Chapter Text
Neil was not going to college.
He watched as Dan sorted out through his photo frames while Kevin made a big Throw It Away Right Now pile out of Neil's oldest clothes.
Neil was going straight to professional Exy. He had a signed contract, a brand new racket and a dream. And the most handsome boyfriend, of course.
He gave up folding the Kevin's Approved Clothing Items, allowing the cargo pants to fall down inside the suitcase in the messier way possible. His hands were shaking again, they shouldn't be, Neil was following his dreams – he was supposed to be happy!
He had rented a condo so he could live with Andrew in another fucking state. Away from their families and friends. Nonetheless, Andrew had already switched colleges for him and was having an easier time with the changes than Neil, the one who was actually making his biggest dream come true.
He bounced his leg, heart going too fast for his liking. Exy shouldn't make him this anxious.
"You have always been cute" Dan cooed, showing one of the pictures to Neil.
Neil felt the taste of blood and realized he was biting his lip too hard. Andrew would have to kiss it better again.
David and Abby were still pretending they weren't about to cry. His dad may not be very emotional but Neil could see his eyes watering from time to time. It's kind of funny, he looks all big and dangerous while inside he actually is much like a care bear.
"Are you sure we don't have any teams here?" Abby asked, putting all of Neil's medals in a box. They have an agreement, Abby could keep Neil's awards but he was taking his medals with him.
"Mom" Neil laughed "We talked about this"
"I think you could create a pro team here in South Carolina"
"I'm not going far" Neil said and accepted Abby's hug. He lost count of how many hugs there had been given around this morning
"This photo stays with us" David said, he wasn't being of much help. Just standing there and watching over everything.
His dad was talking about the picture from Neil's first Halloween with them. As a kid, he didn't really know what to expect from it, everything was a surprise, to which he oftenly didn't react well. On top of all the threats and fights that he may have started with other kids in the street, Neil didn't eat his candies and even tried to throw Kevin's and Dan's away because he firmly believed they were all poisoned.
Neil didn't grow to appreciate trick or treating - He only went to follow Andrew and would be extremely quiet until he could finally do some tricking. The good old days were filled with toilet paper and spoiled eggs.
"Dan, Matt is crying again" Renee called. Neil frowned, what could have made Matt cry? He only went to grab a glass of water "He saw his and Neil's best friends forever mug"
Neil snickered.
He would miss them so much. Neil was feeling out of place. He wasn't used to this amount of feelings all at once.
"C'mon" Kevin called "Let's take a walk"
Neil stared at his own empty room.
He had donated his rackets to a public high school, David already had taken Neil's beanbag chair to his and Andrew's future apartment, as well as his shelves and favorite Story Of Exy books. His closet was open and painfully empty, they even took out his posters because Neil also wanted to take them with him.
The new apartment was a mess already, the only thing Neil and Andrew had done there was drop half of their things and then have sex. Twice.
"Neil?" Kevin called again.
"Yeah" He nodded absently.
His brother pulled him by his arms, nagging and prodding Neil until they were both ready with running shoes and comfortable clothes.
"Why are you so anxious?" Kevin asked after they had walked for five minutes in silence. He even used his big brother voice, which was a copy of Renee's tone of voice when she's talking with the twins.
"It's my dream" Neil explained, he was aware that Kevin would be the only one to understand "I can't fuck it up"
"Did you get my training videos?"
"Yes"
"Then you won't fuck anything up"
“You don't know that”
“I do, actually” Kevin said “Run.”
They went faster and faster until they were both running, Neil was noticeably faster even with Kevin’s long legs advantage.
The sound of his feet hitting the ground, the strain on his legs, the burning of his lungs slowly brought peace to Neil's mind. Running with Kevin always calmed him down. When they finally stopped, both boys were breathing heavily but smiling big.
What is Neil supposed to do so far away from his brother?
"I have to go back now" Kevin said "Renee, Bee, Steph and Dan invited mom for a girls night and I need to convince her to go"
"To distract mom"
"Probably, yes"
"Who got dad?"
"Matt, Aaron and I"
"What are you doing?"
"Watching MMA. We’ve got tickets"
They had a big plan to stop their parents' suffering since the first kid - Dan - left for college. It was a teamwork that involved basically everyone they knew. Now that they did it multiple times - For Dan, Kevin, and the twins - , the plan was improved to perfection.
