Chapter Text
When Saturday comes, Bee has to gently talk Nicky out of setting the table with their only silver cutlery.
“But Bee!” Nicky cries out nervously. “He’s British. He’s probably used to dining like kings.”
Andrew’s mom rolls her eyes. “I very much doubt it and homemade pizza doesn’t go well with silver cutlery. Plus, too much effort can make him uncomfortable.”
“I can’t believe how much you’re freaking out over it.” Aaron says with a disgusted expression. “And for what? Because he’s rich and pretty?” He says the last word like an insult.
Nicky isn’t offended. “First of all, jealousy is an ugly thing. And so are you in anything lime green, Aaron. Twins, avoid that color.”
“Fuck you, Nicky.” Aaron snarls.
“Second of all, I’m not doing it because he is rich, or because I think he’s good looking.” Nicky’s voice hardens slightly. “I’m doing this because I can recognize a lonely person when I see one and I just want him to feel at ease with us.”
Andrew doesn’t want to admit it but he’s impressed. Even Aaron looks a little embarrassed.
“That’s very kind of you, Nicky.” Bee looks honestly proud of him. “But it may backfire if he feels like he’s being coddled. Let’s just treat him like we would treat another friend of yours, okay?”
The doorbell chooses that moment to ring. Nicky starts vibrating.
Andrew rolls his eyes. “I’ll go get it. Chill out or you’re gonna freak the kid out.”
Despite patronizing Nicky for the way he’s behaving, Andrew has to admit he himself is feeling a small amount of… excitement (ew ew ew) for this afternoon. He knows it’s only due to not knowing anything about Neil, since Kevin decided to be a closed book for the first time in his life. After this lunch, he’ll learn Neil isn’t actually half interesting as people think he is and this weird tingling sensation he feels under his skin whenever he looks at the redhead guy will vanish.
Andrew opens the door.
Kevin’s wearing a puffy black jacket on his back and a serious expression on his face. He gives Andrew a serious nod like they met up for some business meeting instead of a casual lunch.
Next to him, Neil’s wearing a white wool coat that has faux fur on its collar (It better be fake or Andrew’s kicking his ass, doesn’t matter how pretty he is.) and carrying a bouquet of yellow tulips in his arms. When he squirms a little like he’s nervous, Andrew notices he has a My Neighbor Totoro backpack on his back.
Andrew takes one sharp breath as he tries to suppress the urge to slam the door to their faces. He looks at Neil sternly. “Is that fur fake?”
Neil doesn’t even blink. “Of course it is fake, I’m not a monster.”
Andrew opens the door wider.
Behind him, Bee comes closer to welcome them. Her attention focuses on Neil when he extends the bouquet to her. “Oh, these are so pretty.” she says with a smile. “You didn’t have to.”
“It is no trouble.” Neil says almost too carefully. Andrew suddenly wonders if he’s practiced in front of the mirror. “Thank you for inviting me to your house, Ms. Dobson.”
Bee’s smile turns gentler. “You can call me anything you want but I want you to know I’m comfortable with Betsy or Bee too.”
“Oh. Okay.” Neil murmurs.
Kevin takes off his coat with easy confidence and Neil follows his lead a little hesitantly. As soon as they’re done, Nicky steps forward with a big grin. “Hi, my name is Nicky! It’s so nice to finally meet you and I just wanna say, I love your coat!”
Neil gives him a little smile as he shakes Nicky’s hand. “Thank you, it’s nice to meet you as well. I’m—”
“For fucks sake, we all know who you are.” Aaron says, rolling his eyes dramatically.
Bee lets out a very quiet sigh upon hearing her son’s rude words while Kevin openly glares at Aaron. Andrew, who usually enjoys his brother’s zero skill social interactions, feels kind of annoyed by his rudeness now.
Neil pauses a second before his smile turns amused. “Yes, I suppose so. It’s nice to meet you too, Aaron. You’re indeed a charming person like Kate told me.”
Aaron bristles like an offended little bird while Andrew snorts a short laugh.
“Lunch is ready.” Bee announces loudly. “Kevin, show our guest the bathroom so you can wash your hands. The rest of you boys, come help me set the table.”
She makes sure Kevin and Neil are out of the earshot before she gives Aaron a firm look. “That was not nice.”
