as much as i love kevaaron its such a funny concept to me. like imagine being neil and your number 1 opp and your celebrity crush get together i'd be pissed
honestly to everyone who keeps saying that kevaaron makes no sense bc we don't see them interact in the books, i'd like to point out that while yes, we really don't have many interactions of both of them, some of you guys seem to need the reminder that actually we simply don't see aaron much in the books at all since neil just straight up Doesn't Care about him and the only reasons why we get a lot scenes where kevin is there is literally bc of neil and kevin's connection to the fucking mafia and bc the whole exy world revolves around one Kevin 'Son of Exy' Day
so realistically speaking here, kevin and aaron could be fucking Best Friends For Life and we would just not have one single clue bc neil is way too busy thinking about andrew and stick ball to care about kevin and aaron's relationship
no bc the SECOND TIME we meet andrew he’s pretending to be aaron, and everyone moves on from this so fast when neil realizes it, but I did not. is this a thing the twins have done before? how often? how did andrew pitch this? why did aaron agree? did andrew give aaron shit for not being able to keep the ruse going under questioning? did aaron give andrew shit for giving it away with his cigarettes? did they have to practice mimicking each others’ expressions (because having the same face isn’t enough to fool anyone if you aren’t making the right expressions with it)? did they have to share clothes for this? did they buy matching clothes for this purpose?
(Wholesome twinyards, slight kevaaron, slight neilaaron reluctant besties) Aaron sleepwalks and cuddles people part 1
Aaron's always had an infrequent sleep schedule.
He grew up never really having a bed time be enforced on him. He grew up being in a drowsy drugged state where days blissfully and perplexingly blurred like nonsensical dreams.
Sometimes he'd pass out like the dead whether from exhaustion as an exy player or a pre-med student or both.
Other times the paranoia would keep him up all night, body itching with no amount of scratching nails satiating the greedy hunger, the fiending for his monopolozing addiction like it's the first callous day of his withdrawal.
Then, of course, are the nightmares when he finally realized the lengths Andrew will go to make sure Aaron is the Minyard twin worth achieving his potential.
So, it comes as no surprise that all of the burdens and the habits that make Aaron, well, Aaron manifest into an outlet none of the Foxes are prepared for during finals week.
Sleepwalking.
On the cusp of Christmas break and tail end of the semester, Aaron is sleepwalking.
"Shit." Matt says when groggily returning from using the bathroom in the middle of the night. He spots the empty bed on side of the dorm room and a snoozing Nicky on the other side.
Instantly, Matt checks the time and sees its almost two in the morning. He puts on slippers and tries to hunt Aaron's trail before anyone finds out the secret the Foxes backliners have been hiding from the rest of their teammates.
Matt scans the kitchen and common area. No signs of Aaron. Their dorm door leading directly to the hallway is wide open, though. Matt zooms out, looking left and right, hoping Aaron hadn't gone far. To his luck, Matt spots a slow paced blond in a hoodie that's stolen "borrowed" from Andrew's wardrobe, heading toward the ding of the elevator.
Matt tries to channel his inner striker, envisioning Kevin or Neil's running legs as his own, and charges the hall. The elevator doors ease open in a creaky slide, revealing Andrew, Kevin, and Neil as its passengers coming back from night practice.
Kevin and Neil are busy debating over future game plays while Andrew stalks behind them in silence. They all stop dead in their tracks, instincts taking over, when seeing Aaron approach them and a barreling Matt closing the distance between the backliners.
Matt's about to reach Aaron, arm outstretched, hand grasping for probably a sleeve or hem, when Aaron unexpectedly sidesteps out of the way. Is it luck or a sixth sense? They don't know, but Matt ends up crashing into one of the hallway garbage bins, knocking the contents everywhere, but thankfully breaking his fall.
Aaron's sleep self takes advantage of Matt's fumble, continuing his walking without missing a beat. Kevin blinks rapidly, for once Wymack's features dominating Kayleigh Day's genes, as the Queen of Exy tries to process what he's just witnessed. Neil's observing poker face quickly melts into concern for Matt's wellbeing. Andrew, slightly mirrors Neil, except his eyes are only for Aaron who seems very off to the goalie.
