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Post-game bonding nights had become a thing, somehow. No one knew exactly when they’d stopped ending in silence or shouting, but after last season it was weirdly normal for the Foxes to cram into someone’s dorm room after games.
Wymack’s latest ban on post-game outings (“the last time half of you nearly got arrested and the other half nearly got in a fight with a bachelorette party”) was the reason the team were crammed into a hotel room after their latest away game.
So instead of bars, there were cheap bottles of alcohol, greasy takeout boxes scattered across the carpet, and tonight—at Allison’s insistence—Truth or Dare.
It wasn’t the chaotic kind of Truth or Dare that risked burning down the hotel. Dan had laid down rules before they even started: “No dares that will get us kicked out, no questions that ruin friendships, and absolutely no stripping,” she’d said firmly, glaring directly at Nicky.
Nicky had gasped, hand to his chest like she’d wounded him. “You act like I’m predictable.”
“You are predictable,” Aaron muttered.
Still, Nicky had rallied. “Fine. I’ll keep it wholesome. Foxes’ honour.”
Which brought them here: half-drunk, sprawled in a loose circle around the floor and beds, everyone at varying stages of amusement or irritation.
“Alright, alright,” Nicky said with a mischievous grin, spinning an empty bottle until it landed pointing directly at Neil. He perked up, already delighted. “Neil. Truth or Dare?”
Neil, sitting cross-legged between Matt and Andrew, didn’t even hesitate. “Truth.”
“Okay…” Nicky tapped his chin theatrically, milking the moment. “What’s your body count?”
There was a groan from Dan. “Oh my god, Nicky, really?”
“What?” Nicky threw up his hands, feigning innocence. “It’s harmless! Totally PG-13!”
Matt smirked into his beer. Aaron rolled his eyes from where he’d been sulking near the mini-fridge. Allison was sipping her wine, intrigued. Kevin, across the room, didn’t even look away from the replay footage he’d hijacked the TV with.
Neil looked thoughtful for a second, then said, “Uh… I don’t know. Like… seven?”
Silence fell like a brick.
Nicky’s jaw dropped. “You’ve had sex with seven people?!”
Neil’s head snapped up so fast it was a miracle he didn’t pull a muscle. “Had SEX with—WHAT?!”
“Wait—what did you think he meant?” Allison asked, confused.
Neil blinked, genuinely puzzled. “…You meant how many people I’ve killed.”
Dan actually choked on her drink. Allison sputtered wine across the carpet. Matt swore under his breath, nearly spilling his beer. Even Aaron stopped sulking long enough to give Neil a look that screamed are you serious right now?
“Excuse me?!” Nicky shrieked, horrified. “You can’t just say that!”
“Why not?” Neil asked, completely serious.
“Because normal people don’t casually drop murder totals in the middle of Truth or Dare!” Nicky waved his hands like he could physically push the words back into Neil’s mouth.
Neil frowned slightly. “I thought that was the point of the game. Telling the truth.”
“That’s not the kind of truth he was talking about!” Dan groaned.
There was a long, awkward pause.
“Seven people?” Nicky whispered, his voice gone very small.
Andrew, lounging at Neil’s side, deadpanned, “Ask again and it’ll be eight.”
That was enough to send Nicky scrambling across the carpet to hide behind Renee like the human shield she was. “Okay! Okay, no more questions, I take it back!”
Dan buried her face in her hands, laughing helplessly. “I can’t believe this is our team.”
Aaron muttered, “Ask stupid questions…” and took another swig.
Kevin, eyes still glued to the screen, finally sighed. “For once in your lives, stop talking. You’re ruining my analysis.”
Neil just sat there, unbothered, like he hadn’t just admitted to multiple homicides during a team drinking game. He glanced sideways at Andrew, who smirked faintly back like he’d been waiting for this all along.
Dan topped up her glass. “Honestly? I’m going to need a lot more wine if this is what all the questions are going to be like.”
“Seconded,” Allison said, blotting wine off the carpet with a napkin.
Matt ruffled Nicky’s hair with a grin. “Hey, look on the bright side. You wanted to know more about Neil.”
“Not that!” Nicky groaned miserably, face buried in Matt’s shoulder.
The Foxes, somehow, kept drinking. Because at this point, what else could they do?