#and neil was looking at andrew . most definitely Like That. when he was talking to abby

[twin-yards]

it is completely one hundred percent baffling to me that any of the foxes would come away from witnessing neil and andrew's reunion in baltimore with the opinion that their relationship was just hate fucking . like my brother in christ are you blind

[ninyard]

Honestly honestly the most romantic moment of the entire series is when Neil talks about how he'd never gotten to travel for fun before and the Foxes are planning to take him to the mountains, and Kevin starts to protest that they can't go on vacation but stops because Andrew is holding a knife on him 😭🥺😩 like I don't know that's just just a sweet little moment to me, Andrew threatening Kevin if he takes this little chance for happiness from Neil

Uhhhh literally Andrew “I-don’t-care” Minyard is the most romantic of ALL the foxes. My line of work revolves around intimacy and from all my training and studying let me tell you that man is a master at his craft.

Andrew’s touch is beautiful and sacred; this thing he does not take easily, or give out kindly whatsoever. Yet with Neil it’s as if he can’t stop himself. We see it in how gently he tapes the garbage bags around Neil’s injuries, wordlessly, without being asked. THAT’S intimacy. How he holds his neck to inspect his eyes when he removes his contacts, how he hands Neil cigarettes without a request, how he doesn’t say a word while touching Kevin with the point of a blade because Neil deserves a fucking break. Sure, by technicalities, the shower scene from TKM is intimate by definition, but really it’s in the kiss he ghosts across Neil’s hip, in how he pats dry his broken skin afterwards. How can you look at him wordlessly dropping keys into Neil’s palms, and think, yeah there’s no way Andrew could be romantic. Is he soft, is he gentle, as a person? No. But his minuscule actions are, his unmentioned gestures are. You just have to look and find them.

TKM just has some of the most subtly beautiful examples of a different flavour of love and intimacy that is so unusual and heartwarming it’s insane. That shower scene drives me crazy when I think about how caring Andrew is in it. He came in with the tape and bags on his own volition, knowing Neil needed a shower and couldn’t do it unattended. How he didn’t take away Neil’s autonomy by assuming he couldn’t undress himself, instead waiting until he paused and couldn’t go any further before he started to help. How he drapes the blanket over Neil’s shoulders, again giving Neil a chance to struggle before wrapping it around him. They practically don’t speak to each other really in that chapter at all apart from a bit of flirting in the shower. Because they don’t need to, because Andrew knows how to love, how to be caring, how to wrap up the boy he almost lost in bubble wrap because if he loses him again, it won’t be pretty. He washes Neil’s hair! He covers his wounds! He treats him gently when that is possibly the last word that could ever be used to describe Andrew. I feel like that scene was in part of course him just looking after Neil who can use approximately two square inches of his entire body, but in another part proving how serious he is about Neil. Everything changes between the two of them then, suddenly their actions more relaxed than hungry, not yet a given but instead now just a want.

I don’t know. I can’t help but see so much intimacy and romance in subtleties and things you’d barely even notice, regardless of the people/the characters and their circumstances. I wouldn’t use the word sweet to describe Andrew at all, but the things he does for Neil? The way that he loves Neil? The absolutely fucking sweetest.

[shorlinesorrows]

my jean & neil qpr agenda (part 1?)

after Neil orders the hit and Greyson becomes another Former Raven statistic for the media to go wild with, Jean ends up texting Neil. It's definitely not a thank you, but both of them know it kinda is (prob something like "you're an insufferable disease" lol)

They don't have contact for a while, but one day Neil reaches out by sending Jean the most atrocious multilingual French meme with "Kevin doesn't appreciate me or my humor, this is a hate crime"

It's sporadic from there, and maybe at one point they meet up while Neil and Andrew are on their summer road trip. Neil and Andrew end up in Colorado, and Jeremy, Cat, and Laila practically drag Jean there to see them (he'll deny that he had a good time, but he really did)

Andrew and Jean have a bizarre and interesting dynamic where they don't speak to each other often, but they eventually grow a mutual respect and shoot each other Looks about their "I'm Fine" partners. They don't mind just sitting in the same room and sharing space while they do their separate things.

When Jean and Jeremy start their pottery class, Jean takes to it like a fish to water.

He ends up majoring in Ceramics & Multimedia Art. Something about using his hands to create, rather than destroy.

He makes Neil a little exy racket charm for his keychain.

At one point, Jeremy makes a gc with Jean, Neil, Kevin, and Andrew on impulse. Jean "hates" it but doesn't leave the group chat. Andrew only stays in it because he can mute it, and it's useful for when they plan to meet up sometimes. It also makes Neil happy and it's not something he really minds

Jean also takes LOTS of pictures. With his phone, his friends' phones, a polaroid camera he gets as a gift from Cat, anything he can get his hands on. He hangs them up on his half of the room with Jeremy.

Eventually Jeremy and Jean do get separate rooms. They usually still sleep in the same room, but it's an important milestone for Jean and his recovery. Being able to have his own space, and know he's allowed to control who comes in it.

He decorates that room so much it's chaotic and beautiful and there's probably little pencil doodles on the wall next to his bed from when he can't sleep. He tends to draw daffodils :]

It becomes a bit of a tradition to meet Neil and Andrew every summer.

When they go pro, Jean and Neil end up on teams only a few hours' drive from each other. Neil and Andrew start on the same team, but the whole Minyard-Josten Rivalry is still a Thing because they're always shooting heated Russian at each other while "glaring" and no one else seems to realize it's their equivalent of flirting.

Jean thinks it's hilarious. He harasses Neil about it constantly.

Him and Kevin eventually mend their friendship, and they care about each other a lot.

Neil probably made the three of them matching "I survived Castle Evermore" shirts just to be a menace, and then Jean and Kevin have to make him swear that he'll never wear it in public.

Neil has a habit of just. Showing up at Jean's house and crashing sometimes.

Jeremy at one point jokes that he'll have to fight Neil for Jean's time in the future, but he's not really worried. They're happier when they spend time together. Jeremy and Andrew are chill with it.

When they meet up for the first time after a game between their pro teams, none of their teammates have any clue what's going on. Jean and Neil insult each other ferociously, but also can't seem to resist hip-checks and shoulder bumps and almost affectionate shoves.

Neil constantly sidles up to Jean and pretends like he doesn't know what he's doing. Jean usually responds by absently grabbing his hand so he knows where he is.

They are literally a cat and dog. Neil will deny that he's being caring or affectionate towards Jean all day long while actively attempting to be in Jean's space, and Jean practically perks up when Neil enters a room.

When their teams play against each other, they talk in French sometimes. Their checks are always a bit brutal (they know very well how far the other can be pushed before they break) but they help each other up at the end of quarters.

Jean is constantly antagonizing Neil by smiling and complimenting his striker skills while blocking him, and Neil is constantly taunting him with words that are plenty sharp, but never actually aimed for vital spots

Jean gets a service dog and Jeremy decides to name her Mr. Barkbark Flufferpants, following Andrew & Neil's naming scheme for their cats. They usually just call her "Mr."

When they make Court, the two of them practically live in each other's pockets.

Jeremy and Andrew watch both exasperatedly and amusedly (though Andrew just calls it annoyance when asked) as the two of them dance around their Big Queer Platonic Feelings

When they finally manage to actually communicate about it, it goes something like "Idk what's happening, I'm kinda obsessed with you but it is Not Romantic and I don't know what to do with that." And then "Oh thank hell, me too, I thought I was even weirder than I already am. Wanna go harrass the fbi together?" "No."

They become even more attached at the hip after that, can practically finish each other's sentences. It's like they freaking mind melded tbh.

At first Kevin gets worried that they're slipping into old habits from the Nest, especially Jean, but when he brings it up to Andrew and Jeremy, Andrew just goes "No, they're idiots." and Jeremy nods and says "I think they're in a honeymoon phase. If we see them slipping, we'll pull them out."

Kevin decides to wait and watch, and thankfully their relationship ends up being as healthy as Neil and Jean can be. There might be a little codependence going on, but they have other people and other grounding forces to help intervene if it seems to be unbalancing.

They both put each other on their emergency contacts list.

It's a common sight to find the two of them twisted into impossible positions together just doing their own things, Jean drawing, Neil watching reruns of Exy matches, whatever.

Their dynamic just becomes Jean, who genuinely grows up to be a pretty chill dude, and Neil, who's an absolute gremlin. Except they kinda absorb each other's personalities, so they're both little shits together. They fit.

There is definitely all sorts of weird conversations that they have at 2AM in little sleepovers they do together (sometimes with Kevin, Jeremy, or Andrew) because they never got that as kids.

