked squash ball from his other pocket. Neil yipped happily and bounced away from him a few steps, settling back on his haunches with his whole body twitching. Andrew held it up and wiggled it in his fingers for a few minutes until Neil barked impatiently, batting his paws on the carpet. Andrew flicked it across the room to bounce against the wall, and Neil sprang in the air to catch it in his jaws. He pranced in a tight circle, mightily pleased with himself, and dropped it back in Andrew’s waiting palm. Andrew threw it again, flicking it off the ceiling as if it were an Exy court, and Neil went after it hungrily.
“Ugh,” Aaron said.
“They do this every night, you should be used to it by now,” Nicky rolled his eyes. “I think it’s cute. Are you unpacked, Aaron?”
“What are you, my mother,” Aaron replied and shuffled off into the bedroom. To unpack.
“Dinner was fun, wasn’t it?” Nicky said as he settled into the other beanbag, watching as Andrew and Neil’s ‘game’ started to pick up in speed, the ball ricocheting off the walls and ceiling and floor in precise arcs only a goalie could predict. Neil was equal to it all, though, honed by years of the game and his own cunning reflexes. Andrew didn’t reply, distracted by Neil’s joyful laughter echoing in his head.
Nicky sighed and watched them for a few minutes longer. “Well, I had fun, anyway.”
Neil dropped the ball back in Andrew’s fingers and crouched low to the ground, watching him eagerly for his next move.
You’re ridiculous.
You’re still playing with me, Neil laughed back and jumped in front of Nicky to catch the ball before it got too close to him. Instead of dropping it in his hand and walking away again, he clambered up onto the beanbag and settled himself, curled up against Andrew’s hip as he panted for breath.
You’re tired already?
Long day, Neil replied and rested his chin on Andrew’s thigh with a contented sigh. And I have a lot to do tonight.
Andrew tucked the ball back in his pocket and retrieved the napkin bundle. He slowly fed his fox little nibbles of the meat, not wanting to spoil him or upset his stomach after all the running around. He put the bundle away after a third of it had been eaten and Neil didn’t fight him about it for once; he settled for licking Andrew’s fingers instead.
“I swear you’re more affectionate with him than with me,” Nicky said with a half-joking pout. Andrew glanced at him, vaguely surprised he was still there.
“He has his uses as a hot water bottle,” Andrew replied and ignored the slight nip he earned to his thumb.
Nicky laughed and smiled at them both, a little wistful. “Yeah, I guess so. Look, Andrew… I really want this to work out for us. I know you don’t really care about Exy, or much about college. But I do appreciate that you signed anyway, just so Aaron and I could go to college. Okay? And I know today was stressful, with the move and Red freaking out, but it kills me to see you both so shut off. Aaron’ll probably find some assholes to spend time with in his classes, no matter what I think of them. But you – I don’t want you to spend five years ignoring everyone except your familiar. I know that what you guys have is special, and private, and not anything I can really understand, but it’s not healthy to have so little contact with humans. You’re really making me worry, Andrew. This could be a real chance to make proper friends, and get a good degree. So just… can you try, with the team? It would be nice to have a real team at our backs, wouldn’t it?”
Andrew stared back at him impassively until Neil nipped him again. He nudged his nose under Andrew’s palm and wriggled until Andrew’s hand was resting on his head. Andrew spared him a glance.
He’s right, you know.
Shut up, Neil.
He looked back to Nicky and raised his eyes to the ceiling for a moment, besieged on both sides by pleading, pathetic gazes. “Fine,” he said shortly. “A few of them look vaguely interesting. I’ll try. But if they’re all boring idiots I won’t bother with them.”
Nicky sighed in relief and grinned. “Thank you, Andrew. And thank you Red!” He laughed and lightly scratched behind Neil’s ears, who let his tongue loll out in amusement for a second before curling tighter under Andrew’s hand.
“I’m going to bed,” Nicky smiled. “Don’t stay up too late, alright? Practice tomorrow.”