Neil nodded "You go back, I will keep walking for a bit"
"See you later" His brother said "Don't do anything stupid"
"Bye, Kevin."
Neil waited until Kevin was out of his view and went back to running. Even with the ache on his tights and strain on his knees, Neil didn’t stop. He ran until he couldn't think, he ran faster until he couldn't feel the crippling fear, he ran until the anxiety was easier to ignore.
He didn't pay attention, however, to where his legs were taking him so it wasn't a surprise when Neil decided to stop and realised he was lost.
Well, that’s an issue.
He grabbed his phone, ready to call Andrew when -
"Fucking idiot" Someone said from the black car that was driving slowly next to Neil.
He jumped "Drew?!"
"Get in"
"Hi" They shared a quick kiss "You found me"
Neil would always be amazed by how quickly they fell in the routine, adding kisses and exploring hands in their daily tasks.
"Explain" Andrew demanded, offering his hand to Neil, who gladly took it and kissed reverently before holding between his own hands in his lap.
"I was nervous, then I started to walk around with Kevin" Neil said sheepishly " I got lost"
He played with Andrew's fingers as he restlessly moved his legs up and down, up and down, up and down.
Neil was still so full of energy, he didn't know what to do with it.
"Dumbass"
Up and down, up and down, up and down.
"I know, I know" Neil paused, trying to look for words to explain his feelings but coming up empty. He tried anyway, "It's just -- I can't ignore it anymore, it's all or nothing. Dan and Kevin keep saying that I'm good and I know I'm good, I have no doubt about my skills but there's so much that could go wrong that I - I can't"
"Breath in." Andrew commanded, Neil obeyed "Breath out."
"I think I'm dying"
"You're not dying."
"I don't wanna fuck it up"
"Then don't."
Neil nodded and squeezed Andrew's soft hand.
They fell into another comfortable silence - or, what would be a comfortable silence if Neil wasn't overthinking everything in the world at that moment.
"You're changing your life for me, I really don't want to disappoint you" He said.
“I'm not changing anything. I don't care what college I go to. Aaron asked me to stand by him during his first semester and, if it wasn't for that, I would've waited until you graduated to find a college. My plan has always been you.”
Neil shut his eyes, trying to get his heartbeat under control.
"You could never disappoint me" Andrew kept going "Again: I don't care about switching college, I got a scholarship no matter where"
"Nerd"
Andrew parked in the nearest spot he could find. They were so connected thay Neil didn't even wonder why.
"Come here"
Neil climbed in Andrew's lap without a second thought, laughing when the blond rolled his seat all the way to the back so they would have more space.
Andrew's lap was comfortable, everything in Neil's body went immediately quiet - his heart, mind and soul. No one could explain why Andrew's touch made him feel so at peace.
"Can we kiss?" Neil asked, gently cupping Andrew's chubby cheeks.
He looked like a little blond angel with his soft curls, shining eyes, chubby and rosy cheeks, sharp jawline, the cutest nose of all, pink oval lips - Neil sighed, in love.
"Yes."
So they kissed.
Neil didn't understand the concept of kissing before feeling Andrew's tongue against his own. No one had fucking told him that it felt like their souls were talking, no would told him how Andrew's warmth would be everywhere, no one had told him that his tongue would feel like it was like a snail finding its perfect shell.
Andrew's hands traveled under Neil's shirt, he caressed his abs and chest, then moved lower to squeeze Neil's thick thighs. A well known path for them.
Neil hugged Andrew's neck, hand pulling his hair gently, fingernails scraping his scalp. Andrew hummed in appreciation, Neil's stomach turned inside his body.
They mastered the art of making out.
Suddenly a phone ringing interrupted them. In a quick move, Neil tossed his phone out of the window and tried to dive in for another kiss.
"You are going to pick it up." Andrew said, turning his face so Neil couldn't kiss him. His voice was too breathy to be intimidating.
Neil frowned "No"
"Neil"
Neil groaned but went anyway. He couldn't remember the last time he didn't do something that Andrew wanted him to do, it comes naturally to Neil as he loves to see his boyfriend all happy and satisfied.
Still, he slammed the door shut to be a little shit. Took heavy steps, grabbed his still ringing phone and snuffed it in his pocket before going back to Andrew's car - and lap.
"It's ringing" Andrew told him.
Neil blinked at him "But we're busy"
Andrew stared at him in perfect silence, but Neil wasn't going to let him win this one.
