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He’s watching Neil move about their apartment, not really doing anything particularly special. Rearranging he calls it, probably the closest he’s ever got to tidying the damn place. Andrew has absolutely no inclination to get up and help, in fact as he sits with his feet propped up on the coffee table and a small plate sat in his lap with the last remnants of the cake he was eating; he’s more inclined to make more mess just to enjoy the view of Neil bending over again. Toeing the stack of magazines perched at the end of the table, (exy issues because of what else, fucking Junkie ) he makes sure to clear his throat to get Neils attention and look him dead in the eye before kicking them off. Neil’s jaw twitches as his glances at the mess now on the floor, to Andrew's sock covered foot.
“Really?” He says, arching an eyebrow over at Andrew.
“Chop chop Josten, we’ve got guests.”
The rest of the Foxes are supposed to be turning up at some point soon, something Andrew apparently has had no say in. Though he’s not stupid as to believe if he really voiced his distaste at having people over in his personal space, Neil would certainly have arranged everyone to meet elsewhere. It’s the off season, which means the only commitments Neil and Andrew have are practices and gym sessions which they’ve both taken a week's vacation from. They’re playing for different teams at the moment, which is both a blessing and a curse. It means times like this when they want vacation leave are reasonably easy to gain, rather than having one team lose both its goalkeeper and striker, they split. The other side to that is Neil is still paying for an apartment two states over that he barely uses but refuses to get rid of. ‘For just in case’ . Andrew isn’t exactly sure what situation calls for them to have two apartments, but apparently it’s a losing battle that Neil’s not quite ready to give up.
Neil sighs and rolls his eyes, stepping over Andrew's legs and bending forward so he can pick up Andrew’s mess, Andrew simply leans back and enjoys the view. When Neil stands he notices Andrew staring and gives him an amused look.
“Can I help you with something?”
Andrew shakes his head and waves a hand at him. “Carry on Jeeves.”
Neil tsk’s and drops the pile of magazines back onto the table, this time just out of reach of Andrews feet. “Asshole.”
There’s a small meow and King jumps up on the arm of the sofa, blinking curiously at the two of them.
“Not you baby, your dad.” Neil croons, reaching out to scratch behind King’s ears. The cat immediately goes pliant ( traitor ) as Neil runs his hand over his back.
“I never agreed to kids. This is entrapment.” Andrew comments, but Neil ignores him as he makes kissy noises at the cat as he purrs and starts to claw at the coach.
“Stop that, you’re encouraging it to destroy the furniture.” Andrew says, and Neil gives King one more pat before he picks him up, cradling him securely in his arms.
“ He , not it,” Neil directs at Andrew. He turns to the cat in his arms and nuzzles his head. “Ignore him. Let’s go find your sister hmm?”
Andrew scoffs, reaching over to grab the TV remote, knocking the pile of magazines back onto the floor in the process just because.
“Oops,” he says, not looking the least bit apologetic. Neil rolls his eyes, pointing a finger over at his husband.
“Those better be picked up by the time we get back.”
Andrew doesn’t respond, choosing instead to lean back into the couch and flick through the channels. They have a ridiculous amount, more than they would ever watch. He hadn’t bothered to listen to the exact details of the package when he bought it, his checking account reflecting more than he would ever need, but Neil would never let him forget it if he hadn’t at least gotten all the sports channels included.
Exy is still a huge part of their life, more than Andrew ever expected it to be. It used to be a means to an end, a way to pass the listless time when he had nothing better to settle with than his own apathy. Then Neil Josten came along, a path of mafia ties and lies wound tightly around him and turned everything Andrew knew on its head and now Andrew finds himself here, a husband, a home. A good relationship with his brother. Dare he say to himself, friends in the foxes.
It’s a jarring turn of events, but even Andrew Minyard knows in the privacy of his own mind to accept the good long over the bad. Another lesson from Bee, kept tucked under lock and key.
It’s not long before Neil reappears, dressed in snug fitting jeans and a dark maroon polo that clashes horribly with his hair. He’s wearing the cologne that Andrew bought him last Christmas. Andrew hates it, almost as much as he hates the fact he really doesn’t. He snags Neil as he passes him on the way to the kitchen, pulling at the hem of his shirt until the man is in front of him. Neil stares down at him, amused.
“You look stupid,” Andrew says. He doesn’t wait for Neil to reply, hooking a leg behind Neil’s knees and pulling until Neil’s leg buckles and he has no option but to fall into Andrew's lap. He grabs at the back of the couch as he straddles him, a fond look on his face.
“You like how I look,” Neil says smugly.
“Lies.”
One more pull is all it takes for them to be kissing. Andrew feels the electricity along his lips, sparking in his veins. Even after all this time, kissing Neil is an addiction he never wants to rid himself off. Neil hums into the kiss, still balancing his body away from Andrews. Still aware, still wary of the boundaries Andrew had set all those years ago when they started this. Andrew used to mark the feeling in his stomach as disgust, a sickness at his own emotions but now he realises it for what it is. A nervous energy, excitement maybe, that this ridiculous man is the pipe dream he never felt he deserved and yet got anyway.
Neil pulls back, nudging his nose against Andrews before he leans in for another kiss. It’s sickeningly domestic, it’s a four letter word Andrew accepts they share but never say. It burns bright like the sun between them, shuttering their ugly pasts away.
