For an Andreil prompt, what about, childhood friends? Or maybe just them going on a date? Oh or Andreil + social media maybe?
okay so neilâs POV is HARD and this is the garbage i came up with? pls be kind
read on a03Â | 2132 words | rating: t????
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The thought doesnât even cross Neilâs mind until Nicky brings it up. Theyâre all huddled in the girlsâ room for Dan-mandated movie night - something about âteam bondingâ - and Andrew is in an evening session with Bee which leaves Neil at the center of attention. Aaron won choosing rights this week by betting that the freshman wouldnât even make it through a week of practice before making a âbutcherâ comment at Neil, which means theyâre watching another stupid superhero movie. Neil is bouncing where heâs sitting on the floor in front of the couch, glancing at the clock every five seconds. Something is exploding on screen when Nicky leans over and nudges Neil.
âWhat, you got a hot date with Andrew or something?â
It shouldnât strike Neil as odd. The question. The assumption. Itâs not like he doesnât know what dating looks like for other people. He watches Matt and Dan get dressed up on off-weekends and go to dinner or a movie. Katelyn and Aaron have a standing date on Wednesday evenings after practice. But for Neil and Andrew, everything is different. Itâs been months since Baltimore but Andrew still barely lets Neil out of his sight. The longest they spend apart is Andrewâs sessions with Bee or when theyâre in class and even those hours are an exercise in self-control. Itâs like Andrew canât bear the thought of Neil disappearing on him again. Not after falling to his knees on shitty carpet in a shitty motel in the middle of Baltimore with Neilâs battered and bruised face tucked between his palms. Not after feeling the evidence of Neilâs stupidity and Lolaâs insanity under his own fingertips. Not after waking up to Neil trembling and whimpering no, no, no in his sleep.
No, Andrew and Neil donât do dates. Theyâve traded them for promises, and stay, and yes. They trade kisses over the hood of the Maserati and unfinished cigarettes and keys to a house and a heart. Neil isnât sure what going out to dinner or going to a movie could give him that he isnât already getting. Because the thing is, Neil is happy for the first time in his life. Heâs allowed to want things now.
âWhat?â He asks Nicky, confusion written all over his face. He spares another glance at the clock, counting down the minutes until Andrew is settled in beside him again, close enough to touch. Close enough to remind Neil that heâs alive and heâs allowed to have this.
âYou. Andrew. Dinner and a movie?â Nicky prods, jamming his finger into Neilâs ribcage.
âWeâre not..weâre not like that.â Neil stumbles over his words, trying to find the right ones on his tongue.
Before Nicky can poke and prod any further, the door swings open and Andrew makes his way in. The sight of him alone is enough for Neils heart to stutter. Andrews participation in team movie night is never a given. Itâs as tentative as his consent is. A yes one day does not guarantee a yes the next day. But his sessions with Bee lately have been leaving him more unpredictable than usual. Thereâs days where Andrew comes back and wonât want Neil any closer than five feet away from him. There are days where he curls up into Neils space and finds contact with every inch of his body. Toes tucked under Neils thighs while they lounge on the couch. Pinky fingers wrapped around one another while Neil works on his homework and Andrew reads. Fingers wrapped in Neils overgrown curls, mouth pressed to the curve of his throat.
Today, it seems to be the latter. He shuts the door behind him and settles in on the floor next to Neil, burying his fingers in his hair almost immediately. Neil leans into the touch instinctively, without even meaning to. He tucks himself into Andrewâs side and presses a kiss to his temple, earning him a bite to his earlobe in retaliation.
âShut up and watch the movie.â
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The thought doesnât cross Neilâs mind again until a week later when Andrew is pressed against him, inch for inch. Andrewâs palms are ghosting over his sides, pressing into the curves of his ribcage and hipbones. Heâs mouthing at Neils neck and driving his hips forward and Neil feels like a string pulled taut. Every point of connection between him and Andrew feels like a fire sparking.
âWhereâs Kevin?â Neil breathes, squirming under Andrewâs hold on his hips.
âFuck if I know.â Andrew sucks a fresh hickey into the base of Neilâs throat, next to where another is fading. And fuck, Neil might have a fetish for Andrewâs neck but he sure as hell has no complaints about Andrewâs attention to his.
If someone would have told him a year ago that he would have this, that he would have Andrew and the Foxes and a future, he would have laughed. A year ago there were only minutes and hours. He lived in moments between practice and class and games and lies. He couldnât imagine weeks or even months into the future. He couldnât dream of a moment beyond the one he was living in.
Andrew is hot and firm where heâs pressed against Neil, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything but Andrewâs breath and the scrape of teeth across his shoulder.
âWanna blow you. Yes or no?â Andrew pushes up onto his elbows to level a stare at Neils face, searching for something in his expression. Whatever he finds there and in the breathy Yes that Neil lets out must be enough because he mouths his way down Neils bare chest. He pauses to suck another bruise into his ribcage, running his tongue along the lines of Neilâs ribs.
Itâs not often that they find time to do this, take time with one another. Now that practice has started again, night practices have resumed as well. If Kevin isnât up their asses about running drills, heâs coping with Rikoâs death with the bottom of a bottle of Jack Daniels.