.
He lasted five brave seconds.
Then Neil groaned, allowing Andrew to reach out for his pocket and steal the loudly ringing phone.
"What?" Andrew said "Yes, Kevin" He kept going as Neil started to play with the beautiful blond hair "No" Neil kissed his forehead "We're busy. Bye" Andrew glared at him
"Let's go home"
Neil didn't feel like moving, so he cupped his boyfriend's face and squished his cheeks. "Let's stay here"
"My house is empty"
"Hurry up, sunshine. Let's go home!"
Neil let him drive, jumping back to the passenger seat. Andrew kept a hand on his thigh, which was nice.
The truth was that Andrew changed his brain’s chemistry completely. Before they started dating, Neil never really thought much about sex and kissing but with Andrew, he was constantly on cloud nine and very curious about trying out new things. It was amazing to get to know Andrew on this intimate level, finding out his likes, his dislikes, what makes him squirm, what makes him lose control. In the end, Neil didn't want to kiss Andrew because he wanted to kiss, he wanted to kiss Andrew because it was Andrew - everyone else still made Neil want to cringe a little.
He wanted everything with Andrew, though.
A small gesture, such a hand on his thigh, was enough to set Neil’s entire body on fire.
Their different perspective on sex means that most of their experience, although shared, were individual. For example, Neil found everything about Andrew sexy, amazing and beautiful, he thought that the struggles they had in their sexual lives could even be poetic. While Andrew didn't really like to talk about their first time because he didn't last long.
Well, he didn't last at all.
Neil genuinely though it was cute, Andrew dreamed so much about the day that they would fuck and, when the time arrived, he was so high on pleasure and satisfaction that he came in five seconds. In addition, Andrew didn't even have time to think about holding back his own noises, so groaned before hiding his face in Neil's chest. Then, Andrew's misplaced frustration had been funny, since Neil had never seen him so grumpy.
Neil didn't mind it, Andrew got all red like a cherry and that was such an adorable version of him. Neil appreciates everything Andrew does. It took two months for Andrew to finally feel confident enough to try again, whilst Neil was seeing a new side of himself: a side that wants so much that it burns.
"It's kind of crazy how in two days our home will always be empty because it's going to be just me and you." Neil said as soon as they entered Andrew’s empty house.
There would be no more trying to be quiet because Aaron is here.
Andrew rolled his eyes, "It's not crazy.” He pulled Neil by his waist “Let's shower. You're sweaty"
"You like it"
"You're gross"
They kissed again, with Andrew pushing him until they got inside the bathroom, where they undressed each other between kisses and more kisses.
Neil would never get tired of Andrew's body. He is perfect. Neil wants to give him the world.
“I’m excited for my first salary” Neil said, grinning “ ‘Going to spoil you with it”
“We will have bills to pay”
“Don't care” He rolled his eyes “I want to shower you with gifts”
“Shut up”
Neil didn't know if Andrew was aware of how serious Neil was about spoiling him rotten. He will be a rich and successful Exy player (hopefully), Neil will buy everything he could just to make Andrew happier. He will buy him cars, clothes, one of that ugly naked cats that Andrew finds funny, tons of flowers and chocolate - Fuck, Neil would bring him the moon if it was possible.
Also, there has to be someone Neil could pay to name a country after Andrew. All of the countries, the whole planet, the universe.
"I'm happy we're going to live together" Neil decided to say "Just the two of us"
"Me too"
"I'll miss my family"
"Yeah"
"It kind of sucks that we can't all live in the same neighborhood"
"When you become a famous Exy player you can buy a few big mansions, side by side, to our families to live together"
"That's actually my plan"
"You'll have to buy a hospital to hire Aaron"
"Aaron has to come too?"
"My twin brother is part of our family, yes"
"He's your brother?"
"Surprising, right"
"God, you two are so different" Neil frowned "I thought he was like a charity work you and Bee were doing"
.
After they showered, the couple moved on to making out in Andrew's bed. It was nice to have an empty house because it meant they didn't need to be careful.
Neil didn't think they would go further than kissing because that's what they felt most comfortable with and, among the moving and Neil's new job, they were having to deal with one too many challenges.
"I didn't finish packing." Neil said. He hated packing, when he traveled with his family he would do a shitty job on purpose just so Kevin got annoyed and re-did everything in the right way.
"Help me finish, and tomorrow I will help you" Andrew said, playing with Neil's necklace.
