#Neil: Is it...is it that dangerous? (Thinking about FF this morning)

[jtl-fics]

Fluent Freshman - Part 23

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There were a few reasons that Andrew and Neil could not get past reception to go see FF or get updates on his current condition.

The first reason was that visiting hours were long over by the time they had arrived a little after midnight.

The second reason was that hospitals, in general, don’t just give out information on their patients to any random person that walks in and asks for an update on their condition. They are ESPECIALLY hesitant to give out updates on patients when the people who are asking can’t give you anything other than a first name, general description, and the reason that the patient is in the hospital.

Somehow “Completely average looking guy with the last name Smith who was stabbed in the stomach” is not enough for the receptionist to go off of.

“There are multiple people here that fit that description. I would need at least a first and last name before I could even begin to start seeing if you were someone who we even could give updates to. No, I will not continue to play your fun little game of guess the first name.” She says when Andrew opens his mouth to start listing off names alphabetically again.

So now Andrew and Neil found themselves under the watchful eye of a security guard as they sat in the back corner of the front reception area.

“I can’t believe we still don’t know what Smith’s first name is.” Neil says his face is buried in his hands as he and Andrew sit in the uncomfortable chairs trying to figure out where to go from here.

“I think she knows exactly who we want to see.” Andrew scowls towards the receptionist who, long used to the ire of the public, pays him no mind. Andrew just refused to believe that there were that many brown haired, brown eyed, average height and weight guys who had suffered a stab wound to the stomach that would have been admitted in the last two hours.

“I just hope they actually are looking after him and that no one went and forgot about him in an hallway somewhere.” Neil says hands sliding up into his hair to grip.

“That wouldn’t happen.” Andrew dismisses despite knowing that Wymack had ABSOLUTELY forgotten FF at a stadium once during the period where FF had been low presence to keep his family from bothering him.

The U-turn he had pulled had definitely been illegal when FF called and asked where the bus was when they had been on the road for five minutes. Wymack had felt terrible about it but FF had just seemed relieved that the bus had come back for him.

Wymack.

Andrew pulls out his phone and dials a familiar number. Wymack, reliable as always, picks up on the fourth ring with the sound of cursing as he got the phone up to his ear. “What.” He asks and Andrew can hear the sounds of driving and Kevin’s infamously train-like snoring in the background.

“What’s Smith first name. You know it.” Andrew demands.

“Classified.” Wymack clips back immediately.

“I need to know it so that we can get updates.” Andrew hisses.

“He isn’t interested in people knowing it and you wouldn’t be able to get updates anyways.” Wymack dismisses.

“We want to be able to head back to see him.” Neil tries.

“Visiting hours are long over Josten. You know that I’m not settling that bet that you little fuckers have floating around about this.” Wymack responds back.

Andrew grits his teeth and then forces himself to relax his jaw, “It’s not about the bet.” Andrew shuts his eyes in irritation.

That stupid bet.

The betting culture within the Palmetto State Foxes Exy team that Reynold’s had cultivated held strong even after her graduation with the remaining Foxes. The Bet had started when one of the other freshmen had mentioned that it was funny that FF went around like Cher or Madonna. The realization that none of them knew FF’s first name was one that had them placing bets on a multitude of things. Things like: “Do you wanna bet it’s a super normal boring name?”, “Do you wanna bet that it’s a weird foreign name?”, and “Is FF intentionally not giving it out to people or since he goes by his last name normally he has no idea that anything is amiss?” Had lower pools since you were betting on a spectrum. The bet with the highest pool is: “What is FF’s first name”.

Wymack had categorically refused to answer it and all other attempts to discover FF’s first name had been met with frustration. There was a solemn agreement that no one could just go and outright ask him since that would ruin all of the fun. Andrew had agreed to not ask when the team had collectively filled his freezer with ice cream cake and he was a man of his word.

The general belief (after the revelation of his major and the number of languages FF spoke) was that FF’s name was just not easy to pronounce for English speakers.

Andrew hadn’t participated but he know that the Foxes do have a running list of names they know it’s not. (Greg, Will, Smith (again), Matt, Kevin, Neil, Andrew, Aaron, Nathaniel, Jack, Beyonce (Sheena’s drunken guess), Nicholas, John, Fred, Garfield, Frank, Alfred, Augustus, Adam, etc. (Andrew had been trying to guess with the receptionist for a while))

“You’re coming here aren’t you? We can get updates when you get them.” Neil says.

