Chapter Text
Contrary to what people might think, Andrew was completely fine living alone. Yep, that’s right, absolutely fine. Better spread the word because apparently the whole world thought he would fall apart on his own. It was like everyone assumed that Neil was the sane one in this relationship—Andrew can't help but scoff at that—and without him Andrew would go on a murder spree the second someone pissed him off.
And speaking of Neil, he doesn’t miss living with the junkie at all. Nope. It wasn’t like he enjoyed having someone wake him up at ungodly hours of the morning to go running or coming home to a clean house and food on the table. Those were things he could do on his own, he didn’t need Neil for that, and he could get by just fine being in an empty house. But of course, Neil didn’t believe that which led to the cats.
To be fair, the cats weren’t either of their ideas—though Neil had mentioned it in the past—but when they found them abandoned in an alley near Andrew’s apartment, they mutually decided to bring them home. Andrew couldn’t really complain about them though, not when Neil seemed to love and need them as much as he thought Andrew did.
He knew Neil was worried about them being on separate teams this year and being so far apart for the first time since they met. Andrew could admit to himself that he was just as nervous about it. Not because he would be alone, but because every time he and Neil had been this far apart Neil had come back with new scars, scars that Andrew was supposed to protect him from. He knew that they were past all that, but Neil had a bad habit of attracting the wrong kind of attention and he had no faith that he wouldn’t manage to get himself in trouble with his smart mouth.
At this point, Neil had been in Chicago for most of the season already and so far, Andrew hadn’t been called by a hospital to pick up his corpse so that was something. Every weekend they could manage, Neil would fly down for a few days before heading back to Chicago. Andrew went up less often, mainly because Neil didn’t like forcing him to fly by himself, like he didn’t have to do that every week for games anyways.
This weekend was once again one that neither of them was able to get away from practice, meaning it would be nearly a month between their visits this time around. They had gone for longer, but that was not something either of them had enjoyed. According to Neil, the longer they went between visits, the more he felt the need to run. Andrew thought that was a load of shit because Neil didn’t run from exy, even if it was for him. But if Andrew stupidly treasured the sentiment whether it was true or not then no one had to know.
It was almost seven in the morning, a time that Andrew usually hated being awake at. But he had woken up alone, reaching for the empty side of the bed and finding the sheets cold and his husband on the other end of the country. He hated it, which is why he decided to pull out his phone and call Neil. Even though the Hawks had gotten a rare morning off from practice, he knew Neil would be arriving at his own any minute now.
Neil had gotten a lot better about answering his phone when Andrew called, if only because Andrew threatened to quit exy if he went too long without a response. As it was, it took three rings and the entire walk from Andrew’s bedroom to the kitchen before the call was picked up.
“Andrew?” He asks, like he doesn’t have caller ID.
It is at this moment that Andrew realizes he didn’t have a reason for calling aside from the fact that he had been thinking about Neil and this was the only way he could reach him.
His eyes trail over to where Sir and King were napping on the couch. They seemed pleased that they were finally back together again, with Neil dropping Sir off last week while Andrew was in California for a game. He didn’t mind having the extra mouth to feed, but it was always weird having her here when Neil wasn’t.
“Can the cats have ice cream?”
He is silent for a long moment and Andrew waits him out, looking around at the pictures littering every available surface. That was the only part of the decorating that he let Neil decide on himself, otherwise Andrew would probably have a hideously orange couch just like the one in Neil's own apartment. The pictures made it feel less empty, though he would never admit that to Neil. Sometimes Andrew would put up a new one himself and wait to see how long it would take Neil to realize it. Every time he did, he would give Andrew this wide smile like he was the happiest man in the world. It triggered Andrew's murderous tendencies and made him want to squeeze him as hard as he could.
“No, you can’t feed the cats ice cream.” He sounds so fond it makes him sick.
“What if Sir won’t stop sticking her foot in it?” He replies, pacing over to the freezer to pull out a pint.
“I don’t care if Sir is asking for it, you’re supposed to be the responsible parent here.” He can almost see the smile on Neil’s face at referring to the cats as their kids. It was the kind of thing he liked to do just because he knew Andrew hated it.
“Since when have parents ever been responsible?” He fires back going over to the couch and poking Sir with his foot. The idiot doesn’t budge. She was just like her owner in that regard.