Neil kissed his forehead "Deal"
They got up lazily and walked around Andrew’s messy room. It is weird, this room was always so organized and clean, Neil never saw anything out of place.
Now everything is.
"What's that?" Neil asked, grabbing the first box he saw.
"Old notebooks" Andrew answered "You can throw it all away"
Bee kept everything that the twins did when they were kids, Neil loved to see it all. It's just --- Andrew growing up was something so beautiful.
"I don't know" He said, opening one of the notebooks and cooing "Look how cute your numbers were”
He sat down on the floor, next to the big box and went through the number-filled pages of Andrew's notebook, smiling softly at the mistakes.
"Wait Neil, don-"
"Oh my God!" Neil laughed, interrupting whatever Andrew had to say because he saw the last page.
It was a drawing of a big heart with ‘Neil + Andrew = love 4ever’ written inside.
"It wasn't me" Andrew very obviously lied.
"That's adorable"
"Let's switch boxes" Andrew tried to pull the box with him but Neil held it back.
"Why?" He raised an eyebrow "Are there any more of those?"
"No" Andrew lied again, Neil scoffed and went to the next notebook, going straight for the last page.
He saw an adorable drawing of two stick figures dressed up and gasped "It's our wedding!"
Kid Andrew had made stick figures of them!
"We won't have a wedding"
"You wanted to"
"There was no point" Andrew mumbled "I just liked the pretty things"
"Including me"
"I would get really bored in class" He explained himself "This means nothing"
Neil went to the next textbook.
Roses are red, your eyes are blue
I’m just a boy, always in awe
You are an angel, I will forever pine
Eternally hoping you will be mine
"You wrote me poems?" Neil whispered in awe "Oh, Drew"
Andrew rolled his eyes "It's terrible"
Neil hugged the notebook against his chest "I will keep those forever"
"It's going to be hell living with you"
"How are you more embarrassed of that than you were when I found your Spotify account last year?"
"I have a great taste for songs"
"You have five playlists with my name" Neil corrected him, then went back to his mission of sorting through Andrew's notebooks. The blond was quick to interrupt him with a kiss.
"Hey" Neil complained but melted into the kiss when Andrew pulled him closer. A good kiss, you never refuse.
After a few seconds Neil pushed him down, straddling his lap. It was enough to distract his boyfriend, allowing him to grab the next notebook inside the box.
"A list of things you liked on me" Neil gasped, reading sweet words about his smell and sense of humor "Oh, we have to add my abs, ass and legs"
Andrew groaned but didn't deny it, neither tried to move from under Neil's body.
Neil snorted staring at the page full of 'Andrew Dobson-Wymack' and 'Neil Dobson-Wymack'
"Did you ever pay attention to the class?" He asked.
"Mind your business"
"When did you stop?" Neil asked teasingly, then he gasped "Wait. Did you ever stop?"
Andrew shushed him, sitting up without disturbing Neil and pulling him closer by his neck "Kiss me"
"I really wanna know the answer"
"Kiss me." Andrew asked in that demanding tone that was always so sexy. Neil gave it to him, their lips danced a slow and sweet dance that is so, so familiar.
Andrew deserves to be worshiped and Neil is nothing but devoted to him.
"It's embarrassing" The blond said when they broke the kiss.
"It's nothing that I don't know"
"But it is embarrassing"
"I won't ever judge you, sunshine" Neil promised, leaning in to kiss his boyfriend's cheeks "I think it's adorable, beautiful, cute, wholesome, a-"
"I get it" Andrew interrupted him "Fine, read it all"
"Read it for me" He pushed his luck "I wanna hear in your voice, I want you to explain it to me"
"Neil"
"Sunshine"
"I hate you." Andrew squeezed his hips "My terms for reading and explaining are date night every week"
Neil smiled, he could actually feel his pupils dilating "Perfect"
"I get to veto exy talk any time I want"
Neil pouted but he knew there are fights that he would never win "Done"
"You don't tell anyone about it"
"I would never" Neil would actually be jealous of this piece of information, this should be only his and Andrew's.
“I just wrote our names many times because it was valentine's day and I couldn't stop thinking about you. It's not a big deal” Andrew explained grumply “See the little hearts?”
“Oh, God”
“But if you go back to our wedding” He pointed to the right notebook, Neil hurried up to grab it “Is that one”
“What?”
“Two pages back I did the invitations”