“I barely said anything!”
“You gotta chill with the hostility.” Nicky says as he puts the pizza on the table. “Andrew, support me.”
“How many times do I need to repeat this?” Andrew says boredly. “I’ll never support you about anything. You’re on your own for eternity.”
Kevin and Neil return before Nicky can do anything other than making an offended gasp.
Naturally, Kevin’s seat is right next to Neil’s. Andrew watches with a strange feeling in his stomach as Kevin takes two slices of pizza and puts them on Neil’s plate. “Here, you’re gonna love this. Bee bakes amazing pizza.”
His mom put forks and knives to the table just in case (she knows none of them except maybe Neil will use them) and Andrew is almost certain Neil will pick them up. Except, Neil simply rolls his sleeves and picks up the slice with bare hands. He gives Bee a polite smile. “It’s really delicious.”
“I’m glad you enjoy it.”
“Bee learned to cook a lot these past years, since she has the misfortune of raising three teenage boys.” Nicky grins. “What do you wanna drink, Neil?”
“Lemonade.” Kevin answers.
The strange feeling in Andrew’s gut intensifies.
Nicky smiles at their guest as he passes the glass. “So Neil, I hope you’ve become more familiar with the sch—”
“How did you two met?”
Andrew is not even aware he has spoken until everybody’s gaze on the table lands on him. Neil’s face is carefully blank while Kevin looks somehow upset. “I already told you,” he says slowly. “Our moms were friends.”
Andrew takes a large bite from his pizza and chews slowly, making everyone wait in a semi uncomfortable silence. “I remember.” he finally says. “But it was a broad sentence. I’d like to hear the details.”
Kevin opens his mouth again but Neil gently touches his wrist before he can talk, quietly assuring him that it’s okay. “It’s not a very exciting story, I’m afraid,” he starts. “You see, I was actually born in Baltimore.”
“So the accent is fake?” For once, Aaron doesn’t sound hostile, just curious.
“Not really, no.” Neil shrugs. “My mother was British and growing up, my father barely bothered to speak to me so I always had this accent.”
Aaron and Nicky startle upon hearing that. Andrew manages to hide his surprise and carefully looks at Neil, but the other boy remains emotionless. Andrew can feel Bee hesitating, ready to intervene the second she thinks Neil’s feeling uncomfortable.
“Anyway, they separated when I was still a kid. Mum took my custody and moved us to Ireland.” A small but genuine smile appears on Neil’s face. “That’s how we met Aunt Kayleigh and Kevin.”
Kevin smiles too. “We were dining in a small cafe and Neil accidently bumped against my mom’s legs. She literally adored him at first sight, telling him how cute his auburn curls were… I remember feeling so jealous.”
Neil laughs shortly and the sound absolutely doesn’t do anything to Andrew’s insides.
“Wow Kevin,” Nicky drawls. “So you were a petty bitch even when you were a kid.”
“Nicky!”
“What? Tell me I’m wrong then Bee!”
“Shut up Nicky,” Kevin says pleasantly. He doesn’t look offended for once. “We really hit it off instantly and had dinner together. Aunt Mary was fluent in French so my mom found her a job as a translator in the company she was working at that time.” Kevin looks at them smugly. “She was the one who taught me how to speak French, actually. Neil already knew.”
“Oh my god, Neil knows French?” Nicky cries out excitedly. “Do you know any other languages?”
“I’m fluent with Spanish and German too.”
“German!” Nicky, the idiot, looks positively delighted now. “The twins and I speak German too! My boyfriend is German so I learned it to communicate better with him and the twins picked it up too.” He pauses in a meaningful way and Andrew already knows nothing good will follow next. “Speaking of, which way do you swing, Neil?”
Andrew wants to reach out and smack the moron. Hardly.
Aaron groans faintly while Kevin openly throws daggers at Nicky from his eyes. Bee’s content expression disappears in an instant. “Nicky, that’s none—”
“You know,” Neil says softly, resting his face against his right palm as he stares at Nicky with kind blue eyes. “I think it’s highly inappropriate to ask this question to someone you’ve basically just met.”
Nicky winces.
Cold, rude rebuffs are easy for Nicky to handle. Being an openly gay guy, he’s had plenty of assholes being rude to him for no reason and the hostility pretty much has no effect on him now. But when someone gently but also in a true manner reprimands him, Nicky basically turns into a wreck. Soft disappointments are his weak spot.
