Could you maybe share some headcanons or idea about Neil x ichirou? I'm starting to like the ship a bit lol
Sorry it took forever to get to this. So, not sure you’ve seen this but I’ve done some prompts before, like this one
And there’s this one
And this one
I keep saying that one day I’m going to write that consensual Ichineil fic, and I really do want to do it. It would be AU and basically Mary cutting a deal with the Moriyamas to get her and Nathaniel away from Nathan, which would get her and her son away from the Butcher but place her in the main house’s debt. Ichirou and Nathaniel/Abram would grow up together, and basically one day Ichirou would realize that the mouthy redhead who’s amused him so much over the years is more than just someone to verbally spar with (and someone to call to handle ‘problems).
And that he has to deal with a family of very protective hitmen (and their employees) first in order to woo his intended....
59. this year my family has decided we’re celebrating the holidays on a cruise and you’re the cute bartender who teases me for mourning the lack of snow, andreil?
*******
HATFORDS (so AU)
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Abram gave Jamie an incredulous look when she showed up at his flat with the news that Aunt Miriam had booked a Portugal river cruise for the family over the holidays. “Why?” he asked for what had to be the fourth time. “Doesn’t she understand that there’s work and-”
“It’s because of work that she did it,” Jamie said as she stepped out of his closet with one of his suitcases. “This way you and Uncle Stuart aren’t too busy with stuff to attend the family dinner or even take a break, nor Henry off in Edinburgh like last year.”
“So she traps us together on a boat,” Abram said as he wandered off to fetch a bottle of wine - no, wait, gin would be better. Jamie trailed after him, a bemused grin on her face when she saw him fetch the bottle. “Traps us on a boat with Ally.”
That wiped away Jamie’s smile and made her fetch another glass, which she motioned for him to pour gin into, along with a splash of lime juice. “All right, perhaps it’s not one of Mum’s best ideas but it won’t be too bad.” She sighed when Abram scoffed at that statement. “I’ll help you throw the git overboard if he causes trouble?”
He had a few swallows of the rather strong gin gimlet while he considered the offer. “Can we weigh him down first?”
“Hmm… sadly, no. Mum at least would probably object, possibly Dad, too.”
Dammit, he supposed his aunt and uncle were somewhat attached the pain in the ass, and would have to settle for the thought of Ally swallowing copious amounts of river water and looking like a drowned rat.
Abram spent the days leading up to the cruise working frantically on everything in his inbox, on clearing out as much he could before Aunt Miriam’s ‘no work unless absolutely vital to the organization’ moratorium came into effect. He didn’t know what he was going to do during the ten day cruise when he was used to just spending a day or two on the holidays at best.
He was eternally grateful for his aunt and uncles in taking him in, in providing him sanctuary when his mother had worked up the courage to send him away after his father had broken his left arm and left him covered with cuts for ‘interrupting’ an important meeting - he’d been little more than six years old at the time, and already bore several scars from his father’s ‘lessons’, including one from an iron on his shoulders. His mother had finally reached her breaking point, at least in regards to the abuse directed his way, and he’d been on a plane the next day, confused and doing his best to hide his fear while he traveled with a stranger (an old Hatford associate) to London.
His mother hadn’t lasted long after that act of defiance, which the Hatfords had made sure Nathan Wesninski had paid for, and Abram had never forgotten the debt he owed his mother for ensuring he escaped that house of fear and pain, nor her family for taking him in. He loved Stuart for giving him a real home at last, as well as Uncle Will, Aunt Miriam and his cousins… he just wish they’d leave him alone to do his job.
“Don’t look so glum,” Bren said as the enforcer drove him to the airport, where he’d catch a flight to Lisbon for the first part of the cruise. “You’ll see some pretty things, enjoy some good food and drinks, and bring back a bunch of stupid shite for us, right? Just try not to kill anyone during your holiday and surprise us all.”
Abram glared at his bodyguard/friend through the rear-view mirror. “Very funny. Just for that, no souvenirs for you.”
“Okay, go ahead and kill someone,” Bren sulked. “Don’t want you to be all grumpy when you don’t get to be stabby.” He laughed when Abram made a rude gesture. “Least I don’t have to be the one to clean it up this time!”
Abram wished Bren a happy holiday with his girlfriend (part of the reason the man was staying behind in London while Davis, Cal and Liz were tagging along to help watch over the family), then checked in and joined the rest of the family in the VIP lounge; it was odd to be flying for personal reasons and not business for once.
