Chapter Text
Todd was panicking. All day his dream wouldn’t leave his head. His Neil dream. The dream where Neil… he didn’t want to think about it. Especially now, with all the poets, including Neil, sitting beside him at dinner. Todd tried to focus on his food. He was partially succeeding.
“Guys, I think Toddy is high right now. Didn’t know he was such a bad boy.” Charlie’s mocking tone broke him out of his stupor.
“Shut up, Charlie. I’m just tired, ok?” Todd didn’t mean for his tone to sound so…mean. He blushed, an apology on his lips. He saw Meeks choke on his mashed potatoes. Todd looked up at Charlie. He looked as smug as ever.
“Sheesh, definitely not high then. What’s up your ass tonight?” Pitts giggled. Todd shot him a glare. His mouth shut closed.
“Leave him alone, Charlie.” Neil said, giving Charlie an exasperated look. “Obviously he’s not in the mood.” Charlie rolled his eyes. “Tough crowd.” Todd didn’t know whether to be flattered or upset.
I wouldn’t be so “not in the mood” if you wouldn’t have showed up in my dreams. Todd thought. Nonetheless, he gave Neil the sweetest smile he could, heart skipping a beat at the one he gave back.
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Todd was going to die. He was absolutely, positively going to die. The darkness in the forest surrounded him, and he could barely make out his friend’s faces as they scurried through the brush. He could feel the cold night air, he could feel his poem for tonight, a small slip of paper, brush his skin in his robe. But the only thing he was painfully aware of was Neil’s hand. Neil’s hand on the small of his back, guiding him along in the dark. Todd’s face felt like it was pumped with lava, despite the chill air. Neil’s hand was so warm, burning a print into Todd’s back.
They continued to walk, to shuffle over roots and twigs, Neil’s hand not moving. Neil looked at Todd then, and God, all Todd wanted was for Neil to wrap him in his arms. Would he do it if Todd asked? He could blame it on the cold. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, as Todd saw the cave, and Neil’s warm hand left him.
Later, Neil sat next to Todd, further proving to him that the universe hated him. Neil literally couldn’t have been any closer, Todd was practically sitting in his lap. He tried to pretend he didn’t care, knowing his face was bright red. He pretended to take notes, and pretended to not keen when Neil’s arm wrapped around his shoulders. His eyes began to droop. He yawned as Neil’s warmth and the voices of his friends lulled him to sleep. Todd sagged to one side, feeling his head hit a warm mass. Neil’s voice rumbled in his chest, not registering in Todd’s ears. Everything began to blur, and when he felt warm hands card through his hair, it was lights out.
___
Charlie watched in glee as Todd slept on Neil’s shoulder. He couldn’t stop a grin from breaking out on his face.
“Aww, our little angel went beddy-bye,” Charlie cooed. Everyone heads except Neil’s shot toward the sleeping boy. Meeks and Pitts giggled and Knox swooned dramatically, hell, even Cameron smiled.
Neil? Neil was not amused.
Neil’s face was beet red, mouth gaping open like a fish. “S-Shut up! He’s just tired ok?!” Neil blanched, quickly taking his hand out of Todd’s hair. Charlie smirked. Oh, Neil, you really do got it bad.
Eventually, the meeting resumed as normal, Knox reciting a vomit inducing love poem for Chris, Cameron being throughly made fun of, Pitts and Meeks did a dance routine. Attention was completely off Neil and his sleeping beauty. Charlie laughed along with his friends, but took secret glances towards Neil.
What he saw made a smile break out on his face. Todd’s face was lax, his hair in his eyes, gentle snores coming from his nose. His head laid on Neil’s shoulder, one leg hooked on top of Neil’s thigh. But the thing that made Charlie’s heart swell, was Neil’s face.
Neil was looking right at Todd, his eyes locked on him with the fondest look Charlie had ever seen. Neil’s hand had returned to Todd’s hair, gently running his fingers through Todd’s bangs. Neil looked absolutely… Charlie couldn’t think of the word. Whipped? Stupid?
Charlie watched as Neil pressed a kiss to Todd’s head, and the answer was made crystal clear.
In love.