Chapter Text
Andrew watches the freshmen closely. All of them are fucked up of course but there are two that he has a significant interest in. Ronan Lynch and Ren Mitsui.
Ronan Lynch is a southern trust fund Irish catholic boy with a shark like smile and a fast car. He’s quiet mostly but on the court he’s violent. He speaks Latin on the phone, Kevin recognizes it but can’t translate any of it. He’s tall, keeps his hair buzzed, and likes wearing all black. He goes to church every Sunday and started going with Renee after seeing each other there.
Ren Mitsui is a Japanese boy from California and someone Andrew recognizes from juvi. Ren is a pyromaniac that loves property destruction. He doesn’t have a history of being violent with people but the look in his eyes is what makes him a Fox. Ren is a good striker, enough to be noticed by Kevin and taken under his wing like Neil had been last year.
One other man and three women also joined the team but Andrew doesn’t care about the four other freshmen enough to acknowledge them. They’re messy and annoying but not real threats.
Neil has been in a mood since Andrew told him that he and Ren used to mess around in juvi. Ren is a year younger than him and had pursued Andrew slowly. It had been his first experience with someone asking if he could kiss him. Andrew hadn’t realised he was gay at the time and punched Ren in the face. A few weeks later after consideration he’d sought him out and Ren had just smiled and kissed him. For a few months it was kisses and hand jobs and ignoring each other otherwise. Then Ren was released and Andrew found someone new. He hadn’t expected to see any of them ever again, certainly not Ren.
He hadn’t expected it to affect Neil at all. It could be something else bothering him but there doesn't seem to be anything else going on.
Neil is a liar. Neil is a rabbit.
Neil has been retreating slowly, almost slowly enough that Andrew doesn’t notice it at first. When he tells Neil that he’s inviting Ronan to Columbia there’s no reaction other than a shrug, and when he tells him that he’s going to bring Ren the next week there’s a sharp short nod.
It starts small through the week leading up to bringing Ronan to Columbia. Ronan surprisingly hadn’t been opposed, his only condition was riding shotgun in Andrews car. Neil starts spending more time with Matt and Allison and by Wednesday he rides back with them to the dorms in between practices.
The summer heat is at an all time high so they haven’t been going out onto the roof.
Andrew sees Neil in the evenings and they make coffee together in the mornings. He hasn’t pursued anything else and neither has Neil.
When Ronan shows up at their dorm on Friday night to head to Columbia, Neil states last minute that he’s going to stay and get some extra practice with the freshmen the following morning so he will stay here. Kevin makes a noise of complaint but Aaron shoves them all through the door without him.
Andrew doesn’t know if it’s because Aaron hates Neil and is happy to have a night without him or because in a surprising turn of events he thinks he’s helping Neil.
It’s strange to be parted from Neil, even for such a short time. By the time they’re at Eden’s, Andrew's chest aches and he can’t focus on getting Ronan to spill his secrets. They’re all drinking at the table and Ronan is freely consuming the cracker dust. He’ll be tanked in a bit and getting questions out of him will be easier.
Nicky, Kevin, and Aaron disappear to dance and he’s sitting with Ronan. He should be interrogating him but all he can think about is how the fuck he got so attached to Neil so quickly. Why even a few hours away from him is this uncomfortable.
“Why is your boyfriend mad at you?” Ronan asks in that gravelly southern accent over the loud music.
“I don’t have a boyfriend.” He says because it’s true. Neil is nothing.
“Vice Captain then.” Ronan rolls his eyes.
“What makes you think he’s mad at me?” He says as he tips back another drink. He hadn’t intended on drinking much tonight and he’d need to stop to be able to drive later.
“Because all summer he’s been following you around like a puppy and now he’s staying back at campus while you’re two hours away. It’s like you kicked him and he’s licking wounds.”
“He’s not a dog.” Andrew says apathetically.
“Don’t treat him like one then.” Ronan smirks.
He’s not treating Neil like a dog. That doesn’t even make sense.
“You’ve been watching me but I’ve been watching you too. That’s why I decided to come tonight.” Ronan sighs. “You have him well trained, he never reaches for you even when he gets that desperate look in his eyes like he needs to touch you. He’s always by your side waiting for you to move so he can follow. He preens whenever you stare at him and acknowledge his presence by your side, like you’re rewarding him for his obedience. He rips into anyone that says anything remotely bad about you but keeps those vicious teeth away from you and you only.”
He wants to snort, Neil uses his teeth on his neck plenty. He hates that Ronan has been watching them, that he’s come to these inaccurate conclusions. Everyone knows that Andrew is the rabid one and Neil is the only thing that can curb his rage. He’s never thought that he held Neil back or been safe from Neil's wrath.
He thinks about it, even Matt isn’t safe when Neil is angry after practice. Neil never says anything about Andrews playing on the court but he does insult him. The insults are usually whispered with a smile and followed by kisses. He hasn’t had Neil snarling in his face and threatening to hit him since the first time they kissed. As if the kisses have melted away all that rage.
