Best Kind Of Mess

What if it was the case ? What if Nathaniel had met Jean-Yves Moreau in Marseille when he was on the run with his mother ? And when Jean was sell to the Moriyamas to clear his parents debt, he begged Neil to take Elodie with him ? Because Jean hoped that Elodie would always be safer with his only friend that with their parents ?

And years later, Neil Josten has to deny Wymack offer.

"Why ?

- I have a sister. I'm her guardian. She's 14.

- okay. Bring her.

- what- ?

- bring your sister. Neil Josten."

When he finds out, the first thing he does, as soon as he is able to talk to Neil in private, is tell him to RUN, bolt, save his life. They are going to lose the season, yes, It is going to suck, but Neil needs to run before It is too late.

Neil tells him he doesnt want to. Explains his decision to him. And Kevin....respects it. Because there is no good choice for Neil in the moment. He can stay and die or he can run and maybe delay his death in a few years. This is not a easy choice to make and Kevin respects and accepts whatever Neil has decided.

This doesn't mean he likes It or that he is fine with losing Neil. Just means that there is nothing either of them can do about the fact there are way too powerful people who want Neil's head on a silver platter.

Then Neil asks Kevin to not tell Andrew, and Kevin immediately understands why. He says with all the words: "Andrew wouldnt respect your choice"

Because Kevin understands there is no good or safe choice for Neil and he understands the least he can do is allow Neil to autonomy to decide.

Most of all, Kevin keeps Neil's secret. Not because he wants to keep It, but because Neil asked him to. Kevin understands this is the most he can do for Neil in that situation.

He cannot fight the Butcher, much less the Moriyamas (neither can Andrew). He cannot make Neil stop being Nathaniel. He cannot stop the people that are after him

But he can respect Neil's choice and keep his secret. So he does. Even If he knows this will make Andrew mas at him. Because for most of Kevin's life, he had all his choices made for him, because where Kevin comes from, keeping secrets was the most power he could ever have.

Lets start by the fact that the whole "you were always going to lose him" thing isnt even canon. As Nora has made It clear more than once, the EC is NOT canon anymore. So justifying that Kevin deserved to be choked based on something we dont even know will be kept in the books is a stretch to say the least.

Also worth to remember that Andrew KNEW Kevin had information on Neil that he didnt. It was Andrew who took Kevin to talk to Neil in private. He was very aware they were keeping something from him. He was also aware there were dangerous people after Neil and that Neil was a liar. It is not like what happened came out of nowhere.

You can understand why Andrew did what he did, you can understand the type of strong emotions Andrew was going through at the moment, but saying Kevin deserved to be choked for respecting Neil's decision is a fucking WILD take.

Neil's true identity and story were not Kevin's to tell. Neil was the one who made the decision to hide It from Andrew. Neil was the one who asked Kevin to keep his secret. Neil was the one who kept his identity a secret until the very end. Neil was the one who started receiving a countdown on his phone and decided to hide It from everyone. Acting as If Kevin is to blame here doesnt even make sense.

Also, I dont know in what barn yall were raised, but you dont go around telling other people's secrets just because someone else would like to know them. Specially since Andrew knowing or not knowing the truth wouldnt have changed much, except that Andrew would have gotten pissed at Neil.

But honestly, Kevin would have been better off If he had ratted Neil out. Then instead of getting mad at him, Andrew would have gotten mad at Neil and Kevin could wash his hands.

Instead, Kevin decided to respect Neil's decision and autonomy, which got him choked. And a huge part of the fandom somehow thinks he deserved It.

The funny part is that If Kevin had told Andrew the truth about Neil, the fandom would hate on him for 'not respecting Neil' and 'not giving him the right to keep his secrets'

I didn’t say he deserved it for protecting Neil’s secret. I was saying that if I were Andrew and Kevin had said some shit like that to me I’d have choked him too because that absolutely was not helpful and should’ve been an inside thought. It was necessary in the narrative though to show that Andrew will break his promises for Neil.

Knowing he might not have said that does change my comment a bit but at the end of the day, you can have your own opinion of a piece of media and I can have mine. ✨

When he finds out, the first thing he does, as soon as he is able to talk to Neil in private, is tell him to RUN, bolt, save his life. They are going to lose the season, yes, It is going to suck, but Neil needs to run before It is too late.

Neil tells him he doesnt want to. Explains his decision to him. And Kevin....respects it. Because there is no good choice for Neil in the moment. He can stay and die or he can run and maybe delay his death in a few years. This is not a easy choice to make and Kevin respects and accepts whatever Neil has decided.

This doesn't mean he likes It or that he is fine with losing Neil. Just means that there is nothing either of them can do about the fact there are way too powerful people who want Neil's head on a silver platter.

Then Neil asks Kevin to not tell Andrew, and Kevin immediately understands why. He says with all the words: "Andrew wouldnt respect your choice"

Because Kevin understands there is no good or safe choice for Neil and he understands the least he can do is allow Neil to autonomy to decide.

Most of all, Kevin keeps Neil's secret. Not because he wants to keep It, but because Neil asked him to. Kevin understands this is the most he can do for Neil in that situation.

He cannot fight the Butcher, much less the Moriyamas (neither can Andrew). He cannot make Neil stop being Nathaniel. He cannot stop the people that are after him

But he can respect Neil's choice and keep his secret. So he does. Even If he knows this will make Andrew mas at him. Because for most of Kevin's life, he had all his choices made for him, because where Kevin comes from, keeping secrets was the most power he could ever have.

Silence fills the room until Kevin can't help himself and breaks the tranquility by complaining.

"This movie doesn't make sense. Isabella of France and Wallace never met in real life. She was-"

A chorus of shushes, annoyed looks, and a "Shut up Kevin, no one cares" follows before everyone's attention returns to the screen.

Kevin slumps against the couch, trying not to think too much about the way everyone ignores him. A moment later, a hand settles on his head, gently pushing it toward Neil's knee, inviting him to rest there. Soft fingers scratch at the top of his head. Golden eyes look intensely his way.

Neil leans toward him and murmurs, "What about her? What were you about to say?"

Neil who never lets Andrew carry his own bag through an airport or out of a stadium, even though Andrew is inarguably bigger and more muscled than him. Who always keeps the freezer stocked with ice cream no matter the circumstances. Who keeps a bubble of space around Andrew when they’re walking through thick crowds, always a bicep or an elbow in the way to stop people from getting too close. Who gets his wallet out every time they get dinner like Andrew doesn’t make 80% more than him. Always free shoulder and feet massages, post-game and in-bed and whenever, without Andrew ever having to ask. He always washes Andrew’s hair first in the shower, always cups the water away from his face so soap doesn’t get in his eyes.

Neil who is always down to do Anything Andrew Wants, Ever. Andrew wants to go on a drive in the middle of the night? Or an impromptu road trip in the off season? Sure, Neil’s grabbing the keys. On the road they pass a pungent, fresh-made bakery and Neil turns the car around without uttering a word. Neil, who, after years, always answers the phone when Andrew calls on the very first ring — who turns his full-attention to Andrew when he calls his name, even in the most crowded room. Who does pretty much anything Andrew asks of him and anticipates dozens of other wants and needs. Who always goes out of his way to make Andrew’s life easier. Neil, who puts Andrew above anything and everything else.