I bet Neil mercilessly teases Jean for being allosexual, especially when he gets flustered (all in good fun, of course)

Jean just snarks back with a "shut up, I literally saw you look at Andrew like a besotted elderly man with his partner of fifty years like five minutes ago." Neil sticks out his tongue at him.

Jean actually can sometimes read the ways that Neil and Andrew show affection for each other because of how much time he spends around them, which leads to him occasionally getting confused when other people don't automatically Get It

Neil takes a while to warm up to Jeremy because he seems Too Nice, but once he does he helps Jeremy plan to absolutely torment Jean with silly little romantic gestures that make him flush all the way down to his neck

At one point Neil tries to get Jean to explain what it feels like to be sexually attracted to someone without knowing them really closely, and it leads to a really surprisingly deep conversation about attraction before it turns into neil making dick jokes.

Cat and Laila still keep in close contact with Jean, as well as Renee. They make sure to meet up as often as they can. Cat and Jean always go for a bike ride together and they all cook dinner as a group.

They're both cuddle monsters when in the right mood. They also have the convenient ability to fall asleep Anywhere when they feel safe. So finding them curled up together in weird places at home is pretty commonplace.

They're forever partners, not in the way that the world and the Nest tried to make them be, but in a way that they created themselves.

It doesn't have to be romantic to be special, and if anyone ever suggested that they should be in a romantic relationship, they would both look at that person with absolute judgement and disgust. This person interrupted their conversation. They were talking shit about someone. Neil is lounging in Jean's lap. Andrew is saying he hates them both, and Jeremy is cackling at it all while taking a low-res picture for Cat and Laila.

idk i have a Lot of thoughts and could keep going. (i might write a fic if anyone wants to read it, and I'll definitely write little snippets for myself if I get the time. )

[thespineoftherighteous]

more more more more aftg show bloopers (p 4?? I think?) whoop whoop de fuckin whoop

Neil's actor being a huge Duolingo dork and in the behind the scenes while the other actors are fooling around between takes you can often see him with his head bent and hear the little 'ping!'s coming from his phone

also during late night shoots, as it gets closer to midnight he always has a point where he's like SHIT my Duolingo streak. and then just blocks out everyone while his fingers fly over his screen

(fans make compilations of him proudly showing his Duolingo streak to the camera and the number grows as the seasons progress)

(he definitely is the kinda bitch who cares more about maintaining the streak than actually learning languages)

actually omg while we're on the topic of languages

Kevin's actor tenderly reciting his French lines to Matt's actor and Matt's actor is just smitten. and he goes "say something else, love" and Kevin's actor strokes his cheek while saying another one of his lines and Matt swoons

(then Kevin's actor turns to the camera and goes "I just told him that he's a disappointment and is going to get his ass handed to him by ravens if he doesn't do exactly as I say" and, from the ground, Matt's actor goes "hell yeah you did. talk dirty to me any day of the week you sexy, sexy man")

coach's actor is always swearing to the point where they implement a swear jar...really it's just something for the kids to jokingly rag on him about, but he goes with it, and every so often they'll empty the jar to buy the cast and crew pizza

they're filming outside at night and it's cold and in between takes Matt's Aaron's and Renee's actors are all huddled together for warmth and Matt's actor gets pulled aside to get his makeup touched up and the other two just shriek at the absence of his heat and catch up to him to tuck themselves against him again

Andrew needs to snap his fingers in one scene but everyone finds out that day that his actor doesn't know how to snap so he has a little impromptu snapping lesson and of course it turns into everyone else trying to one-up each other with their snapping abilities

Nicky's actor telling everyone what he's going to steal from set (will literally say"[about Allison's bathrobe] damn that shit soft as hell. Ive been needing a new bathrobe actually. I'm stealing this" or "I'm stealing this lighter/bandana/sunglasses/etc") but because his humor is so dry everyone thinks he's joking. until months later. when the prop department can't find shit

Renee's actress is doing something completely mundane but Neil's and Allison's actors start narrating what she's doing like they're in a nature documentary (always with Australian accents for some reason??)

"and our specimen now reclines herself vertically on a piece of furniture us humans know as 'a desk.' this clearly less-developed creature seems not to understand the purpose of such an object. but given that this is her first time outside her natural habitat (the jungle) her lack of familiarity with modern technology is to be expected"

Renee's actress: *flips them off*

"ah and here we witness one of the most common behaviors of this specimen. specialists have dubbed it 'flipping the bird,' and explain it as a nonverbal expression of affection" "oh fuck off"

photo from another cold night-shoot and it's of Matt's and Dan's actors, she's standing in front of him zipped up in his hoodie, just her head poking out and they're having a conversation with other castmates like it's the most normal thing in the world, looking the very image of the couple they play

so much glorious content from shooting the dorm sleepover scene. the most popular thing to come from it is a picture from after they wrapped where the cast and some members of the crew had moved even closer to each other amid all the blankets and are asleep on top of each other

Andrew's actor will sometimes actually eat the ice cream he's given instead of just pretending to eat it, and halfway through the scene he casually mentions that he's lactose intolerant and sends the crew into a worried frenzy

if you haven't clocked it yet, these bitches are competitive. and one day, one thing led to another, and soon a bunch of the actors are all being filmed having a plank-holding competition. Dan's actress is the first to drop and she gets booed at for it because "you're an ex-stripper where tf is that upper body strength?"

she flips them off and goes to sit on Kevin's actor, hoping to squash his plank, but instead he starts doing push ups with her on his back. she grins

(Rikos actor wins that competition btw. and Neil's actor goes on a rant about "we succumbed to the ENEMY? a RAVEN? your characters would be ashamed of you" (he also lost?))

Allison's actress pretending to do a get-ready-with-me using all the stuff on Allison's vanity

Wymack's actor falling asleep in The Dad Pose™ when they're shooting a scene on the bus. and everybody gathers in to take pictures

when Kevin and Neil get all up in each other's faces their actors will pretend like they're going to kiss each other

not really a blooper but just all the actors for the foxes and the ravens mingling together in between takes and it looks so wrong

give me all the actors constantly taking the piss out of their characters

for ex during a scene where the monsters are in the car on the way to Edens, Nicky's actor looks towards the backseat where everyone is in character and goes wow what a fun crowd we are you'd never believe we're about to hit the club

night shoots are a. struggle. for Dan's actress. and the others love to take videos of her just standing on her mark with the most spaced out expression on her face

Andrew's and Neil's actors are shooting one of their typical intense, deep scenes and after one take, as soon as "cut" is called, Andrew's actor grabs Neil's face and starts serenading him with the song that's been stuck in his head all day

Renee's actress getting scolded for sneaking snacks into her costume

when Nicky's actor messes up a line (and he's the least likely of everyone to do it) he starts spewing Spanish

Andrew's actor constantly teasing his brother and Katelyn's actress whenever they have scenes together

like the two of them will just be talking together in between takes and Andrews actor will be behind the camera recording them and saying shit like "look at that MINYARD RIZZ" (or he'll use their actual last name) "hey btw [Katelyn's actor] I taught him everything he knows"

that scene where the foxes are rushing out of the dorm to check on their destroyed cars and Matt's actor just faceplants (Neil's actor: "wow. the dedication")

in one scene or other Allison's actress is drinking an iced drink and during one take she just keeps calmly shaking the ice around in her cup until one by one everyone cracks

in one scene Allison's actress is wearing sunglasses. and in between takes she lies down and on camera you can see Kevin and Matt's actors whispering trying to figure out whether or not she's sleeping because they can't see her eyes

Aaron's actor always using Neil's actor as a pillow during car scenes because they're always next to each other and they're actually hella tight irl

the kids love to steal any props that coach's actor needs to use (pens clipboards etc) before they start rolling just so they can watch him try to subtly fidget trying to find his prop before they get to the point in the scene where he actually needs it

all the actors just taking pictures together in the most brutal settings on set.

like Neil's makeup has his face all busted and everyone wants a selfie with him. they all have a photoshoot with the trashed cars. they have another one in front of the "happy 19th birthday junior" set. Neil is tied up at The Nest while they change his hair and Jean's and Riko's actors take selfies with him. another photoshoot with Neil handcuffed in the police car. all these settings in terrible scenes and the actors are in front of them with grins and peace signs

they're terrible.

[minyard-05]

drunken/drugged confessions, kevaaron 👀

this got out of hand oopsies

(written largely whilst watching the battle of helms deep in lord of the rings, if that means anything)

prompt game

-----

"Have you tried talking to anybody who isn't us about this?" Renee asked gently.

Kevin sighed.

"Matt and Aaron are friends, Neil and Aaron just pretend they're not friends, Nicky is Nicky and also in Germany, and Andrew would murder me on the spot."