“He’d tell me if he’s upset with me.” Andrew says but even as the words leave his mouth he doesn’t believe them.
Neil is a liar and a rabbit.
“Whatever. People always say I’m emotionally stunted.” Ronan scoffs
“Aren’t you?” Andrew challenges. The only emotion he’s seen on Ronan is smugness.
“Might be, but when my boyfriend is upset I ask him about it.”
That’s a revelation. “I’m surprised someone can put up with being around you so much, you’re intolerable.”
“People say the same thing about you. At least Adam isn’t running to other people to avoid me.”
He stares at Ronan, not letting anything show on his face. Ronan just smirks and takes another drink.
“Is it because of Ren? You’ve been watching him too. I know I’m not the issue between you and Neil, he actually likes me.”
“I met Ren in Juvi.” He says.
He’s supposed to be getting Ronan to spill secrets, not the other way around. The fact that he said that Neil is avoiding him is grating and he’s been working with Bee on being able to communicate emotions. Ronan keeps to himself and Andrew needs to be able to trust people. Ronan is gay or at least has a boyfriend and seems to know a lot more of what’s going on than he lets on. This trip was to gauge if he’s able to trust him. This isn’t a serious secret so if it blows up in his face then it won’t be detrimental.
“You guys have a history.” Ronan infers. He doesn’t acknowledge that and Ronan takes that as an answer. “Neil is jealous. That’s an easy fix, what’s the issue?”
“Neil doesn’t get jealous.” He scoffs. Neil knows about Roland and is friendly with him. There’s no one else to compare against because anyone that he messed around with is lost to the wind never to be seen again.
“Everyone gets jealous.” Ronan scoffs back.
So he explains. He tells Ronan about how Neil still talks to Roland knowing about their history and how he’s never once been jealous of it.
“I’m sure you don’t watch the bartender like you watch Ren.” Ronan says. “Neil is always watching you and orbiting around you and your focus is now on me and Ren. You have a history with Ren. I’m sure when you guys came here you were focused on Neil and didn’t acknowledge Roland other than your poor attempt at niceties.”
He’s silent and the three others come back demanding more drinks. The rest of the night is relaxed and it feels like it did before Neil, Andrew watching over everyone and not participating. He misses being able to get drunk and tell Neil yes and disappear into the storage closet and then have Neil fall apart for him there and again back at the house. He misses Neil's presence and his kisses and his staring. He hates that he misses it.
On the way back to campus early the next morning everyone curses him. He forced them up so that they would be back as soon as possible. He misses Neil.
The monsters and Ronan agree to go to the court when Kevin suggests it. Ronan looks smug when they pull in and see all the freshmen’s vehicles. He can see what Andrew is doing but he doesn’t say anything to the others.
Neil is yelling at the five freshmen as they run through drills. Neil demos again, more force than usual as he fires a ball at the net and then tells them to do it again.
They all change and when they open the gates to the court the tension is thick enough to cut it with a knife. Andrew expects it to be between Neil and Ren after his conversation with Ronan last night but it’s not. Jack is in Neil's face, both of their helmets and gloves dropped as if they’re about to get into a fight.
“Is that why you didn’t go with him? So you could show your true fucking colours as the sadistic son of the Butcher. Don’t want him to know how brutal you really are?” Jack taunts.
“Jack! Leave him-“ Ren tries to get between them but Neil pushes him away hard enough to send him sprawling onto his back and lunges at Jack.
The freshmen scream and try to stop their assistant captain from attacking a fellow teammate but Neil truly is a vicious creature. His hand is on Jack's throat cutting off his air and keeping him pinned as his fist comes down hard in the centre of his face.
“Get Wymack and Abby.” Andrew snaps to his group as he rips open the gate to keep Neil from murdering a player.
Ronan is on the court beside him and his longer legs allow him to get there faster. He drags Neil off of the now unconscious freshman but doesn’t get far before Neil attacks him too. He scratches Ronan's arms and whirls to punch him in the face.
“Neil!” Andrew barks and Neil's hand pauses where it’s reared back to throw another punch. Neil is completely still and Ronan looks angry but still somehow smug as if his points last night have been proven.
“Drew.” Neil breathes and his body releases all the tension as he slowly turns. His eyes are wide and he looks guilty.
He turns sharply and stomps off the court. He can hear the soft footfalls of Neil following him. Abby rushes by without stopping to look at them but Wymack does.
“You’re fucking benched for the first game and you’re not coming to practice for a week Josten!” Wymack yells.
He looks back and Neil is staring blankly at the coach who he usually adores.
“Wanna make it two?” Wymack threatens, glancing out to the court to see the sorry state that Jack is in. “I expected this out of Andrew, not you.”
Neil sneers at that, his lips pulling back to reveal teeth and Andrew knows he’s going to say something he will regret.