“I’m sorry.” Nicky whimpers a little. “I had no intention to make you feel un—”
“It took me a lot of time to find a name for my sexual orientation.” Neil says carelessly, and there’s a finality in his tone that says no question will be asked after his answer. “I’m demisexual.”
“Oh. Cool.” Nicky squeaks.
Andrew knows the idiot has no idea what that means, that he wants to ask more questions but Neil made himself perfectly clear and there’s a warning look in Bee’s eyes.
Andrew rolls his eyes. “Wonderful. Now that Nicky’s nosiness is satisfied, I also have a question for Neil.”
Bee lets out a frustrated sigh. “What is this, a police interrogation? Neil, I apologize for the way they’re behaving. They’re normally not this prying.”
Andrew looks directly at Neil. “Feel free to tell me to fuck off if you don’t wanna answer.”
Neil’s lips curl upwards a little like he’s amused. “Will do.”
“Why Ireland?” When Neil slightly tilts his head as if he’s confused, Andrew elaborates. “My understanding is that your uncle has more than enough money,” He gives a pointed look at Neil’s cashmere sweater. “So why didn’t your mom go to him for help?”
Luckily, Neil seems undisturbed by the question. “Because she was a very prideful woman.” he answers easily. He turns his head to smile at Kevin and Andrew feels an absurd urge to reach out and grab his chin, demand his attention for himself. “She only accepted Aunt Kayleigh’s help because they were both in a similar position. Being single mums, they understood each other. So I only moved in with my uncle after her death.”
Aaron finishes the last bite of his pizza and frowns. “Why him though? Why didn’t you go back to your father?”
This time, the tension that fills Neil is unmistakable. Before anyone can do or say anything, Andrew loudly pushes his chair back and stands up. “Well, that was a lovely meal, honey bee.” Andrew says. “Now if you excuse us, we will play some video games.”
Bee startles for a moment before she gives Andrew a devilish smile. “Not so fast, mister. Did you forget it’s your turn to do the dishes today?”
Andrew gives her a flat look in return. “Seriously?”
“Very.”
Surprisingly, Kevin helps him carry the dishes to the kitchen while Aaron and Nicky drag Neil to the living room to show him their video game collection. Andrew can hear Nicky's excited voice talking a mile a minute.
Next to him, Kevin lets out a relaxed exhale. "That went well." He wrinkles his nose. "Well, mostly."
Andrew taps his fingers against the kitchen counter. He wants to ask something but he's not sure how. In the end, he says fuck it and turns towards Kevin. "You said you were bisexual."
Kevin frowns. "Yeah, I still am. The fuck, Andrew?"
"Does this mean you and Neil…?"
The look on Kevin's face is pure horror. "No!" he exclaims before he lowers his voice. "God no. He's like a brother for me."
Andrew firmly tells himself the emotion he’s feeling isn’t relief as he shrugs. “Okay, just asking.”
Kevin leaves him alone with the dirty dishes, moving to the living room to join the others. Just as he’s about to start, Andrew hears soft footsteps behind him. “Do you need help with these?” Neil asks, sleeves already rolled up.
Andrew gives him a mocking grin. “Is this the part where I’m supposed to say ‘Oh no, you’re a guest, I got this’? ”
There it is again, the damn amused smile on Neil’s lips. “Do you want to say this phrase?”
“Nah. These are greasy as hell, I can use some help.”
“Okay then.” Neil comes close and starts adding liquid soap to the water while Andrew pulls another apron from the drawer. He doesn’t want Neil to dirty his expensive looking sweater.
“So,” Andrew says casually as Neil ties the apron. “What’s the verdict? Did we manage to scare you into never hanging out with us again?”
Neil’s blue eyes gaze into his hazel ones calmly. “You’ll do, I suppose.”
They do the dishes without talking again. It only feels a little bit awkward.
Demisexuality is a sexual orientation where people only experience sexual attraction to folks that they have close emotional connections with. In other words, demisexual people only experience sexual attraction after an emotional bond has formed.
Andrew lies awake late at night and tries to imagine someone, anyone having an emotional bond with him. Him, with his sharp edges and his tons of issues and his general apathy. He can’t imagine ever connecting with someone like that.
