Chapter Text
SHOCK: Kevin Day reveals both Andrew Minyard AND Neil Josten are to fill his coveted Best Man position!
Fans have been speculating ever since Kevin Day and Thea Muldoni announced their engagement as to who Day would ask to be by his side. Many discounted fox involvement entirely, suggesting fellow famous exy players such as Jeremy Knox, Jean Moreau, or even Marcus Jameson. The few that speculated that either Andrew Minyard or Neil Josten would be chosen were stoutly supportive of one and discounted the other. Who could have foreseen that Day would choose both! How these two famously antagonistic players will fare will remain to be seen. Good luck Kevin and Thea!
Kevin had asked Andrew and Neil to be his best men at the same time. Made the trip out to their Boston flat in person, sat down to a homemade dinner, and eventually just sighed and asked them. The two in an almost identical manner, just raised a single eyebrow. Then Neil had laughed, turned to look at Andrew, and laughed even harder.
“Oh, this is going to be so fun.”
Andrew however, cocked his head and asked, “Why?”
“Why should you do it or why am I asking you?” Kevin replied evenly. Andrew only blinked at him, so he sighed and responded, “As sad as it is, you two know me better than anyone else. You know I consider you my best friends, we don’t have to say it for it to be true. I figured that in a life of doing things that would further my career and public image I should at least let my wedding be for me. Sure, I’ll invite the exy elite, but none of them deserve to be in the wedding party like you two do. I want my best men to actually be the two people in my life who know me best.”
Andrew accepted the answer and the offer.
Of course, none of them had really planned for just how much of a media circus Kevin’s wedding was going to be, especially once it was revealed that the savagely cutting Neil Josten and stoically silent Andrew Minyard, and public rivals, were to share the role of best man. All three of them were hounded by the press, none of them were able to do pre or post-game interviews anymore because of how derailed they’d become. Not that Neil or Andrew ever deigned to give them by choice. Well, Andrew didn’t by his own choice and to his PR manager’s and coach’s despair, Neil wasn’t allowed to do them on his PR manager’s and coach’s choice because he really really loved to run his mouth. Kevin, who was a staple in the sports journalism world, was a shock absence. Him, his PR manager, his agent, and his coaches’ all agreed for the time being, it was for the best.
Of course, Thea and her exy elite bridesmaids also got an increase of press attention, they however, had the distant lack of any controversies and thus a somewhat easier time with it. Any questions Thea got about her fiance’s side of the wedding party had her smiling and repeating “His best men, his choice. Who am I to say otherwise?”
It took a lot of thinking on Kevin’s part, a lot of pleading on his management’s part, and a lot a lot of begging on his part, but eventually it was agreed that the three of them would sit down for an interview. Kevin Day, Andrew Minyard, and Neil Josten. Never before had any of them agreed to do an interview not soley focussed on exy, never before had Andrew and Neil appeared together in any sort of interview.
Who they chose to do an interview with was the people who offered to pay the most, a Buzzfeed type company. They posted their interviews on Youtube, posted clips on Instagram and Twitter.
Kevin, Neil, and Andrew sat in that order on a white set. It was plain, just a white backdrop, three bar stools. Kevin was the most well dressed in a white shirt and dress trousers. Neil was wearing one of Andrew’s sweatshirts, not that the audience would know, that had an over-edited picture of Sir and King that made them look like a surreal nightmare, and jeans. Andrew wore classic black top and dark jeans. And of course, the latter two wore their armbands.
“Okay, if you three could introduce yourselves.” The interviewer prompted.
Kevin gave his winning smile, “Hello, I’m Kevin Day.”
“I’m Neil Josten.” Neil flashed a grin.
There was a beat of silence, then Andrew sighed. “And I’m Andrew Minyard.”
“And you’re watching…” Kevin took a breath. “Three unmarried so-called-friends answer questions about marriage and friendship.”
“This can only go badly.” Neil said with apparent delight.
The interview began with a quickfire question game. Generic interview questions, pizza or pasta? Beer or wine? Movie night in or date night out? Andrew’s distaste for the line of questioning was evident by the way he refused to answer most of them. Neil and Kevin gave honest answers that were mostly lacklustre. After a while the interviewer seemed to notice this wasn’t the way to get a viral hit, so changed tack.