"What about Dan?"

Kevin looked over to the blonde that was perched on the kitchen counter.

"Allison already tells Dan everything I tell you two."

Allison nodded without looking up from her phone. Renee sighed, endearingly, and reached over to squeeze Allison's hand.

"Got any advice?"

Allison looked up.

"Honestly, Kev? If you're seriously trying to get over this Aaron thing, which I am generously only teasing you about internally right now, then just let me take you to a gay bar and you'll forget his name in five minutes."

Kevin was skeptical. It definitely wasn't the first time Allison had pitched this idea, and it most certainly wouldn't be the last.

"Honestly, Alli?" Kevin replied, mimicking her tone as Allison raised an eyebrow.

"I will be dead before I let you take me to a gay bar."

-----

They were in a gay bar and Kevin Day was very much still alive.

"C'mon, you're going to have fun. Let go a little!" Allison had to shout to be heard over the music, and Kevin settled for flipping her off so she couldn't pretend to mishear.

"Look, we'll stay for twenty minutes, and if you still hate it, movie night, okay?"

Allison squeezed his shoulder with her hand as she said it– Kevin knew that meant she was honest. If he pushed any further, if he seriously wanted to leave, she'd let him, no questions asked. Allison knew how to push, but she also knew when to let it slide. Kevin rolled his eyes, but said,

"Fine."

Allison clapped, and disappeared into the crowd not long after. Kevin aimed for the wall and managed to maneuver his way through the crowd before he found a spot to watch the dance floor.

It wasn't that bad, he thought after a while. More people in a confined space than he was usually comfortable with, but most of them pretty much stayed out of his way, and the various costumes and complicated outfits clubgoers had put together for their night out was entertainment enough. He felt moderately underdressed in a green shirt and jeans, but he was hardly the center of attention.

Somebody was, though. Even from this distance, it didn't look like he was trying to be, but part of the crowd just swarmed around him, twisting and moving in and amongst each other like the tide. A flash of blond hair in the middle of the crush caught Kevin's eye as he watched.

Aaron looked nothing like he did at Eden's back in college, though Kevin supposed he hadn't really been paying attention back then. Here, now, a year since he'd graduated, it was like he was a completely different person. Aaron's hair was longer, and he wore black jeans with silver chains hanging at his hips, a loose black shirt with a tight fishnet under layer, and a smile on his face that looked like nothing Kevin had ever seen before.

He watched Aaron move for so long he didn't notice when the blond finally appeared at his side, warm, close, unfairly gorgeous.

"No fucking way you're actually here, Your Highness," came the familiar voice, Aaron's voice, slurred from alcohol and barely audible over the pulsing rhythm booming through invisible speakers. Kevin stared at him.

"You're drunk," Kevin said, but that was obvious. Aaron grinned and downed the last of whatever was in his glass.

"You're gay," he replied, pointing an accusing finger into Kevin's face.

Kevin blinked, but pushed his hand away.

"Bi, but sure. So are you, apparently."

Aaron just grinned again.

"Nah," he said, nonchalantly.

"I just come for the..." he paused, taking a long second to look Kevin up and down before finally coming back to meet his eyes.

"Music," he finished.

Kevin felt something disturbingly familiar in his gut and did his best to ignore it.

"You here alone?" Aaron asked, swiping Kevin's drink from his hand and taking a sip, pushing it back with a grimace soon after.

"There's no alcohol in it," Kevin explained.

"And Allison is somewhere, I think."

Aaron raised an eyebrow at him.

"Reynolds?"

Kevin nodded.

"Huh. I didn't know you two still talked."

"You wouldn't," Kevin replied, too fast, and Aaron's expression suddenly turned dark.

"Fuck it," Aaron said, louder, and started to pull away.

"I'm getting another drink."

Kevin suddenly had a hand around Aaron's arm before he fully realised it.

"No," he said.

"Let go of me, Day," Aaron said fiercely.

"It's late, and you're already wasted. We should go."

"Who the fuck is 'we'?"

"Aaron," Kevin insisted, but he loosened his grip. Aaron tried to pull back again, but stumbled, shaking his head like he could make the world clearer by force. Kevin had to grab onto him again to stop him collapsing entirely, and he started to move them around the wall and headed for the door. Aaron pushed at him, but his strains grew weaker. Kevin held on as loosely as he could without dropping him, and finally they stumbled out into the night.

The street was quieter than he'd expected, but one glance at his watch said it was already past midnight. He briefly wondered what had happened to Allison, but all other thoughts suddenly vanished when he looked back at Aaron.

"Why the fuck are you even here?" he spat, sudden anger in his words as he finally forced himself away from Kevin, turning to face him.

A million answers suddenly spun around Kevin's head.

Wondering if Alli will let me drink again.

Trying to distract myself.

Trying to exist as something different for once.

Trying to forget about you.

"Did Andrew fucking send you? To come looking for me?"

Now it was Kevin's turn to stare in confusion.

"What?"

Aaron suddenly laughed, but it was bitter, cold.

"That's it. That's fucking it, isn't it? You can't just leave me alone, can you? Can't let me live my own fucking life for once, on my own!"

"That's not–"

"Why do you think I fucking left?"

Silence. Kevin watched Aaron, tentatively waiting for him to continue, but Aaron folded his arms, shivering in the December night.

"You were trying to forget about the Foxes," Kevin said, slowly, because it was all he really knew.

"I was trying to forget about you," was the response, sharp, angry, full of venom.

Kevin's head spun as he processed the words. He knew he hadn't been drinking, but he suddenly wished he was because this wasn't real. This wasn't right. Aaron had never been like that. Aaron had never wanted him. Aaron was straight, or Kevin guessed that wasn't true either, but whatever he was, this wasn't it. This wasn't how this happened.

Aaron stepped back, like he'd only just realised what he'd said, but he was still drunk, so Kevin instinctively reached out to steady him, but Aaron moved further away.

"Shut up," he said, even though Kevin hadn't spoken.

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. It's nothing. Fuck off."

Aaron turned to leave, and Kevin followed. He had to.

"Why were you trying to forget me? What did I do?"

Aaron suddenly spun back around.

"You– you don't fucking know? You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

Aaron opened his mouth like he was about to speak but no words came. He stared up at Kevin, not angry anymore, but hurt.

"Aaron-"

Aaron's hand was suddenly over Kevin's mouth (IGNORE THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE), and he was shaking his head, voice lower now, almost gentle.

"Don't. Don't say it. I can't hear it from you."

They stayed there for a moment, Aaron's cool skin pressed against Kevin's, heartbeat pulsing steady against his lips, before Aaron stepped back.

"Goodbye, Kev."

Kevin watched him walk away.

-------

[stabbyfoxandrew]

Angel Neil 😇🩵

WIP Wednesday (9/11) | Guardian Angel Neil AU (Part 232)

"You know, it's sort of funny," Neil starts off. And by the tone of his voice, Andrew can tell whatever he's about to say isn't the slightest bit funny. "I didn't know this would be my forever outfit when I put it on that morning. You know? I had no idea I was going to die that night. I guess if I had known, I wouldn't be dead at all. I would've just ordered take out instead of going to that diner."

Andrew turns to look at the angel, "Diner?"

"The one where they caught up with me," Neil answers, keeping his eyes on his work. “I was on my way back to my motel room when they grabbed me. My last meal was a greasy burger and some half-cooked fries. Pathetic, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is." Andrew confirms, making Neil exhale pitifully. He watches Neil's fingers as he finishes up the sewing. It doesn't take him very long at all. Within a couple minutes, he's tying off the thread and using his teeth to cut it in two.

Neil starts to pull the hoodie back on and Andrew has to hold in a disappointed sigh. Watching Neil's skin disappear under gray fabric must be punishment for something he doesn't remember doing. Luckily, he's got his perfect memory to rely on. He can look at Neil's scars anytime he closes his eyes.

"Ta-da," Neil says with a smile, showing off his newly-fixed shirt like he's a fashion model. Andrew thinks in another life, Neil could've been a model. He has the cheekbones for it. The eyes. The hands. The everything. He makes that potato sack of a hoodie look good, at least to Andrew.

"It looks good on you," slips out of Andrew's mouth. When Neil's mouth quirks, Andrew curses himself for being born with a tongue. "I mean, since you're stuck with it forever. At least it looks good on you."

"Mm. Thanks for this," Neil says, holding out the sewing kit. Andrew lets Neil drop it into his hand and curls his fingers around it to absorb the residual warmth. Neil tests out his newly-patched pocket and seems satisfied. "It's good as new. Not like I have to carry anything in it. But it's good to know I have options."