“What are you, my mother,” Andrew mocked in Aaron’s absence and Nicky snorted as he got to his feet.
“God I hope not, that would be weird. And even if you two are tiny, giving birth to you both would have absolutely ruined my waistline.”
“I refuse to let Erik be my father,” Andrew replied.
Nicky laughed and waved a vague goodnight as he headed into the bedroom after Aaron. Andrew stayed in the living room with Neil for a little longer, both drinking in the solitude and quiet after such a day. Neil yawned peacefully and Andrew splayed his fingers so they sunk into Neil’s soft, thick fur to rest against his skin and traced a few old scars hidden there. He could feel the fox’s heartbeat through his ribcage, fast but not excessive. It was a pace as familiar to him as his own. Sometimes it felt more familiar, even.
You should rest, Neil murmured eventually, pawing gently at Andrew’s thigh. You’re tired.
At least I don’t hide under desks and throw tantrums.
Neil huffed and nudged his thigh with his head. Go, Andrew. I need to check the wards, anyway.
Andrew gave one last lingering stroke to his head and down his back to his tail, and Neil sighed quietly. They parted reluctantly, and Andrew propped open the living room window a sliver. He watched as Neil slipped out and started making his way down the fire escape. A flash of pale eyes, a whisk of his tail, and he was gone. Andrew checked the window wouldn’t shut itself in the night and left the bedroom door open as well. Aaron was reading in bed on the top bunk and Nicky, in the single bunk across the room, was putting on his headphones so he could listen to his rain-and-storm app, as he always did to help get to sleep. Andrew swapped his jeans for soft sweatpants, changed his shirt and moved the knives from his armbands to under the pillow of the bottom bunk under Aaron. He turned out the lights, settled with his back to the wall, and drifted off.
In his dreams, he shared Neil’s eyes.
Together, they explored the campus grounds in greyscale and scent-informed vision, padding around the perimeter of Fox Tower first. Neil sniffed curiously at the landscape of scents to memorise them and acclimatise to the new surroundings. He quickly found the scent marks left by the other familiars in the building, no more than five, and pressed his paw beside them to announce his presence.
He squinted at the wards placed around the Tower by those familiars, protections against fire, ill-health and general misfortune. He took a deep breath and breathed on them slowly, adding his strength and another one to warn against unwelcome guests. They glowed in his peculiar double-vision, invisible to even a fox’s keen eyes but vibrant and glowing in Neil’s Other sight. He pressed his paw to them to seal them there, and licked them so his signature would be clear to the other familiars.
That done, he detoured to the bin area for a few minutes to launch himself into an open dumpster and snag some food.
Gross, Andrew commented sleepily. Wash before you come back.
Neil laughed both silently and out loud with a huff of breath as he scarfed down a half-burned hamburger patty.
I’m serious, you’re not sleeping in my bed with garbage stink.
Don’t worry so much, Neil replied in amusement as he jumped out and continued his tour of campus. Of course I’ll wash up. I don’t enjoy the garbage stink either, and my nose is way more sensitive than yours.
Good, Andrew said and watched as he explored the buildings around campus, occasionally strengthening or adding to the wards, though he was more concerned with the safety of Fox Tower. When he got to the towering Exy stadium, he let out a pathetic whine and shivered with want.
Andrew… he started.
No, Andrew replied and twitched in bed. I’m too tired tonight. Another night. I promise.
Neil whined again but resigned himself to pacing the perimeter and adding layers upon layers of wards; the other athlete familiars belonged to people on the football and hockey teams, he’d picked up, so the Exy stadium was naked and vulnerable. He took his time with the stadium, covering every vulnerable point and adding his burning-bright wards to the entrances, exits and windows as high as he could jump. When Andrew had enough energy to take him there for night practice, he’d finish off the job for the parts he couldn’t reach. He made the stadium as safe and protected as he could, and added a few sneaky wards for strength and endurance on the team entrance.