He had a glass of wine while waiting for the flight and chatted with Stuart, Henry and Liz while Jamie seemed to be stuck with keeping Ally under control. They kept their discussion general, about the changes to the itinerary they planned over the next week and a half (Abram loved his aunt, but there was only so much ‘tourist’ stuff he could do) until it was time to board the plane.
Ally kept leaning over his seat to ask Abram for pick-up lines in Portuguese, until Aunt Miriam used that particular tone of voice of hers to make him sit back down and behave, at which point in time Abram pulled out his tablet and watched a movie in Russian (passable, but a good excuse to keep his headphones in and ignore everyone else).
It was a short drive to the hotel where they were staying for the first day; Abram had been to Lisbon twice before so he only left his room when Jamie dragged him out for some drinks and snacks, rarely able to refuse her anything. He had to admit that it was an enjoyable few hours, watching the way that his cousin drew men’s attention, the confident yet not cruel way she turned them down, content to spend the time with him.
“Some of them are interested in you,” she pointed out. “Still no interest?”
“Still no interest.” He knew his cousins hoped that he’d find someone to date one day, that his uncles and aunt worried about him, but after what had happened to his mother and the Walker syndicate’s attempt to ‘sweeten’ him up that time… no, he was fine. He’d never had more than a passing interest in anyone, male or female, and was best on his own.
“You need to live more, Ram,” Jamie told him. “Do more than translate and look after the family.” When he gave her a blank stare for that statement, she sighed and shook her head. “Okay, I won’t bring it up for the rest of the year.”
“Lucky me,” he said, the words loaded with sarcasm since that wasn’t much of a reprieve and she knew it.
The next day was spent touring the city during the first half, then they finally got on the boat so they could set sail on the river to Porto. At least Aunt Miriam had booked them the largest rooms that the boat had, so Abram had a small bedroom and a sitting area, as well as a balcony and private bath.
He spent part of the first afternoon exploring the ship, making sure he knew as much of it as possible (old habits from work, from needing to know the exits to everywhere and places to hide in case the job went pear-shaped), then met up with everyone for dinner. As Bren had said, the food was good and there were several bottles of wine to go along with it, although he only had two glasses; he enjoyed watching his family relax, in hearing Uncle Will and Stuart retell stories from their childhood, to watch Jamie and Henry and even Ally laugh.
Cal and Liz made sure that everyone got back to their rooms safely, though Stuart asked Abram to join him at one of the bars, where he ordered a gin gimlet and a whisky for them. “I wish your mother was here for this,” he said after the bartender, a young man with blond hair who appeared even shorter than Abram’s 5′3″ height, served them their drinks. “She’s the only thing missing.” He raised his glass in a toast. “To Mary.”
“To Mary,” Abram echoed as he clinked their glasses together, his throat tight as he thought about his mother. “Though she’d complain about wasting all this money when we could have just stayed at home.”
Stuart snorted at that, to the point that he almost spilled his drink. “Damn right she would, unless it was her idea in the first place.” He shook his head and stared at Abram with something resembling nostalgia. “You’re so much like her, you know?” That surprised Abram because from what he could tell, he took after his detested father with his pale blue eyes and auburn hair, even down to most of his facial features - what he had inherited from his mother was the Hatfords’ lack of height and slim build. “There’s days when I think she sent you to me so I’d be plagued by her all over again.” Now his expression was pure fondness.
“I try my best,” Abram admitted, the words rough as he thought about how he did do his best not to let his uncle down.
“I know, kiddo.” Stuart reached out to ruffle his hair; Abram caught the bartender gazing at them and had to wonder what the man thought of their conversation.
Fortunately it took a more mundane turn after that, with them joking about what to get Bren and the others for souvenirs, and after one more drink they retired to their respective rooms. Abram found himself returning to the bar often, either to get out of his room or to join one or more of his cousins, or for an after-dinner drink with Stuart. Most of the time, the handsome bartender with the intent hazel eyes was there, to the point that he’d have a gin gimlet ready for Abram soon after he arrived.
It was when they’d reached Régua that Abram sat down at the bar alone, his mood sour as he thought about ‘celebrating’ Christmas Eve with his family in another couple of hours. “Aren’t you supposed to be wandering around some palace,” the bartender - Andrew - asked as he set down the gin gimlet.
