Chapter Text
[Live at the Emmys carpet]
Reporter Jacob Marshall: And here with me is the rising star Andrew Minyard on his first appearance at the Emmys!
Andrew Minyard: [Looks bored]
Jacob Marshall: So Andy, can I call you Andy?
Andrew Minyard: No.
Jacob Marshall: [Laughs] So how are you enjoying your first adult party?
Nicky Hemmick: [Off screen] That’s called an orgy-
Andrew Minyard: [Looks off screen] Nicky.
Jacob Marshall: [Laughs again] Don't be shy Andrew, all boys your age are curious about sex. [Wiggles his eyebrows] Speaking of: do you have a date for tonight?
Andrew Minyard: [Looks around slowly] What do you think?
Jacob Marshall: Well what about your co-star Renee Walker?
Andrew Minyard: Who?
Jacob Marshall: Oh don't be like that Andrew! We all know that you and Renee are rather close. [Sly smile]
Nicky Hemmick: [Hand barely in the frame] Okay that’s enough-
Jacob Marshall: There's no need to be shy! We all know that there's something brewing between the two of you.
Nicky Hemmick: That's not approved-
Andrew Minyard: [Raises a single eyebrow]
Jacob Marshall: I’m sure the two of you have been using this event to get in some action. [Winks]
Nicky Hemmick: Oh no-
Andrew Minyard: Are you proud of yourself for saying that to a child?
Jacob Marshall: [Blinks in surprise and gives a nervous laugh] What?
Andrew Minyard: I thought so, fucking weirdo. Who talks about a child's sex life? A pedophile that’s who.
Jacob Marshall: [Looks stunned] I-
Andrew Minyard: [Grabs the microphone, pushes Jacob Marshall out of the way, and stares directly into the camera] I’m gay dipshits.
Nicky Hemmick: [Still off screen] Oh my god-
[Commotion behind Andrew Minyard and Jacob Marshall]
Andrew Minyard: The next person who says anything to the contrary will be met with my fist in their face, got it?
[Camera shakes]
Andrew Minyard: Good. Now fuck off. [Throws the microphone at the camera before storming off]
[Camera pans to follow, showing a tired Nicky Hemmick]
Nicky Hemmick: [Sighs heavily]
-
Andrew slammed the door behind him, letting it slam in Nicky's face. He could deal with it. He always did.
Andrew tugged at the various rings decorating his fingers and tossed them onto the little decorative bowl Renee gave him that sat on his dresser. He tiredly stripped out of his outfit and hurriedly got into his comfy pajamas. There was once a time in his life where even changing felt like a daunting task- if he wasn't fast enough then something bad would happen. Someone would whisper in his ear how he was 'waiting for it', that he 'wanted it' even as he begged and pleaded for it to stop. But now he had his own room with a lock and a guardian who always knocked. He could take as long as he wanted to change or do anything really.
Andrew threw himself onto his bed, staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on his ceiling. He still thought it was a stupid idea, one Nicky had gotten from one of his various parenting guides he sometimes left lying around. Something about being a grounding sight after a nightmare. Andrew thought it was horseshit, he just didn't have the motivation to get himself on a ladder to remove them.
Somewhere on the floor his phone went off, no doubt various texts from Renee or the other actors from The O'Reilly's set that had somehow gotten their numbers on his phone. They had just finished up with the last scene for the last episode for the series and many of the older cast members invited everyone out for a celebration dinner. Andrew had only been interested in the promise of free food but one look at Nicky's tired smile made him rethink his strategy. Nicky had been up for even longer than Andrew had, going over potential new scripts, watching over Andrew as he slept in between takes, checking in on Aaron and Erik and probably a hundred other things Andrew didn't know about. He had bags under his eyes and Andrew couldn't look him in the eye. Besides, he didn't want to go out with all those people anyways. He just made a deal with Renee for her to order him and Nicky food and drop it off later. That way Nicky didn't have to think about dinner and the cast members could pretend that Andrew cared about their celebration.
Andrew closed his eyes, his ears picking up on the shuffling of feet against the carpet getting closer and closer to his door. Nicky never knew how to be quiet so the knock on his door didn't startle him.
"Andrew?" Nicky's voice flitted through the door. It was tired and filled with affection Andrew still didn't understand. He had been convinced just a few years ago that it was fake, something Nicky pretended to have in order to have access to the money Andrew was making, but it was real. Baffling, he knew. "Do you have enough energy to come down for dinner? I’m heating up some leftovers- I've got some cupcakes for you too. I got you chocolate with chocolate icing and a shitload of sprinkles, just like you like it."
Andrew just hummed, his bed was big and soft and covered in pillows and soft, warm blankets. It was telling him to stay right there, fuck food and fuck responsibilities because it was time to sleep forever. Andrew was more than okay with that. He could lay in his bed forever and without fear of anything happening. Every bed before had come with a price, but this one didn't. It was no wonder he gave into its temptation so easily.