“Neil.” He says and Neil's attention snaps to him, sneer dropping.
When he moves Neil follows. Apparently Ronan has been watching closer than Andrew had.
In the locker room he walks right to the showers and rips off his gear. He hadn’t even worked out but his brain feels heavy and a shower will help both of them. Neil has his back turned to him with his head turned to the door to the showers as if he’s only there to make sure that no one enters.
“Come.” Andrew says.
Neil hangs his head, shaking it slightly and refusing to turn around.
“Yes or no?” He asks as his knuckles brush against Neil's jersey. “I want to shower with you.”
It’s a long moment and neither of them move. Finally Neil nods and turns around. His head is still bowed and he won’t look at Andrew. There’s a bruise forming on his temple, he doesn’t remember seeing Jack get any shots in.
He helps Neil peel out of his gear and clothes and starts the warm shower. With two of them in the stall with the door closed it’s a tight fit even with their gear outside. They’re close and the water is warm against them. Neil still won’t look at him.
“Abram.” He whispers as he reaches for Neil.
Neil’s body goes lax when Andrew's hand slides against his waist and pulls him closer under the water. Neil has goosebumps everywhere and Andrew turns their bodies so that he’s fully under the water now.
He washes Neil’s hair silently while Neil keeps his eyes closed. He kisses Neil’s shoulder and Neil’s mouth opens to let out a relieved sigh. It’s as if Neil has been curled in on himself so tightly trying not to ask for affection that when he’s given it, it’s a relief.
He kisses Neil’s shoulder again and then again. He lets his hands fall from Neil's hair to his waist and pulls him closer. He kisses Neil's neck and then his jaw and then his cheek. He tastes salt and pulls back to see tears slowly streaking down Neil's cheeks. He kisses them away and tightens his hold on Neil. Neil’s arms are by his sides but his body is lax as he leans into Andrew. Their entire bodies are pressed together and it’s warm and Andrew feels safe. He kisses Neil’s cheeks again because he doesn’t want to let go but he wants to get rid of the tears.
“Abram.” He whispers again.
“I’m sorry.” Neil chokes out.
He finally cracks his eyes open and Andrew stares into those impossible blue eyes. They’re panicked and wild, what he’d been trying to hide by closing them.
Neil's hands limp by his sides takes a new meaning for Andrew and he rips himself away from Neil.
“No!” Neil cries and reaches for him but stops and pulls his hand back to his chest.
The panic wasn’t about being held then, the limp hands weren’t about not wanting to touch Andrew. He hadn't asked Andrew, couldn’t ask him for some reason. Neil didn’t make the assumption that it was allowed to reach for him even while Andrew plastered their bodies together.
“Yes Abram, you can touch me.” Andrew says as his hand crosses the distance between them again.
When Andrew touches him, Neil instantly wraps his arms around Andrew's shoulders pulling him in. He wraps his arms back around Neil's waist and listens to Neil's breathing and the sound of running water.
“Why are you sorry?” He asks as his hand rubs Neil's lower back.
Neil stiffens slightly but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m not afraid of you Abram.” He whispers as he kisses Neil’s cheek. Neil's arms tighten around him as if comforted by the statement.
He slides his fingers over all the scars on Neil's back and does not flinch at any of them. He knows them like they’re his own. Memorised them in quiet moments like this where they became comfortable with each other and the vulnerability that came with being completely naked with someone. Their intimate moments that had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with trust.
“Okay.” Neil whispers.
“Tell me what happened.”
“Not right now.” Neil says and Andrew nods.
“Let me take care of you.” He says and Neil smiles. That tender almost timid smile that only Andrew ever sees. Its sometimes shocking to see such a soft expression coming from Neil's extensively scarred and often scowling face.
He washes Neil's body and then his own. He leaves Neil under the warm water with a lingering kiss and cleans up their discarded gear and clothes. He quickly changes and grabs his long sleeve athletic shirt so that Neil can wear something of his in the hot summer air without sweating to death and a pair of shorts. Neil lets Andrew dry him off and kiss him all over his face. Neil is laughing and gently pushing him away but he’s glowing under Andrew's affection. When Andrew pulls his shirt over Neil's head, Neil turns to smell it and smiles again.
He’s back to the bright beaming idiot from before, the darkness chased out by Andrew's care. He’s never felt so endeared towards Neil or more afraid of the control that he has over him. Ronan had been right and Andrew must be careful with the weight of Neil’s heart.
Andrew glares at Wymack when they exit and the coach looks like he’s going to say something else. It seems that Wymack also clocks the change on Neil and gives Andrew a curt nod. Tomorrow Wymack can discipline him, today Neil is back and Andrew is going to make sure his rabbit stays.
His hand is on the small of Neil's back as they leave the court, his thumb rubbing against his warm skin.
“Ice cream?” He asks.
“Gross.” Neil pulls a face but looks happy to follow wherever Andrew decides to go.