“He’s in emergency surgery right now and will remain there for the next few hours most likely. There’s not going to be any updates hopefully.” Wymack says with a sigh loud enough that they can hear it over Kevin’s snoring.

“Surgery? He needs surgery?” Neil asks sounding surprised s if FF hadn’t been stabbed to the hilt into his stomach with one of Andrew’s knives. He’s about to give Neil some shit for the question before remembering that if there was any person who would think that a stab wound to the stomach wouldn’t necessitate surgery it would be Neil “I’m Fine” Josten.

“Yes Josten, he needs surgery. They have to stitch up his stomach and the surgeons are also going to be dealing with some of the ulcers that were ruptured by the knife.” Wymack explains likely coming to the same conclusion that Andrew had on Neil’s stupid question. “They were a bit worried about him bleeding out but he stabilized before the surgery.” Wymack sighs.

“I’m going the hospital since I’m Smith’s medical proxy. If anything goes wrong with the surgery I want to be there so I can make an informed decision on his care.” Wymack says and… Andrew figured there’d be surgery but to hear it and the possibility that something could go wrong, that the last thing FF had said to him had been something non-sensical about “Gracie Hart wouldn’t have gotten stabbed. I’m Cheryl at best.”as he’d started succumbing to all the blood loss. “If you could stick around long enough for me to drop Kevin off with you I would appreciate it.” Wymack says.

“What if he needs a blood transfusion?” Andrew says.

“Smith is AB-, it’s the second easiest blood type to transfuse into. Go home Andrew.” Wymack repeats.

Andrew works his jaw irritated that there didn’t seem to be a path to getting his way.

“We’ll stay here until you get here.” Andrew agrees, “But you’ll get an update before we leave.” He adds.

Wymack sighs, “Fair enough.” He says before hanging up.

It’s 45 minutes of waiting and tossing a few more name possibilities at the receptionist who seems more amused than anything at their continued attempts to guess their friend’s first name (Neil goes through the entire list of names that he’s gone by and none of them get the thumbs up).

Wymack comes through the doors with a half awake Kevin Day following his steps. “I have another favor to ask you.” Wymack says instead of any form of greeting.

“I’m not going to leave Kevin in the car overnight again. It was just that one time.” Andrew says with a roll of his eyes and honestly he’d been punished enough listening to Kevin bitch, moan, and sneeze for the following week while talking about all the supplements he was taking.

“Not that,” Wymack pauses, “I have two favors to ask you. First don’t do that. Second, would you be able to pick up Smith’s grandma from the airport tomorrow?” He asks.

Andrew blinks.

“She’s coming here?” He asks.

“I updated her on my way here. She booked a flight and will be arriving around noon tomorrow.” Wymack says and Andrew doesn’t know why he’s confused by this. FF’s grandma got him two still warm pies to cheer him up on Thanksgiving.

He’d stabbed that woman’s grandson.

“I’ll pick her up.” He agrees.

Shorter one today

NEXT

MASTERPOST FOR ALL PARTS OF FLUENT FRESHMAN AU

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The requests to be added to the tag list keep being spread out across a few different areas. If I missed you please just ask again in the replies I promise I just missed you.

As stated before if you’re up here and I spelled it right but you didn’t get a notification there might be something switched around in your settings that won’t let me tag you properly?

#Fluent Freshman AU #Might be taking a bit of a break after this post #I wanna figure out the overarching joke of the next part #So FF is under the knife getting stitched up so he doesn't make an in person appearance this chapter #Kevin is coming along with Wymack because he wants to figure out the recovery time and PT FF will need #They were planning on having him be the starting Dealer next season #Honestly he can't BELIEVE that Romero would fuck up his line-up like this #Yes Kevin is aware that he is not the Captain #FF never lets anyone forget who the Captain is #It's Captain Neil #Neil and Andrew try to become close to the receptionist so she will release FF's first name #But god they are both super bad at small talk #Andrew and Neil: So...busy day? #Receptionist: Actually considering the fact its Black Friday it wasn't that bad #Neil: Is it...is it that dangerous? (Thinking about FF this morning) #Receptionist: I've seen body builders get their thigh bones snapped in half by exhausted stay at home moms for a blender you tell me #Neil: Anyone from the (location) Target? #Receptionist: Oh that was a bloodbath didn't you see the news? #The misconception that FF is a cool badass guy continues to grow throughout the Foxes #AFTG #AFTG AU #AFTG OC #AFTG Fic #FF - Pt 23

[robin-bring-the-snow]

sibyl

Chapter 2: Truth

Autor’s Introduction - Chapter 1

A/N: Spoiler! If you haven’t seen yet season 3, don’t read this chapter or this ff.

