The Raven King

"Please don't take this the wrong way, but it's not you I'm worried about," Nicky said. "If you're going to play dealer who do we have in goal second half?"

Wymack looked at Andrew. Andrew looked over his shoulder as if checking for a third goalkeeper.

Jean looked at Kevin. "Hello, Kevin."

"Jean," Kevin said quietly.

Jean's smile was lazy, but the look in his gray eyes was ashen ice. Neither of them had anything else to say to each other, but they stared each other down unblinking. Andrew lost interest before long and leaned forward.

"Jean," he said. "Hey, Jean. Jean Valjean. Hey. Hey. Hello."

Jean huffed a little in annoyance but looked at Andrew. Andrew held out his hand and Jean was foolish enough to take it. Andrew's knuckles went white as he crushed Jean's hand. Jean couldn't hide all of a flinch, and the smooth look on his face gave way to an irritated scowl. Andrew only smiled wider at the sight of it.

"I'm Andrew. We haven't met yet."

"For which I am grateful," Jean said.

"One day I want you to look up 'insensitivity' in the dictionary," Matt said, annoyed. "I'm sure it'll do your ego wonders to see your picture printed there beside it."

that's what makes you interesting. It's also what makes you dangerous. I should know better by now. Maybe I'm not as smart as I thought I was. Should I be disappointed or amused?"

He was their family. They were his. They were worth every cut and bruise and scream.

the hands that had been trying to wrench Wymack's arms off him now held on for dear life.

"Help me," he said through gritted teeth.

"Let me,"

"You are one seriously fucked-up individual,"

"You will kneel," Tetsuji said.

Neil had a feeling he was going to regret this for the rest of his very short life, but he smiled and said, "Make me."

"Neil hit Riko," Matt said. "It was beautiful."

"What?" Nicky squawked. "Not fair! I missed it! Go do it again.

You think I'm afraid of your knife? I'm the Butcher's son.