The noise Matt made should've stirred a few dorm residents awake, it being quiet hours in Fox Tower because more unfortunate sports teams had morning practice. They hear a muffled "shut the fuck up!" from a dorm room door Aaron strolls by.
By now, Kevin, Neil, and Andrew have stepped off the elevator. Kevin stays in place, unsure of what to do while Neil immediately speedwalks to Matt and Andrew stalks after to Aaron.
Problem is, Neil is naturally faster than Andrew and has to get around Aaron to get to Matt, and the closer the shortest striker on the team gets to the shortest backliner on the team, the more details sharp blue eyes take in on the unexplained situation.
Aaron's eyes are completely shut. His face is slack. Dried drool connects the corner of his mouth to the edge of his chin. The bedhead is distracting, yet overpowered by the literal soft snoring escaping from Aaron. Oh and despite wearing a hoodie, Andrew's twin is outside in a public area wearing only his boxers and one sock from the waist down.
"Wait! Neil! Don't!" Matt warns, too little, too late.
Just like earlier, when even though Aaron's back was turned to Matt and he evaded capture, Neil watches in slow motion Aaron's innate slumbering ability to know when someone has breached his personal space.
Neil is fast. Aaron is faster.
In one swift swoop of fanned out arms, Neil is halted, sleepwalking Aaron blocking his twin's not-boyfriend mafioso in a bone crushing hug.
He presses Neil to him with zero chances of letting go. Neil struggles against Aaron's embrace once the initial shock fades to no avail. He's trapped having Aaron's arms around him like a kid squeezing the stuffing from a teddy bear. Neil frowns when Aaron buries his head in the crook of Neil's shoulder and snores louder in his ear.
It's weird and not on Neil's bingo card. Getting treated like a body pillow to one of his least liked people. It's also fascinating that Aaron is still 100% unconscious and still standing up straight.
"Oh, man." Matt jogs to them at the same time Andrew makes it to them.
"What the hell?" Neil whines, disturbed and irritated that Aaron can be this strong.
"Uh, yeah, about that?" Matt nervously gulps. "You guys weren't supposed to know."
Wrong words to say as Andrew's eyes flash with rage. The more volatile Minyard twin absolutely hates not knowing what's going on with his twin.
"Explain." Andrew demands, one eye on Matt, and the other examining the hold Aaron has on Neil.
Kevin's presence doesn't add any value. "Did you see how he stopped Neil? His reflexes are better asleep than awake? We need to figure out how to get him to do that on court!"
"Not now, Kevin." Neil grits through teeth. If he could turn his head, he'd glare daggers at Kevin, but the way Aaron has grappled him pisses Neil off so bad.
Matt sighs, rubbing the back of his neck and talks.
"It's finals week. Aaron's stressed out over taking back to back science shit. He's been studying like crazy, drinking energy drinks, and running on fumes. Katelyn told Nicky and me to be on the lookout if he starts sleepwalking. Aaron, I guess, does this now. He slept walk when staying overnight in Katelyn's dorm or when he's taking a nap in his study group at the library."
"You've been keeping secrets from the team." Kevin growls.
"You've been keeping secrets from us." Neil is more hurt that Matt wouldn't tell all of the Monsters, specifically him over Kevin or Andrew.
"You and Nicky are deadmen walking." Andrew didn't give a shit about Honor Among Backliners, this seemed to vaguely be considered a medical condition, and Andrew would've preferred Aaron had seen trained professional Abby rather than Matt and Nicky winging it.
"Whoa, dude, c'mon." Matt put up placating hands in front of him at the threat. "I was just following Nicky and Katelyn's lead. He should be back to his normal factory resetting when finals are done. No harm, no foul."
"I'll be the judge of that." Andrew leans in to survey Aaron. His brother looks peaceful and is now drooling on Neil's shoulder without abandon.
"No harm he says, I'm losing years of my life here." Neil demonstrates when fighting against the hug warrants, again, Aaron to squeeze tighter to keep him in place. "This is torture. Aaron's spit is seeping through."
"You'll live." Andrew hushes him and is about to shake Aaron awake, hand going for the shoulder, when Matt blurts out "It's bad to wake up a sleepwalker."