"Do you get hot wearing it all the time?" Andrew asks abruptly.

"In the summer I did. It was hot as shit up here. But now that it's November, it's pretty comfortable most of the time." Neil tells him. "Why?"

"Can you change clothes?" Andrew asks suddenly. "Or is that really your forever outfit?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't tried."

"Why not?"

"I don't have anything else to put on," Neil says with a shrug. "Everything I had was in my bag in... Well, I actually have no idea where it would be now. I doubt Lola or Romero brought my duffel along. So it probably just ended up in a trash heap somewhere."

Andrew catches a new deal about Neil's past and grabs onto it with his teeth. "Lola and Romero?"

Neil freezes. "I don't want to talk about them."

"All right," Andrew says simply. He's got a mile long list of people he never wants to speak of again, so get gets it. He won't press. (Not now anyway.) But he'll definitely add those two names to the Neil Folder he keeps in his head. Maybe he'll pay a visit to good ol' Mr. Google later and see what turns up. "You could always get new clothes, you know."

"Yeah. I've thought about it. I'm invisible, after all. Even if I wasn't, it wouldn't be too hard to swipe some things here and there," Neil says, like he's used to shoplifting. "But there's cameras everywhere nowadays. I don't wanna get caught. Can't really explain a floating pair of pants, you know?"

Andrew nods. He supposes that makes for an interesting problem. One that's easily solved. "If I got you some other clothes, would you wear them?"

Neil's expression flickers into something strange. "I guess so. But... Why would you wanna waste money on a dead man? I'm fine in this."

"Maybe I'm tired of looking at gray," Andrew offers. It's a weak explanation and complete bullshit, but it's all he's got. He looks Neil up and down. "What size are you anyhow?"

"Uh," Neil looks a bit clueless. Then he twists the hoodie around until he can check the tag. Andrew's eyes are drawn to the bit of skin peeking from under it. "This one's a large."

Since it's very obviously too big for him, Andrew makes a mental note to buy Neil a few medium-sized shirts. Then he reconsiders it. What if something tighter irritated his scars? Begrudgingly, Andrew erases his last mental note. Size large it is.

[ifitmeanslosingyouthenno]

i've got your blood on my hands

day 6 whumptober prompt: not realizing they're injured | "it's not my blood"

neil stumbles down the hall towards his dorm

god he’s fucking tired

he doesn’t think they beat him badly, but the hit to his head must have been harder than he remembers, because his head is pounding and he wants nothing more than to fall into bed (or maybe andrew’s bed) and sleep for 8 hours straight

fuck kevin and his night practices for tonight

andrew’s opening the door before he even has the chance to get his keys out of his pocket

most people like to say andrew’s face is a blank slate, but after the years, neil knows better, he can see the worry and rage in his eyes, the way his eyebrows twitch and the corners of his mouth pull downwards

neil almost sighs in relief at seeing him, rage and all

“where the fuck have you been?”

before he can reply, there are other sets of footsteps coming from inside the dorm, nicky with kevin close on his heels

“neil! you’re back! where were– neil! what happened to you?”

nicky’s voice is too loud, and his pounding head reminds him of how much he hates the light and the noise right now

huh he probably has a concussion

andrew physically hauls him inside the dorm, guiding him to a chair in the kitchen, and neil gently tries to swat him off

god his too tired for this shit

“i’m fine, ‘drew, i just wanna go to sleep”

“drew?”

it wasn’t intentional, but his voice slurred just a little bit, he’s that tired

“josten you’re covered in fucking blood and you definitely have a fucking concussion, sit your ass down”

“it’s not even my blood”

“like that’s any better,” kevin grumbles

“what happened neil?”

nicky’s voice is so soft, but he’s carrying the first aid kit they keep under the bathroom sink

wait when did he leave to get it?

“some guys tried to jump me on my run”

“tried?”

“yeah, they had a knife, but they were amateurs… i – i knocked them out”

andrew’s tense posture says everything he’s feeling, but neil hates to be the reason he’s so tense and stressed

“i promise i’m okay, can i just go to bed?”

andrew’s eyes harden, and of course he noticed his growing drowsiness. he’s just tired

“nicky, kevin, get out”

“what- but andrew-”

“andrew you have to make sure he’s not lying, i swear to god if he has to miss practice-”

“if i have to repeat myself it will be with a knife, day”

“jeez okay, we’re leaving”

once nicky and a very grumpy kevin leave, neil smirking at him as he leaves, andrew turns his serious expression on him

“yes or no, neil”

“you know it’s always yes with you��

his lips twitch in anger, but he doesn’t hesitate to pull neil’s running shirt off him

neil’s eyes are feeling droopy, but he’s aware enough to see andrew’s hands clenching into fists hard enough that neil doesn’t know if his shirt will survive the strength 

he focuses enough that he realizes andrew isn’t looking at his eyes, but at his bare, so despite how hard it feels, he forces his head to move, forces his eyes to take in his bare chest and abdomen and–

oh

so that’s why andrew’s angry

“oh”

“oh, he says, it’s not even my blood, he says”

now that neil’s noticed the stab wound on his lower abdomen, it’s like his exhaustion makes sense, and suddenly his brain catches on and nothing but pain engulfs his entire left side

he tilts forward before he’s noticing it, but andrew is there to hold him up with all his strength, pressing down on the wound hard enough that neil winces

his breathing is growing ragged, and oh– oh it makes sense that it’s bloodloss making him feel like this

“i’m sorry, i– i didn’t realize–”

“shut the fuck up josten, just stay awake”

he can feel himself fading, and he hates himself a little for not being able to follow andrew’s instructions

he’s growing soft, a stab wound wasn’t enough to incapacitate him before

“‘drew call abby, there’s– something isn’t right”

“what the fuck are you talking about? neil, neil, don’t fall asleep”

it takes everything in him to stay awake, “not- not the first time stabbed, something isn’t right”

“don’t you fucking die on me junkie, i will bring you back and kill you myself”

neil can feel andrew struggling to get his phone from the kitchen counter as he balances neil’s weight with one arm, “you wouldn’t do it”

“don’t let me prove you wrong”

“you love me too much to kill me”

he doesn’t even hear himself talking anymore, doesn’t feel his body anymore

“neil, don’t fall asleep, come on, open your eyes junkie”

he wants to, god he wants to so badly, he wants to see andrew and his pretty eyes and his handsome face

but his eyes are too heavy, he feels too heavy

and in andrew’s warm embrace, how could he not feel safe enough to drift away?

dw neil was just probably stabbed right in the spleen and needs surgery but he'll be fine title from blood by nothing nowhere, its not at all related but i could not find a single lyric or phrase that i liked for this prompt and i got tired of searching ajsk

[simonsrosebud]

kevaaron cause why not

kevneil (both are acespec )

Matt/Nicky (I stan bi matt) Erik and Nicky are still friends but we're previously in a relationship, Erik has moved on (maybe nickys first love??)

andrew/Roland pre -series (theyre like a year apart cause I'm not sure how old Roland is but I've always thought of him to be a gay middle-aged man, but Andrew would be like underage and that's a nono)

Kandrew (acespec kevin?? Maybe on the demisexual spectrum??)

Renee/Allison/Dan or some variant/combination in the same au as Matt/Nicky

Jean/Neil , demisexual spec Neil

Kevin/Jeremy cause they were never given a chance and KEVIN I KNOW THERE'S GAY IN YOU demispec kev

Choose whichever pairing that inspires you most but PLEASE tag me in the writing cause I need more aftg in my life <3

okay i may definitely tag u if i do others but for the first one i couldn't help but do jeremy and kevin I JUST LOVE THEM

The thing about Jeremy, Kevin supposes, is that he really thinks that he could’ve been a Raven if someone had been paying attention all the way in West Virginia.  He had the same talent and stats that other strikers did when joining the line, had more of a height advantage than Riko ever did.

Being a Raven would have broken his spirit.  Kevin doesn’t think he’d ever forgive himself for that, knowing that he probably would have contributed to it at some point.

But then he wouldn’t be this, free and spirited and so fearless in showing unabashed joy.  Here, sitting in Kevin’s car, babbling on about California and how Kevin really should visit him next time so that he can show him around.  “I’m glad the sun has finally reached you,” he’s saying, “You look good with a nice tan.”  And it’s taking too much out of Kevin to keep his eyes on the road.

Jeremy’s hotel is just off campus, but it’s not far, and Kevin does have time, so he leans against the hood of the car while Jeremy lifts himself up onto it because “the height difference isn’t fair”.  It's only three inches, Kevin doesn't dare point it out. And suddenly Kevin is reaching out to smooth his fingers through Jeremy’s hair, soft and smooth and golden in the setting sun.

