The sun bore down pleasantly on Neil's shoulders, with a steady warmth that he still couldn't quite believe was real. It was early morning in the small town of Palmetto, and his morning run was quiet and uninterrupted by the people who likely were attempting to have a lie-in. It didn't bother Neil– he'd prefer to go about his business without the hassle of trying to make conversation with the people of this new town.
For it was new to him, and yet not at the same time– Neil had moved here some months ago, living in such a way that most of the residents of the town hadn't even noticed he was there. It had suited him just fine, and Neil had been on his own for quite a while by then. Ever since his mother was murdered, to be precise. Neil had had no choice but to keep running for his life, but eventually, his many years on the run wore him down, until he finally decided to stop in Palmetto.
That had been nearly a year ago, but as far as the rest of the town was concerned, he had only been here for a short month, after moving to the estate of his esteemed Uncle, Stuart Hatford. Unfortunately, his days of quietly living in the town were over, and Neil often found himself feeling bitter and annoyed by that fact. It wasn't the people's fault, necessarily, for his second introduction to the town was quite unusual, and of course, people would talk, as they were wont to do.
The more ironic part of the story is that the circumstances of his two introductions to the town were nearly one and the same. See, Neil had been on the run from his own father, who indeed murdered his mother before Neil's very eyes. The man had taken Neil captive for a time– a nightmarish time that many a gossiper would undoubtedly be untactfully desperate to hear about if they discovered it– but Neil managed to escape with his life, and just in time. At that point, Neil ran until he couldn't anymore, which led him to his first introduction to the small town of Palmetto. Unfortunately, his father found him once more, but at this point, his Uncle Stuart, brother to one Mary Wesninski nee Hatford, had somehow recognized his nephew within the town. After Neil's rescue from his father's torture and violence a second time, he could no longer keep his identity a secret within the town and the news of Neil's harsh history, as far as they knew at least, spread like wildfire.
So yes, Neil found himself quite satisfied that he was seemingly alone for this morning run, and had no qualms about taking his time and enjoying the quiet morning. Yet eventually, his body began to ache and complain loudly enough that Neil turned back and made his way back to his uncle's estate. Though it still wasn't where he wished to go, it would have to do, and Neil didn't want to deal with the fit his uncle would undoubtedly throw in Neil's absence.
Soon enough, Neil watched the impressive span of the estate grow larger in front of him, until he finally slowed in the shadow of its enormity.
Trying to buy himself more time, Neil came to a stop within his favorite spot in the front gardens. A small spring burbled away in an equally small clearing, with willow trees surrounding nearly every side, creating the illusion of privacy and isolation. The grass was lush and soft beneath him, and Neil settled himself down gingerly to begin stretching out his muscles as much as he dared with his injuries still healing.
The morning run had done him some good, and as his heartbeat slowed, Neil felt an intangible weight over his mind ease. The few weeks of his public presence had been trying, to say the least. It hadn't taken his uncle long before he began parading his woefully injured nephew before the masses, to Neil's silent resentment.
Truthfully, it was likely that there was going to be an even bigger debacle today, as Neil had felt the waves of uncertainty and apprehension from his uncle. It was likely to be a long day.
Neil sighed, knowing that he had likely taken all the time he'd be able to afford today before his uncle would begin demanding his presence. Neil slowly gathered himself up once more and began to slowly make his way to the estate. The sun was making its way even further into the sky, and Neil couldn't resist the urge to turn his face towards the sky, closing his eyes and stopping to soak in the warmth of the morning sun.
"Nathaniel!"
Neil couldn't stop his startled flinch at the name, and snapped his gaze to glare at his uncle with a flicker. His uncle faltered only momentarily at the fiery look, before returning Neil's glare.
"Uncle," Neil ground out with lethal fury, "What a lovely morning it is for you to ruin with your mere existence."
Needless to say, nephew and uncle often were at odds at the Hatford Estate.
"Nathaniel–," Stuart began with irritation, though quickly changing tune at Neil's growing snarl. "Neil. My boy, must you run off before the asscrack of dawn and disappear for hours on end?"
Neil quirked an eyebrow minutely, at the cursing and thickened brogue of his uncle's voice. Something truly was going to be happening today, Neil was sure of it.
"Yes, Uncle, I find I must in order to find a moment of peace and quiet away from your nattering voice," Neil responded with acid in his voice, stalking his way towards his uncle on the staircase.
"And I'm sure you don't need reminding that I am not 'your boy', nor will I ever be, Uncle," Neil added as he brushed his way past his uncle dismissively.
Neil let a sharp smirk rest on his face as he heard his uncle's exasperated sigh and quickening footsteps behind him. Stuart was just too easy sometimes– his sister was Neil's mother after all, and he certainly learned from the best.
