A few days had passed since he opened his old shoe box. Neo continued to open it and close repeatedly everyday. He just could not let go.

Beer bottles were piling up on his coffee table. He just flipped through channels trying to numb his feelings. He hadn't done anything to get money and he was running out. It took a lot of beer to get someone his size drunk and all his money went to that.

Neo didn't really remember when he dozed off. He left a bucket of chicken and mash potatoes on the coffee table. He must've been dreaming because it sounded like he heard a hammer or someone beating on something. He sat up on his couch and scratched his stomach as he yawned.

Knock, knock.

Neo's head snapped to the side.

Who the fuck is that?

He didn't dare move.

Knock, knock.

He got off his couch and made his way to the door to look out the peek hole.

What? No one is there?

Neo headed towards his hallway to the bathroom. Once he relieved himself he went back for his food to reheat it since he fell asleep. Just as he picked the bucket up, someone knocked again. He threw his head back and sighed. Whoever was knocking was pissing him off. He put his food down.

What if it was Ash? He is really short. Maybe that's why I couldn't see him?

Neo hurried to the door and unlocked it. He threw the door open, looking down. His pink and brown eyes flipped to white as they locked with a pair of silver eyes.

"Red Rose?"

Red's face was bright pink and he looked away with his nose wrinkled up.

"Shit man, sorry. I was having... Some beer and I haven't showered. Wanna come in?" Neo asked trying to force a smile.

"S-sure."

Neo backed off into his apartment and let Red in.

"Let me shower really fast. I haven't had time to clean. You can sit in this chair."

Neo picked up his laundry from his recliner and Red sat down with an uneasy smile on his face.

"T-thanks. I'll wait here."

Neo hurried to his bathroom and took a shower. He washed his hair and body twice trying to get the smell of beer and body odor off of him. Neo dried off and put a towel around his waist and headed for his room. He dressed in a dark purple tank top and back shorts.

Neo made his way back into his living room to see it was cleaned and picked up. It even smelled like fresh linen spray he had in his cabinet. He looked at Red with a weird expression on his face. He didn't think it looked that bad.

"Sorry, I didn't mean you had to clean it."

Red laughed nervously, "You looked like you needed some help. I was wondering if you wanted to go somewhere and maybe have something to eat."

"Did you throw away my chicken?" Neo asked.

Red froze and nodded slightly.

"It smelled bad."

Neo laughed.

"Alright. I could eat a burger."

X

X

"You want ten burgers with everything on it?" asked the young girl.

"Yup. Two large drinks."

The young girl stared at Neo then looked back at Red.

"Are... are you sure?"

Red laughed and nodded, "Yea. How much?"

"Sixty five Lien."

Red handed her the money and took his cup from the counter. Neo followed suit and they sat together in the corner booth.

I wonder what he wants. Shit, he's probably going to arrest me. I did break through some fences in Atlas. He just wants to be nice before he deports my ass back there.

"So... Are you here to arrest me?" Neo asked.

Red blinked.

"What? Why would you think that?"

"Your son and I broke through the transport fences in Atlas. I mean, we broke laws."

He grinned and looked down at his drink, "You helped stop the gates of Atlas from falling. Blanche was stopped so it's ok."

"Oh."

The awkwardness was so intense and unsettling,

"Then why did you want to talk to me of all people? I tried to get you killed."

"I remember."

"Ten burgers!"

Neo got up and retrieved the tray of food. He placed it in between them and they dug in without another word until Neo reached his last burger. Red had finished before him and he was trying to build up the courage to speak but he was beginning to chicken out.

"You... I... You know about us, right?" Red asked.

"Aren't you a huntsman? Akairo is a ex White Fang leader and Scarlet is an ex criminal mom."

"Y-yea. I don't mean that."

Neo arched an eyebrow.

"Know about what exactly?"

Red cleared his throat.

"You know the three of us are with each other."

Neo looked mildly surprised.

"I had guessed it but I didn't think it was true. She didn't really say yes or no."

"It's true."

"Akairo tried to kill you both."

"Yea. We got over that."

"I can see that. I never pictured you the womanizing type to be honest," Neo said.

Red looked up to see the girl at the counter staring at them.

"Well... Ash had something on his phone. I want to show you."

"I already saw all the pictures."

"I thought that too."

Neo frowned.

"I thought maybe Ash didn't understand what he was trying to say to me. He had lost his mother for a while and would do anything to make her happy. He told me that you love his mother."

Neo crumpled up the burger wrapper and left it on the tray.

"Ash is a kid."

"He is but not a stupid one."

Red looked up at Neo.

"He may not be mine but... I love him. I was always so worried about the past coming to haunt me constantly. Sometimes I would look at him and see Crimson."