“Maybe it’s all this hair weighing you down,” he says.

Jeremy smiles, wide and lopsided and lazy, and leans into his touch.  “Never.  The hair is part of my charm.”

Kevin settles his hand on the hood of the car, then, all long legs and tall torso leaning so casually, and he’s pretty sure Jeremy’s eyes linger on his arms for a second longer than normal.  It makes his chest fluttery, so he says, “That’s what I used to tell Jean.”

And oh, Jeremy lights up.  “Yeah?  He tells me it’s unbearable.”

“He’s an idiot.”  Why would anyone ever say that?  “I used to talk about you a lot… in the Nest.”  He doesn’t really know why he says it other than he and Jeremy won’t be in the same place forever and Neil told him to stop holding back just because he’s scared of getting a letter in the mail from Ichirou himself.  So long as you send them their money and stay out of jail, your free time is your own.

With the way Jeremy preens at his confession, he thinks it’s the right call, anyway.  He taps Kevin’s closest finger with his pinky.  “What, about exy?”

“No.”

Surprise.  “Oh.”  Jeremy’s skin is honey gold and bronzed from the constant California sun, but Kevin’s never seen him sunburned.  The tinge of pink on his cheeks may be as close as he’ll get.  “Can I tell you something embarrassing?”

Oh no.  Kevin steels the lead in his stomach.  “Sure, anything.”  He can feel it coming, the inevitable, I feel flattered, you know, but I just don’t-

“I used to have a poster of you in my bedroom at home.” 

God, this was even worse.

“But I took it down once my older brother caught me kissing it goodnight before bed.”

Oh…?

Kevin opens his mouth, but doesn’t know what to say.  Instead, a smirk starts taking over his lips.  “You had… You used to kiss me?  Every night?”

Jeremy’s blush has traveled the length of his neck, but at least he laughs softly.  “Until I was, like, almost sixteen, yeah.”  Kevin taps his pinky finger back.  “Now I just do it in my head.”

Pause.

Kevin whips his head back up, shock surely coating his face.  “You what?”

And Jeremy’s face falls.  “I-I just mean- sorry, I didn’t- oh god, I just made this super,” he slides off the hood of the car, “awkward.  That’s not- I just meant that, like-“

Kevin grabs his hand when he gets too far.  Jeremy freezes, but doesn’t dare move.  Kevin works on his words, lets his mouth fish open while he tries forming them, and eventually says, “If I had a poster of you,” he frowns, “I’d, um…” he looks up at Jeremy, vulnerable and confused and maybe, possibly, the least bit hopeful.  “I’d kiss you goodnight, too.”

Grinning, now, Jeremy lets his hand fall further into Kevin’s, and gives it two squeezes.  “You can, you know,” he whispers.  He meets Kevin’s eyes slowly.  “If you want.”

Nothing could stop the jackhammering in Kevin’s chest, or the rushing of blood in his ears from how red his face probably is, but Jeremy’s voice comes through right as rain regardless.  He gives his hand a tug, pulling Jeremy closer, and steps towards him so that he has to look down at him.  Those three inches are going to kill him.

But Kevin must be taking too long, because then Jeremy’s hand is sliding up the side of his neck and pulling him down, and Kevin’s hands go flying to his sides, falling into the dip of his waist and wishing they could run up along his skin.  Jeremy sighs a bit into his mouth and drags his tongue along Kevin’s bottom lip, and then Kevin is pulling him closer until their chests are flush and his hands can slide underneath the thin t-shirt, hand splaying on Jeremy’s lower back and wanting to curl itself into the skin there.

Jeremy’s tongue is warm and slick and Kevin tries not to be embarrassed when he moans lightly into his mouth.  It makes Jeremy smile against his mouth, which really is Kevin’s own fault because he did not want this kiss to end.  Jeremy tucks back in for one more kiss, shorter but sweeter, his fingers gently scratching at Kevin’s scalp, and searches Kevin’s face from only inches apart when Kevin subtly tilts his head into his hand.

“I kinda had one more embarrassing thing,” Jeremy pants a little, a warm smile poking through, and god, everything about him is warm and sweet, so so sweet.  His skin underneath his shirt is warm like a fresh batch of cookies; tongue like a melted marshmallow daring to fall apart in your mouth;  smile like a rainbow after a hot summer shower and disposition of one that reminds Kevin of his mother’s comfort, of Abby’s hugs and his father’s safety.

Jeremy himself is a son of Apollo, Kevin is sure of it.

But Kevin doesn’t trust his own voice, right now, so he just nods and hums in encouragement.  He holds Jeremy close more decidedly, taking advantage of the contact and flattening his palms along the bare skin of his back and waist below his shirt.  He thinks for a moment it sends shivers down Jeremy’s spine.

For this, though, Jeremy goes up on his tip toes and tilts Kevin’s head to grant him his ear.  He nips at it, first, sending a shiver down Kevin’s spine, and says, “You’ve been number one on my list since I was fourteen.”

“God.”  It’s not intentional, but Kevin doesn’t even care at this point.  He’s heard all about these lists from Nicky.  He knew what it meant.

Jeremy laughs, quiet and contained and goofy, and props his elbows on Kevin’s shoulders to shelter them in.  “Would you like to come up to my room?”

[cubbyyyy]

A post about my favorite aftg relationships/friendships because why not?

1. Andreil. Of course. I think I actually don’t need to explain more but yea, they were my favorite part in aftg. they quickly became one of my favorite shippings and in my humble opinion love isn’t even enough of a term for them. No one will ever understand another the way they understand each other. They showed me what perfect compatibility looks like because in tiktok term - no one matches each others freak the way they match each others freak. I can’t imagine a neil without an andrew. they are different enough to make the other improve and similar enough to make the other feel validated. they aren’t afraid to show their dark sides bc the other matches the dark sides.

2. Andrew and Aaron. Twinyards. After Andreil their relationship intrigued me the most. The way they seem so indifferent towards each other but caring so much anyways is just so bittersweet. I live for their improvements. The way they legitimately killed for each other is just everything. Neil making Aaron understand that Andrew did everything for him and that he did the same is just so dear to me. Yea they misunderstand each other, but the brotherly love they have for one another could burn cities.

3. Neil and Matt. I love how matt just adopted neil. Neil may be a little crazy but Matt just goes along with it. So when Neil punches a guy, Matt hypes it up. Matt caring for Neil from the start was precious to me since I still wasn’t sure about the “monsters” in the foxhole court. like they seemed honestly pretty much demanding as fuck and I just wanted Neil to have a save, rest space while figuring them out and that’s what Matt gave him. (I especially like the trio of Matt/Dan/Neil). Matt is just the definition of a best friend and I’m glad Neil has his bestie outside of the monsters.

4. Nicky and Neil. Okay hear me out - when I think about Nicky and Neil I just pretend the eden incident didn’t exist bc I can excuse a lot, especially in fiction, but sexual assault is never on the list. So I made the choice to pretend it didn’t happen (i mean the books also pretend it didn’t happen lmao). And when you see them outside of the incident, they were pretty nice. I think Nickys cheerful personality helped to loosen the tension in the team (and monsters group). I loved when Nicky flooded Neils notifications so Neil wouldn’t flinch about them anymore. I also feel like Nicky played a big role in Neils growth. Like telling him to think about more stuff besides exy. Making Neil realize he has friends now. All that stuff.

5. Andrew and Renee. I just love how they’re sparring partners and understand each other so well, that they were the jogging team where they talk about possible zombie outbreaks.

6. Kevin and Jean. They didn’t have much screen time in the aftg series and I haven’t read the tsc yet, but their relationship intrigued me. This one I could possibly even ship romantically since they are so bittersweet that I just wish to save their ending. they formed a bond so deep but yet so scarred that it’s unexplainable.

7. Allison and Renee. I love them. I love how after Seth died, Renee took care of Allison. They just seem so fitting and I’m still shook they weren’t an official thing in the books.

8. Aaron, Nicky and Andrew. The fact that Nicky took care of the twins when he was barely an adult himself is just very precious.

9. Wymack and Neil. Honestly I could put him higher, I just forgot till now to mention wymack so he’s here. The scene at the end of the kings men where Neil asks for wymacks help is just stuck with me for life.

10. Kevin and Wymack. The fact that Wymack is Kevins father surprised me at first but then it made sense? When Kevin said that his father watches all his games I was ready to shed a tear.

[joanofexys]

hello!! :) I already asked in a comment but I shall bother you again in an ask so you can make a proper post <3 I would LOVE to know more about angels (AND PHOEBE'S BECAUSE HELLO??) relations with the canon cast!!