(Warning: my English)

“What’s wrong dad? Are you not happy to see me?” Noreen smiled while her father walked back to let her walk in, he wasn’t prepared to see her especially he didn’t want to see her and want her out of his house, but he didn’t want to make a row in front of Max and Susan.

“It’s beautiful, Dad.” Noreen affirmed looking around her, she came in the kitchen where Susan was finishing to eat and Max was washing her plate, Neil was angry for Noreen surprise because he thought to make the things clear last time, he didn’t want to see her and contact with them, she is dead for him.

“Susan this is Noreen, my daughter” Neil introduced the guest to Susan, Max was a surprised but didn’t’ tell anything, Susan watched Noreen with a confused gaze, because Neil told nothing about her, and he didn’t aspect that after these years Noreen could want to see him. However, Noreen didn’t want to see her father, she came only to look for his brother.

“Max, right? - Noreen said while she sat in Billy’s spot. - I met your friends, they gave me the sign and they told me to remind you that you will meet them at the Arcade.”

“Neil dear, why you didn’t tell anything about her?” Susan demanded to look to Neil and waiting for an answer that wasn’t slow to arrive.

“Suan I...” 

“Because dear Susan, he didn’t like me, then he abandoned me.” Noreen interrupted looking with an angry gaze him. Max continued to look the guest with a serious gaze even if deeply she was curious about Noreen.

“You know that it wasn’t true, your mother. Your mother abandoned you.” He threw out, Noreen looked him with a surprised gaze because she knew that it was a lie.

“Oh, it’s right sir. However, who did she suggest it? Or better who did her force to do it?”Noreen screamed at him.

“Don’t fucking start your whining and tell me what you want” Neil said that he lost his patience and sent away Noreen, she smiled looking his father lost the temper and after she put her bag on the seat on her left, she opened her mouth: ”I need to see Billy, I haven't seen him for a while. Tell me where it is and I'm leaving.”

“He is death.” Max replayed looking down, Noreen asked her politely to repeat what she said, and Max took a deep breath to avoid crying.

“She died last year...I’m so sorry” she apologized without looking in Noreen's eyes, she didn’t see Neil made Noreen leave the house, she didn’t see Neil threaten her never to return. She simply ran into her room and listened to her mother to negotiate with Neil to let her have a female figure in her life. Neil could tell no to his wife, even if he has disagreed with her, he would let Max see her stepsister.

 Meanwhile Noreen was in the car trying to metabolize the news, she couldn’t believe that after this time she didn’t know about his brother, no dream, no premonition, nothing. She didn’t fight back her father because she was too devastated and in pain to do, she remained in the front of the house and lighted a cigarette and started to smoke in her car with the windows opened. After she had cried for at least two hours, she noticed a redhead ran from behind the house. She recognized Max, so she flashed to the girl caught her attention, but Max completely ignored her and took out her bicycle.

“Max, where do you think you're going?” Noreen asked after she quickly got out her auto, she threw her finished cigarette and cleaned her tears.

“I’m going to the Arcade; you remember me that.” Max answered to the woman turning to look at her. Noreen thought that Neil would take her to the Arcade, but maybe he didn’t want Max to go there.

“I give you a ride with my car.” Noreen told before walked to her auto and removing the box and the bag from the passenger seat. Max approached slowly and doubtfully, Noreen noticed it and smilingly held the door open.

“You should go home and slept on it or do whatever you want, tomorrow it will go where you come.” Max said, Noreen, didn’t respond because she was completely focused on the street and plus, she needed to see him, one last time or know-how he died.

“You should go back to California and…”

“And what? Tell my aunt and uncle that their nephew is death.” Noreen shouted she scared Max who hoped that they would arrive soon at the Arcade. Noreen understood what she has done and cursed herself for being so emotional and irrational like her father.

“I’m sorry, Max. I didn’t want to scream at you. I hope you would…”

“Don’t worry, he used to scream at me.” she affirmed once arrived, she got out the car and leaned on the small door.

“Hawkins cemetery, 10 am don’t be late. - Max made to her an appointment before came inside the Arcade - Don’t worry for the ride to home, I slept to Lucas.”