“So, Kevin, you’re getting married soon and you’ve asked Andrew Minyard and Neil Josten to be your joint best man.” The interviewer sat just off screen, dressed professionally and smiling brightly.
“Yes.” Kevin said with is winning media smile. Next to him, Neil wore what Matt referred to as ‘smirk lite’, and next to him, Andrew was impassive.
“How’s that going so far?”
Kevin nodded and hummed. “Absolutely fine.”
“Is that so? Many have questioned your choice to have the two of them share the role, considering their very public dislike of each other. What was thought process behind this decision?” She continued to press, looking for a real answer, not just the media friendly answer.
“Trick question, Kevin doesn’t have thoughts.” Andrew said completely deadpan. Neil’s lips quirked but Kevin completely ignored the two as he made to answer.
“Honestly?” Kevin said slowly, titling his head as he considered his next words. “These two know me better than anyone else in the world. They were both there for me in a time when not many people were, or could. When I was barely able to keep myself afloat. I lived with the two of them for, what, three years at Palmetto before I graduated? We managed those three years with minimal bloodshed, I assumed we can make it through one wedding.”
“You assume a lot, Day.” Andrew said, making Neil huff a quiet laugh.
“You’re getting sentimental on us.” Neil added wryly. “Good luck getting us to match that. Andrew’s speech will probably just be four minutes of silence.”
“Andrew said you were giving the best man speech?” Kevin frowned, head snapping back and forth between Neil and Andrew. “He told me you’d spoken about it?”
Neil whipped his head around to face Andrew, who raised his eyebrows in false surprise. “Oh, did I forget to tell you?”
“Son of a bitch.” Neil said shaking his head.
“Absolutely.” Andrew acquiesced with a slow nod.
Neil stared at him, in offended wonderment. “I’ve never given a speech before, I have like, a week to write one!”
“You work best on the spot, I was helping.” Andrew held up his hands in faux innocence.
He was, in his own way, helping. Having Neil stress for months over it would have been tiring for the both of them. This way he’d only stress for a short while. On the spot would probably work even better than something scripted.
“Does this answer your question?” Kevin said, looking dead into the camera lens. “This. This is what it’s like. I’m getting college flashbacks.”
“I’ve never given a speech on the spot before!”
“Well that’s just a blatant lie, I thought we’d worked through that Neil. You give nothing but impromptu speeches.”
“Name one time.”
Andrew turned and looked him dead in the eye. “’You know, I get it –‘”
Kevin and Neil both burst out unexpected, real, laughter. Kevin giving a rare real smile in front of a camera. Kevin had thrown his head back as he laughed, whereas Neil had doubled over. Andrew just regarded the two of them in quiet contemplation.
“Okay, okay.” Neil said between laughs. “But I don’t think I can roast Kevin as a best man speech.”
Andrew shrugged. “That’s a you problem.”
“Can I ask what that was about?” The interviewer asked as their chuckles died down. Her eyes flitted between the men, delighted with how this was going.
Kevin flicked a look at Andrew and Neil. “Ah, Andrew was just quoting a horribly timed and wonderfully savage impromptu speech Neil gave once, at the time… Not very funny. Now in hindsight, it really, really shouldn’t be funny.”
“And no, we will not be repeating the whole thing.” Neil interjected with a cold grin.
“Well Neil, I’ll let you know that a lot of best man speeches are in fact a roast of the groom.” The interviewer said like a it was a hot tip. Neil smiled wryly at her.
“So, I assume that means Kevin you’ll get to be best man for these two, should either of them decide to marry.” The interviewer said cheekily. Clearly going for that easy banter.
“Absolutely not, Matt Boyd would have that honour.” Neil said before her words had even registered in his brain.
“Fuck you.” Kevin said with an easy smile, not at all offended. Then froze as he realised he’d sworn in an interview, something he’d managed to avoid for nearly his entire life.
“I have two cats you know.” Andrew mused. “And a brother. Even a cousin I’d ask before I’d ask Kevin.”
“You’d ask the cats before you’d ask Aaron and Nicky?” Neil turned to Andrew incredulously.