Yippee!! I love talking about Angel

Idk how this will be broken down exactly but it’s probably gonna get long as hell so be warned

Obviously Angel’s best friend is Harper. And no one will replace her, but he does still have great relationships with the foxes

I mentioned previously that he ends up with the monsters so he’s the closest with them, but he still gets on well with the upper classmen

In another ask abt him I mentioned he has a FWB dynamic with Allison. And he and Kevin def have something going on. That’s obviously all when Phoebe isn’t with him so I’ll probably focus most of this on his relationship with everyone while he has Phoebe with him

In that same ask I mentioned that Phoebe has favorites too. They’re Andrew and Kevin. And she has a habit of asking for Neil and screaming her lungs out if anyone else tries to touch her or play with her, but Neil has no clue what to do with her.

Idk I guess I'll just go through each of them one by one

Neil: Neil and Angel are both members of the serial killer father club and they're obligated to bond through that. For realsies though Neil helps Angel feel less out of place, as odd as that sounds. Obviously all the foxes have their issues and he was well aware of their reputation when he signed with them, but there's only so many of them that are visibliy fucked up. I think I've mentioned this before but all of Angel's scars have keloided, so they're raised scar tissue, and he's just covered them. And it's 100% been an insecurity of his even though he's accepted that it's something he just has to live with. And when he first joins the foxes very little about his situation and why he's there is unknown. They know about the foster homes and he has a lot of scars. But obviously when more about his past comes out there's a lot that he can share with Neil. With Neil he's able to feel like he's not being stared at all the time, that he's not getting weird looks everywhere he goes. And Neil doesn't tell Angel everything but he'll sit there and listen and let Angel feel like he's got someone who understands at least a little bit. And they play very well together. Stiker/backliner duos my beloved. Angel is very willing to defend Neil, violently, on the court (and Kevin too). Tbh he's probably responsible for a lot of their yellow and red cards his freshman year. Sometimes they'll go running together. Idk man, they're just buddies. And Phoebe, like a cat who can tell when someone isn't a cat person, fucking loves Neil. Neil still doesn't know what to do with her but sometimes she gets to sit on his lap while he's on the couch or a beanbag chair

Andrew: In the beginning, Andrew fucking Minyard is responsible for at least half of Angel's panic attacks and spirals. Angel's freshman year he moves in before the school year starts and he and Phoebe take a room at Abby's place and the monsters have to move around a bit, but basically they're all around the same area during the summer. And obviously, since they're sharing space with him, Andrew wants to know who the fuck Angel even is. And it is very easy to find.

Matteo Di Fiore, charged with the murders of 12 women, including his own wife. Di Fiore plead guilty to the murders of 12 adult women, including his wife, Sofia Di Fiore, over the course of 10 years. Di Fiore received max sentencing and leaves behind a teenage son, who authorities did not name, and was not present at the trial...

Idk something like that. There's definitely plenty of articles out there about his father and that mention he has a son and it's not very difficult to the connect the dots. That's the easy part. It's a lot harder to find out about the foster homes and everything before that, about what happened when Angel was still with his dad. But Andrew makes it very clear he knows. And it's a sort of open secret throughout the summer. Something no one will actually address but that they all know. Angel won't lie about it, but it's definitely something he prefers people don't know. They get better though and Andrew stops freaking Angel out. Because Andrew eventually adopts Angel pretty much. Why? Because he's got sad eyes and he's like a fucking kicked puppy whenever he's not in dad mode or whenever he's in stressed out dad mode.

And like I mentioned, Andrew is one of Phoebe's favorites. He does give her way too much sugar sometimes. She's the only one welcome to share his candy stash. And she loves to chat his ear off with her little toddler babble.

Kevin: Kevin motherfucking Day. Another one of Phoebe's favorites. And also Angel's favorite. It's another case of striker/backliner duo got me good. They make sick. They just work, okay? They're incredible on the court together and Angel will obviously snark back at Kevin but he's also someone who listens so intensely to ever piece of criticism, advice, and nonsensical ranting that Kevin throws his way. Angel's anxiety isn't as bad as Kevin's to begin with but he is also one of those friends whose anxiety will just stop existing the second there's someone more anxious than him. So he and Kevin work great. Emotion support dog Angel or whatever the fuck symbolism we've got going on. I'm just now realizing Angel is dog coded. They nap on bus rides together (Phoebe sits up front with Wymack). They watch Trojans games together. They study together. Angel listens to Kevin rant about history. Kevin listens to Angel ramble about classics. I feel very strongly about them but I'm trying not to make it weird.

Phoebe is around him so much I think he's become one of her favorites that way. Also he's tall, still shorter than Angel rip, and good for piggy back rides. She definitely naps on him a lot while he watches games and Angel gets a much needed break to study and get some homework done.

Aaron: They have to be friends. There's just no way they're not atp. Like Angel and Harper are exes but they're still best friends and definitely do double dates with Aaron and Katelyn. He is a trusted babysitter and kateaaron kick ass when on babysitting duty. He is, unfortunately, not Phoebe's favorite but she can tell him apart from Andrew and knows it's okay to run up to him, yelling his name, and expect to be picked up. Aaron and Angel hang out with the vixens together. Aaron is definitely closer friends with Harper than he is with Angel but they have no problem hanging out together and they don't really fight or anything. Angel definitely admires Aaron for his career goals and how passionate he is about becoming a doctor especially because, even in college, Angel has no clue what he wants to do with the rest of his life and he can appreciate that Aaron has a set goal.

Nicky: Nicky definitely brings out a much louder part of Angel. They joke flirt. Angel is very much okay with being a recipient of Nicky's affection while also having zero problems setting boundaries with him. And obviously Nicky fucking adores Phoebe. They're not best friends, if they're not with the rest of the monsters they probably don't ever hang out, but they do have a lot of fun together when they're with each other.

Allison: Allison and Angel know how to have fun. Allison is one of those people in Angel's life that could get him to agree to crazy shit he would never agree to do otherwise. And he just fucking loves. They're excellent friends and love to talk shit and go on coffee runs together. Most of their time together is when Harper has Phoebe, but Allison does love P whenever she's around. If she's doing her makeup and Phoebe shows any interest she'll pretend to do P's makeup too and tell her she looks so pretty

Renee: I think they have the weirdest dynamic ever. Angel and Renee just kind of exist together. Two traumatized fuckers trying to better than their pasts with angel wings tattooed on their back. Renee offers to teach him to fight and respects it when he says no. When Angel needs somewhere quiet he knows he can always shoot Renee a text and just come sit with her. P loves her hair and loves her and always draws Renee rainbows

Dan: Angel has so much respect for Dan. I don't think they're particularly close but he does know he can always come to her even if she's not the first person he'd seek out. She's someone reliable and in his eyes she really seems like she's got her shit together. I think Dan leaves him a little starstruck tbh. Dan is also Phoebe's favorite fox to cheer for at games. Not her favorite off the court (though Phoebe still loves her) but definitely her favorite on the court

Matt: I think Angel's relationship with Matt is similar to his relationship with Dan. He sort of views them as a package deal (which is the same way he views himself and Harper tbh). He likes being around Matt and really respects him as another backliner. They never really fight on the court, or off of it, and they also just don't have many super personal conversations. I think after it comes out that they've got another dumbass kid with a serial killer dad on the team I think Matt pulls Angel aside for a "hey dude. please please please don't be like Neil" and they form a sort of truce where Angel basically promises not to do any of the dumb shit Neil did the year prior and Matt promises not to revoke his offer of babysitting.

Wymack, Abby, and Bee: Was gonna do these guys separately and I could do them all separately but this is getting too long and I need to wrap it up. Wymack is just someone Angel is so beyond grateful for. He's always willing to watch Phoebe and has confronted Angel a number of times with a sort of "you're still a kid. and yeah, you're a parent, but sometimes it gets to be too much and if you need a break then call me" talk. Abby obviously housed him for a short period of time and he loves her. She really was non judgemental about his scars and very willing to help with Phoebe as well and she was sort of the first person that gave Angel a stable home in years even though it was just letting him live at her house for the summer. And Bee he just fucking loves more than life itself. He does talk to her and he is very honest with her. But also plenty of their appointments consist of Angel taking a much needed nap on her couch while Phoebe either naps with him on his chest or Bee entertains Phoebe (if no one else was available to watch her). And I'm cutting myself off here because this was never supposed to get this long

[nanatsuyu]

I feel like it’s not talked about enough that early in the books Kevin is the only person we see Andrew initiating any type of physical closeness/touch with at all … also thinking about how they’re described physically with each other in Son of Nefes like. so much tenderness (@ your tags about how Andrew carries himself around Kevin and Neil)

I definitely think their closeness in the beginning gets overshadowed a lot by how close Andrew and Neil get later in the series. And that's not a diss on andreil! I think it's important to Andrew's character to see that while Neil played a very large part in letting Andrew explore his boundaries and grow comfortable with physical affections, there were others that helped in that healing along the way too.