Later Noreen had brought Max to the Arcade, she drove to her new home and she loaded out the boxes and put in the living room. The house was one floor and not too large, it had its own furniture and wasn’t like Californian house, but it was comfortable; it was the house of her uncle, so she didn’t buy anything, because he didn’t sell it, hoped that someday he and his wife would move in, in contrast, he decided to give Noreen because of aunt Victoria wouldn’t leave California and her friends. She brought from California only her important stuff: vinyl, jewels, books, clothes, tapes, and some photos. After she put the books and vinyl in the library, and her jewels in the jewel box she laid on the bed without worried about the dust, she appointed on her head that she would clean the next morning, and she closed her eyes.

“I…am…alive.” 

Noreen heard a voice, immediately she opened her eyes, but she wasn’t in her bedroom even in her house. She was in a dark place, stood up from the ground and walked straight because around her there were only trees and forest, she kept going until she saw the shopping mall. When she reached the doors, she noticed that they were cover by something, it was like black branches, but they were sticky and soggy. Noreen felt scared and confused cause by the storm, there were red lightings and black clouds with strong wind. She removed those things blocked the handles of the door to go inside of the building and protected. She entered the building, which it was clearly abandoned it could see it from the broken shops’ windows and from the consummate writings, and she saw three silhouettes of people and then she woke up.

After turning over in bed, she read the time: it was nine o'clock and she had not yet dressed. She quickly got up and ran into the living room, she opened the boxes of clothes and took a pair of jeans and a grey blouse. She adjusted her blond hair and wore sunglass to cover her blue eyes from the sun of that morning and after touched the pendant she wore; she went outside to go to the appointment.

 “Bil…Noreen, you are late” Max pointed looking the woman got out, it was the first time that she called someone Billy instead of his or her name, maybe it’s happened with Noreen for her hair, which was very similar to those of her brother, or because she wore the same sunglass that Billy was used to wore. On the other hand, Noreen noticed the mistake but didn’t say anything, because she probably heard wrong.

“Sorry I know but I slept too much” Noreen justified walking close the girl, Max removed the sunglass from Noreen’s face, she looked carefully without letting it go.

Max carried Noreen into the cemetery, speaking to her about the weather; she noticed that it was too sunny for being middle of September because it used to grey and cloudy the weather. She spoke about the guys that Noreen had met yesterday, she introduced them: Lucas, Dustin, and Mike. She spoke about them: Lucas felt admiration from the first day they met and now they were together, Dustin was the nerdiest person that she ever met and Mike, she didn’t like Mike from the first day and the feeling was the same, Noreen smiled while she was hearing the girl. She told that they were an important piece to move on the grief.

“He didn’t like Lucas.” Max suddenly said and stopped.

“It wasn’t his fault; our father doesn’t like the different ones.” Noreen apologized him, despite he didn’t need to have apologized because he wasn’t his fault.

“However, I wasn’t the only girl because there was also Eleven.” Max tried to change the argument.

“Eleven?” Noreen asked confused at the same time curios for the name.

“Yes, she’s Mike’s girlfriend. She moved away after the police officer died.” She explained watching her feet instead to watch Noreen, who looked ahead of herself. However, she didn’t speak until a question came into her mind.

“Why is the city empty?” Noreen asked looking Max who hoped with all of her heart that she didn’t ask that. She didn’t want to tell the truth because it would be dangerous and complicated, so she decided to tell her a white lie.

“He’s there. - Max said stopped two graves before and pointed to the white grave where Billy was bury. –   I waited for you here.” She concluded looking away from the direction that she pointed.

Noreen thanked her and crouched in front of the grave, she noticed two fresh white roses, she thought that probably Max put them here yesterday. Suddenly Noreen started to laugh, but it wasn’t a happy laugh, it was a desperate almost crazy, she cried while she was doing that. She felt more devastated than yesterday because now she was in front of his grave and felt guilty because her gif didn’t predict this, she started to feel unpowered because she could avoid his death, but she couldn’t predict it, and this was worse. Has power and didn’t save her relatives.

Max walked to her, she felt her pain and it reminded how she was one year ago, also she understood how difficult would be gone in another state, left everybody for what? To discover that your brother has died.

“I can understand your pain.”

“No, Max. You couldn’t, you could never understand. I’m alone in this world, my all family is death.” Noreen cried and smiled at the same time looking at Max, who ignored it because for these years she was blamed by Billy, for their departure from California and had the strength to ignore it. She hugged Noreen without asking, Noreen didn’t the object didn’t regret what she had said because Max could never have been her sister, even if the feeling wasn’t mutual and she could see it. Then Max left her alone with the grave, she went to find a bench where she would sit, Noreen, sit on the lawn and looked at the photo of Billy.