The buzzer rings.
Neil smiles into the kiss, “I better go get that,” he mumbles against Andrews lips.
“No,” Andrew replies, gripping Neil’s shirt tighter. Neil laughs, hand coming to run slowly and softly against Andrew's jaw.
“You know Kevin will only complain if we leave him out there too long.”
“I don’t care.” They kiss again, slowly and chaste. Enjoying the last few moments of peace they’ll have for the next couple of days.
The buzzer echoes again.
“Tik tok Drew,” Neil mutters.
Neil’s phone starts to ring, Kevin’s ringtone crying out as the phone vibrates in pattern on the coffee table and Andrew sighs. Finally, he lets go of his husband, pushing a hand against his chest.
“Off with you. Go entertain your friends.”
Neil ignores his phone as he climbs off Andrew’s lap. “ Our friends, you mean.”
Andrew tsk's in reply as he stands and heads into their bedroom. As he changes out of the sweats he’s been wearing all morning he hears the echo of voices through the apartment. Warm and reminiscent. Kevin is always the first to arrive, living closest to Andrew. He and Neil never miss a moment to meet, their friendship building as strong and unshakeable as each passes. Their own relationship, founded once on a co-dependency that was broken like glass shattering into a million pieces, has healed, growing steadily and slowly like weeds desperate for light. Kevin now becoming a presence that Andrew tolerates more so than anyone else, a friend, family.
Family.
A word that had long been twisted and crushed under the weight of Andrew’s past. Riddled with an abusive mother, a drug-addicted brother, a disowned cousin. They tore and screamed and broke free of the chains that bound them and wore them down. Building and reinventing themselves into something where family meant something more than just shared blood. Duplicated DNA.
Where Aaron and Andrew have regularly scheduled phone calls.
Where Nicky and Andrew have regularly scheduled skype calls.
Where Bee and Wymack and Abby send messages of support and questions of life updates and Andrew replies with short and concise replies that he doesn’t mind sending. It’s a life Andrew never thought he would have, never thought would be worth anything yet now he holds with the weight of the world in his hands.
He’s pulling on a sweater, deep green in colour and soft to the touch, a gift from Neil, when the apartment buzzer rings again. He pauses as he listens until there is the loud ricochet of laughter and Andrew knows the Boyd-Wilds have arrived. He can see it now in his mind's eye, Matt lifting Neil up into his arms and swinging him around like one of his children as Neil cackles. His wife, smiling, as she holds their newest addition in her arms and their other three children run rampant like wild animals.
Andrew has never been interested in children, but now he has two nieces and four godchildren and the sounds of their raucous laughter has never been more welcome. Happy and loved, living a life every fox had missed out on as a kid.
He finishes dressing, staring at his reflection in their bedroom mirror. Andrew notes every difference in his body, built and toned from a career as a pro exy player. The way the piercings in his ears catch the light. The confidence in his posture, the calmness in his expression. So far, very far, from where he was ten years ago. It feels like a lifetime ago, it feels like an unforgettable past. He is who he is because of who he was. He’ll never lose that part of himself, he’ll hold him tight but locked away. Not the same way that Neil buried Nathaniel, but close. Because Andrew may never need that part of himself again, but he was there when he did.
Their bedroom door creeps open and Sir flies in past Neil’s feet, desperately seeking refuge from small, sticky hands no doubt. Andrew doesn’t look away from the mirror however, not with the click of the door nor when Neil appears next to his own reflection.
Two arms come into view, slinking their way slowly around Andrew’s waist. Hesitant in their approach, waiting for a no that will not come today but could at any other time.
“Everyone’s waiting for you,” Neil says softly, resting his chin on Andrew’s shoulder, their eyes meeting through the mirror. Neil’s blue as effervescent as the day Andrew first saw them.
“Are they now?” He asks sardonically, knocking his head against Neil’s.
“Believe it or not, they’re here to see you too. Plus Aaron just turned up and…eugh.” Neil sticks out his tongue, his face scrunching in disgust. It’s amusing, this relationship his husband has with his twin, brutal and cut throat as in their college days but Andrews knows that if anyone were to hurt Aaron he wouldn’t be the first with a knife in his hand.
“Your childish hate for each other is not cute.”
“Yes it is. Besides, I know you really don’t care about that.”
“I am capable of understanding that this is your weird way of getting on.”
“Lies and slander.” Neil pauses, nudging his nose against Andrew’s cheek. “You okay?”
Andrew thinks about that for a minute, is he? It’s such a frivolous ask, the answer seemingly too big for such a small, pointless question. Somehow, he feels the answer should be an instantaneous no. Maybe it would have been, years ago but now…now things are different. He’s different, they’re different.
“Don’t ask stupid questions.”
“Now there’s a tall order,” Neil bites back, that ridiculous smile on his face again. There’s a look in his eyes as he tightens the arms around Andrew's waist, a quiet confession between the two of them. Andrew doesn’t need to ask. Nor does he need to reply. He grips one of Neil’s arms, squeezing back. Neil already knows his reply.
Words they’ll never say, actions that relay it anyway.
“I am fine. Let us go and tolerate your family.”
“ Our family.” Neil pointedly reminds him.
And Andrew, in the privacy of his own mind quietly thinks: yes, ours.