One of my favourite scenes is the one where Kevin takes his glove off for Andrew to inspect his hand for any damages. It's written in such a way that implies they weren't paying any attention to the rest of the world around them. Matt had been carded, the play was over and a fight had broken out, and during that sliver of time, either Andrew had hailed Kevin over or he'd gone of his own volition to the goal for Andrew to give his injuries a one over. Kevin knew he was going to get swapped out, and they both turned somewhat surprised when Dan called out to Kevin, as if the game being in play was an afterthought. (Which, considering it's Kevin, seems somewhat ooc since he always knows what's going on on court).

And, although we don't have the exact words regarding Andrew's deal with Kevin, it was implied in the most basic terms that Andrew would protect Kevin from Riko. (There's obviously nuance here given Andrew's bodyguard tendencies when Kevin gets into later spats with people, but for the sake of how vague most of Andrew's deals are spoken aloud, I think it's safe to assume he promised to protect Kevin from his big bad not sibling in the same way he promised to have Neil's back). All that just to say... It wasn't really in their deal for Andrew to protect or look after Kevin outside of his affiliations with the Ravens. And yet, even after threatening to break his own hand before all this, because Kevin annoyed the piss out of him so much, here he was, inspecting Kevin's hand and putting the game on hold to do so.

This injury has nothing to do with Riko or the Ravens. So, in terms of their deal, he didn't really need to dote on Kevin like that. And yet.

And yet.

And this is really only one instance of them being glued at the hip. Andrew does a lot of redirecting of Kevin's person in the same way we see him do later with Neil. Like you said as well, Kevin's the only one for some pages that we see Andrew physical with that isn't necessarily reactionary or defensive. I know Andrew was still on his meds at the time, but this line came across to me as him literally shoving Andrew down court who didn't seem to take much issue with the it:

He doesn't make much mention of it, but if I had to wager a guess, these moments of familiar contact are not a new thing upon Neil's arrival.

(Also it's been a hot minute since I skimmed through son nefes (the ec and I are on cherry picking terms most days) but I know Renee saw it too.)

Like it makes me insane to think about how their deal didn't have to incorporate all that closeness. It didn't require Andrew to become intertwined with the rest of Kevin's life and daily going on's. He could have agreed to keep him on a leash from getting dragged out of the fox den by the Ravens and called it a day, but we can see clear as day that Andrew treats his relationship with Kevin far more delicately than that. In terms of canon, the best friend (platonic soul bond or whatever title floats your fancy) behaviour jumped out of Andrew so fast, I'm shocked how anyone could overlook it.

And I haven't even touched on how Wymack views their relationship, or Kathy's show, or the role Andrew plays as Kevin's other half post Evermore, or the first genuine smiles are the ones they give each other, or the pseudo threat of the butter knife scene, or whatever they had going on here:

Like, there are certainly motions that can be considered varying levels of tender, but I do think it's important to remember that Andrew's gestures should not be measured with the same scale as say someone like Renee. We can obviously see in later chapters that Andrew can be incredibly gentle (ie the hip kiss that ruined my life), but I think it's a disservice to Andrew's character to understate how close he and Kevin are through the series, both physically and emotionally.

[confusedintrovertfan]

After their first year in Palmetto, Andrew and Neil started exploring their relationship since they could both admit that they had one in the first place. Boundaries were not crossed, but they pushed gently on them daily, trying to make their something work. That night was one of those days. They had decided to share a bed for the whole night to see how it goes. Neil was really excited about being allowed to be beside Andrew at his most vulnerable, when he's asleep.

"Stop that" Andrew said, not opening his eyes to look at Neil.

"What?" Neil asked like he didn't already know what Andrew is referring to.

"Staring. Stop it." Andrew said in his monotone voice but Neil had a feeling he is not really annoyed so he pushed.

"Why?"

"I'm trying to sleep." Neil was amazed by the minute pout on Andrew's lips. Anyone else probably wouldn't be able to see it there, but Neil had spent hours studying Andrew's face to miss it.

"I'm not keeping you awake" Neil says in the tone of voice that Allison calls his 'innocent baby voice'.

"Yes you are. Stop staring."

"How can I do that?"

"Close your eyes, Josten" Andrew answered exasperated. Neil can't help but humour Andrew by doing what he's told.

"I did"

"No, you didn't. I can still feel you staring at me"

"But I did close them!" Neil tried to defend himself.

"Then it's not working." Andrew's brows furrowed. He opened one eye to see Neil on his side turned towards him with his eyes closed.

"Maybe it's my thoughts." Neil says after a while. "I can't get you off my thoughts."

Andrew could see his idiot's smile at the end of the sentence. He hated that it made him feel… that it made him feel.

"Shut up. Stop being sappy." Andrew turned to his side, mirroring Neil's stance. He opened his eyes fully to look at his boyfriend. Andrew was still in awe that he got to have him.

Neil gasped and opened his eyes as well.

"How dare you accuse me of being sweet. Take that back now!"

"Never." Andrew replied with a smirk. He rarely let himself break his emotionless mask, but this was Neil. Neil was safe.

"Well then I guess I'll keep staring till dawn and you and I both know that I can do that" Andrew knew his junkie definitely could and he found himself only half irritated about that prospect.

"If I cannot get rid of you, kiss me. Yes or no?"

"Yes, now we're talking." Neil leaned in.

"We aren't talking. We're kissing." Andrew said, a breath away from Neil's mouth before connecting their lips.

[ok555ficideas]

Neil has amnesia and is confused about his feelings towards Andrew. Aaron is traumatized in the process

Part of "Help me remember"

“This is ridiculous.” He said with frustration. “What the f*ck did Andrew do to me to make me feel this way? It’s infuriating and all the dreams are definitely not helping.”

Aaron looked at him with something akin to sympathy and Neil knew that the blonde thought about his nightmares so he rushed to clarify. 

“I’m not talking about the bad one���s. I mean yeah, they frustrate me too, but they are nothing new. I had them my whole life.” He paused and looked down so he wouldn’t have to see Aaron’s face when he said his next words. “I keep having dreams about Andrew and me…you know, doing,” he paused, not really knowing how to phrase it, “stuff.” 

“Oh God.” Aaron yelped. “Please do not tell me about your wet dreams, Josten.”

“They aren’t wet dreams and honestly most of the time it’s not even like, I don't know. It’s just very…tender?”

Aaron hid his face in his hands and started muttering something. Neil thought it an overreaction so he chose to continue, but he spared Aaron the details.  

“It doesn’t matter what they are about. What matters is that I only think like that about him and I don’t know why. I mean I thought maybe I had a type, you know? So I tried to think about someone who looks like Andrew.”

Aaron’s terrified expression told him that the backliner knew where this was going and he looked ready to bolt. 

“So I went downstairs and looked at you.”

“Josten, I swear to f*cking God, I’m going to stab you with the butter knife if you don’t stop talking.”

“That was a very Andrew thing to say.” Neil said, ignoring Aaron's murderous expression. “Anyway, I looked at you and felt nothing. That was what I wanted to say, so get your head out of the gutter. You look almost exactly like him and you don’t make me feel like he does so it has to be only him, but why?”

Aaron looked slightly less terrified after Neil was clearly done with the worst part of the conversation. 

[jeanmoreaue]

okey than make “who has had the most trouble with the law” ranking

🫡

1. Neil - i feel like he managed to avoid the cops very successfully pre-aftg, but the fact that the fbi is on his ass post-aftg lands him here

2. Aaron

3. Andrew - look at Andrew and Aaron ranked next to each other. twins ❤️ Andrew is ranked lower though bc he’s never been actually charged with murder

4. Jeremy - i stand by this theory that Jeremy’s an addict so i imagine he’s gotten in trouble with the law several times, but had no consequences bc his family is rich lol

5. Renee - i’m of the opinion that i respect the extra content, but for me it’s not like. actual book material since it’s not in the books. so idk if it’s mentioned that Renee has been to juvie/prison in the extra content, but in book no. but i imagine she’s definitely had some run ins

6. Nicky - just gives off the vibe that he’s been arrested before lmao

7. Matt - did i hallucinate this. i feel like Matt got arrested and then let go during the Baltimore riots.. or am i thinking of a fic lmao

8. Jean - okay idk where to put him bc he has a completely clean record, but he’s also talked to the fbi at least one more time than most other characters so

also this is almost completely unrelated but i have this theory that when Jean first arrived at eau, he tried to run away and get help from a security guard/college student but he was unsuccessful since he didn’t speak english (there’s this line in tsc where Jean says he “hadn’t been off the court for longer than 11 weeks since…” and then he cuts himself off and i don’t think this is referencing the January incident bc he said he was back on the court playing since his padding was soaked in blood rip)

9. Allison

10. Dan

11. Kevin - uncooperative witness, but otherwise Kevin has done nothing wrong lol

12. Riko - this is so funny and annoying but honestly Riko is at the bottom bc even Kevin got in trouble w the cops for being “uncooperative” after Drake’s murder so somehow Riko is here

[b3hind-th3-sea]

Kevin Day’s unfortunate run in with a Kiss Cam

The use of a ‘kiss cam’ had become a recent trend in the world of Exy. Ever since Penn state started doing one during half time and a video of it had gone viral, other teams had copied the idea.

