Work Text:
Today is the worst.
Neil had slept in. He’d forgotten that it was a testing day and that he needed to get to his office early to print off the exams. That led to him rushing about in the morning, nearly forgetting his keys on the counter. Duke, ever the patient soul just turned and walked back up the stone pavement to their door without even a blink. She was used to Neil rushing back and forth after three years. Of course, the next issue of the day had come when Neil left his coffee on the table while grabbing his keys.
They’re in the car and turning onto the main road when he curses loudly and colorfully about it. Duke simply blinks at him from her spot in the back seat.
If he sees some dumb ass parked in a disability spot without proper tags, Neil might consider arson.
Thankfully, there are no illegally parked cars and Neil and Duke start the short walk from the parking lot to the large building dedicated to Arts and Sciences office. He’s lucky with an office on the first floor that is right beside the bathrooms and snack machines.
Neil’s office is small. Bookshelves line one wall and a small waist-high self takes up residence along the back of the office. He doesn’t have a coffee machine in his office anymore, too many late nights where Andrew had to come to drag him home when he was up late with caffeine running through his veins. It certainly hadn’t been healthy but now he regrets removing the machine. Inside the office, Duke keeps to his side until he calls her off. She’s quick to go to the plush bed and curl up, eyes on Neil as he moves around.
He loves his small office. His desk sticks out from one wall, dividing the room into front and back sections. It also provides a good handhold when moving around, always something there to lean against when he needs it.
There are four classes he has today, two are taking an exam that he needs to print off still and the other two are math lectures. Neil opens his laptop and scrolls through the documents until he finds the exam, something about how technology has changed the linguistics field. He’s done the same exam for the past three years. He does a quick check-over, making sure there is the new date at the top before he leans back and looks at Duke. Patting his thighs quickly he turns his palms face up for her to come over.
Duke isn’t very graceful in getting up. More so due to the mobility harness she’s still in, but also she’s never been a graceful dog. Her breed—Bernese Mountain Dog—is strong and sturdy. Duke drops her head into his hands, blinking up with her black eyes. Neil has to laugh at the expression the different colored eyebrows give her. She looks almost pitiful with small brows and large dark eyes. If Neil didn’t spend every day with her by his side, he might be swayed into giving her an entire bag of treats.
Neil’s fingers scratch under her chin before moving to behind her ears. As he runs the velvet soft ears between his fingers, he gives a gentle tug to one that has Duke licking his hand. Her tail wags across the floor, sending a small cloud of her hair in all directions. Sighing, Neil thanks the custodian team that cleans the offices, maybe he needs to leave them a gift of thanks for all the dog hair they clean up?
He stretches his leg while still sitting, muscles and tendons protesting at the tightness before slowly relaxing. The weather has begun to warm up again, meaning that he doesn’t suffer from the tightness of muscles and old pains that plague him during the winter months. The socket and shin tube of his prosthetic is hidden by his trousers, the black prosthetic foot barely visible from his shoes. Silver lining to only having one full leg; only needing a single sock. Standing, he shifts some papers around to get to his printer. The machine has been under two binders full of papers from last semester that Neil hasn’t cared to move. Now he drops them on his desk, waiting while the blue screen glows to life. Turning back to his computer, he sends the exam document to the printer. It’s a shorter exam, single page, and front and back. Nowhere near the exams he gives to his math students. There’s not much to do besides drum his fingers on his thigh as he watches the pages come out with fresh ink.
Then it beeps.
Neil blinks at the printer. On the screen, there’s a small logo of an ink pot that’s repeatedly draining.
Low ink.
He presses the heel of his palms into his eyes. Neil is never one to believe in bad luck, but now he’s starting to wonder. Did he break a mirror without realizing it? Walk under a ladder during some construction on campus? He releases a low groan before dropping his hands to his sides and staring down at Duke. Her mouth drops open and her pink tongue flops out, a black spot sits near perfect in the middle.
“Ready to brave the office printer?” Neil mutters.
Duke’s tail wags, disturbing some papers but Neil hardly blinks at them. He grabs the printed exams—all four of them—before placing them into his bag and fixing the strap over his shoulder. He’s got his keys and his phone on him, double-checking everything before he grabs the handle of Duke’s harness and opens the door.