Andrew pauses his movement to narrow his eyes at Matt. "Why?"
"Well, um, I just heard it is. Like, the person could become disoriented or panicked. He would definitely be both of those things if he sees Neil's pretty face instead of his alarm clock or ceiling, y'know."
Andrew's jaw ticks and he clenches his open palm to a fist in frustration. Neil's getting tired of supporting Aaron's weight, his muscles still sore from night practice. He's so close to Aaron that he can smell the same shampoo and conditioner all the Cousins use. Neil just wants to go to bed, maybe have a brief hookup with Andrew as Kevin does his 17 step skin care routine before calling it a day.
"What do you do then? When he gets like this?" Andrew finally asks Matt.
"Usually he doesn't get this far. He just stands in our room until Nicky or me herd him back to bed."
"Fine. We herd my needy half." Andrew orders. Matt is about to steer a conjoined Aaron and Neil to the backliners' dorm when Andrew grunts, "No. You idiots lost Aaron privileges. He's moving back in with me, temporarily."
"Andrew, for real? We have it handled." Matt argues and Andrew isn't hearing it.
"Had your chance. Failed with flying colors. I'm watching him until finals are over."
"But you don't understand. Aaron has no idea he sleepwalks."
And there it is, clicking into place for both Andrew and Neil. Nicky must've not wanted Aaron to know about this strange habit of his. Not during this crucial time. He just admitted honestly to Bee that he hasn't had nightmares about Andrew and Drake in months. He doesn't need a new issue to worry about.
"Okay. I'll deal with it." Andrew stares Matt down in challenge and arches a brow. "Anything else you and Nicky have been hiding from Aaron and me or is the rest a surprise?"
"No. That's it."
"Good. Go away now."
Matt hurries off, giving an apologetic look to Neil first. Andrew guides Aaron and Neil to their dorm door so Neil doesn't trip while walking backwards. Aaron, clingy and a force apparently when out like a light, follows after Neil's backpedaling scarily easy. Kevin unlocks the door and they all enter inside. Andrew guides them to the beds.
"Don't make me sleep with him, Andrew." Neil begs, eyes latching to Andrew's impassive and unblinking hazel.
"Aaron has a 7am final in cell biology. His 3rd ranked hardest class. Needs at least a C average to pass. You will not move an inch so he gets all the rest he can get. Got it, runaway."
"Your investment in Aaron's future is impressive for someone allergic to books." Neil blankly responds.
"I like what's mine to be taken care of."
"I don't feel very taken care of, right now."
"Stop flirting and let your twin cuddle Neil in peace. We have finals too." Kevin interrupts, already undressing and putting on his expensive silk pajamas.
Andrew grabs a discarded pillow and aims it at Kevin's face, headshot successful. The men try their best to settle down. Neil awkwardly lays on his back with sleepwalking Aaron snuggling into him affectionately, the effort to change into a different shirt or in a pair of jogging pants impossible. Neil's used to Andrew's solid and comforting form draped over him, not the twin that thinks he doesn't deserve Andrew. What if Aaron wakes up and starts choking him to death out of a mix of embarrassment and anger?
Neil cocks his head to the side, his disgruntled gaze catches on Andrew's scrutiny with no intentions of sleeping, sitting on the bottom bunk to smoke in the dark like a discount Batman scanning Gotham, the window cracked to air out the smoke.
Andrew's calm facade shields his whirling thoughts. He has a lot of emotions brawling for top priority. His possessiveness is kicking up, a trait Bee would lightly scold Andrew for entertaining. No one should be sharing a bed with Neil besides him. Also, Andrew never knew Aaron was a subconscious hugger. His identical copy always scowled at Nicky's overly sentimental physical contact. Andrew's seen Aaron clack racquets with Kevin or Matt, accept a pat on the back or shoulder from Wymack, and be disgustingly cutesy with Katelyn. Aaron's never hugged Andrew, not since the incident at the Hemmick's.