Andrew gave him a bored look. “Is that even a question? Absolutely.”
“So, you guys have thought about it?” Kevin said in a conversational tone, but with a knowing, shit-stirring, undertone.
The interviewer sat back, glad her prodding had led to some more relaxed exy royalty. Now this, she could sell.
“I don’t know, I’ve never considered it before. Marriage was never something that seemed like it had anything to do with me. Running and exy, ya know.” Neil frowned, the conversation sinking in. “Huh.”
“And now?” Andrew asked, surprising nearly everyone.
Neil turned to him, exasperated. “You’re asking me that now?”
Kevin snorted and leaned back in his chair, holding the mic pinned to his shirt up and whispering into it. “Neil’s partner is absolutely gone on him, if Neil realises he wants to get married one day…” Kevin gave a sure nod and continued with a shrug. “If you know, you know.”
“What about you, Andrew?” The interviewer asked brightly. After a moment of extended silence in which Neil and Andrew were just staring at each other in what seemed to the outside eye, glaring.
Andrew’s face was carefully blank as he turned to the interviewer. “What about me, what?”
The interviewer blinked and continued hesitantly. “Have you? Thought about marriage, that is.”
Andrew eventually said, “I haven’t wasted much time on thoughts of marriage.”
Neil stared at Andrew. “That’s not a no.”
Andrew sent a bored stare at Neil. At least to the untrained eye it was bored, to Neil and Kevin it was intense, a muted flame. Kevin leaned backwards again and whispered once more, “Andrew’s partner is also completely gone on him, if Andrew asked there’s no doubt they’d say yes.”
“That’s not a no, Andrew.” Neil repeated.
“There was one time.” Andrew began slowly, looking off at the wall. “My partner ended up in hospital. As a non-relative I was unable to see them. Given no updates on their condition. As their husband I would have been allowed in immediately, been given all the information in real time. As soon as I was able to see them I almost asked them on sight.”
“Why didn’t you?” Neil asked the question for the interviewer.
“Hey Neil, maybe now isn’t –” Kevin began only to be silenced by Neil raising his hand.
“Kevin, shut your royal face.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Asking a concussed person to marry you is probably not the best way to go about it. Once I was let into their room and able to see them, it wasn’t important anymore. It never seemed to come up again.”
“That’s stupid.” Neil seemed to be speaking without any thought going into the process.
“Is it now?” Andrew tilted his head, turning to look at Neil. “You think I should rethink it?”
Kevin sat back with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face, shaking his head and silently laughing again. “If you know, you know.”
That seemed to snap Neil and Andrew back into where they were. They looked away from one another, Andrew off into space and Neil, lightly blushing, back at the interviewer.
“So, Neil, if you get married you said you’ll have Matt Boyd, of the Chicago Bulls, as your best man, perhaps you can fit Kevin in somewhere. A ringbearer, perhaps?” She laughed. “But what about Andrew? Could you squeeze him in somewhere?”
Kevin couldn’t stop himself grinning again, catching sight of Neil and Andrew set him off laughing again. Never before had he been so loose during an interview. Nor had Neil or Andrew. “Yes, tell us Neil, where exactly do you envision Andrew in your future wedding?”
“Oh, fuck off, your highness.” Neil said, but sighed and continued. “If, and that’s an if, I get married, Andrew will of course be in the wedding. I can’t picture having one that didn’t… include him.”
The reporter touched her hand over her heart as she nodded. Kevin shook with laughter next to him. Somewhat bravely, the reporter turned to Andrew. Before she even asked he replied, “Wouldn’t have one without him.”
“It seems that even though the three of you antagonise each other a lot, you’re actually three very close friends. Your whole relationship has been massively misunder-”
“I guess that’s just how our friendship works.” Neil interrupted. “We know each other’s limits. We like to tease and antagonise, hell we end up complimenting each other when we say something truly cutting. I doubt we’ll ever be soft and sweet with each other. Feels too forced.”
Kevin nodded. “I could sit here and give them my media smile and carefully thought out kind sentiments but that’s… that’s not us.”
“I hate them.” Andrew said, making both Kevin and Neil huff a laugh and grin at each other, both rolling their eyes.
