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The arts and craft aisle is a bright pop of color compared to the monotone colors of the grocery store, muted grays and beige all around. Andrew was on a mission to get to the produce section of the store, looking for the perfect apples, bright red and sweet. Neil is straying a few feet behind, his feet seemed frozen to the floor. The bright and pastel colored markers caught his interest, he ran his hand over the displayed markers. The soft rattle of the markers running together left a satisfying sound to Neil’s ears. Neil grabbed one of the tester markers, a pastel orange and sketched a small flower on the scratch paper.
The smooth lines and curves from the marker left Neil satisfied, a small smile on his lips.
“Find something fun, rabbit?”
Neil jumps, cramming the marker back in a random slot. Andrew scoffs, nudging Neil out of the way to look at rows upon rows of different kinds of markers.
“No. Did you get the apples you need for the pie?”
“Yes, I got the apples. Were you looking at these ones?” Andrew picked up a few markers from the pastel row, examining them. Popping off the cap, looking at the fine brush tips and chisel ends. Neil shrugs,
“I was only looking, it doesn't matter. Do we need anything else for the dinner tonight Drew?”
Andrew did a mental checklist of the things they have in the cart and back in their apartment.
“No, we have everything now.”
Neil hums, taking one more quick glance back before walking ahead. He really wanted those markers, as silly as they are he enjoyed them, but he could hear his mothers voice echoing in his head.
Those are useless things Nathaniel! Childish, waste of our time. We don’t have time for things like coloring. Would you like to die because you got too distracted by some colors?
“-by? Neil? Can you hear me?”
Neil flinches when he feels a hand on his check, he still felt the phantom touch of when his mother had slapped him then. Just because he had asked for what he saw all of the other kids have. But he wasn’t like most kids was he?
When Neil comes back around, he takes in the grocery store, the art aisle and Andrew’s hazel eyes, startlingly close to his own.
“Yeah, yeah I can hear you just fine. Are we good to go home?” With a nod Neil starts walking towards the register, Andrew tosses the 40 pastel marker pack in the basket. Andrew caught up to Neil, he was waiting in line flipping through a book. A coloring book Andrew noticed, from the snippets that he saw it was filled with flowers, and landscapes.
“Let me see that.” Neil hands it over without a word, tilting his head at Andrew. Questioning. He flicks through it, glancing at Neil.
“You like this one?”
“Mhm, the landscapes are nice. Wait why-”
Andrew scans it and puts it in the bag. He takes the grocery filled and art supplied bag in his hand and tugs Neil along with the other.
“Let's go rabbit, I got a stupid pie to bake.”
“It’s not stupid, you know everyone likes it and especially you.”
“Well of course I like it, I bake it. They just steal my pie, and you unfortunately stop me from stabbing them.”
The two of them bicker like that all the way to the Maserati.
☆
As Andrew sets out the ingredients, Neil hovers around the kitchen. He has been long since banned from the kitchen, one incident and 3 burnt pans later, Andrew had revoked Neil’s cooking privileges.
“Andreeew! C’mon let me help! You can handle all the stove stuff! Let me chop up the apples at least!”
“No. The other time you also tried to help me, you nearly chopped off your finger and managed to burn the side of your palm.”
“Okay, fine. But burning my palm wasn't my fault!” Andrew raised an eyebrow, Oh really?
“The pan was off to the side and was off the burner for like 10 minutes! How was I supposed to know it was still hot!” Andrew rolls his eyes, and starts washing the fruit.
“I said no, Neil. I don’t want you unnecessarily hurting yourself. Go test out your new markers instead rabbit.”
“My new-Andrew you didn’t!” Andrew points to the dining table with his knife. Neil skids, nearly slipping because of his socks, and slides to the table. A bright smile on his face, he collects the markers and coloring book in his arms and goes back to Andrew.
“Can I at least color here while you cook? Since someone refuses to let me help?”
“I don’t care. Just don’t get in the way.”
Neil beams, setting up his small station on the raised counter in front of the kitchen. He starts off with filling in the tester sheets, matching the colors with the numbers on the paper. Neil is hunched over, almost eye level with the counter to make sure the colors stay within the small square. After that is done, he flips through his new coloring book, taking in each picture, appreciating all of the fine, small details. He finds a picture towards the middle of the book, a big lake takes up a good majority of it, but what really caught Neil's attention was the two foxes curled up around each other by the edge of the lake. A few trees here and there, and small piles of leafs. Neil roams over the pastel colors, picking up a light shade of blue and starts to color in bits of the lake. Time goes by in a blur, Neil is careful with each color, where it's placed and makes sure it blends nicely with the others around them. He’s taken out of his trance when there's a hand on his back.
