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Neil leans his head against the window of Andrew’s car as he tries not to doze off. Old habits die hard, and he still wants to make sure he knows the way back. Nicky, Aaron and Kevin are in the backseat, so they can’t be too obvious, but Andrew nudges his arm gently without looking away from the road to keep him awake. Neil adjusts in his seat so that he’s facing Andrew and stares at him, enjoying the way the sunlight trails over him as he drives. He hopes he isn’t being too obvious, but apparently he is because Andrew scowls at him and turns up the radio.
Kevin whines loudly from the back, because he’s still in a bad mood after his conversation with Wymack and “I was sleeping you asshole!” Andrew ignores him.
His protests seem to be for naught anyway because a few minutes later they pull into the driveway of the cabin. It’s huge and sprawling, with plenty of room for all nine foxes. Allison puts Neil and Andrew together in the downstairs bedroom because “it’s not like he’ll let you out of his sight and that way you two can keep each other up with your night terrors instead of the rest of us.”
It’s rude, but Neil is grateful because he wants to be able to spend time with Andrew alone, but he knows that it would be suspicious if he asked to be roomed with him. They go downstairs to put their bags away and Neil notices that there’s only one bed.
“I can sleep on the floor if you want…” He trails off when he sees the way Andrew scowls and throws both of their bags on the bed. Neil grins to himself and leans against the wall until Andrew is ready to head back upstairs. He meets him against the wall when he’s done getting settled and raises an eyebrow at Neil in a silent question.
“Yes,” Neil breathes and they kiss for a few minutes until they think the others might get suspicious and come looking. When they get back upstairs, the others are already in their swimsuits and headed for the hot tub. Neither Andrew or Neil are comfortable being that exposed around the others, but they help Nicky make drinks and lean against the railing of the balcony in a comfortable silence.
That night though, Neil is curious. He gets out of bed and the change in weight rouses Andrew from his sleep as well. He looks curiously at Neil until Neil whispers “Yes or no?”
Andrew gets up and leans in for a kiss, which Neil indulges, but then he shakes his head and gestures upstairs. Andrew’s face doesn’t change, but he follows Neil up the stairs.
Neil heads right for the hot tub, and though he knows getting in with all of his injuries would be a terrible idea, sits on the edge and dips his feet in and moans slightly at how good the water feels.
Andrew is still standing a little ways down, and Neil pats the spot next to him in invitation. Andrew sits next to him and follows his lead. After a moment he murmurs, “I can’t believe you woke me up for this.”
“It’s nice,” Neil says, splashing his feet a bit in the water.
Andrew grunts in assent, then carefully tilts Neil’s head to face his. “Still yes?”
“Always yes,” Neil answers before leaning in to meet Andrew’s lips.
They kiss lazily with their feet tangled together in the water before breaking apart at the sound of a clatter behind them.
“Holy shit,” Matt laughs, while Dan smothers her reaction behind her hand.
“Sorry. We’ll just-” she gestures behind them as they head speedily back into the cabin.
Andrew is out of the water and halfway back to their room before Neil even registers what happened.
They still sleep in the same bed that night, but Andrew has never felt farther away.
--
The next day, Andrew is still a bit distant, but it’s not a bad day. After lunch, Matt pulls Neil aside into his room.
“So, uh, I don’t wanna push or anything, but you and Andrew…”
“It’s complicated.”
“Clearly. When did you two start...whatever it is?”
Neil hated talking about this, but he had promised to stop lying to Matt. “A few months ago.”
“Months…” Matt shook his head. “I mean, I can’t say I don’t get why you didn’t tell us, but him?”
Neil rubs his arm nervously, before shrugging and saying, “I trust him.”
Matt raises an eyebrow. “You trust him?”
Neil sighs. “I don’t have to explain anything to him. Nothing from my past scares him.”
“We’re not scared of you.”
“I know you’re not, but it’s different.”
At Matt’s silence, Neil says, “How does being with Dan make you feel?”
“Like I have someone who cares about me more than I do about myself sometimes. Like...she knows everything about me and still wants to stick around and know more.”
Neil nods.
Matt sighs and puts his hand on Neil’s shoulder. “Just promise you’ll tell me if something goes wrong?”
“I can take care of myself.”
Matt grimaces. “Believe me, I know. But the point is, you don’t have to.”
“I know.”
Matt nods, apparently content with their conversation and walks away.
--
Later that night is the first time Neil and Andrew have been alone since their relationship came to light. Neil sits on the bed as Andrew walks around the room getting ready.
“They don’t care.”
“Good for them.”
“What we do is none of their business. This doesn’t change anything.”
“I don’t care.”
“Is that why you won’t look at me?”
“No, that’s because I can’t stand your face.”
Neil smiles. “Liar.”
Andrew ignores him.
He lays down in bed and is relieved when Andrew crawls in beside him. He curls a hand under Neil’s chin, mindful of his injuries and says “I don’t care what those stupid assholes think they see.”
“Good. We wouldn’t want anyone thinking you care.”
“Shut up,” Andrew finished before moving his hand to the front of Neil’s shirt. “Yes or no?”
“Yes,” Neil said and let Andrew pull him in the rest of the way.