“So, Andrew, Kevin’s mentioned Neil’s partner, what are your thoughts on this mystery woman?”
Kevin choked but Neil turned to face Andrew, eyebrow raised in a silent ‘why yes, Andrew, love of my life, what do you think of my partner?’
Andrew took a moment to consider his words, speaking slowly when he did answer. “Whilst I wouldn’t wish Josten on anyone,”
“Thanks.” Neil muttered dryly.
“I know his partner couldn’t imagine anyone else by their side.”
Neil blinked slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Oh.”
Kevin rolled his eyes, a fond smile tugging at him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d smiled so much in an interview.
The interviewer ate it up. “That’s incredibly sweet! And you, Neil? Anything so say about Andrew’s lucky lady?”
“Oh, that’s easy, they’re just as much of an asshole as Andrew is, they’re made for each other.” Neil said with a quick grin at the camera. Andrew rolled his eyes in response but couldn’t suppress the smirk that appeared on his lips.
“We’re all mystified! The exy world has been curious as to the dating lives of two seemingly untouchable heartthrobs!” The interviewer turned to Kevin. “What about you, Kevin? What are your thoughts on the partners of these two Exy elites?”
Kevin schooled his face and looked blankly into the camera. “I think that I wouldn’t be surprised if there was at least one courthouse wedding by the time this interview airs.”
“I fucking hate you.” Neil sighed.
Andrew said nothing but turned to level Kevin with a cold stare.
Kevin ignored them and just shrugged. “If you two get married before my wedding I swear to god you’re uninvited.”
“Don’t tempt me, Kevin.”
The interviewer loved it, thinking about how they’d post little promos pre-interview release. Really spark engagement. She knew this was going viral, there was no doubt about it. Never before had these three revealed so much about themselves, and she had the scoop. The exclusive.
The rest of the interview was them answering fan questions. Carefully selected to ignore any mentions of The Ravens, Neil’s family, Riko, or their childhoods. And soon enough, the interview was wrapped up.
“I’m so glad I could sit down with the three of you for your first interview together!”
Kevin sighed, a tired smile in place. “I always knew an interview with these two would be damaging, either to my image or to my wellbeing. This was probably both.”
“Yeah Kevin, I mean, you admitted on camera that you give a shit about us. How embarrassing for you.” Neil smirked.
“What? We’re all absolute messes,” Kevin defended himself. “Met one another at pivotal moments in our, and I’m loathe to use this word, journeys to recovery. We’re critical as shit to each other but we’ve got each other’s backs. We’re the more honest with each other than anyone else. At least, from my side.”
“Disgusting.” Andrew said.
“Agreed.” Neil nodded.
The first hint of the interview having happened was a tweet published a day later.
Misc News! @miscnewssite
We sat down with @queenday @njosten and @a.minyard for an exclusive interview! Stay tuned for more info
The response was instantaneous. Fans went wild, having had no idea it was coming. Most of the foxes had known the interview had happened so they weren’t surprised. What they were surprised about was the attached photo that show a smiling Kevin, Neil, and even Andrew. Still taken from various moments in the video where they’d each let down their guards.
The foxes group chat of the original nine was somehow still active after so many years blew up immediately as it often did when life changing events happened, or funny news articles about the few still in the public eye.
The tweets from various current teammates weren’t much better.
Sera Alverez @alverezforthewin
My boyyssss, did you finally sit down and talk like actual adult people?
Jeremy Knox @jeremyofficially
Oh this is going to be one good interview, I can’t wait
Laila Dermott @ldermottle
Here we go again. Always something with you three.
Neil’s teammates going so far as to messaging him questions about smiling alongside the so called enemy. Whilst Andrew’s teammates would never say anything, they had given him surreptitious looks all day at training that day.
The next day a clip was tweeted from the account. Only the section
“So, you guys have thought about it?” Kevin said in a conversational tone, but with a knowing, shit-stirring, undertone.
“I don’t know, I’ve never considered it before. Marriage was never something that seemed like it had anything to do with me. Running and exy, ya know.” Neil frowned, the conversation sinking in. “Huh.”
“And now?” Andrew asked, surprising nearly everyone.