Neo nodded.

"I can see it too."

"Whatever happened a long time ago is part of who we are as people. You are Scarlet's past but she's still living there."

"Living there how?"

"You."

Neo sighed, "I know where this is going. I will leave you guys alone."

Red snorted and laughed out loud feeling more uncomfortable than he had.

"What's so damn funny?" Neo snapped.

"S-sorry. I'm not asking to leave us alone."

He arched an eyebrow at Red, "Really? What is it that you're asking then?"

Red cleared his throat again.

"Will... will you move in with us?" Red asked, "You don't have to try to date me. I really am straight but I know Akairo wouldn't mind and Scarlet misses you. Ash misses you."

Neo busted up laughing, "What? Are you out of your mind?!"

"I thought the same when Ash suggested it."

Neo fell quiet.

"He asked you... to date me?"

Red nodded turning pink.

"I thought it was something he was making up. Then I saw this the other day at the pizza palor when we were out. He was showing Yuri."

Red handed over his scroll. Neo's eyes turned brown and his whole demeanor changed.

"How?" he whispered.

"Ash took it during the fight."

Neo looked up at Red.

"So, it is true," Red said, "You still love her."

Neo looked back down at the picture.

"I never stopped thinking about her."

"Well, we can pack up your stuff and you can come home with me."

"You're asking me to be with you three?"

Red chuckled, "I'm always gone. I get to be home every few weeks when I can. It would be you, Akairo and Scarlet with Ash."

"I don't know what to say."

"I can pay off your bills and you can come right now. It's only three in the afternoon."

"Does Scarlet love you both?" Neo asked.

Red nodded.

"We talked when Ash went to bed. She told us how she felt. Most of it anyways."

"God... What a fucking world."

Red laughed.

"So... yes or no?"

Neo looked up from the photo and smiled.

X

X

"Hey guys!" Red called.

"Why are you coming through the back door?" Akairo asked giving him a weird look.

Scarlet sat up on the couch.

"Is everything ok?"

"Come outside please," Red called.

Thump thump thump!

"Dad!" Ash called.

"Come outside!"

Akairo and Ash made it to the back door first. They moved to the side as soon as they heard Scarlet behind them.

"Hey."

Scarlet's eyes widened.

"N-Neo? What... What's up with all the boxes?" Scarlet asked.

"Well, your boyfriend asked me to move in. To be your other boyfriend."

Scarlet and Akairo turned to look at Red.

"Really Dad!?" Ash screamed excitedly.

"Really really."

"Mom! Is that ok?!"

"Are you bi and I didn't know?" Akairo asked.

Red shook his head.

"No. I guess he would just be with you two."

Ash picked up a small box and started for the house. Scarlet stepped forward.

"If you want me back anyways. Not as partners in crime though."

Scarlet's eyes watered up and she wrapped her arms around his waist without a second thought.

"I love you Neo."

"I love you too," he whispered as he hugged her close.

Hours had passed and it was nine at night. Neo was on the end of the couch sitting by Scarlet with Ash asleep across their laps. Red had his head on Scarlet's shoulder. Akairo had her feet on Red's lap playing with her hair.

"I would have never done this in a million years," Neo said looking down at Scarlet.

She smiled and gave him a kiss.

"Me either."

"It's pretty awesome though,' Akairo said with a smile, "I can just imagine how dark his face was when he was asking you."

Red shot her a look and she giggled.

"I'm ready for bed," Scarlet said.

"Let me put Ash to bed," Neo said and he grabbed the young boy.

He disappeared upstairs leaving the three of them alone.

"Red, I love you."

Red took Scarlet's hand and squeezed it.

"I know it doesn't fix everything but I hope you can feel better now. You can thank Ash though. He just wants you to be happy."

"I'm happy with all of you."

Scarlet gave them each a kiss and headed upstairs.

"You're pretty nice."

"I want everyone to be happy."

Akairo leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"You're staying now?" she asked.

Red nodded.

"I was just mad when I said that."

"I know."

"Ready for bed? Ash goes to Signal in the morning."

Akairo nodded, "Sure."

The two of them headed upstairs for the night.

-The End-

When I started this... Nothing went the way I thought it would lol I never intended to add Neo to the mix but when I reread my own story, I was somewhat dissatisfied with how Scarlet and Neo broke up. I didn't think this should be a yaoi or anything at the end. I think Red wanted Scarlet to finally be happy.

Well, I'm flipping my attention to my new story: A Penny for My Love which is a PennyxRoman story if that interests anyone.

I had a eleven day vacation and I had decided to work on my stories. I had been neglecting this one so I gave it my attention for the last three days.

Happy Valentine's Day!