He thinks hard about what Neil would like right now and leads Neil to the passenger side of his car. Neil is confused when Andrew opens the door for him but allows Andrew to kiss him and shove him into the seat.
Half way through the drive Neil's hand tightens on Andrews and he glances over at him.
“I thought we were going for ice cream?” He asks.
“You don’t like ice cream.”
“Yeah but you do.” Neil frowns.
“We’re going to a farmers market.” Andrew says and Neil looks even more confused but he settles into his seat again.
Andrew takes Neil's hand again when they exit the car and Neil smiles and squeezes his fingers. Seeing how happy and relaxed the casual affection makes Neil, Andrew can’t believe he hadn’t noticed how tightly wound Neil was before. He hadn’t realised that he’d been the one pulling away, not Neil.
He knows that not every day will be days where he can manage touch but he knows that he can give Neil more on the days he’s able.
The open air market doesn’t make Neil as tense as going to the mall does and he’s looking at all of the stalls with intrigue. Andrew watches him closely and lets him set the pace that they walk through the market. Neil slows in front of a fruit stand and Andrew drags him to it.
“What do you want?” Andrew gestures to the table.
Neil smiles and then points to a mixed fruit basket filled with blueberries, strawberries, grapes, and blackberries. The old man behind the table hands the basket to Neil and holds his hand out to Andrew expectantly after glancing at their hands with a smirk. Andrew glares but hands the man cash for the over priced produce.
“What a good boyfriend you are.” The man says and grabs one of his display flowers to hand it to Andrew.
He stares at it, tempted to tell the old man to fuck off. However, he grabs it gently and offers it to Neil. Neil is blushing furiously but he takes the flower. The old man grins and waves them off so he can help the people behind them.
Neil sniffs at the flower and pouts when it doesn’t smell like anything and Andrew huffs a laugh. Neil glares at him but tightens his hand in Andrews and then turns to look happily at the basket of fruit and the flower in his other hand.
They continue their walk through the market and the next time Neil slows it’s in front of a truck selling ice cream. He looks at Andrew expectantly and nudges him towards it when Andrew raises his eyebrows.
Neil pays for his ice cream and Andrew has to drop his hand to eat it from the cup. It’s chocolate with cookie dough and sprinkles and Neil looks horrified as he eats it. They stand close as they walk since they can’t hold hands, their shoulders brushing each other.
Neil starts snacking on his berries as they make their way back to the car but stops to offer his hand back to Andrew after he throws his cup away. He opens the door for Neil again to his confusion.
“I want to be your boyfriend.” Andrew says after a few minutes of silence in the parked car. “I want you to be my boyfriend too.”
“Really?” Neil asks and Andrew looks over to see him blushing.
“Don’t ask stupid questions. Yes or no?” Andrew glares.
“Don’t ask stupid questions.” Neil parrots with a shit eating grin.
“You’re my boyfriend.” Andrew says experimentally.
“Yes.” Neil whispers.
“And I’m yours.”
“We’re boyfriends.” Neil grins.
“Unfortunately.” He rolls his eyes.
Neil stretches over the centre console and whispers “Kiss me.”
And Andrew does.
They kiss for a while, until their lips hurt. Neil presses his forehead against Andrews and smiles at him.
“Boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend.” Andrew says back.
Neil laughs and kisses him again. Andrew pulls away first and starts the car. On the drive back they hold hands and sit in peaceful silence.
Andrew decides that taking Ren to Columbia can wait a week and he ditches the rest of the monsters to spend the weekend with Neil. They kiss and read and fuck and play video games and just spend time with each other. It’s nice and the week following Neil seems to be better at ignoring the worsening taunts of Jack.
The remaining three freshmen - Natalie, Jamie and Tasha - have been keeping a wide berth from Neil. The women came from varying backgrounds but none of them appreciated the kind of violence that Neil was capable of. Ronan has been adopted into the monsters officially now and spends most of his time away from practice with them or speaking Latin into his phone. Surprisingly he has a lot to talk about with History major Kevin Day. Nicky hasn’t found out he’s gay yet but would be soon because his boyfriend was coming this weekend.
That's the reason that Ren is to continue floating like an outcast with only Jack to lean on for support. The freshmen girls are with the upperclassmen, firmly under Renee’s protection, not that it's really needed anymore. Next week they would establish if Andrew was taking in another stray, if Renee was going to befriend him, or if he would flounder by himself.
This weekend Adam is coming with some of Ronan’s other friends. Ronan had asked if they could use the Columbia house and Andrew had smacked the back of his head for the audacity. They can grab a hotel or stay on the floor but they would not be allowed in the house unsupervised.
This weekend is going to be an interrogation from Ronan’s friends rather than the other way around and Andrew is anticipating Ronan’s confusion when the monsters lock down like Fort Knox. They knew how to behave around strangers. Andrew didn’t even need to tell them.