Neil turned to him, exasperated. “You’re asking me that now?”
Kevin snorted and leaned back in his chair, holding the mic pinned to his shirt up and whispering into it. “Neil’s partner is absolutely gone on him, if Neil realises he wants to get married one day…” Kevin gave a sure nod and continued with a shrug. “If you know, you know.”
Almost every fox retweeted the clip.
Dan Wilds @daninthewilds
K E V I N
Matt Boyd @mattyboyd
KEVIN 🙈
Nickkkky Klose @nickyklosebb
OH MY GOD KEVIN DAY YOU DID NOT JUST I CANNOT 😂😂😂
Allison J Reynolds @theallisonrey
I have a feeling a few more bets are gonna be settled soon. Prepare to pay tf up @mattyboyd
Neil couldn’t handle rewatching the clip and was dreading the interview drop. Andrew seemed uncaring on the surface but Neil knew better. He was avoiding rewatching the clips too. It didn’t help that every fan was @’ing them with mixtures of demanding explanations and incomprehensible keysmashes.
@josstan10
He has a partner. Someone hold me. To what could have been @njosten
@sexyexy07
Anyone notice how he said 'partner'. #Justsayin
@callmemrsdaypls
Anyone gonna talk about how relaxed my boy @queenday looks? My son? So happy?? Anyone??
The next clip was released another two days later. This time it was this short clip,
“Many have questioned your choice to have the two of them share the role, considering their very public dislike of each other. What was thought process behind this decision?” She continued to press, looking for a real answer, not just the media friendly answer.
“Trick question, Kevin doesn’t have thoughts.” Andrew said completely deadpan. Neil’s lips quirked but Kevin completely ignored the two as he made to answer.
“Honestly?” Kevin said slowly, titling his head as he considered his next words. “These two know me better than anyone else in the world. They were both there for me in a time when not many people were, or could. When I was barely able to keep myself afloat. I lived with the two of them for, what, three years at Palmetto before I graduated? We managed those three years with minimal bloodshed, I assumed we can make it through one wedding.”
@goexygo
SEE PEOPLE! THIS IS WHAT I MEAN! EVERYONE ACTS LIKE THEY DIDN’T GO TO COLLEGE TOGETHER FOR LITERAL YEARS
Aaron Minyard MD @aaronmin
@queenday don’t tell me you got sentimental in this interview.
Allison J Reynolds @theallisonrey
@a.minyard you’re right and you should say it
Finally, when the interview was released, it caused as big a reaction as the three interviewees expected it to. First, from the fans. They were edited, made into gifs and reaction memes. The video was torn to shreds, each clip micro-analysed.
@miniminyard
Oh my god look at my repressed sons showing emotions!
@dayfordays
Is that Kevin Day’s real smile?? Holy shit?? He’s an adorable little shit??”
@stayexyladies
ANDREW MINYARD AND NEIL JOSTEN AREN’T SINGLE????
@jenwatchesexy
holy shit they’re friends. real actual friends.
@exyonlegs
Seeing Neil and Andrew actually talk to one another has cleared my skin.
@stickballgofast
I ALWAYS KNEW THEY DIDN’T HATE EACH OTHER
@minyardsimpxoxo
Andrew not telling Neil he was giving the speech is top tier, exactly what I’ve come to expect from him. Amazing
@justminyardthings
Okay but is NO ONE going to mention how none of them refered to gender when talking about Neil and Andrew’s respective partners?? No one???
@wearetheexykids
OMG I am LIVING for Kevin realising he swore in an interview.
However, it was the response from the foxes that the boys were dreading. Various clips of Neil and Andrew talking about their potential future marriage blew up in the foxes group chat.
Dan:
UM
BOYS
Matt:
So why haven’t I received my best man invite yet???
Nicky:
Oh my god
Oh
My
God
Andrew did you mean it?
Did you really?
Am I an option for best man???
Aaron:
For fucks sake Nicky
You were literally the fourth choice, after two cats
Renee:
That interview was very touching boys
Allison:
Kevin I am living for your commentary
Never thought I’d say that
But here we are
Dan:
Real talk
Has there been a courthouse wedding?