“I’m not really in the mood for that,” Abram confessed as he stirred the drink with the plastic stick. “For pretending to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’, or dealing with Ally asking me yet again for pick-up lines I don’t even know, or smiling for my aunt when I’m bored out of my bloody mind.” He let out a weary sigh before he picked up the drink and drained most of it in one go. “And I’m bloody sick of all this sun,” he added on to the growing list before he set the glass down on the immaculate bar. “I want to be back in London, or at least Aunt Miriam could have picked a place with snow. I miss snow - what’s the point of a holiday trip when there’s no snow? Why can’t we be at some chalet or something?” Then he thought about it for a moment. “Except I don’t like skiing, I suppose. Might be worth it, though, to shove Ally off a mountain.” Oops, he probably shouldn’t have said that in front of Andrew.
Except there was the slightest of quirks to the left corner of Andrew’s mouth as he wiped at the already clean bar. “Of course you’d whine about such a thing. I don’t like snow, though I agree with you on shoving your one cousin off a cliff.”
“Hmm.” Abram finished his drink then indicated he wanted another one. “You’re American, what are you doing working a cruise like this?” That had been bothering him the last few days, and if Andrew was willing to talk…. “Sorry, if that’s a personal question.”
Andrew shrugged then surprised Abram by pouring another drink - a whisky, neat - which appeared to be for him. “My cousin lives in Germany and after I graduated university, I decided to stay with him for a while. Was looking for a job and since I knew bartending and German, this was a good fit.” He paused to toss back the drink, his attention never wavering from Abram. “I don’t usually work this cruise, I stick with German ones, but I was asked to fill in.”
“I’m glad you did,” Abram said, and for some reason he felt his cheeks heat up. “Uhm, I mean… you do a very good job?” Why did that come out as a squeak?
Andrew continued to regard him for several seconds then motioned to the ignored gin gimlet in front of Abram, which he’d been neglecting. “What do you mean by not knowing any pick-up lines? I’ve heard you speak Portuguese and it sounds rather fluent to me.”
Abram had to wait until he finished swallowing to answer. “Ah, it’s just… I don’t pick people up? People don’t hit on me?” Did that make sense?
“I find that difficult to believe,” Andrew said as he looked Abram up and down; usually Abram found the gesture insulting, but right then… right then he felt his cheeks heat up again.
“I just, haven’t been interested in people before,” he tried to explain. “No one stands out to me.”
“No one?” Andrew continued to gaze at him until Abram had to duck his head and finish his drink.
“Ah… no, not usually.”
It was quiet for about a minute or two, during which Andrew cleaned their glasses and Abram attempted to figure out what was going on. “You live in London?” Andrew finally asked.
“Yes.” Abram smiled, the expression a bit lopsided. “Though I do travel a lot for work.” He hoped that Andrew didn’t ask him about his ‘job’.
All the other man did was nod. “Yes, so do I.”
It was quiet again after that, with Andrew off to pour drinks for some other guests and Abram answering texts from Jamie and Stuart on his phone. He was about to leave when another gin gimlet was set down in front of him. “I have a day off soon,” Andrew told him. “When we dock at Salamanca. Could use an interpreter.” He didn’t say anything else, just stared at Abram as if daring him to do something.
Abram found himself smiling as he picked up the drink. “I’ve been told I’m a very good interpreter, as it happens to stand.”
Andrew nodded once then left to deal with more guests, which left Abram to finish his drink (it probably should be his last one if he didn’t want to embarrass himself at dinner). Even as he left the bar, the smile lingered on his lips, his foul mood from earlier utterly vanquished.
Perhaps Aunt Miriam’s idea had been a good one after all.
He still hoped to be able to throw Ally overboard before they returned to Porto, though.
*******
I couldn’t see Andrew teasing Abram THAT much, sorry. Not when they don’t know each other too well yet.
So this is an Armies AU? Something like that. My head hurts.
hey! in armies how do you think stuart and the hatfords found out that mary was abusive and how they felt abt that?