“Are you having fun, little fox?”
Neil hums, leaning into the touch when Andrew wraps his arms around his waist, head resting on his shoulder, watching Neil color. Most of the lake was finished, different shades of blue and light green.
“Yes or No, Neil?”
“Yes.” Neil’s about to cap his marker but Andrew places his hand over Neils.
“No, keep coloring. If you want.” Neil keeps coloring, much to Andrew’s satisfaction. Andrew nuzzles into the back of Neil’s neck, leaving a trail featherlight kisses down Neil’s neck.
“Okay?” Neil hums, entranced with his work to give a proper response. Andrew bites down lightly.
“Merde…it’s okay ‘Drew. Feels good, I promise.”
Pleased with Neil’s answer, Andrew continues. They're both at peace…for about 30 more seconds. Neil can hear keys gingling and heavy footsteps, Andrew groans when the oven goes off. At least the pie was done. Neil chuckles when Andrew has an almost pout on his face.
The door to their apartment swings open, Kevin walks in kicking off his boots and rain drenched coat. Aaron does the same, trailing behind Kevin to the kitchen.
“Josten, what the hell are you doing? Are you five? What, you're going to color a picture and ask Andrew to hang-” Kevin scoffs, then yelps when he feels a harsh smack to the back of his head.
“Stop being a dick Kevin. Him coloring dosen’t hurt anything, go fuck off.” Aaron peers over Neil’s shoulder, admiring his page. Skillfully done, not a single color overlaps or out of line.
“Ignore him, it looks very well done. Are these new?” Aaron gestures to the markers and book.
“Yeah, Andrew got them for me at the store.”
Neil closes his book and packs up his marker.
“I have to go pack a bag for Abby’s.”
Which wasn’t exactly a lie, Neil does, but he’s also pissed at Kevin but what's new there?
☆
The four of them are the first to arrive at Abby’s, which is not a surprise. Andrew carries in the Apple pie, Neil has both of their bags. The pie was set on the table, and everyone slowly migrated to the living room to wait for the other foxes. Andrew and Neil were sitting next to each other, Neil was mindlessly watching whatever was playing on the t.v while Andrew seemed to also mindlessly play with the ends of Neil's curls. Kevin sat on the other end of the couch, Aaron was laying in Kevin's lap, legs laying over the end of the couch. Abby and David were still puttering around in the kitchen.
Sometime later, the others started to trickle in. It was a full house now. Everyone was chatting, well arguing over what movie should be put on or what games should be played, would be more accurate. Eventually, Harry Potter was the movie marathon for this weekend's movie night.
“Dinners ready you heathens, try not to break any more of my dishes yeah?”
There was a chorus of yes’s and no promises coach. As everyone scrambled out of the living room, Neil made no move to get up, Andrew raised an eyebrow.
“Not hungry yet. I’ll save your spot.”
Andrew huffs, but goes to get himself a plate. He comes back with a plate with everyone else, Aaron tagging along by his brother's side.
“What are we watching again?”
“Harry Potter. Weren't you listening little fox?”
“Not really. I was paying more attention to-”
There was a sudden shriek, and surprise surprise it was Nicky.
“Did The Andrew Minyard just use a nickname for his ‘not boyfriend’? A cute one at that, mark it on the calendar everybody! On this day-”
“Nicky. Shut.The.Fuck.Up I will not hesitate to throw a dagger at you. You want to test that theory?” Nicky’s face pales, ducking behind the couch.
“No!No! I was kidding, don’t kill me.”
Andrew throws one glare in Nicky’s direction before going back to his pie, David shakes his head as he flicks through the streaming channels until he finds the first Harry Potter movie.
“Okay, children, here's the movie. Try not to kill each other.”
☆
By the fourth movie it’s around 12 in the morning, David and Abby went to bed about an hour ago, everyone else was passed out somewhere in Abby’s living room besides Neil and Andrew.
“I’m going to smoke, you coming?”
“Always.”