She’s patient, turning with him so he can lock his office door and sticking close to his side as they walk down the hall. The office paper room is blessedly empty. There’s the familiar calming smell of paper and ink as Neil links his laptop to the printer and sends over the exam.
The whole printer shakes as it whirs to life, noise filling the room with its faint rattling. He keeps a hand on Duke, mindlessly watching the papers come out.
What would be good for dinner tonight?
There was some handmade pasta Renee had gifted them from her last visit - Neil could make that while Andrew made his famous sauce. They had some chicken that needed to be grilled. That was more likely on the list of Andrew’s recommended meal plan anyway. They never followed it, but still.
“Hey, Neil!”
The only reason he doesn’t stumble from the sudden voice is his grip on Duke’s harness. Neil turned to the door where a man of average height but who looked as though he was made of skin and bones was grinning.
Neil barely keeps his frown from his face. “Dr. Ortega, good morning.”
The other man is one of the worst people Neil has ever met; a fan of shitty Exy teams. He harps on about routing for the underdogs and even has a Fox mug, but his professional team choices are downright horrendous. Why anyone would openly admit to supporting the Columbus Cardinals is beyond Neil.
Dr. Ortega takes a loud slurp out of his mug before sighing. “Did you hear about Wendell’s transfer?” He clicks his tongue and shakes his head. “Doesn’t make sense to me to bring in someone with a playing style like that, ya know?”
Neil turns to face the printer and rolls his eyes. “Makes sense to me, changes up the lineup and makes it more difficult for the other team's strikers to understand our play style.”
The other hums along. “That’s true, but we’ve got Minyard in the goal so there isn’t much to worry about there,” he laughs and sips more from his mug. “No striker can get passed him.”
Neil is inclined to agree, but he knows the stats. “Kevin Day gets shots past him.”
“Okay, but that’s Kevin Day there’s no one like Day, he’s… Day .”
Neil blinks for a moment, he’s on copy 88 of 100, just a little longer.
“Please, there are several great strikers that are up and coming. Every generation gets better, soon enough Day will have to move aside for them.” Not that the righteous bastard will let it happen anytime soon, but Neil will make all the aging jokes he can.
The printer beeps to announce that the task is finished and Neil grabs the stack. The papers are warm in his hand and he turns, forcing a small pinched smile at Dr. Ortega. The other has his mouth open to speak more but Neil excuses himself and leaves with Duke. Walking through the hall he pauses to tuck the exams into his bag.
He and Duke set out across campus. Why he was gifted with the Linguistics class that wasn’t held in the Fine Arts building but instead in the Agriculture building, he’ll never know. It’s not a long walk and most of it is flat ground which makes it even easier. Neil likes to stroll through the campus when he has the time. There’s plenty of shade from the trees that line the large pathways and most of the buildings have pretty landscaping. Duke enjoys sticking her nose into some of the larger flowers when she gets the chance. She always steps back looking satisfied and with yellow pollen stuck to her nose.
Neil hears it right after they’ve stepped into the air-conditioned building. A small rip followed by the ting of metal against the tile. Then he’s shifting, leaning too far to the side as the handle of Duke’s harness slips. Neil curses as his bag slips from his shoulder while he falls towards Duke. He catches himself against her side and back, leg twinging in pain with the twist to his muscles.
He takes a breath to calm himself, it’s the only thing that stops him from shouting as he speaks. “Fuck.”
“Dr. Josten?”
Glancing over his shoulder there’s a student that he actually recognizes. He blinks. “Yes?”
The boy rubs the back of his neck. “Do you need some help?”
He wants to snap that he’s fine. He can fix whatever happened. Instead, he holds up a hand to wait and lowers himself to sit on the ground. Students be damned, they can move around him. He runs his fingers over the harness, finding the rip along the seam and the small metal bolt that’s fallen off. The handlebar won’t support him like this. Neil can wiggle the metal piece from its position, he needs a new harness. He runs his fingers along the socket that cups his knee, having to readjust his prosthetic leg would be a pain to do in the middle of the floor, but thankfully he doesn't have to.
He looks up at the student and extends his hand. The boy is quick to help him up and grabs Neil’s bag as well. Maybe Neil can work some bonus points onto his test?