He doesn’t get a very good sleep that night.
Andrew storms off from the court with a barely controlled rage, shaking from head to toe. He needs to get out of here, and needs to get out now, or he’s almost certain he will punch someone. Probably Kevin.
Fuck Kevin. Fuck exy. Fuck Kevin’s obsession with trying to convince Andrew that exy is his future.
The practice has started like it normally would, Dan demanding certain things from certain people and Kevin yelling out random criticism. Normally, Andrew is more than capable of mentally blocking him but today Kevin had been extra insistent, or Andrew had been extra impatient, or a mix of both.
Andrew warned the fucker multiple times to leave him alone but Kevin resisted.
“Stop being so stubborn,” he snarled just before Andrew threw his racquet to storm off. “I’m trying to save your future here.”
Andrew hesitates about leaving the others behind for a moment but then he remembers Aaron’s girlfriend also has a car so she can probably give them a ride. Or Coach Wymack can. Using a bus for one single day wouldn’t kill them either.
“Done with the practice for today?”
Andrew looks up upon hearing the now familiar posh voice. Neil’s hair looks barely dried and he’s changed into comfy leggins and another damn sweater from his Vixen uniform. Andrew figures Vixens had just finished their own practice.
Neil is in front of him now, looking at him with his stupid pale blue eyes, and Andrew doesn’t know how the hell this sight alone manages to calm him down a little already.
“Yeah,” he says briefly. “You?”
“I’m done as well.” Neil says. “It actually ended a little earlier than I thought so my uncle won’t be able to pick me up today. I think I’ll have a nice walk.”
A sudden inspiration strikes Andrew. “It's cold. I’ll drive you.”
Neil’s lips part a little in surprise. Andrew doesn’t pay attention to the detail. “Really?” he says in a small voice. “I don’t wanna be a burden.”
“Shut up. I offered, didn't I?”
“Very well.”
Behind them, court’s door opens harshly and Andrew instantly knows who it is. “Do not.” he says warningly.
Coach Wymack doesn’t look impressed. “Andrew, stop acting like a child and get back on the damn goal.”
“Put a muzzle on your son then.”
“Dammit, Andrew!” Wymack growls and takes a threatening step towards Andrew.
Before the two of them can exchange another single poisonous word, Neil flinches hard.
In a heartbeat, Andrew is between Neil and Wymack, ready to tear the other man’s throat if he takes another step. It doesn’t matter Wymack is not that kind of a man, doesn’t matter he has one of the kindest hearts Andrew has ever seen, he has made Neil afraid.
That is unforgivable.
Wymack looks visibly shaken. “I wasn’t going to…”
“Don’t.” Andrew cuts in sharply because he’s not going to listen to Wymack’s crap while he can feel Neil’s tremors behind him. “We’re leaving now. Got it?”
Wymack pulls himself together to give Andrew a tight nod.
Andrew quickly snatchs Neil’s sleeve, careful to not actually touch his skin, and practically drags him to the parking lot. By the time they reach the car, Neil’s breathing has become alarmingly erratic and his shaking has gotten even worse.
Andrew is familiar with panic attacks. He’s had his own share of them plenty of times in his life and he’s also seen Nicky and Aaron have them a couple of times.
But to see it on someone like Neil, someone who is so obviously rich and pretty, who clearly lives an easy life? It leaves a nasty taste in Andrew’s mouth.
He gently maneuvers Neil into the passenger seat and kneels next to the open door. He’s incredibly glad the parking lot is deserted. The last thing he needs is someone seeing the new cute guy having a panic attack and coming over to “help.”
“Neil.” Andrew says steadily, trying to use Bee’s method as well as he can. “I’m going to touch your wrist now but I swear I won’t hurt you. Nod if you can understand me.”
Neil’s chest is heaving in what must be a painful speed and his blue eyes are full of terror but he manages to give Andrew a tiny nod.
“Good.” Andrew grips his wrist gently. Neil’s skin feels silky smooth under his fingers but it also feels icy from fear. “See, your pulse is too fast. Lets lower it together, okay? Breath with me. One, two, three…”
It takes seconds, minutes, years before Neil’s breathing turns normal again and his shaking stops. Andrew stays kneeled down for another minute, just to be sure, but then Neil slumps against his seat in clear exhaustion. Andrew lets go of his wrist, his hand strangely feeling empty, and sits in the driver’s seat.