They’re exiting practice when the most obnoxious and loud car Andrew has ever seen rolls into the parking lot. It’s bright orange and boasts three passengers. A small eccentric girl barrels out of the car before it’s even stopped and sprints towards Ronan. She’s about Andrew’s height with short hair and about a dozen clips half haphazardly holding it up in a bunch of random spikes. If Andrew didn’t know better he’d say that this woman is Ronan’s girlfriend, their aesthetics are opposite but both are equally likely to get people to stay away from them.
Ronan grins that shark-like smile and picks her up with one hand when she jumps at him.
“Hey maggot.” Ronan sighs.
“Missed you shit head.” She wraps her arms around his shoulders and lets her legs dangle freely. When he drops her Andrew cringes, their height difference is striking and he doesn't want to think about what he looks like beside Ronan or the other men on the team. He’s seen Aaron beside them but he mostly ignores Aarons presence and hasn’t really made the connection until now.
“Is that his girlfriend?” He hears someone on the team whisper. They’re all outside crowding around them, probably the worst time for Ronan’s friends to show up.
Two young men get out of the car and both of them look obnoxious enough that Andrew rolls his eyes. One of them is wearing boat shoes and a button down tucked into dress pants and the other is wearing a Harvard sweater and worn blue jeans. They’re both tall but the one in the Harvard sweater is broader and looks like he works out a lot.
Ronan brushes past the girl after ruffling her hair and jogs to the men. In a surprising move Ronan does the same thing to the Harvard guy that the girl just did to him. With Ronan’s height and probably weight advantage it shouldn't have worked but the Harvard guy manages to catch Ronan without falling. Ronan koalas himself around the man and a fond smile takes over his face while he wraps his arms around Ronan’s waist and holds him up.
The team seems to be confused but takes it as Ronan being goofy with his friends. When Ronan stands and pulls the man into a kiss, pushing him against the car the team falls apart.
“What the fuck!” Nicky yells and Matt slaps a hand over his mouth to silence him. Allison whistles loudly and holds a hand out to collect her winnings, always seeming to bet right on people's sexualities.
Jack makes a gagging noise and seems to start saying something but Ren punches him in the mouth before he can.
“No one likes homophobes Jack! Half the fucking team is queer and can beat the shit out of you so the next time you think about opening your mouth think about my fist going in it and pulling your fucking intestines out through it you prick.” Ren says with a hand in Jack’s collar.
Ronan’s friends stare at the commotion and Andrew rolls his eyes. It looks like he might be taking another stray. Neil’s face is tight but Andrew grabs him by his belt loop and tugs him towards the Maserati. Neil laughs and turns so that Andrew’s arm is around him and presses against him. Andrew just pinches his hip and leads him to the passenger side door. When he goes to open it Neil pushes the door closed and smirks playfully. He stares at him and opens it again. Neil closes it and holds out his hand.
“Get in.” Andrew says.
With their departure the team also disperses and Kevin, Aaron, and Nicky are walking towards them.
“Let me drive.” Neil says and glances down at his open palm.
“Not now.” He knows what kind of driver Neil is and it’s not the kind for a drive between the court and the fox tower.
Neil pouts and Andrew rolls his eyes. He opens the door and shoves Neil into the passenger seat but leans down to whisper in his ear “You can take me for a ride after tonight.”
Neil’s cheeks flush at the double meaning and he sinks further into his seat to try and hide his face. Nicky is smirking when he gets into the back seat and Kevin grumbles about having longer legs again. Aaron stares at him and waits for the doors to close before speaking.
“You’re being weird.” Aaron says.
“No I’m not.” Andrew lights a cigarette and glances to where Ronan is leaving his friends to come over.
“Your ‘nothing’ with Josten is different.” Aaron scrunches his nose in disgust when the acrid smoke hits him.
“It’s not nothing.” Andrew admits and Aaron looks shocked. He glances past him to where Neil is in the car and seems to consider his next words. Therapy sessions with Bee have made them both conscious of thinking before speaking to each other about anything serious.
“Something then?” Aaron poses cautiously.
“Boyfriends.” Andrew says.
“God if you get married I’m not calling him my fucking brother-in-law.” Aaron scowls and Andrew scoffs.
The car honks and Andrew glances back to see Nicky between the seats pressing the horn. Kevin opens the door and begs to turn the car on and Neil is rolling his eyes.
“You guys have everything right? We can just head straight there instead of stopping at the tower.” Ronan says and glances over Andrew to see the dramatics taking place. Nicky is wailing like he’s a dog that's been left in the car too long and Neil looks like he’s bent over trying to hotwire the car.
“Neil do not fucking do that!” He yells and Neil pops up with his hands in the air innocently but a wicked grin on his face. “We’ll meet you there. Do you want to take one of them to make sure you don’t get lost?”
“Neil.” Ronan smirks.
Andrew flicks his lit cigarette at Ronan’s face and Ronan barks a laugh.
“Aaron, do you want to come?” He asks.