“I left Sir with you for one weekend, and this is what you do with her?” He sighs but Andrew knows him well enough to know he is just humoring him in this stupid conversation. “If you give it to her then there will be less for you.”
He hates the way his breath catches. He hates that Neil knows him like this.
“I guess she starves then.” He responds, hearing the strain in his own voice.
There is absolutely a smile on Neil’s face now. “Thank you,” Andrew’s hand twitches violently at his side and he clenches it tightly to keep control. “I have to get ready for practice. I’ll call you when I’m done.”
Andrew doesn’t respond immediately, mainly because he wasn’t sure what words would spill out if he opened his mouth. What he finally settled on was the simplest of truths. “I hate you.”
Neil hums and Andrew knows he’s pleased. “I love you, too.”
He hangs up on him before he can do something stupid and focuses on the ice cream in his hands, letting it cool down the fire burning in his veins. His eyes trail over to the cats cuddling by his feet and he stares them down until Sir finally lifts her head.
“Your dad is an idiot.” He deadpans. “Make sure you bite his ankles when he comes to get you back.”
Sir obviously doesn’t respond, but Andrew thinks she might understand if the way she flicks her tail dismissively towards him is any indication. She was just as stupidly fond of her owner as Neil was of her. King would do it if Andrew asked, there was a reason that Sir was Neil’s and King was Andrew’s.
Andrew lets the rest of the morning pass this way, eating his ice cream and watching whatever happens to appear on the tv. Eventually, Sir and King get up and curl up at his side. He lets their slow and even breathing lull him into a sense of peace and comfort for the first time this morning.
His phone rings nearly six hours later and he picks it up without looking at the caller ID.
“Back so soon?” He asks in lieu of a greeting.
Neil’s laughter is quiet and annoyingly happy.
“Practice ran long since we had weight training.” He explains, not that Andrew cared. “Hollis kept asking me questions this morning. I think she’s trying to bond with me.”
Andrew huffs. “You attract too much attention.”
“Not like I mean to.” He mutters. “You’re telling me that none of your teammates have tried to get to know you?”
“Not everyone is as foolish as you.” He deadpans, flipping through channels until he spots a cooking show and settles on that.
Neil hums. “I think it worked out pretty well for me.”
“I’ll hang up on you.” He threatens. Not like Neil would ever take him seriously, but the threat still needed to be made.
“You won’t.” Neil says it so assuredly that Andrew nearly does it just out of spite. His finger hovers over the end button, but ultimately, he lets his hand fall back to his side. Maybe Andrew was the stupid one, he just couldn’t make himself let go of Neil, even just a little bit.
“I’m coming home tomorrow.” He says when Andrew continues to stay silent.
“It’s Monday.” He points out.
Neil makes a sound of understanding. “I know. I took a few days off.”
“Why?” There weren't many reasons Neil would miss practice, and even when there was one Andrew usually had to pry him away from the court. That there was a reason he would voluntarily skip was interesting and Andrew couldn't help being curious about it.
“I miss you.”
Andrew’s fingers clench dangerously tight around his phone. It had been years, you would think Andrew was used to Neil surprising him, but it seemed he would never be prepared for some of the stupid shit that spewed out of his mouth. Neil lived and breathed exy, the thought that he would be willing to take time off just to see Andrew was ridiculous, yet he said it like it was nothing. It went against everything Andrew knew about him.
“Disgusting.” He meant it. That Neil could make him feel like this was absolutely disgusting.
Neil has the nerve to laugh. “I know.”
Andrew knew he understood, even if he would really rather he didn’t. That was the one good thing about Neil, he never misunderstood what Andrew was trying to say, even when he couldn’t say it out loud.
“I hate you.” He responds, slouching down into the cushions.
“I love you too, Drew.” Neil says automatically. “I’m back at the apartment now so I’m going to take a shower. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll pick you up.”
Neil hums. Andrew can tell he’s pleased.
“Goodnight, Andrew.”
“It’s midday.” He fires back blandly.
He ends the call to the sound of Neil’s laughter streaming into his ears. Today was a dull day, but tomorrow was now looking much brighter than it did a few hours ago. After a month apart, Neil would finally be back within his reach, and Andrew hated how much he was looking forward to it.