Hmmm. Not to steal too much from the prequels that’ll be coming around soon (so there may be some overlap here):
Obviously Stuart and Will and Miriam know that Abram/Neil was abused by Nathan (aka the f*cking bastard)
They knew about it from the little they managed to get out of the ‘spies’ they planted (or tried to plant) in the house in Baltimore, from what Mary said (or didn’t say), from what the f*cking bastard taunted them with the few times Will or Stuart dealt with him
From that week when Mary and Abram/Neil stayed in London with Will and Miriam, still bearing bruises that they mostly hid with long sleeves and ducked heads (and makeup on Mary’s part), the way that Abram/Neil would never be more than a couple of feet from his mother’s presence and watched Will and Stuart with huge, fear-filled blue eyes
So Stuart expected to have a wary as f*ck teenager on his hands when Abram called him without warning and told him that Mary was dead, when this battered, too-thin kid showed up on his doorstep
He expected to have to take things slow, to keep his voice pitched low and not move too fast because of what that f*cking bastard did to Abram when he was young, because of all those years on the run
What he (and Will and Miriam) didn’t expect? How quiet Abram was, even once in a safe place, how he didn’t talk out of turn to an adult, how he stood there and watched and listened and was quick to do things (always just out of reach, always attentive)
That… wasn’t like Henry or Jamie or Ally (oh hell no was it like Ally)
They expected him to be leery of Will and Stuart because of… well, because, but he didn’t relax around Miriam despite her smiles and kind words and attempts to put him at ease
And she was good at putting people at ease
If anything, he watched her with too-intent care and was quick to do whatever he thought she wanted (other than to get rid of his ‘old rags’ - his over-sized, worn clothes)
What made them realize that the f*cking bastard wasn’t the only one to lay a hand on Abram was when Miriam was chiding Abram about his clothes one day before he was supposed to go off to the boarding school she’d picked out for him - she was worried that he wouldn’t fit in if he didn’t dress properly
Abram, obviously stressed about leaving Stuart’s home to go live in a strange dorm, snapped at his aunt that his clothes were ‘fine’, that he was ‘fine’… and then went still as he realized what he’d just done before he hung his head and appeared to brace himself for something while mumbling ‘sorry’ beneath his breath
Miriam shared a surprised look with Will and Stuart before she assured her nephew that it was all right, her expression twisted with sorrow when she reached out to touch Abram on the shoulder only for him to flinch
Stuart began to ask questions (pry) a bit more after that, to ask Abram here and there about Mary (he couldn’t push too hard, not with such a skittish creature as his nephew)
He… didn’t like the answers; he knew his sister wasn’t perfect, not after the last fifteen years or so, especially not when she’d taken a young Abram and went running helter-skelter all around Europe rather than allowing the family to help her and the child
But to know she’d laid hands on a poor kid already scarred enough by the f*cking bastard?
He adored his sister, he did, she was his flesh and blood, but part of him didn’t like her very much right then
The worst part of it all was that Abram didn’t even see anything wrong with what she’d done - a hit here or there to keep him in line, to remind him to be quiet, to be careful… it had been for his own good, in his mind
All Stuart (and Will and Miriam) could hope for was that he’d spend some time around normal kids his own age and see that it wasn’t right, that he shouldn’t go through life with someone who was supposed to look out for him roughing him up all the time to keep him ‘safe’. He’d have a chance for a normal life at last
And then the Moriyamas found out where they’d hidden Abram and sent the Popescu cousins after him, and Stuart (and Will and Miriam) had to figure out how to put Abram back together (when he hadn’t even been ‘whole’ in the first place) once they ‘rescued’ him
Tw: Canon typical levels of violence and trauma going on
This is the basic outline of a fic idea I think about way to often. The odds it will ever be written in full are slim, but who knows. Feel free to steal all or any of this just sent me links I beg . OK so...
1 : Capture
At 14 Abram gets caught by nathans people, whiles mary gets away.
Nathans people torture Abram for the giggles, but they underestimate him. Our boy almost escapes, but of course, this is when Nathan finally makes an appearance. He mangles the shit out of Abram's feet cuts one of them off in retribution, kills one of the idiot guards to make a point, and then shuts Abram in a dark hole with the corspe whilst he gose after Mary.
2 : The Rescue
Completely out gunned, injured, and on her own, Mary becomes truly desperate and reaches out to her family for help.
The Hatfords come to the rescue and raid the building save Neil but Nathan and most of his circle escape.
Abram is in hospital for a long time first in europe, then later back in Britian whist he recovers. He has to have more of this leg amputated to clean up what Nathan did and to also give him any hope of using a prostectic in the future. It's a really difficult conversation.
Mary argues alot with her family but the hatfords convince her not to run again and stay with the family.
3 : Learning to live
He is out of the hospital living up at the Hartford family esate, doing lots of PT and getting to feel somewhat safe.