“Are you and your boyfriend going to be making out the whole time?” Aaron sneers.
He’s learned recently that Aaron doesn’t have a problem with gayness, he has a problem with PDA and gushing about partners. When they walked in on Dan and Matt making out on the couches in the lounge Aaron made the same gagging noise and vehemently voiced his disgust like he did whenever he found Andrew and Neil kissing or Nicky talking to Erik on the phone. Andrew also thinks he especially dislikes seeing Andrew and Nicky engaged in PDA and they both happen to be gay.
“He hates PDA.” Andrew explains when Ronan’s face darkens. “You can ride with them or I can let Nicky drive and you can sit in the back with me and Neil.”
Aaron looks shocked that Andrew has his back and then it quickly changes to cringe.
“I’d like to ride with you.” Aaron says, already walking towards Ronan’s friends.
“He’s not homophobic?” Ronan clarifies.
“No, he just hates intimacy.” Andrew shrugs. “If anything he might hate straight intimacy more because he sees it less. He’s very repressed.”
“You’re both repressed.” Ronan says.
“Says the gay catholic, how was growing up in that glass fucking closet?”
“See you at Sweeties, Minyard.” Ronan says goodbye with a middle finger and Andrew returns it.
The drive is mostly quiet. He passes the orange monstrosity quickly and sees Ronan and Aaron flip him off out of the corner of his eye. They get to Sweeties and Andrew pulls Neil back by his belt loops again when he tries to follow Kevin and Nicky in. Neil looks at him curiously but he’s smiling.
“Gonna hot wire my car?” He leans against said car with his legs apart so that Neil can fit between them.
Neil presses against him and smiles at him. “Not seriously. I’d never mess with your precious car, you probably like it more than me.”
Andrew hums and kisses the corner of Neil’s mouth.
Neil ducks his head and kisses Andrew’s neck. The need for yes and no has decreased. An outstretched hand is the question, grabbing clothes is the question, eye contact is the question. Reaching back is yes, leaning into each other is yes, teasing kisses are yes. There haven't been bad days in a while, he knows that those days will push back all that progress and they’ll have to verbalise the question again. There will always be the question and there will always be a yes or no. No will always be an option because they trust each other, because they listen to each other.
Neil’s teeth graze his pulse and he gasps. He can feel Neil smirking against his skin and he lets his hand slip under Neil’s shirt. Neil is hard against him but they’re in public even if they’re at the back of the parking lot underneath a burnt out light post.
“Neil.” He whispers but lets him continue to kiss his neck.
“Drew.” Neil says when he pulls away.
Andrew kisses him on the lips and Neil melts against him. He opens his mouth and Neil’s tongue gently licks into it. Neil’s arms are around his shoulders and his hands dig into Neil’s waist. Neil slowly grinds against him but Andrew’s hands keep him still.
“Let's go.” Andrew says and Neil pulls back with a pleased smile, never disappointed when Andrew stops them.
He grabs Andrew’s hand and guides it to his back. Apparently Neil really likes Andrew’s fingers in his belt loop and his thumb grazing his back.
It’s fifteen minutes before Ronan and Aaron walk in with Ronan’s group of friends. Aaron seems to be in one piece which is nice. Last year he would’ve never let Aaron out of his sight, growth is nice.
“Monsters meet The Gangsey.” Ronan says while his group stands in front of the table.
Andrew’s a little mad about not getting a booth because now his back is exposed but they never would have fit.
“This is my boyfriend Adam, my friend Gansey and his gremlin Blue.” Ronan says.
The girl, Blue, elbows him in the stomach but smiles fondly at him while he says all the monster's names. Adam and Ronan sit across from Andrew and Neil, Aaron takes the head of the table at the other end and Blue and Gansey sit across from Kevin and Nicky.
Kevin nods greeting at them but the rest of them stare silently. Andrew glances at Aaron and he nods subtly to say he’s been quiet the whole ride. Even Nicky is sitting back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest.
Ronan notices the change immediately and before his friends can talk he taps on the table in between him and Andrew to get his attention. He doesn’t say anything and neither does Andrew. They stare at each other and Gansey opens his mouth to ease the tension but Ronan waves him off.
“Why the bravado?” Ronan asks.
Andrew taps his pinky closest to Neil and the rest of his family and Ronan notices. He smiles and Andrew stares blankly at him. He’s lucky he’s even given him that much.
“Ask whatever you want.” Ronan sits back in his seat and rests his arm on the back of Adam's chair.
“No.” Andrew says and flicks a cracker pack towards Ronan.
“Adam doesn’t partake and those nimrods won’t need it. Ask now.” Ronan says.
The entire table is silent despite the loud bustle of the rest of the restaurant. Ronan is Andrew’s now whether he likes it or not, he knows that these are Ronan’s friends but he needs to make sure they’re not going to cause problems for him.
“Adam Parrish, emancipated with a restraining order on your father.” Andrew turns his attention to Adam first because his staring at Neil is pissing him off.