Neil follows Andrew to Abby’s backyard, she has one of those swinging benches. Andrew lights one for Neil and then himself. They sit in a comfortable silence, Neil watches Andrew puff out smoke, they way it swirls around him is like an art, the moonlight gives Andrew a white halo. Neil finishes off his first while Andrew starts his third, when he asks a question.
“ ‘Drew , I have a question.” Andrew waves his hand, a ‘Go on’ gesture.
“Would you…I mean when we go back home because I don’t have them now but-”
“Color my tattoos? You can do it now if you want to try.”
Neil stares baffled, he always knows what Neil’s thinking somehow. Andrew stubs out his last cigarette on the cobblestone beneath his foot.
“Your markers are in my bag. Let's go rabbit.”
Neil hastily stubs out his own cigarette, and meets Andrew by the backdoor. The two of them slip back inside, both of them draping blankets over the other passed out foxes.
“Which room Neil?”
“The last one in the hallway. Think it’s where Nicky and Aaron used to stay.”
Andrew hums, opening the door for Neil to enter first. The both of them quickly get ready for bed, swapping their day clothes for their pjs. Neil in loose sweatpants and a baggy long sleeved sweater, Andrew’s in a similar set, sweatpants and a tank top. Neil shuffles through Andrew’s bag, finding his markers at the bottom. Andrew was already sitting criss-cross in the middle of the bed, scrolling mindlessly on his phone. Neil sits himself in front of him, marker bag at his side.
“You are still okay with this?”
“Yes Neil. Think of my arms as your coloring pages, just relax and have fun with it.”
Neil smiles, telling Andrew to get comfortable, stating that he wants to color all of Andrew's tattoos. His left arm is a whole sleeve, there's more tattoo than bare skin.
Neil gingerly pulls Andrew’s arm into his lap, letting his hands roam his arm before picking his colors for the first tattoo. It’s a dagger, with vines wrapping around it. Dark purples, different shades of green for the vines.
“It tickles by the way…the brush side of the pen. The other end hurts too much on the skin.” Neil mumbles, before he starts to color in the blade part of the dagger. He hears a muffled chuckle.
“Don’t hide it, I like your laugh ‘Drew. C’mon let me hear it.” Andrew chokes, swatting Neil’s untamed crazy curls.
“Don’t say stupid shit like that. Just color…stupid fox.” Andrew grumbles. Neil laughs a bit himself but otherwise does listen and color contently.
Neil periodically switches the colors he has set in his lap, he has different hues of oranges,reds and yellows, and just a few greens in his lap now. Neil’s about halfway up Andrew’s arm, he’s working on some small leafs and vines.
“Can I move to your lap? I want to work on the tattoos on the side.” Andrew opens his arms, the best non-verbal invitation Neil would ever get. Neil crawls into Andrew’s lap nuzzling into the side of his neck. Just a small break, his wrists were starting to hurt anyway. Andrew brought his non-inked colored arm around Neil, running his fingers through his hair.
“This doesn't seem like coloring. What happened to ‘I want to color all of your tattoos!” Andrew mimicked Neil's voice, he got pinched in the side.
“Small break…wrists hurt.”
Andrew hums, bringing up his other arm around Neil, hoping that the marker ink doesn't smear, Neil wouldn’t be happy. Thankfully it didn’t smear.
“Why don’t you stop for the night, little fox. You're falling asleep as is right now.”
Neil huffs, but doesn't argue. Grumbling a small ‘fine’
“Good boy, now go lay down. I’m picking up your artsy mess.”
Neil slides off of Andrew’s lap and slides under the covers, watching him with bleary eyes. Andrew unceremoniously puts the colors back in the pack, Neil will probably fix the colors later himself.
“Andreew…hurry up. S’cold in here without you! I don’t care about the colors right now…”
“Good, because I just threw them in there anyways.”
Andrew closes the small container and slips in bed behind Neil, back to the wall.
“Thank you for letting me color them…Do ya like em? Colored in and stuff?”
“I do. Now let's go to sleep…”
Neil falls asleep to Andrew’s hands wrapped around him and Andrew playing with his hair. Andrew falls asleep later, once he hears even breathing and small snores coming from Neil in front of him. Andrew’s last thought was, he is glad he never went back into the tattoo shop to get them colored in like he’s thought about a million times before.