Mary is away alot helping the family, her and Abrams relationship is very strained atm.
Houres riding, swimming, slow walks in the garden and learning more langues. Family bounding time.
Abram is 15 when he is finale ready for a prostectic and get to learn to run again.
4 : Family Business
He is greatfull to his family, would be anything for the Hatfords. Him and Mary fight alot about them.
Abram gose behind her back to do some translating work for the family, just some documentations at first, a little dinner party with some clients.
This cousin always seem to forget he's only 16
Eventually stuff gose wrong, Mary finds out she try to make them run again
Lots of shouting an argument follow.
The Hatfords make a compromise with Mary so she'll stay and send Abram off to boarding school to keep him out of the family business.
Initially, Abram is pissed but is somewhat placated/excited when he learn the school has an exy team.
5 : Boarding School
School isn't great, it sort of like being on the run again. He's here under a new false name 'Neil Josten' but where before as Chris and Stefan he manged to blend into the background here and now he stands out like a sore thumb. People Stare at him alot. He spends most of his time hidding out.
The only good thing is Exy, the school coach, let him come to practice and do drills with the team. Not content being the waterboy Abram goes on a campaign to convince everyone he isnt breakable and can play in real games.
6 : Betrayed
It's all going well till he is kidnapped from his dorm in the middle of the night.
The team that was sent to the same to Mary fuck up and the Hatfords are warned in time to interven, Mary is caught in the middle takes alot of damage and is left comatose.
The hatfords race against time to find Abram before he can be smuggled out of the country. All look lost when they receive a phone call from an unexpected source.
Giselle Moreau daughter of the notorious French human trafficking syndicate know who has Abram, he been taken by her fathers people, who are paying back a favour they owe Nathan.
Giselle wants out of life, she lost all trust in her family and has been looking for escape routes since they sold of her brother. In Abram, she sees her changes. She strikes a deal with the hatfords.
It's not a good time for Abram, he fights like hell but the fuckers took his leg, he really want to get his hand back on it maybe he could ues it to beat someone's head in.
Giselle fully betrayes her family, the plan was to break Abram out quietly, that gose tits up fast and they have to fight there way out, keep moving till the hatford backup can bust in.
7 : The Offer
When the Hatfords get him back, they are 100% more overprotective and pull him deep into the family to keep him safe. No more boarding school, the only downside of which is no more Exy.
The cousins see how miserable he is and to cheer him up, arrange for him to meet the British National Exy team.
He meets them and even get to run some drill and have a fun little scrimmage with some of the team, its a great day.
The couch sees so much potential in Abram. The kid has more passion for the game than most of his team put together. It's sad to think it will go to waste cause no one will take a risk on a disable player. Lucky for Abram, the coach knows just the man willing to take such a risk, his old buddy David Wymack.
Wymack hears his old friend out. Watch the tapes he is sent. Signing Abram feel almost inevitable.
8 : Fighting for a future
Abram desperately wants it but knows it would be to dangerous to walk into Moryamia territory like that.
Stuart see light in Abrams eye for the first time, sinces the kidnapping, and knows he'll do whatever in take to make this happen for him.
Nathan is in prison, Kengos health is rumoured to be flaging, and Stuart use to have sort of a thing with ichirou once upon a time. He takes a chance , makes a deal with the devil for the sack of his nephews smile.
Abram can go to the Foxs under the fake name he has been using at boarding school, Neil Josten.
But he has to bring run away kevin day back into the main branches fold and help ichirou bring the troublesome side branch down.
Thus starts a lot of fighting amounts the Hatfords but with marys voice adsent from the dedate, stuart support and the possibility of peace with the Moryamias on the line, Abram gets his way.
End of Part 1
So yeah ... this pulls a lot from a variety of different fics that I like and, of course, my own headcanons. I have a random sense or 5 written for it and way too much background world building that I might post here.
I’m that person in the corner wondering if there’s anyone else thinking about an All for the Game/The Foxhole Court and Katekyo Hitman Reborn crossover.
Like, the Hatfords calling in the Vongola for back-up against the Moriyamas. Or Tsuna and Guardians looking in on an alliance with the Moriyamas only to meet Riko or, hell, Nathan. Neil having a familial connection to the Vongola instead of the Hatfords. Yamamoto being a Exy player instead of baseball and while visiting America on business decides to attend a (Fox) game or has a favorite team.
