#aftgficlet

[betsydobsons]

an academic andreil headcanon

so they both go to the same uni

Neil lives with Stuart, Andrew moved to Germany with Nicky when Nicky got custody of them

it’s Edinburgh uni, sorry but I gotta work with what I know 

also Neil is Scottish sorry I don’t make the rules, he is from Largs, tell me otherwise. that accent? wonderful

Neil is in his first year, Andrew his second.

Neil works at a local cafe called Hula, and that's where he meets the upperclassmen, a rag tag group of vegans who love to protest the climate crisis outside of Holyrood building 

Neil studies maths and French, Andrew studies sociology and German 

they first meet in the library, first floor, where all the cubicles are. Andrew is hogging a whole cubicle for himself, and Neil and a weirdly friendly classmate want to study and talk. neil doesn't really want to talk but he also promised matt he would make friends in his classes 

Neil sees the cubicle and shoves all his stuff down on the table before seeing Andrew reading in the corner of it. 

Andrew gives him a ferocious glare to scare him off that usually works but Neil just grins and says sorry, could they have the cubicle

Andrew the little shit he is, says no. Neil calls him an entitled American.

thus their feud begins

Andrew works at the local cafe called Salut, run by a lovely couple (abby and Wymack hehe)

the upperclassmen take Neil there every Friday after the climate rallies to warm up

Neil orders an Americano

he receives a hideously sweet concoction with whipped cream, and a side biscuit.

Andrew finds it ridiculous anyone would want to drink something as ghastly and boring as an Americano 

Neil tracks down Andrew in his usual cubicle, and sits in it with him, blatantly disregarding the death Andrew is promising with his eyes.

he does his math while listening to his music, which potentially might be on full volume, and it might be hideous songs that Allison insists are “cultural resets”.

Andrew does not agree with the sentiment  

it escalates from there. there were rubber ducks involved at one point. and ice cream. and Neil is never trusting anything he orders from uber eats again.

the studying together continues though. except Andrew isn't studying, he's reading, which is what some people do for fun Neil. 

Neil joins cross country, where he finds Kevin, who happens to be Andrews best friend. duh. 

Neil gets invited by Kevin to a flat party, and lo behold, there is Andrew. 

seeing Andrew wearing a grey sweater instead of his usual black get up makes Neil’s stomach grow flowers that continue to bloom every time he looks at him. 

Andrew looks bored to be there. Neil doesn't know anyone else, with Kevin being extremely preoccupied with a certain Jeremy Knox. so he goes to talk to him.

and it turns out they actually like talking. they have a lot to say. Andrew likes calling Neil names, and Neil likes taking the piss out of the fact Andrew calls biscuits, cookies.  

they talk about their subjects, and that next year Andrew will be out in Germany due to his degree, and he will be able to see his cousin again, and why is he telling Neil this, of all people.

Neil is a very good listener. he's even better at asking questions that make Andrew have to think about an answer. 

they keep talking, and they exchange numbers, to keep talking. to keep each other from slipping away.  

they share cigarettes, and secrets, and their feud turns into something much more scary. it turns into a relationship.