#theyre also good for when hes out with matt because neil is always grumbling about his long ass legs so now he just holds on to matts sleev

[thespineoftherighteous]

neil josten and, wait for it... heelies

Allison has invited him on a "much needed" shopping trip to the mall and, Neil loves her, he really does. but he does *not* love shopping

and he was being a good sport about it at first but it's been hours and his feet are dragging and Allison shows no sign of slowing down as she pulls him into yet another store

he starts making comments about wanting to go home when suddenly he perks up and focuses on something outside the store

Allison is momentarily delighted from where she is browsing because she thinks he's finally becoming invested in this trip but nope

she follows his line of sight and sees that he's heart eyeing the heelies store across from them

"nope," she says immediately, turning back to the rack

"why ever not? they're awesome. i used to wear them all the time when i was on the run"

"no neil. we are here to try and diminish the amount of disgrace your wardrobe inflicts on your image and those unfortunate enough to be seen around it"

"yes, good, love that. but we've got enough fancy shit already. we should be done anyways"

"one cannot have enough 'fancy shit'...especially not when one's name is neil josten. what do you think of this?"

she holds up a subtle but loose black shirt to him

"seems very impractical," he says, taking in the subtle mesh along the arms and bottom of the shirt

"excellent. you can wear it on your next Boy's Night Out"

he half nods half shrugs, already starting to get distracted again. "Andrew gets me- no, allison, stop. listen. i am not going to get more of this", he gestures wildly at the clothes around them. "unless i get that"

"oh but-" Allison knew Neil well enough to recognize the stubborn set to his face that he reserved for petty altercations with the people he's close to. she started to weigh whether her own stubbornness would hold out

really she should have taken his deal then. she realizes this as she watches his eyes grow with mischief

"in fact," he says, a smirk taking shape. "you have to get a pair as well"

Allison freezes for a second and then: "well i guess we're done for the day"

"no no no," says neil. "i like that idea. c'mon, I'll get all of this (maybe even wear some of it) and you get- and WEAR- one pair of heelies"

"over my dead body"

"what's this then?" Neil says dramatically. "Allison reynolds, a coward? that's certainly something i never would've bet on. in fact we make this a bet if that's better."

Allison glares at him. "bitch"

Neil nods. "among other things. so what size shoe are you?"

an hour later neil and allison enter his room, ridden with shopping bags, to find aaron and andrew playing a video game in the living room

the twins observe neil's delight and Allison's very visible lack thereof with suspicion, as their emotions are usually inverted when the pair returns from shopping trips together

their suspicion is somewhat answered when Neils drops the bags he's carrying and, pulling out a shoebox, drops onto the couch with all the glee of a child on Christmas morning

Andrew takes in the orange and black shoes and turns to Allison. "you, of all people, Reynolds?"

"oh but these are very fashionable," Neil says, grinning wickedly while also admiring his shoes. "cause Allison would never get anything for herself that isn't the height of fashion, now would she?"

the twins turn to her with identically raised eyebrows and although she responds with a defiant "it was a bet", she avoids their eyes for the rest of the day