Andrew bites into the soft flesh of Neilâs inner thigh before tonguing at the tip of Neilâs cock. Heâs been rock hard since Andrew undressed him but when Andrew swallows down, he nearly whites out at the feeling. He doesnât last long. He never does when Andrew works him up first but i when he comes he shakes under Andrewâs hands.
âShoulders only and donât watch.â Andrew says through gritted teeth before Neil can even finish his question.
Itâs like this most often, Andrew getting himself off above Neil. There are bad days, days where Andrew kicks Neil out of the room or retreats to the bathroom to take care of his own arousal but most days itâs like this. Andrew holds himself up on one elbow while Neil runs his fingers across Andrewâs shoulders. Andrewâs other hand dips below the waistband of his sweatpants and minutes later, heâs burying his face into Neilâs neck and his entire body goes rigid above Neil.
After theyâve showered, they settle against one another in the bottom bunk, Andrewâs back to the wall and Neil tucked against Andrewâs chest.
âAndrew?â Neil asks sleepily, just on the edge of being awake.
âUnf.â Andrew grunts in response.
âWould you want to go on a date sometime?â
Andrewâs even breath against Neilâs neck is the only sound in the room for what feels like hours until Neil realizes that Andrew has fallen asleep. His hand is still wound tight in the fabric of Neilâs shirt but the small puffs of breath in Neilâs ear is distinctly even, the only evidence that Andrew is capable of relaxing.
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Itâs after Andrewâs next session that Andrew drops onto the couch where Neil is knee deep in calculus homework. He drops two tickets into Neilâs lap and twirls an unlit cigarette between his fingers.
âFriday after practice. I heard you like that shitty band that Matt always plays.â Andrew says unceremoniously, like he hasnât just dropped two concert tickets into Neilâs lap. To anyone else, concert tickets might not mean much but Neil knows just how much Andrew is giving him with these two small strips of cardstock. Itâs more than just acknowledging that he heard Neilâs question between warm sheets and Andrewâs breath against his neck. Itâs acknowledging that he cares about what Neil wants, acknowledging that whatever this is between them is something he cares enough about to indulge Neilâs fantasy of normalcy.
âYou heard me.â Neil says, eyes shining and jaw slightly agape.
âOf course I did. You never shut up.â Andrew says, though the quirk of the corner of his mouth betrays his smugness at knowing heâs the one to make Neil look like this.
âAndrew..â Neil says, still unbelieving. He stares at Andrew, as if he will disappear if he looks away.
âStop looking at me like that or Iâll take Kevin.â Andrew replies, the small tilt of his lips saying otherwise.
Neil leans down to where Andrew is trying his best to scowl at him, slowly enough that Andrew could pull away if he needs to, and presses a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth. âThank you.â He whispers.
If they spend the next thirty minutes making out on the couch, Neilâs calculus homework forgotten, well thatâs nobodyâs business.
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Andrewâs fingers grip Neil tightly as they weave through the crowd. The concert is standing room only and Neil already offered to stand at the back of the club so Andrew can press his back against the wall instead of leaving it to strangers. A few tables litter the edges of the standing room but theyâre all full and Andrew is pulling Neil through the crowd until theyâre close enough to the stage where Neil can see above the heads bobbing in front of them.
âIf weâre going to go to a concert you may as well be able to see.â Andrew explains, as if he hasnât turned the world on its axis with the amount of concessions heâs made for Neil in one week alone.
The evening is an exercise in growth and trust for them both. Andrew stands rigid through the opening act, though he does allow Neil to stand at his back with his hands on his waist. Theyâre not pressed close together but allowing Neil to touch him outside his direct line of vision is a first.
By the time the main act crosses the stage, Andrew is leaning into Neilâs touch. Whether itâs exhaustion from the week or just giving Neil another permission, Neil isnât sure but he hooks his chin over Andrewâs shoulder and crosses his arms over Andrewâs stomach. âWe donât have to stay long.â Neil says, instead of Iâm here and I see you.
âShut up.â Andrew says despite curling into Neilâs lithe body. And Neil presses small kisses wherever he can reach: the side of Andrewâs neck, his cheek, the shell of his ear. The music is familiar, some songs Matt has played in the changing room after practice or during team dinners. Neil isnât familiar with the lyrics by any means but between the sway of bodies around him and the heat of Andrewâs body, the lyrics strike him harder than music usually does.
You think being yourself means being unworthy
And it's hard to love with a heart that's hurting
Andrew is turning around in his grip before the question leaves Neilâs mouth, his hands finding Neilâs hair and tugging until Neilâs mouth is sliding against his. For a moment the crowd melts away and itâs just the two of them wrapped up in each other, pressed together at the chest and at the hips. Neil never takes Andrew for granted and anytime he has Andrewâs lips sliding against his, he is acutely aware of how lucky he is but getting to hold Andrew tight against him in a crowd of people is something else entirely. Itâs stupid that he should feel possesive after everything theyâve been through. Andrew has shown him in more than words that he chooses Neil but thereâs something that unfurls in his chest at knowing that Andrew is his.
âIdiot.â Andrew mumbles when they pull away for a moment, as if he can read Neilâs mind.
Their surroundings come back to them in pieces. Theyâre hardly aware of the song ending as they push through the crowd to make it out of the club. Neil reaches over the center console of Maserati in silent request. Andrew takes his hand wordlessly as he rolls his eyes.
âItâs just a hand.â He says.