“Come with me.” Neil directs, keeping a firm grip on the boy’s forearm as he walks towards the elevator. The class is on the third floor, and like it or not this student is his support for the time being.
It’s a short elevator ride thankfully. The elevators in this building are hit-and-miss on if they’re crowded with students or not. He’s not one to begrudge someone for taking the elevator, there are some injuries and reasons that can’t be seen from a first glance given to a stranger.
His class is across the hall, already with a few students sitting in their chairs and staring at their phones. They all look up when he comes in holding onto a student for support. Is it against university policy to flip off students? He ignores the thought as he gets to his desk.
“Thank you,” Neil nods to the student.
The answering grin is large and bright before he hurries to his seat a few rows from the front. Neil sits in his chair. Slowly the students filter in, quickly moving to their seats. He ignores the curious and sympathetic looks the students send his way. He doesn’t need or want their sympathy. For a moment he rests his head on his desk, forehead digging into the cool fake wood grain.
“You have five minutes of study time, use it wisely,” he announces, lifting his head and pulling his phone out.
It’s still early, early enough that Andrew’s in practice. Despite that knowledge, Neil presses the contact on his phone, lifting it to his ear. If Andrew doesn’t pick up he can call the team’s manager and he’ll pop down to the court and get Andrew. Neil doesn’t enjoy calling Andrew and interrupting his own work, but Andrew is the only one who can grab a replacement harness for Duke.
The phone rings twice before Andrew answers, “Neil?”
The rush of relief that sags Neil’s shoulders as the deep voice comes through the speakers near makes him sigh, “I know you’re at work-”
“What do you need?” Andrew cuts him off, the zipper and rustle from a gym bag in the background.
There’s no sense dragging it out, not when Neil needs a harness to actually get around the campus. “Duke’s harness broke while walking to my class.”
Andrew hums and a metal door clangs shut. “Do you have spare crutches?”
Wincing, Neil shakes his head though Andrew can’t see him. “No.”
A brush of fabric muffles whatever Andrew is saying on the other side. Another voice comes in and Neil leans back in his chair to wait.
“Room 325, right?”
There’s always a small moment of awe at just how good Andrew’s memory is. Neil goes to three separate rooms today alone. “We can make it back to my office if you want to meet there?”
“We’ll see when I get there.”
Neil lets out a sigh. “Thank you.”
Andrew hums a response before the line goes dead to the roar of an engine. Neil lowers his phone as a small smile settles on his face.
He drops his gaze to the roster of students, latching onto the first name that he sees.
“Mr. Miller, would you come to pass out these exams for me?” He lifts the stack of papers.
The small grin grows as the students groan and shove their books and phones away in wake of the exam. A small blonde kid stands and takes the papers, passing them out to the students. Neil leans back in the chair and drums his fingers gently on the table. There are five multiple-choice questions and then a short essay that the students will need to write about. They’ve got an hour to complete the exam.
Turning to Duke, he undoes the buckles on her harness, taking it off of her and setting it on the desk. She gives a shake before coming and nudging his hand. Neil rubs her ears gently, dragging his thumb along her brow bone before Duke pulls away and lays down beside the desk.
Pulling his laptop out, he brings up the exam for his math students that will be taking place next week. It’s easier to put it all into the school's computer system and make the test online - offering fifteen minutes of discussion before the test if they come to class. Slowly Neil plugs in the numbers for the equations, having them deal with brackets and solve for random numbers. It’s mind-numbing work that he sinks into, solving the equations he makes up twice to double-check that the answers are correct. A small chime comes from his phone.
“You have fifteen minutes left,” Neil announces. “Remember, once you turn in the test you can return to your seat and I will answer some questions you have. Otherwise, you’re free to go and have an adequate day.”
There’s a shuffle of chairs as every hunkers down to continue the exam. It’s then that Duke’s tail beats against the floor. Neil glances down and watches as her ears perk up and her tail picks up speed.
The door is pushed open and Neil turns with a grin. “Hey,”
Andrew nods and walks over to the desk. He completely ignores the students who have stopped their exams to stare. Neil takes a moment to stare as well. Andrew’s come straight from practice, black joggers and an athletic jacket with his team’s colors and logo displayed on his form. The large gym bag on his shoulder resting against his hip has his name printed in bold white lettering; no hiding who he is.
