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Andrew Minyard hadn’t expected a lot when recruiting some random kid from Millport. He was only there because he and Kevin had a deal, and Kevin refused to go alone— too used to the buddy system they had had in the Nest.
He hadn’t as much as glanced at the file, not able to focus on much of anything through a haze of medication. He hated those things. It lowered his impulse control, his ability to remember things, his ability to think properly. He couldn’t remember Abram well enough for him to be comfortable with being on his medication.
So when he saw a body rushing towards him, Andrew— he did something he promised Abram he’d never do. He attacked unprovoked. An attack with an Exy raquet to the ribs. Andrew regretted it the second he moved, but instead of apologising, helping the boy up, anything. He just smiled, and he laughed…and then he froze. Because from the little runaway's mouth came a shocked word, something he had never let anyone call him. “Drew?”
No one— no one had ever called him Drew. No one except Abram had the right to use any nickname for him at all, much less that one. He dropped the racquet as a laugh tore out from his throat, and he stepped back. One— two— three steps, searching the face of ‘Neil Josten’ for what he knew, somewhere through the drugged haze that blanketed his mind, he would find there.
Years— literal years had passed, and there he was. His eyes and hair were brown now, not black and green. His posture was different, more ready to flee as if the instinct had been beaten into him. But even so, his face shape, the shape of his eyes— the way he looked around— “…Abram?”
Even through the medication humming in his system, he could feel the ever-present smile slip from his face as Abram stood, looking at Andrew in wonder. “Drew…” he whispered, almost wondrously.
“Abram,” he said back, flat— but eyes filled with an undying affection that nothing could replicate.
Abram walked forwards at a swift pace, opening his arms for a hug, “Yes or No, Drew?” he asked breathlessly.
“Yes, you absolute idiot.”
They collapsed into the hug, both of them leaving enough space for the other to back out if they needed— but otherwise clinging to eachother like their life depended on it. He was sure Coach would have questions, was sure Kevin would, heck he had questions. But first— first he had to convince Abram to stay. Pulling back from the hug, Andrew said, “Everyone out. Neil and I need to have a little talk.”
Wymack attempted to protest, likely scared that Andrew would hurt Abram. As if Andrew would ever hurt him, like Andrew would ever let hurt the first person to stay around without making a deal with him. Like Andrew wouldn’t give up everything for Abram. Andrew would give up anything to get Abram to stay. Abram was the first person that was his without retaliation, not in possession— never in possession. He doubted anyone could ever own Abram… but, Abram had given Andrew truth and now that Andrew had him back, he wasn’t letting go.
“I’ll be fine, Coach,” Abram said, smiling in that way that made Andrew’s smile become more real than it had been in years. Less drug induced mania and more actual mirth.
Andrew waved off Wymack with a sigh, “See, Coach— the Junkie’s fine with it. Give us a bit to talk, will you.” And with that he grabbed Abram by the arm, and dragged him along and back out to the bleachers. “It’s been a while, Abram,” he said, switching to German.
Abram nodded, “Yeah… I— are you okay? Like I don’t— how did I not— I’m sorry.”
“What for?” Andrew asked, not taking his eyes away from Abram’s face for a second.
Abram lowered his eyes, “I didn’t recognise you, Drew. I— I just— I didn’t recognise who you were. That’s why you picked to do Exy, right? You— you wanted to get my attention. I mean— what else could it be you don’t particularly like the game, I know you only played it because I liked it and you liked thinking of it as an equal exchange for me teaching you how to fight and you changed your last name and you have a twin now but I still should have noticed. I keep up with all recent Exy news, I should have recognised—”
Andrew put a hand over Abram’s mouth the way he had done when they were kids and Abram started rambling. “Shut up, Junkie.. Don’t do all this emotional shit now— not when I’m like this. Stay, and then we’ll talk.”
“You know I can’t join the Foxes, it’s too dangerous Drew… You know as much as anyone how dangerous the spotlight is for me. I— You’re mine in every way that you want to be— and nothing more, and that will never change but I can’t—”
Andrew frowned, eliciting a gasp from Kevin. He didn’t know Andrew could frown on his medication, considering how Manic it made him. But something in Abram just, tore through the fog. It wasn’t gone, but Andrew could suppress it because he had to focus on Abram. “What will it take to convince you to stay?”
“I don’t know…”
“Then stay until you’re convinced.”
“Okay…”
Andrew turned back to Coach, “He’ll sign.”
Abram smiled, “Yeah Drew… I’ll sign.”