“Oh uh did Ronan-” Adam sputters as he drags his eyes from Neil’s face
“No. Didn’t even tell me your last name. You had a very interesting senior year with best friends Ronan Lynch and Richard Camble Gansey III at that fancy private school. Finding Blue Sargent was much harder but you two were very easy.”
Neil smirks at Adam’s pale face and Blue’s eyebrows furrow with anger. The way the scars cut across Neil’s face makes that smirk a viscous thing and Adam avoids looking at him now.
“I’m Ronan’s new keeper and none of you are going to be fucking up his stay here with the shit you pulled back in Henrietta.” Andrew says as he looks at each of them.
“How dare you.” Blue snarls.
“How’s Noah Czerny?” Andrew shoots back and Blue pales.
“Andrew.” Ronan hisses. “That’s too fucking far.”
Noah Czerny was a boy that went to the private school that Ronan, Adam, and Gansey went to. He was friends with them, close friends.
“Joseph Kavinski?” Andrew presses.
“Andrew!” Ronan snarls.
Noah and Kavinski both died in the same year. The same year that Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Blue became a big happy friend group and dangerous people started showing up to the quaint town of Henrietta. A few other people in the small town went missing or were murdered but they weren’t intimately connected to the group like those two were.
“What ever the fuck you were in to back then is over. You won’t bring that shit near my things.” Andrew says calmly. “If you don’t tell me what it was now, Neil here will figure it out and I’ll come hunt you down.”
“I was doing research.” Gansey says calmly that rich southern old money accent. Blue glares at him but Adam just seems curious about Andrew.
“Your research got multiple people murdered?”
“We got involved in exotic goods and art deals. It’s over now.” Gansey says. Andrew stares at him blankly and Gansey swallows but still looks confident. “We have protection, a friend of ours also had connections to it but on the buying end, not selling. He’s powerful enough to keep them from coming after us now.”
“Inaccurate to say that Henry Cheng has the power to protect you.” Neil says and all eyes fall on him. “Seondeok owns you.”
Gansey pales. “I am working for her, yes.”
“That's not the same thing.” Neil smiles that viscous butcher smile that makes everyone recoil.
“If you know all this, why the theatrics?” Ronan interrupts. Even he looks mildly put off by the look on Neil’s face.
“Because it’s fun.” Neil coos. “Do you know who owns Seondeok and all the little birds she has working for her?”
It’s silent and Neil grins again. “My Father used to but my Uncle murdered him and took over all of his assets. If you ever get involved in anything like that again and try to rope Ronan into it, you’ll be put down before you can become a real problem.”
“This is a very interesting way of saying you like me.” Ronan scoffs and seems to relax.
“Do you understand?” Andrew asks the three newcomers. He’s content with how serious they’re taking these threats and he can see how afraid of Neil they are.
“Of course. I’d never put him at risk.” Gansey nods.
“Good.” Andrew says and Nicky releases a huge sigh of relief.
“Oh thank god that was so stressful, I love your clips and your shirt!” Nicky immediately snaps back to bubbly and latches onto Blue.
She stares at him in confusion and Kevin leans across the table to get Ganseys attention and asks him what era of art he collects.
Ronan is smirking and Andrew throws a sugar packet at his face.
“I knew you liked me.”
“I will gut you.” Andrew sneers.
“You went through all this but threatened him?” Adam scowls. He hadn’t had much of a reaction other than avoiding Neil’s gaze but the direct threat to Ronan seems to have ignited a spine in him.
“I can kill him, no one else can.” Andrew says.
“Aw, you’re such a softie.” Ronan reaches across the table like he’s going to pinch his cheek. Before he can react to bat his hand away, Neil grabs Ronan’s wrist and slams his hand on the table with a butter knife angled to pierce under his nail.
The table falls silent again, breaking the awkward attempts at conversation.
Andrew taps Neil’s hand and the knife is released but Ronan’s hand isn’t as Neil stares him down.
“This is why you have to eat with spoons.” Andrew chides and tosses the butter knife down the table. Nicky yelps and Kevin tells him to stop being so dramatic.
Ronan tries to pull his hand back but Neil tightens his grip and keeps it pinned.
“Let go.” Andrew says.
“Keep your hands to yourself.” Neil sneers and releases Ronan’s wrist.
Andrew stands and walks around the table grabbing the knives and forks from everyone and dropping them off at a table with a disgruntled old couple. When he sits down everyone is still tense and Ronan and Neil are in a stare off.
“Now you won’t be tempted.” Andrew says as he waves over the waiter who's dealing with the couple that’s complaining about them. They’ll never get kicked out, not when the staff know that they always buy cracker dust and especially not with a group this big.
“I can manage plenty with a spoon.” Neil says with narrowed eyes at Ronan.
“I’m shaking in my boots, do you need a stool to reach over the table?” Ronan spits back.