Duke stands, her tail swinging back and forth quickly as she sees Andrew enter. She’s off harness and isn’t working which typically means it’s time to play. She leaps over to him, a large, fluffy, excited puffball of a dog. Neil watches in amusement as she leans her weight against Andrew’s leg, walking right up against him as he approaches the desk.
“Get off pest,” He mutters, nudging her back but dropping a hand to rub her head.
Neil calls her over, getting her to sit beside him while Andrew sets a travel mug down on the desk, nudging it closer to Neil. He smiles and takes the cup, heat seeping through still. A sip proves that it’s scalding, but the exact tea that he had made this morning. Shaking his head at Neil burning his tongue, Andrew lifts the broken harness, turning it over in his hands and finding the missing piece and the rip.
“Congrats,” Andrew hums. “You broke it.”
Neil rolls his eyes. “You don’t say?”
Andrew crouches and unzips his bag, pulling out the new harness. Neil takes it from his hands and gets Duke to step into it before adjusting all the straps and buckles. She lays down once everything is fitted.
“Where’s your bag?” Andrew speaks quietly, eyes landing on Neil.
Neil leans over and grabs his bag from the other side of the desk. Andrew pulls out a set of folded forearm crutches and sends a pointed look at Neil before tucking them into his bag.
Andrew tips his head to the class. “When do you get done?”
Neil looks down at his phone. “Five minutes left,” He announces to the class as well.
Andrew stands and props his hip against the desk, pulling his phone out as he scrolls through notifications. Neil nods to one of the students who drops off their exam, watching in amusement as they pause to take a photo at the door before leaving. Andrew’s been on campus before, but he’s never come to one of Neil’s classes.
A shrill ring from his phone announces the end of the exam. The shuffling of papers and the zipping of bookbags fills the air before the squeak of chairs. There are less than half of the students still in the class, and Neil ignores the phones that are held up in an attempt to be subtle.
“Does anyone have any questions regarding the exam?”
One student raises his hand, “Is that Andrew Min-”
Neil leans his elbows on the desk. “Regarding the exam only?”
No one else speaks and they continue to file out the door. Neil stands and gathers his things into his bag, a quick glance shows that there aren’t any abandoned tests left behind.
Shouldering his bag, he grabs Duke’s harness and jingles his keys. “Ready to go?”
Andrew rolls his eyes but grabs his gym bag and steps out of the classroom. There are only a few others classes up on the third floor, but Neil knows that the walk between buildings will be crowded.
Andrew tucks his hands in his pockets as Neil locks the classroom behind him. “Are you going to your next class?”
Pushing the elevator button he nods. “I figured I would, why?”
Andrew shrugs as they step into the elevator, leaning against the metal wall. “I’ve got the rest of the day off - family emergency.”
“Are you suggesting that I cancel the rest of my classes today and go home with you?” Neil smirks as they walk out of the building and into the bright sun.
“You can do whatever you want, but I am going home.”
Neil mulls it over for all of three seconds. “If we do the pasta, can you make the sauce?”
Andrew nods.
Grinning, Neil thinks over the email he needs to send out to the rest of his classes for the day. It’s a difficult process, the promise of their dinner keeps distracting him. As they walk the students skirt around them. Eyes widen and phones come out with whispers as everyone recognizes Andrew. It’s hard not too. A short but incredibly broad man isn’t super common, and Exy is only growing in popularity across the globe. It’s moved quickly into the lineup of popular sports in the country, with over 30 professional teams already established and more on the way to being created. Neil pauses beside the flowers to let Duke have her daily sniff.
He snorts when she pulls away sneezing loudly.
Andrew crouches down, wiping the yellow pollen and stray petal from her nose, a small smile flickers on his face. “Moron.”
There’s affection hidden in the word. Together they enter the Fine Arts building once more, quickly stepping into Neil’s office. Andrew drops into the chair near the door immediately while Neil goes around the desk and brings his laptop back out.
A glance up to see Duke waiting by the door for him and Andrew relaxing makes him smile. The email goes out to his students with a half-assed apology before he packs everything back up and grabs some papers he needs to take home.
“Ready?” Neil stands, grinning at his husband.