Besides, Aaron isn't technically consenting. He isn't aware of what he's doing. Still, Andrew wonders if he had gotten to Aaron first before Neil, would it be him lugging around his adhesive of a brother? He's mad at himself for not picking up that Aaron was stressed enough to develop this problem. He's furious at Matt and Nicky and don't get Andrew started on Katelyn. They all knew and didn't mention a peep to him or Abby. Bee is going to get an earful from Andrew as soon as daylight breaks.
On the top bunk, Kevin tosses and turns. He should be able to turn his brain off. He should've poured himself a night cap. Nope. He is preoccupied on why having Aaron and Neil glued to each other bothers him so much. For a laughable second, Kevin thinks he's leveled up in empathy, but dismisses the idea instantly. He turns on his side and stares below, seeing Neil look imprisoned and ready to bite off his limbs like a wounded animal in a bear trap with every sigh of content Aaron breathes on his neck.
Kevin's confused. He wouldn't mind having Aaron's grip on him. A Raven would jump at the opportunity with glee. But Kevin's not a Raven, he's a Fox, and according to that nature documentary he binged about The History of Forest Animals, foxes enjoy nuzzling in the same manner as Aaron.
In the end, the guareented Exy Court hailing from PSU's Foxes pulled an all nighter due to the presence of Aaron. The tension and anticipation of Aaron's reaction had Andrew absently smoke his last few cigarettes, Kevin curiously baffled at his desire to switch places with Neil, and Neil obeying Andrew by not moving an inch. The birds chirp and the sky remained sunless. It's 6am and if Aaron doesn't get ready for the day, they'll draw straws on who wakes him up.
Luckily, Aaron twitches into the living, blinking lethargically and yawning his morning breath into Neil's scrunching nose. It stunk of Redbull and leftover pizza. Kevin would have a fit at the poor diet. Aaron finally releases Neil, sitting up to rub at his eyes and wipe the drool from his mouth.
"Mrghrnf." Aaron speaks gibberish, groggily climbing over Neil to stand.
For a moment, they all think Aaron's sleepwalking again, but it turns out he's not a morning person. They watch Aaron make his way to the bathroom and maybe it's muscle memory because this did use to be Aaron's room once upon a time ago. When Aaron returns, he is more cognizant.
"Why are you guys in my dorm?"
"You're in our dorm." Neil retorts.
"Huh?" Aaron tilts his head, squinting. "What the...?"
Andrew takes over. "You sleepwalk. You came here. Eat breakfast. Drink coffee. Leave."
"I what now?" Aaron widens his eyes and Andrew wastes no time herding his twin.
"Talk later." He drags Aaron to the kitchen counter and shoves a protein bar in his hands.
"Andrew wait - "
"Talk later." Andrew emphasizes and Aaron shuts up. He does as he's told and leaves for his own dorm.
Andrew texts Bee. Then, he texts Abby.
Kevin and Neil spy on him through the bedroom threshold.
"You think he'll pass?" Neil asks, not wanting his sacrifice as Aaron's plushie to be in vain.
Andrew scoffs. "It's Aaron."
Kevin confidently nods in agreement. "He is the brains. But only because history majors don't get the deserved respect as doctors in training, mind you."
Neil and Andrew share a look, wordlessly communicate in record time, and since Andrew isn't close Neil subs for him and smacks Kevin the back of the head.
This is, sadly, just the beginning. Finals just started. They have a week of Aaron plausibly sleepwalking. He was fortunate to run into Andrew, Kevin, and Neil when he got pass Matt and Nicky. The three of them weren't willing to risk Aaron running into a stranger with unsavory musings.
Andrew won't let anything happen to his brother. He'd burn the building and up his body count if a single hair got touched on Aaron.
in their third year, betsy gets the twins to try weekly out-of-therapy 'bonding' sessions, in whatever way they can manage, verbal or otherwise. it takes a couple weeks of pushing and pulling from both sides, but eventually, they agree to watch a movie together once a week. aaron can't sit still that long so he finds his old rubiks cube and starts to solve it during the first movie. it takes him a long time to be able to actually solve the cube within the time of the film, and the first time he finishes it, andrew holds out his hand without looking away from the screen. aaron hands it to him, and andrew proceeds to scramble the cube again, not even looking at it when he tosses it back. aaron solves it again, andrew scrambles it, and they eventually end up getting to 8+ cubes per film
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