Chapter Text
Neil played the video of Andrew high on anesthesia after his wisdom teeth removal more times that he could possibly count. When he was alone, of course. He didn’t think Andrew knew yet that he had gotten it all on video, but that was fine. Because Neil knew as soon as he found out, he’d demand Neil erase it and Neil just wasn’t ready to let it go just yet.
So, he thanked the universe again for smart phones with video capability and listened to Andrew’s voice saying ‘You have such a nice ass’ over and over and over again. Because, listen. Neil liked to feel appreciated for more than just his exy skills.
The only problem with a guy who has had very little contact with technology and the social world in general was that he had no idea how to use his phone beyond sending texts and making phone calls and now taking videos and pictures. So, it really shouldn’t have been a surprise when Neil accidentally attached the video in a text to Nicky. He had no idea how it happened. One minute he was trying to send Nicky a picture of a book he left in the dorm and the next minute his phone was blowing up with texts and calls.
Neil had never felt the kind of dread that settled in his stomach at the fact that Nicky now had possession of a very high Andrew saying all sorts of things he would never normally say.
That he liked Neil.
That he thought Neil was pretty.
That Neil had such a nice ass.
Not even when he was in that house with his father in Baltimore or in the nest with Riko or in that room with Ichirou after winning the championships had he felt the dread he was feeling right now. Nope. Neil was more afraid now than he was any of those other times. Not of Andrew per se. Never of Andrew himself. But of the drama queen goth level emo inspired shit fit that he knew would ensue from this situation.
He had just curled up in a corner of the room with his head in his hands when Nicky came bursting through the door, out of breath and sweaty and looking like he had run like his ass was on fire all the way to the dorm from his class on campus.
“OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. NEIL. OH MY GOOOOOOOOD.”
Neil closed his eyes and put his hands over his ears.
“Nicky you have to delete it. Right now. Give me your phone. You have to delete it before Andrew murders us both.”
“But it’s so cute! He’s so gay, Neil. Just. So, so gay. I’m just so proud I don’t even know what to do with myself!” He hit play on the video and Neil listened to Andrew’s voice come through the phone.
‘You’re so pretty’
‘I like you like you.’
‘I’m so glad you let me touch your ass.’
Nicky howled in delight and bent over at the waist to clutch his stomach. And that was when Neil saw him.
Andrew.
In the doorway behind Nicky.
Death in his eyes equal only to the power of a thousand burning suns.
Neil moaned, and Nicky straightened. “Oh, come on don’t be like that. I won’t show anyone. Except maybe Erik. Can I send this to Erik?
“No.”
One word made Nicky freeze. He looked at Neil and visibly swallowed. He slowly turned his head to look at Andrew and immediately paled. Neil imagined animals everywhere sensing danger and running for the hills. Freshmen on campus were taking cover at the scent of a Minyard meltdown. He was still a rabbit at heart and if Andrew hadn’t been blocking the doorway, he’s pretty sure he’d be halfway to Canada by now.
“H-hey Andrew! Ah…”
“Give me your phone.”
“Okay…”
Nicky handed Andrew his phone. Andrew hit play on the video and watched himself, stuffed full of gauze and higher than Nicky after cracker dust laced vodka shots. Completely blank faced. Completely silent. The video ended, and he pressed a few buttons to delete it from Nicky’s phone. Then he slowly, carefully. So gently. Set it on the ground and brought one booted foot down on it as hard as he could.
“Oh COME ON Andrew! That was a new phone! I had nudes on that phone! What the fuc-“ Andrew had grabbed Nicky by the front of the shirt.
“Get out. Now.”
Nicky moved quicker than Neil had ever seen. He briefly wished he’d move that quick on the court before remembering the very quiet, very still, incredibly attractive promise of death standing in the room.
“You taped me? Because I specifically remember the promise of a slow death if such a thing occurred. Why? Why do you have such a death wish? Is it the childhood trauma? Your issues never cease to amaze me.”
He was next to Neil now, crouched down on the floor in front of him. He reached out and tipped Neil’s head up to look at him. He sighed heavily.
“How would you like me to murder you?”
Neil bit his lip. He knew logically that Andrew would never hurt him. Andrew was all gentle hands and soft touches and only rough in the ways he knew Neil liked it. But the part of his brain that worked overtime to make sure he was constantly alert and constantly afraid of everything as a survival mechanism took stock of possible weapons and exits. And then his eyes made their way back to Andrew. And he couldn’t help but notice how Andrew’s eyes were glued to the spot where Neil worried his lip with his teeth.
“Hmmmmm,” Neil said, feigning thought. “Let’s see. You could force me to run myself to death. Of course, that would only help my ass wouldn’t it? You might be too distracted to make sure I die properly.”
“That…will not be a problem,” Andrew said gripping Neil’s chin a little tighter.
“No? Are you sure? I’ll let you touch it, just to make sure it won’t cause you any problems. You know. Because you like me so much.”
“I hate you.”
“That’s not what you said in that video, lover boy,” Neil said, grinning now and running a finger down Andrew’s cheek.
Andrew dropped Neil’s chin and for the first time in Neil’s entire existence with Andrew by his side, Andrew looked surprised. As much as Andrew could anyway. Which meant his eyes went a little wide and quickly narrowed. He stood abruptly and yanked Neil up by the arm.
“Delete it. Now.”
“But…but you’re so nice when you don’t know what you’re saying. Let me have this, damnit!”
“Delete it or I'll break both your racquets and will not block another goal the entire time I’m trapped in this alternate universe of hell.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Do you really think so? Do you want to risk it?”
Neil sighed and pulled out his phone. “Can I watch it one more time?”
“No. Delete it. Now. The sooner you do it the sooner we can work on your punishment.”
Neil let loose a very put-upon sigh. “Goodbye video. Goodbye evidence that Andrew likes me. Goodbye Andrew’s sexy muffled rough voice talking about my ass.” He deleted the video.
“Happy?”
“No. Now, tell me. What do you think is an appropriate punishment?” Andrew asked with the air of a parent disciplining a naughty child with their hand caught in the cookie jar.
“Well, I think really the only punishment is forcing me to reveal embarrassing confessions, too. Punishment fits the crime and all.”
“Oh? What embarrassing confessions could you possibly have left?”
“Well,” Neil smiled and stepped closer to Andrew until they were almost chest to chest and Andrew had to tip his head back just slightly to look Neil in the face. “We could start with how much I like you. How pretty I think you are. How nice…not even nice. Your ass is just…” He let out a sigh. “It’s just the best.”
Andrew was very still. Neil thought he was barely breathing. When he finally looked at Neil with something like wonder in his eyes, Neil’s dread was replaced with want.
“Yes or no?” He asked, raising a hand to cup Andrew’s face.
“Yes,” Andrew breathed. And then lifted a hand to shove Neil’s face away from his. “To you going to get me ice cream whenever I want. Right now. And you’re running there. Since it’s so helpful to your ass and all. And I swear to god if you don’t bring me back double chocolate chunk I’m making you run around the entire state of South Carolina until you find it. Go.”
“But…I have class in an hour! And practice later!”
“Ask me if I care. If you want to see me in a goalie box the rest of the season, I suggest you start running little rabbit.” Andrew made a shooing motion with his hand.
“Fine. FINE. But you can erase that video from existence and I’ll STILL KNOW that you like me.” Neil left the room before Andrew could respond. He pulled up his phone. And watched the video that was still in the text conversation he accidently sent Nicky. And smiled.