Since Neil still looks fairly shaken and in no position to give directions to his house, Andrew just… mindlessly drives. If Neil has any complaints about being stuck in a car with a guy he barely knows, he doesn’t say anything. And Andrew… feels somehow okay with Neil being next to him in the car. Andrew is a fan of long drives by himself when he wants to empty his head but he doesn’t feel annoyed by Neil’s presence now.
When he finally pulls over next to a familiar abandoned park, Neil maintains his silence for a couple of minutes more. Then he lets out an absolutely weary breath. “God, I’m so—”
“Don’t.” Andrew interrupts harshly and curses himself when Neil shivers. “Don’t ever apologize. Not for this.”
Neil looks at him for a long time. “I owe you an explanation.”
Andrew is more prepared this time, so he controls his anger. “You don’t owe me a damn thing.” he emphasizes. “You don’t owe anyone a damn thing. Your issues are yours. Don’t feel pressured to pour your heart out.”
Neil is silent for a while as he thinks. “Still, I want to, if you don’t mind listening.” he finally says. “I trust you.”
Andrew’s heart tightens painfully. He manages to give Neil a curt nod.
“My father,” Neil says the words like they’re a curse. “Was not a nice man. At all. In fact, he had a very nasty temper and at times, he could be quite… cruel.” He takes a deep breath. “It’s the reason mum and him got divorced, actually.”
Andrew listens to his words and inside of him, a boiling hatred for a man he never saw quickly blossoms.
“I don’t remember much of him, to be honest, but whenever I see an angry adult man… I can’t help but remember…”
His voice disappears quietly. Andrew thinks about what to say for a moment. Offer sympathy? There’s no use in sympathy. Tell him he’s safe and has nothing to fear anymore? Neil already knows that. “Okay.” he says in the end and then, for some reason— “I was in foster care until Bee adopted me.”
Neil looks at him again, blue eyes curious and a little startled. “Thank you for trusting me with this.” he says carefully. “But I hope you didn’t feel pressured to share this information with me.”
“The fuck kind of logic is that?” Andrew says gruffly. “You just shared some serious shit about your life. It’s only fair if I do the same.”
Neil’s lips curl with a tiny smile. “Didn’t you just say to me that I don’t owe anyone anything? The same should apply to you.”
Damn him for using Andrew’s logic against him.
“Then how about we do it this way from now on?” Andrew says slowly. “I say something about my life and in return, I get to ask you a question about your life. Same goes for you too. No lies but you can choose not to answer.”
There’s a light gleam in Neil’s tired eyes. “Truth for a truth?”
“Exactly.”
“Deal.”
They lapse into a brief silence after that. The atmosphere inside the car feels almost electric . Before Andrew can give into the dangerous, irrational urge to hold Neil’s hand again, Neil’s phone buzzes.
Neil winces a little when he sees the display name. “It’s Kevin.”
Andrew feels a sudden, intense urge to protect. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” he says. “I can talk to him.”
Neil looks surprised and for some reason, a light blush spreads on his cheeks. “It’s okay,” he says a little quickly as he answers the phone. “Hello?”
The phone’s volume is low so Andrew doesn’t hear what Kevin says but he talks for a long time while Neil listens patiently. “No, it’s totally fine.” Neil says finally, sounding apologetic. “And please tell your father it’s not his fault. I feel so embarrassed.”
The idiot has nothing to be embarrassed of and judging by the look on Neil’s face, Kevin’s probably telling him the same thing. In much more passionate words.
“Yes, he’s with me,” Neil says a little bewilderedly. He looks at Andrew. “Um, he wants to talk to you?”
Andrew silently extends his hand to accept the phone. “What?” he asks tersely because he didn’t forget the shit Kevin pulled out earlier.
“ I just wanna say thank you,” Kevin says quickly, like he’s afraid Andrew is going to hang up. “ Thank you for helping Neil. And I’m sorry for making you angry earlier.”
Andrew’s tempted to say “I don’t give a fuck about your apologizes.” but as he looks at Neil’s now calmed face, a treacherous part of his mind says worth it.
He gives Neil his phone back without a word. The rest of the ride passes in a comfortable silence.