 “You are an asshole, you know right? I missed you. I wanted to meet you, I drove for one day and some fucking hours, that only God helped me, to find out that you are dead and now? I felt so alone. I will miss you now that I know it.” Noreen told to him, hoped that somewhere he heard her. Why he didn’t reach her? Why he didn’t escape to her? - she thought cleaning her tears came down in her cheeks. She looked his grave for some minutes in silent, which became two hours, she thought about him and why she didn’t know before about his death, and especially how he died, without stopped to touch the pendant to feel him next to her; he gave it for her 15th birthday and she never removed it. She smiled one last time to his brother, and she went away greeting. She found Max some graves away were sitting in a branch, who waited impatiently her return, at that moment Noreen felt a shiver along her spine, she immediately turned back but didn’t see anybody, Max looked her a little confused by the motion but she avoided asking her if she was okay.

“Finally, you came over. I will leave you here if you don’t come back. I can't wait for all day I have other things to do.” Max scolded her as she stood up from the bench, Noreen threw out a pack of cigarettes and a metal lighter, she started the first cigarette of the day ignoring the telling-off.

“Where do you have to go?” Noreen asked looking the girl, who didn’t respond and walked to the cemetery exit, Noreen followed her without made another question.

“I can give you ride.” She proposed politely when they were out of the cemetery.

“No thanks, I go alone.” Max quickly dismissed and rode her bicycle, Noreen didn’t stop her, she just looked her went away. Noreen didn’t force her to ride wherever she has to go, because she wasn’t her responsibility.

After Noreen came back to her house in the Elm road, she started to clean her bedroom and reorganized the wardrobe, she tried to distract herself doing housework even if she was still shaken, frightened and felt alone, for the first time she didn’t aspect, it wasn’t like her mother that one day she felt sick and after two painful months for Noreen and her aunt, she died.

“I’m lost. What should I do?” Noreen asked her laid down in the bed. Someone should hear her because the telephone started to ring, and she ran to the kitchen to answer before it stopped to ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Nora, I’m John.” Her uncle answered from the other hand of the telephone, Noreen put a hand on her face because she reminded that she had to call them once she arrived. 

“Hello uncle, sorry for I didn’t call you. I had done something” she apologized bit her lower lips, she wouldn’t tell immediately about her discovery, so she tried to change the argument before he could ask.

After they talked for several minutes the fateful question came because John was not stupid and knew his niece too well, he knew when something was wrong but still decided to wait.

“How is Billy?”

“Uncle…well…he isn’t well…” Noreen started to cry, she couldn’t speak again because the pain and the grief were fresh.

“Noreen, I’m so sorry, but we couldn’t prevent it…I have to pass your aunt, she could explain better.” Noreen confused by the words of her uncle because she didn’t understand what they couldn’t prevent.

“Noreen, before you hang out, I want to say that I couldn’t prevent you to go to Hawkins.” Her aunt introduced, Noreen became serious and raised her brow in confusion, but she wanted explanations, so she said nothing.

“One year ago, I started to feel bad the last week of June like something suck my energy. In the night, I heard a girl's voice scream Billy’s name. I woke up scared and couldn’t sleep for all night. For two weeks I dreamed that girl's voice, but I couldn’t understand if it happened or it will happen. After these two weeks, I dreamed you say to us that you will go to Hawkins to find your brother. I never imagine that the day after I would read his name among the announcements of people who died in the Starcount Mall disaster.” She explained, Noreen her guiltless for what she said but she didn’t feel sorry for her and she was angry, to keep her in the darkest. 

“I have one question: why?” Noreen demanded calmly without lost her temper.

“Sweety…”

“Why!!!” she yelled at the phone, she felt a stupid, an idiot and ridiculous, it was absurd because her aunt knew all this time the fate of Billy and she didn’t tell her, Noreen felt betrayed because she trusted her aunt the only figure that considered as a friend.

“Because you will do it in any case, fuck Noreen, you didn’t want to discover what it happened to your brother and how is he died? You will move to Hawkins anyway because you are curious, you do not stop at the first explanation and also with your gift you are...you are unstoppable. How could I have convinced you? No one would have succeeded.” She responded to her answer and Noreen deeply knew it was true; she would discover what kill to her brother and no matter what it cost she would find out.

“Mum? Did she know about this?” Noreen asked quite like a whisper. She heard a sigh and after some minutes her aunt confirmed and added: “What do you think killed her?”

#billy hargrove #original character #original female character #robin x oc #robin buckley #robin x female character #steve harrington #billy x original character #billy x steve #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things ff #fanfiction #fluff #angst