“I really don’t want to have to deal with Andrew if Neil gets arrested again, he’s insufferable.” Aaron sighs loudly and Nicky laughs.
“It was kind of romantic how he started threatening to kill everyone.” Nicky hums happily.
“Not when he’s literally killed people!” Aaron hisses quietly enough that only their table hears.
“So have you.” Andrew scoffs.
Aaron goes quiet at that and glares at Andrew. Neil laughs softly and then starts actually laughing. Nicky joins him and then Aaron smiles but tries to hide it.
“I haven’t killed anyone.” Kevin tells Gansey as if this will save the already poor impression that this man has of everyone at the table.
“You’ve been in the room Kevin, you’re not innocent.” Neil tells him.
“I was 11!” Kevin hissess.
“We’re in public.” Andrew reminds them. “And we have guests.”
The monsters quiet down until Nicky starts laughing again.
“I think I’ve been around you all too long if I feel left out for not having killed someone.” Nicky snickers.
“Should we be the ones worried about Ronan?” Adam asks with a scrutinising gaze.
“No one in my care has died. I have a perfect record.” Andrew says.
“Neil was literally tortured on two separate occasions under your care.” Kevin says in that condescending exy pro tone. “And you punched me and choked me out.”
“You let Neil get kidnapped, you deserved it.” Nicky says under his breath and Kevin whips around to glare at him.
“He didn’t die. Look, good as new.” Andrew says as he squeezes Neil’s face and shakes it in Adam's direction.
Neil ducks his chin and bites the skin between Andrew's thumb and pointer finger hard. He hisses and pulls his hand away to find Neil grinning at him.
“I’ll pull out your teeth.” He glares at his boyfriend.
“You’d miss them.” Neil says and snaps his teeth at him.
“I’m going to throw up.” Aaron groans and Neil throws a dinner roll at him.
“Talk to me when you can watch porn like an adult Aaron.” Neil smirks at Aaron
“What the fuck?” Aaron screeches and stands from the table.
“It’s not my fault you're sexually stunted. Let me flirt with my boyfriend.” Neil throws another roll at him.
“Threatening to pull his teeth out is flirting?” Andrew hears Adam ask Ronan under his breath.
“I told you they were insane. They just admitted to being boyfriends after like months of dating.” Ronan tells him.
Andrew kicks Ronan under the table, ignoring his twin and boyfriend insulting each other. Ronan smirks at him and kicks back.
The insults are harmless. They both know each other's triggers despite not ever intending to learn them. They’ve gone for them before with the intent to actually hurt each other. This is just bickering.
It continues until their orders come, Andrew having ordered ice cream for everyone and not given them the option for anything else by taking away their cutlery.
“What would you really do with a spoon?” Blue asks Neil when there's a lull in the petty insults.
“For what?” Neil asks when he realises she’s speaking to him.
“You said there was plenty you could manage. Like what?” She asks.
“Anything can be a weapon if you’re strong or desperate enough.” Neil shrugs and pushes his untouched ice cream towards Andrew. “I would go face or neck, no way you’re getting to anything vital in the torso in a short time. I mean you could but you’d have to really dig-“
“You’re such a freak Josten shut up!” Aaron groans. “I’m trying to fucking eat.”
“I’m gonna fuck your brother later, better be the first one back into the house or we’re doing it in your bed.” Neil tells Aaron with a deadpan.
Aaron gags and pushes away his ice cream. “You’re fucking disgusting.”
“Maybe we’ve already done it there, change your sheets lately?”
“Oh my god shut up.” Aaron covers his ears and Nicky laughs boisterously at him.
“You’re a menace.” Kevin tells Neil.
“Fucked in your bed too.” Neil tells him and Kevin glares.
“I keep my door locked.”
“You really think that’s an issue for me Kev? I really didn’t expect you to have a picture of the team on your nightstand.”
Kevin’s face pales and he also pushes his ice cream away.
“You’re my hero.” Blue tells Neil with a menacing smile.
“Don’t take advice from him Maggot, he’s an idiot.” Ronan says.
“True.” Andrew says and Neil smiles fondly at him.
He doesn’t correct anything that Neil says. They’ve never done anything other than behind their closed and locked door. Neil was just nosy and liked to keep his skills sharp so he breaks into things whenever he feels like it.
The rest of the night is uneventful. The conversation at dinner seemed to have established the type of people they were and keeps the gangsey in line. They drink and party and Andrew takes Neil into the storage room to give him a well deserved blow job.
When they get home Aaron sprints out of the car and into the house first. Neil laughs and lets Andrew guide him to their room. He kisses Neil until he’s breathless and opens him slowly with care. Neil whines and arches under Andrews ministrations until he’s gasping and begging his name.
He lets Neil ride him like he promised earlier and grips his hips hard enough to bruise. Neil likes it and shudders above him.
He falls asleep with Neil curled into his side and wakes up with Neil practically on top of him trying to get as close as he could during the night.