"Alright," Nicky said as if Andrew had said actual words that actually meant anything. He was so stupid, Andrew didn't know why he stuck around. "If you change your mind you can come down whenever you want. I'll leave a plate by your door when I’m done if you don't come down, just make sure to eat okay, honey? Okay great!" He tried to sound overexcited like usual but it didn't really work, he was just too tired for it to work.
Nicky's footsteps faded into the background, further and further away from Andrew's door, but Andrew didn't bother getting up for at least half an hour. Kinsley had messed up too many scenes with his crying and it drained Andrew, not even his naps could make up for the loss of energy from all that. He really just wasn't good at dealing with emotional people like him. Being alone in his room was a good restart to his system.
When Andrew finally made it downstairs, Nicky was half asleep at the table with a few take out containers in front of him. It seemed Renee had been by while Andrew was bundled up in his multitudes of blankets. Nicky didn't even notice that Andrew had come downstairs until Andrew purposely stomped his feet onto the tile.
Nicky jolted awake, blinking away the sleep from his eyes. He looked at Andrew and gave a tired smile that Andrew couldn't look at. "Hi honey," he said genuinely happy that Andrew graced him with his presence like a damn idiot. "Renee dropped off some food- don’t worry I still have those cupcakes in the fridge for you. Why don't you sit down, I'll go get a plate and some forks, Erik did the dishes earlier and I'll make him do them again so don't even worry about that-"
Nicky only shut up when a yawn interrupted him. Andrew knew he would go on and on if nothing stopped him. He was allergic to silence.
Nicky scurried around the kitchen, yawning up a storm, gathering a bunch of dishes they didn't need. He settled everything on the table, letting Andrew pick and choose what he wanted from the selection they had. Andrew snatched the pasta dish he knew Renee ordered for either Erik or Aaron and poured the whole thing onto his plate, ignoring the smile Nicky gave him.
It was blissfully silent as they ate, Nicky finally calming down now that he was eating after a long, long, shooting day. Andrew appreciated it. He was still relatively new to family dinners like this- full of warmth, plenty of food on the table, a family that didn't expect anything from him, much less something he couldn't give- and he was sure Nicky knew that because he gave a damn. Quiet dinners were easier for Andrew to handle, especially after such a long day.
Footsteps ruined Andrew’s peace and he could tell by the sound that Aaron was making his way down the steps. Too bad he wouldn't be getting any pasta. Andrew was proven correct when Aaron and his blanket draped over his shoulders came into the kitchen. He looked tired, probably from all the studying he had to do because he was a loser who didn't have an eidetic memory. Unlike Andrew who wasn't a loser and did have an eidetic memory.
Aaron let out an ugly yawn and shuffled further into the kitchen and Andrew debated tripping him. He stopped right next to Andrew and sleepily glared down at him. "Look who finally decided to show his face. Almost thought Nicky put some fuckass mirror in the kitchen."
"Hey, my mirrors aren't bad." Nicky frowned. He was ignored.
Andrew twisted spaghetti around his fork and hummed. "I could say the same about you." He said. "Although a second glance would confirm that you're you. I’m not ugly."
"We have the same face!"
"And I wear it better."
Aaron looked like he would smack Andrew or push him out of his chair if Nicky wasn't there to immediately scold him. "You’re an ass, you know that right?"
"I’m well aware." Andrew confirmed. He wasn't exactly known for having a cheerful personality, despite what his character on The O'Reilly's may have suggested. Another reason he was glad filming was over- he didn't have to keep up that painful smile anymore or pitch up his voice to mimic happiness.
Aaron, clearly the loser of the battle, slumped into a seat and let out a big yawn.
"Why are you up, kiddo?" Nicky asked, preparing a plate of chips and French fries for Aaron. He set the plate in front of Aaron and brushed back some of Aaron's overgrown hair from his face. "You really need to get some sleep, you can't take your finals if you're asleep."
Aaron, too tired to bat Nicky's hand away, just grumbled something into his chips.
Andrew wondered if he could upgrade his brother for a better model. "He’s right," he chimed in. "How will the graders read all the smudges caused by your drool?" He asked with faux innocent concern.
Aaron scowled at him. He was going to get wrinkles alongside those dreadful eyebags. "Why don't you shut it?" He asked.
"Where’s the fun in that?"
Nicky shook his head, a fond smile on his face. "Okay, okay, enough, both of you: eat." He ordered.
Andrew didn't have to listen to him, he was under no obligation to listen to anything Nicky said. He stabbed his fork into his pasta and shoved a giant forkful into his mouth. Aaron sleepily munched on his chips and fries. It was, dare Andrew say it, nice. All that was missing from something out of his five year old self's day dream- before he knew just how horrible the world really was and what it would make a seven year old pay- was a fat, fluffy cat sleeping peacefully on the table.
