Work Text:
Currently thinking about how Andrew later after the books and on a pro team and living with Neil and their cats and having friends and family would want things. Want things for dinner and for the future and for himself. Want Mac and cheese. Want to become a lawyer or a librarian or a fucking bee keeper. Because he could want anything and everything. He has the money, he has the support system, he has the years of therapy.
And at the same time he would think about how he remembers more than everyone else. Sure the trauma, but that’s old news at this point (not that it doesn’t still affect him, but he’s older than he was in college and has more coping skills and years of therapy). No. He’d remember things like the Mac and cheese they had for dinner 3 months ago just because Andrew wanted it. And the way Neil cursed out HGTV one afternoon because “how can you be that stupid why would someone want carpet in the kitchen!!” And he can perfectly recall Aaron asking him to be the godfather and holding his niece for the first time. And Nicky marrying the love of his life and Erik shaking Andrew’s hand and thanking him for looking out for Nicky. And one afternoon talking casually about cars with Matt (only for 5 minutes while they waited for Neil). And Katlyn sharing an ice cream cake recipe she found and thought he’d like. And his niece and goddaughter asking to read with him. And Andrew will always remember those things better, remember more of those things then anyone else around him.
And isn’t it just tragic. That he spent all those years smoking and sitting on the edge of rooftops just to feel. That he punched a wall and strangled Kevin because he felt too much. Because this was never supposed to be his life. Because he was broken. He was the psycho. He was the crazy dangerous murderer Minyard twin. Still the poor little Andrew Doe. And he won’t be that ever again. Because he quit smoking when Katlyn got pregnant. And he hasn’t seen the sunset from a roof in years. But he does blow bubble gum bubbles with Neil on the front porch and watch HGTV in the living room of the house that he owns with his boyfriend (his nothing). His Neil Abram Josten (no longer) starting striker for the palmetto state foxes.
They grew up. They weren’t supposed to do that. And it’s the best and worst thing that has ever happened to him.
He could walk outside right now and get hit by a bus and care about it. He has plans for the future and now that he does and can he’s so scared that they won’t happen.
He spent years smoking because he didn’t care about a future and now that he’s stopped and does he could get lung cancer. Or pneumonia. Or literally anything else.
Because Andrew Joseph Minyard is alive. And isn’t that just the most beautiful tragedy you’ve ever seen.