"Neil," Stuart puffed behind him, "I simply am concerned for your safety and well-being. After the last time that you disappeared, I find myself leery when you find yourself wandering at all hours of the day!"
Neil rolled his eyes, grateful that his uncle couldn't see the motion, "Yes, Uncle, I understand, and I am grateful for what you have done to ensure my safety, but my father is dead. Killed by your own hand, and though his little henchmen are still roaming about, I am his son, Uncle. Surely you know that I can defend myself."
By this point, the pair had reached the dining room, where Neil collapsed, somehow gracefully, into a chair. His uncle stood for a moment, staring at Neil from behind his own seat, Neil's words hovering in the air between them.
With a sigh, the tension rolled out of his uncle in such a way that Neil was reminded of how truly dangerous his uncle still was. Stuart settled himself down into a chair, and with a motion, food was being brought out to the pair, and Neil took that for the concession it was.
The two ate their meal quietly, and once again, Neil was content with the silence. It was only once the pair finished the food that his uncle cleared his throat before speaking.
"I have news that I need to share with you," he began, yet dismissively waving a hand at Neil's tilted head, "but it bears no matter at the moment. Take some time to prepare yourself for a trip into the town, around midday. I'd like to visit the market today, and to have you accompany me."
Neil released a puff of air through his nose, before leaving the table, almost gracefully, yet entirely casually at the same time. The room seemed to echo with his silence in response to his uncle's request, though Neil wasn't all that inclined to feel remorse over it.
Yet, the interaction with his uncle wasn't entirely useless. Neil knew now that whatever it was that made his uncle act like a caged animal was big enough to unsettle him to the point of calling him by his self proclaimed name, rather than his given one.
Certainly, Neil thought grimly, whatever it was wouldn't bode well for him.
And indeed, it did not.
"Marriage."
Stuart stared warily at Neil, sensing the danger in his voice
"You wish for me," Neil snarled softly, "to seek marriage."
It was not a question– rather a damning finger of accusation pointed at his uncle.
"Yes," Stuart said slowly.
"Why." Neil demanded sharply, sprawled in an armchair with deceptive casualty, his hands gripping the armrests as one might imagine a defensive cat would.
"Neil, the matter at hand is a delicate one, I must admit," Stuart said heavily, resting his forearms on his knees.
The two were now seated in a small sitting room, one that might be considered cozy, if one was not in the presence of the rippling tension, the utter sensation of being in danger while being in the company of the two men.
"You are aware, of course, that your father was employed by the Moriyama family."
Neil gave a short nod.
"It's come to our attention that your father bargained for his freedom from his contract with the Moriyama family shortly before he abducted you with the intention of killing you."
"Ah," Neil said softly, tilting his head dangerously. "And what, exactly, were the terms of his bargain?"
"Nathan allegedly bargained for his freedom by offering his son to serve as the Moriyama's Butcher, claiming that the boy would be more than capable of taking over his father's role," Stuart revealed gravely.
"And the Moriyama's actually accepted the bargain?" Neil asked, with what could only be his father's favorite expression splitting his face in half– at least, if Stuart's wince could be trusted.
"My men have reported to me that it's true, and that Nathan's freedom was granted on his terms," Stuart affirmed.
"If that is the case, what was the purpose of abducting me in the first place?"
Stuart sighed, rubbing his face in a rare show of defeat in front of his nephew.
"We're not sure, Neil," he said wearily. "We can only guess what his intentions would be."
"Then share your estimates, Uncle," Neil, in his anger, demanded, finally rising from a faux-casual position in his chair, pinning his uncle with the frigid, ice-blue stare of Nathan Wesninski.
"Your father was a psychopath, Neil!" Stuart burst out. "The man only had a thirst for blood, and I can only imagine the kind of ecstasy and thrill he got from the idea of spilling his own blood, without ever laying a knifepoint to his own skin! Nathan Wesninski had completely, and utterly lost all sense of humanity and mentality by the time we got to him!"
Neil sat with a preternatural stillness, his eyes glinting as a great predator in the wake of his uncle's outburst.
The air between the two was only filled with the sound of Stuart's harsh breathing for several long moments.
Neil hummed, his eyes narrowing just the slightest bit, "I've no doubt that you've neglected to tell me the full truth, Uncle," –and here he raised a swift hand to cut off his uncle's swift breath for impending retaliation–, "Your sister taught me better than that, Stuart, yet I know a man unwilling to part from the truth when I see one, so I will let the matter lie. For now. But rest assured, I will find out eventually, whether that is by the words of your own mouth, or by the strategy of my own choosing."
Stuart was silent, undoubtedly feeling unsettled from hearing the echoes of Nathan and Mary in his nephew's voice. The young man's stare pinned Stuart down, as if he were a butterfly on a corkboard, and the man couldn't quite help the way his skin prickled into goose skin.
"Very well," Stuart conceded, for the second time that day to his terror of a nephew. "It's not like I can really stop you."