Aaron finished his snack first and got up with another yawn, his eyes barely open now. He looked horrible and if he wasn't already heading for bed Andrew would've shoved him onto the couch to force him to sleep. Aaron dropped the plate into the sink and shuffled by, stopping when he was standing right behind Andrew. "You’re not taking a new job right away, are you?" He asked, his voice doing this thing Andrew didn't understand.
Andrew leaned back in his chair, thinking about the set he had been on in addition to The O'Reilly's. It was only a small part that had only required a few days of filming on his end, barring any reshoots that would no doubt happen once the rest of the movie finished. It was far more professional than The O'Reilly's and the only person his age was an annoying nepo baby named Kevin Day, son of Irish actress Kayleigh Day. He was too much of a perfectionist and had yapped at Andrew about routines and nutrition and all that shit. It made him glad he wouldn't be on that set for long. "I’ve got a small job I've been doing," Andrew admitted. "Only a few days of re-shoots. I'll probably take a couple of months before going back."
Nicky had been looking at potential scripts but it was a preliminary screening, to make sure there would be nothing in there that would be triggering for Andrew to read. At the end of the day it was up to Andrew to choose his roles. So if he wanted to, he could take a small break before jumping into his adult career- if he still wanted to do that. Maybe he would disappear and find some boring job in a boring state where no one knew him. He'd become the center for a bunch of conspiracy theories. It would be fun.
"Okay." Aaron said. He let out a loud yawn and if he kept that up, Andrew would end up yawning too. "You deserve a break, Drew."
"Shut up." Andrew muttered.
Aaron, rudely, ignored him. "I’ve got a new game we could play. It’s pretty fun and since I've already played it I'll finally beat you."
"Supposedly."
Nicky sent Aaron to bed before another argument could start- which meant he only delayed it until after everyone had had a full night's sleep- and stayed with Andrew until he finished his dinner. Even though no one asked him to do that. "Have a good night's sleep, Andrew," Nicky said with a tired smile. "You deserve it after working so hard."
Andrew looked away from him, digging his feet into the floor. He rarely knew how to react to Nicky and his stupidity.
Nicky came over and very slowly reached out. When Andrew didn't pull away, he happily ruffled his hair, looking far too happy at being able to perform the simple gesture. "Don’t worry about the dishes, I'll make Erik clean them. And my cutie will make us pancakes in the morning, sounds good, yeah?"
"Don’t call him that." Andrew hissed out, slapping Nicky's hand away. It only made Nicky smile more.
"Aw, you don't like my nicknames?" Nicky teased.
"You can’t call that mountain of a man something so cutesy."
"But that's the whole point! I like seeing people's expectations being shattered to pieces!"
Andrew rolled his eyes and got up from his chair. "Whatever you say." He dismissed. He headed back to his room, with Nicky sending out one last good night and an 'I love you' that only made Andrew race to his room and slam the door shut.
He took a minute with his back against the door to just breathe. Nicky could be overwhelming, Andrew wasn't used to it, not like this. There wasn't a price he had to pay for it, there was no one he loved more than him sneaking into his room to take. It was unconditional, no strings attached and Andrew sometimes just needed a minute.
Andrew dragged himself back into his comfy bed and buried himself deep under the layers of blankets. Sleepiness hit him quickly and with each passing second it was harder and harder to stay awake and there was no reason for him to stay awake.
PING
Andrew snapped his eyes open, glaring at the glow-in-the-dark covered ceiling at being fucking interrupted. He was about to fucking sleep and yet.
Andrew wrestled an arm out of his cocoon and slapped around until he found his phone on the nightstand that was going off. If this was Kevin with detailed instructions on Andrew's fifteen god damn lines then Andrew would be forced to kill him.
Andrew, temporarily blinded by the light, blinked rapidly at his phone and froze the moment he saw the influx of headlines and articles popping up in rapid succession:
Breaking News: Court Records Surrounding Child Actor Andrew Minyard's Former Foster Brother LEAKED
"He would sneak into my room at night and put his hand over my mouth," Shocking Testimony from Unsealed Court Records
"He told me he couldn't wait to have a pair of twins under him. That was my final straw." Andrew Minyard's Previously Unknown Testimony REVEALED
Andrew sprung up, his hands shaking uncontrollably as phantom hands reappeared like a stubborn stain that wouldn't die. Andrew’s heart was in his throat, desperately trying to escape as his eyes were glued to his words.
His fucking words.
Those were his.
They were his.
They were the ones he ripped out of himself on the stand for the audience of people who had never known what true horror was.
Why were they there?
Why were they printed out in front of him?
Why were dozens of publications printing his words?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Andrew threw his phone across the room, his chest heaving for air, sweat dripping down his face. He couldn't breathe. His words. He couldn't see his hands clearly. His pain. His chest hurt. Those hands. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't do this. They know. He couldn't handle it. They know. They all know. They all know. They know. They all know.
They know all of it.
All.
Of.
It.
Damn it all to hell.