Isn’t that cheating? Andrew pointed out.
It’s not like I’m hiding steroids in the lockers, Neil disagreed. These will just add a bit of a rush for a short while, it probably won’t last past the first ten minutes. Besides, you saw the ones for luck and prosperity on the football field. I’m not stooping that low. He sneezed derisively.
You say that like I really care, Andrew said.
Neil wagged his tail briefly and stayed staring at the stadium for a few minutes, desperate and anxious. Finally he sighed and turned away, taking a route that passed rows of plants and flowers and inspecting them all.
Sage?
Yeah, pick some up, Andrew asked. Neil carefully bit off some stems of the sage and a few other plants and carried them in his jaws. He was heading back to the tower after eating some worms and slugs (and brush your teeth, Andrew had said while Neil laughed) when a small owl swooped overhead and landed on a nearby tree branch. Neil set down his plants carefully and sat back on his haunches, ears pricked.
Good evening, the owl greeted solemnly. Andrew had the vague urge to snicker; owls were always so pretentious and formal.
Good evening, Neil said politely. Was I disturbing your hunt?
Not at all, she replied graciously. I simply wished to make your acquaintance, as you are new to campus. It might benefit you to know that these plants here belong to one of the chemistry witches, and they may not appreciate your borrowing cuttings.
I apologise, I thought these were in free territory, Neil replied and laid his head on his paws submissively. I will ask next time.
That is proper, the owl approved coolly. She cocked her head and looked at him a bit more closely. You are carrying your witch with you.
I am, Neil replied, his tail twitching for a moment in repressed annoyance as he tried to keep his docile, polite front. It is our first night here, and we wished to learn the layout of campus. We don’t like being separated for too long.
That is… unusual, the owl said with just a hint of disapproval.
I’m sorry you think so, Neil said with just a bit of heat. I didn’t realise it was your concern.
The owl cocked her head in the other direction, then hooted softly. Impertinence is in your nature, as a fox, she said. I will forgive your rudeness as you are so young, and new to this place. Learn to improve your manners, little one.
With that, she flew away on silent wings. Neil rolled his eyes once she was out of sight and picked up his plant cuttings again. Owls, he muttered darkly to Andrew. Nosy, conservative busybodies.
Come back before you offend all the familiars on campus, Andrew said. It’s cold in here with the window open.
Oh, I see, you just want your hot water bottle, Neil grinned as he trotted briskly back towards the dorms.
Obviously.
Neil climbed up the fire escape, pressed a last ward for safety and security into the windowsill, and wriggled through the open window into the living room. He gently set down the plants in his mouth and concentrated. After a few minutes, a young man sat naked on the floor, small but long-limbed with fiery hair and icy eyes. He stretched his limbs carefully, then stood and closed the window. He set the cuttings carefully in the pots of earth Andrew had prepared earlier and made sure they had enough water to last the night; Andrew would encourage their growth in the morning. He stepped into the bathroom and breathed another ward for silence on the locked door, so Nicky and Aaron wouldn’t hear the shower come on. He brushed his teeth, avoiding the mirror as always, and tilted his head up into the water.
Once his hair was washed – and therefore his fox fur – he looked down at himself in amusement, knowing Andrew was still with him. Are you going to join me? He teased as he ran his hands down his slick, firm, scarred stomach towards his groin.
Andrew was tempted for a moment, but he could feel how tired they both were. Not right now, he replied, though it had been too long since they’d been able to touch each other as humans. Come to bed.
Neil yawned in agreement and finished his shower quickly. He smudged a hand through the silence ward, unlocked the door, and changed back to his fox form. Andrew had a briefly jarring moment of seeing his own sleeping body through Neil’s eyes as he jumped up onto the bed. They sighed in unison as Neil curled up in his usual spot in the crooks of Andrew’s bent knees, radiating sleepy heat.
Goodnight, Neil murmured, and they relinquished their shared sight for real slumber.