Kevin hadn’t thought much of it. He really hadn’t. That was until the Jackals vs Tornadoes game.

He went with Neil, they tried to go together whenever they had the opportunity. Because really there were very few people Kevin would want to go see an Exy game with. Certainly not with someone who didn’t have a comparable technical understanding of the game.

So Neil it was.

Everyone in the Exy world knew who Kevin Day was, but especially now that he’d gone pro. Eyes had been on Neil ever since the interview with Kathy.

This led both of them to be recognized more than the average player. And while in everyday life they may only get the occasional excited fan asking for an autograph or picture, when it came to Exy specific events, showing up was basically like asking to be mobbed.

So they wore disguises. 

Neil with his hair pushed back, hidden by a sweatband and hat.

For Kevin, a baseball cap and sunglasses large enough to hide his tattoo.

And even though the disguises might have worked in a crowd of tens of thousands, it most definitely did not on a giant, blown up screen.

Kevin hadn’t even realized what was going on until Neil nudged his shoulder, pulling his attention away from his phone. He had looked at Neil in confusion, then glanced around them only to see people staring back and smiling at him. Then he looked up to meet his own eyes on the big screen.

People had obviously recognize them and the crowd began chanting “kiss” “kiss” “kiss”.

Kevin didn’t plan on doing anything about it.

The camera would get bored and move on to some other unfortunate people.

And it did. He thought he even heard some people sigh in disappointment. Kevin sighed in relief.

Except it came back. Multiple times. And then locked in on them, not budging.

Kevin wondered who he would have to talk to to get whatever cameraman or announcer or whoever ran this stupid ‘kiss cam’ fired.

The volume of the crowd kept rising.

And he realized at that point it was weirder not to do anything.

So Kevin turned, planning to give Neil the quickest and least homosexual possible kiss on the cheek.

But what he did not anticipate was Neil turning to look at him at the same time—probably in reaction to Kevin’s sudden movement—which in some horrible twist of events put his mouth right where his cheek used to be.

Kevin did not get the chance to flash his ‘just bros being bros’ grin, because his mouth was awkwardly pressed against the side of Neil’s, before they both immediately lurched away.

The crowd went insane. 

By the time he had recovered from surprise and thought to play it off as a joke, the camera that had been persistently focused on them was shut off. The second half was starting.

The first thing Kevin realized was that multiple people definitely got that on video and out of those people at least one of them would post it to social media.

His second realization was, Oh god Andrew’s going to kill me.

[bun-bun07]

MY HC OF AFTG!

-Neil- Andrew - (andreil)-

1. Neil has really thick curly hair that is either really short or medium long and at least to the shoulder length in the future, Type of curls he has (3a or 4a) most definitely wears a hair band to pull it out of his face (he started growing it out because it helped him tell the difference between him and Nathan)

2. Neil skin is almond with cool undertone which makes his scars stick out a lot (Neil doesn't care tho)

3. Neil has a really healthy nice weight that mixed in with the workout that he usually partakes in with either Matt, Renee or Andrew make him have a bit of a mesomorph body type (award for Best legs and ass goes to Neil🙌✨)

4. Neil forgets that people find him attractive a lot.

A guy once tried to flirt with Neil and wanted to pick Neil up but once Neil picked up on it he shot him down at first gently but when the guy didn't take no for an answer Neil proceeded to insult and aggressively shoot him down.

5. Neil has slanted eyes with full lips with a down turn (which makes him have a expressive face when he wants to)(he usually uses it to sell a point- effectively lying material)

___________________________________

-Canon fact-

Neil's hair is canonly Abram so it must make his eyes stick out a lot (I felt like sharing because it must make him look really unreal) (also it sounds really hot 😔)

___________________________________

6. Some people compare Neil's appearance to what the devil must look like charming, unreal and scarily beautiful because of how his eyes sometimes seem like they glow in the dark.

7. Neil doesn't mess with his hair anymore since he stopped running and now barely even touches it if it's not to pull or run quick fingers through it when he takes a bath/shower so Andrew ends up being the one that usually takes care of Neil's hair.

8. Sometimes when Andrew's particularly Petty and annoyed by Neil he makes his food or drinks really sweet (neil absolutely hates it when he does that but he refuses to stop bothering Andrew he's willing to sacrifice a couple of food and drinks if he gets to see Andrew react to his jabs and flirtatious remarks)

9. Neil and Andrew don't cuddle very often due to the problem with sleeping and restricting movements but they do hold hands while sleeping, but in the future they do get better with physical contact while they sleep. (In the future sometimes Andrew will lay on top of Neil and Neil sometimes sleeps with his face pressed against Andrew side while laying on his arm)

10. Neil has dimples and really nice prominent canines. (Andrew's Head over heels with Neils smile)

__________________________

11. Andrew has cried once only once and it scared the living hell out of neil.

Andrew didn't SOB he didn't even make a noise, he just had a particularly really bad day he didn't want to be touched he really didn't want to even be around people he was sitting on the roof when Neil found him his face was particularly somewhat blank with a frowned and knitted Brown he seemed frustrated even a bit angry, and he was crying.

His face was slightly pressed against his arm with his eyes locked on the buildings almost spaced out he didn't make a single noise to indicate that he was crying the only evidence being the tears that were falling from his eyes and the red undertone under his eyes.

Of course Neil flinched when he saw him like that, he didn't say anything though. He didn't say anything he didn't even make a jab about Andrew wasting a cigarette, no he sat down not too close but not too far away from Andrew, you knew that Andrew knew he was there and chose not to say anything so Neil didn't say anything either if Andrew wanted silence that's what Neil was going to give him.

(If Neil were to talk to Andrew during this time he had the rifle suspicion that Andrew wouldn't have responded anyway.)

Neil sat and watched the city with Andrew for at least an hour until Andrew put out his cigarette and threw it over the edge wiping his tears away on the sleeve of his jacket before he departed from the roof in silence, neil followed behind him after a few minutes more on the roof.

Andrew was missing for a while after that a neil longed on the couch waiting for Andrew to come back with a cartoon playing on the TV (he didn't put it on exy because Andrew didn't like it.)

Andrew did come back after an hour with food but didn't speak about what happened on the roof and Neil didn't bring it up.

He joined Neil on the couch sharing a meal together, after they were done eating Andrew lend on Neils side with the pillow smashed against his chest as his why he watched TV with Neil.

both insulting cartoons together for not being realistic.

___________________________________

12. Andrew and Allison do become friends, they are the type of friendship that is built off of sarcasm, insults and small gestures of kindness that some people don't even notice.

13. If Neil isn't at the gym with Andrew he's usually with renee or matt.

14. Neil and jean are really good friends (they insult each other. you know, normal bff activities.)

15. Neil really hates that Kevin talks in his sleep and has been caught on multiple occasions trying to suffocate Kevin in his sleep, By Matt laughing as he holds Neil back from suffocated Kevin.

(Kevin hc- Talks in the sleep sometimes)

16. Andrew really hates the cold.

17. Andrew usually cooks for him and Neil (Neil doesn't know how to cook and he's in the process of learning how) Andrew doesn't trust neil in the kitchen.

18. Nail gets a labret piercing (silver ring) Allison and nicky managed to convince him to do it.

Andrew really likes it-

19. Andrew gets a tongue piercing in the future.

Neil was shocked but likes it even though he was kind of mad that he couldn't kiss Andrew for a while cuz he didn't want to hurt him.

20. Andrew usually paints his and Neil's nails black when he feels like it.

Neil really doesn't mind and enjoys the therapeutic feel of it.

21. Andrew thinks of bee as his mother figure.

22. Neil does get more comfortable around bee and even talks to her from time to time but still doesn't do therapy.