"Quite," Neil said, once again in that faux-casual manner of his. "Now, why is marriage at all a part of this discussion, Uncle?"
"My men discovered this bargain during the questioning of Lola Malcolm, before her untimely death, and have since been working to figure out what the parameters of the bargain were."
Neil waved a hand impatiently, rolling his eyes at his uncle's dramatics.
"Well, in the time that we have been trying to figure out the exact terms of the bargain, we reached out to the Moriyama family to make our own bargain, on the behalf of the Hatford family," Stuart admitted.
"How supremely stupid of you, Uncle," Neil drawled dryly.
"Yes, yes," Stuart dismissed irritatedly. "In our negotiations, Kengo Moriyama expressed doubts that you would be able to take over your father's role in his organizations, and thus, we began bargaining for you once more. Kengo has agreed to allow you to take your place in the Hatford family upon the condition that you marry an affluential prospect before his death and his favored son, Ichirou, takes over the family business."
The words seemed to have rushed out of Stuart in a rush, and his shoulders slumped in relief after his explanation.
"How convenient for you, Uncle," Neil drawled, eyes glittering menacingly. "To gain a little guard dog out of your clever little deal."
"The family doesn't expect you to work for us, Neil," Stuart promised fervently. "We only want you to have your freedom!"
"You may not wish for me to continue the business for now," Neil said knowingly. "But I'm almost certain that my particular brand of violence will become convenient for you at some point."
Neil smiled grimly at Stuart's damning silence.
After all, Neil was the son of Nathan Wesninski and Mary Hatford. Violence was written in his very DNA.
"It doesn't do any good to dwell on it now, Stuart," Neil said dismissively, sounding much more put together than he felt, "The deal is done, no matter my opinions and feelings on the matter and life moves on. I assume Kengo Moriyama is not in good health?"
Stuart nodded, "We expect it will take no longer than eighteen months for Ichirou to take over the family business."
"Then we should likely try to sell me off in marriage by then," Neil said absently, "What is your plan for this, Uncle? And it better be a good one, or else you are simply wasting my time."
"Today we will place you within the marriage mart in town," Stuart said calmly. "And then, with any luck, we will use the town gossips to our advantage with a public outing."
"A visit to the market," Neil said, remembering Stuart's earlier invitation.
"Precisely," Stuart affirmed. "There are many suitable prospects in the town– I'm almost certain we can manage it."
Neil mulled it over. It was a plan he could see merit in– Stuart had not required Neil to be pleasant to anyone yet, to mingle with the townsfolk more than what was necessary. It was just enough effort for him, in truth; post his availability, show his face every once in a while and let the masses come to him. Except, Neil had only one thing he wished to add in stipulation.
"Very well, Uncle," Neil said, watching his uncle begin to preen. "But I would like to add one condition."
Stuart's smug smile dropped in an instant, and Neil could have sworn that he saw sweat beginning to bead at his brow. It was almost enough to make him smile. His uncle nodded warily at him to continue, and that really was enough to make him smile.
"I would like to add that prospects will only be considered on the condition that they befriend my cat first," Neil said, teeth flashing in amusement. "Then, and only then, will I consider marriage."
"Your . . ." Stuart started in disbelief, "Cat. They have to befriend your cat."
"Yes, isn't it marvelous?" Neil asked mischievously.
"Neil–," Stuart warned.
Truthfully, he had a right to be worried, in a sense. It was something of a Hatford secret, really, and it was an incredibly dangerous proposal to make.
"Neil, you know that it could be too dangerous for you to–"
"–Uncle, if I am to be married to someone, it will be to someone who I can stand, and trust, in both my forms, whether I am a cat, or a man," Neil said unwaveringly. "And trust me when I say this– you can come to understand a person's true character in the way that they treat animals. A lesson well taught by my father, as I'm sure you can understand."
Stuart sighed, knowing that this was a lost battle before it had even begun.
"Besides," Neil said flippantly, finally returning to his casual position in his armchair, "I spent the better part of a year in this town within my cat form, I doubt it will truly be a problem for me."
And here was the truth– Neil had, in fact, lived within the town in his cat form for many months before his abduction and near death. The Hatford family was a truly gifted family, or one could even say that they were cursed, because every blood-born member of the family had the ability to turn into a cat. The British family had been spooked for many years by their own abilities, but once they began to grow into one of the biggest British crime families, they found their abilities to be incredibly useful. It was one of the reasons why Nathan wanted Mary Hatford to be his wife for so long– to create the ultimate offspring, as only one who thirsts after power desires. And so, Nathaniel Wesniski was born, and just as his mother before him was given the ability to turn into a cat, so too was Nathaniel.
If Neil was honest, he often preferred his cat form, and this was the perfect opportunity for him to prance around in that same form.
He rather liked his condition, really.