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"...So then if we divide all that by 2, because there are two planets, what do we get? Neil?"
Neil looked away from the clock and back towards his homework. 7 more minutes to spend with Meeks to try and get this done, and they were only halfway through. Marvelous.
He felt a nudge on his shoulder. "Neil, are you gonna be able to focus for the rest of the time? If not, it's cool, we can just finish this up in the morning," Meeks reassured him.
"Yeah, sorry, but I think I'm done for tonight." Neil closed his notebook and started shoving writing utensils back in his bag. He pushed his chair back from his desk, slinging his bag over his shoulder, and goes to sit with Knox and Charlie to hear about Knox's latest scheme to get Chris to fall in love with him.
"Boys, it's lights out! You all should have been packed up and out of here five minutes ago!"
They swiftly gather their belongings, and as Neil starts to say a general goodbye, he notices that Todd is still laying on the couch.
The right side of Todd's face is pressed down into the cushion, his disheveled hair covering his eye. His right arm is curled underneath his head like a pillow, while his left arm rests on his bent knees. His tired hand has somehow managed to cling onto their most recent reading assignment from Mr. Keating.
Neil can't help but smile at the sight. Of course, he's seen Todd asleep before- they lived together for God's sake- but he had never seen him quite this... peaceful. As if sleep was something that had washed over Todd, slowly and gently taking him over, instead of forcefully brought upon because it's what Todd knows he should be doing, because Jesus Christ, Todd, it's 2 in the morning, can't you turn the light off and get some sleep?
But none of that was present now; it was clear that Todd was just comfortable where he was. Neil hated to be the one to have to wake him up, but they were now the only two left in the room. As Neil crouches down to meet Todd's closed eyes, he can't help but feel infatuated by the soft curve of his eyebrows, the round point of his nose, and the way that his lips are upturned ever so slightly, and how perfectly Neil's palms would fit just underneath his chin, and how wonderful it would feel to bring Neil's smile up against Todd's-
He snaps himself out of his daydream. He has to find a way to wake Todd up. As much as he wants to just leave Todd to the most peaceful sleep Neil's ever witnessed, he knows he can't just leave him here on the common area couch. I mean, unless...
Todd couldn't weigh that much, right? He was a good few inches shorter than Neil, so that had to amount to something... right?
Throwing caution to this wind, Neil took the book from Todd's hand, being careful to keep the page he was on marked with his thumb, scooped underneath his knees and shoulder blades, and brought Todd up to his chest. Todd's head stayed in its position towards Neil, and found a new pillow against his heartbeat.
Neil gasped a little. Todd was so warm. Something about this, the extreme amount of contact, Neil's hand grasping onto Todd's clothing, and Todd's listening to Neil's heartbeat, made Neil's head spin. He gave Todd an adoring smile that he knew he couldn't see, and began walking back to their room, making sure that he didn't knock Todd's feet on any doorways along the way.
Other than the slight issue of dropping Todd's book in order to open their door, carrying Todd back to their room went swimmingly. Neil gently set Todd into his bed, where he immediately flipped over to his other side. Neil went back outside their room to retrieve the discarded book, and, making sure to mark his place with one of Todd's many bookmarks, set it down on his desk.
Neil sighed contently. No way in hell he's going to sleep now.
He flicked on the lamp and pulled his math homework back out. Using the problems that Meeks helped him with as a guide, the next few questions are pretty easy, although not exactly quick, to solve. Question 12 is getting tougher, though, and just when Neil's about to give up and wait until Meeks can help him again-
"Neil?" he hears, coming quietly from across their small room.
"Yes, Todd?"
"What... time is it?"
Neil checks his watch. "...it's 2:14am."
Todd laughs sleepily. "Neil! You've gotta get to bed! Do you know what you're gonna do to your health if you stay up this late!"
"Todd, I know I give you shit about this all the time, but it's true! Plus, I was just about to get ready for bed."
"Oh, sure you were," Todd said through a smile.
"It's true, I was!"
Todd laughed and rolled back towards the wall so Neil could change.
"Hey Neil?" Todd was fully awake now.
"Yeah?"
"Why am I still in my uniform?"
Neil froze. "Uh, do you not... remember?"
All of a sudden, Todd turned panicky. "Um no, why? Did-did something... happen?"
Neil tried to prepare himself for the awkwardness that was about to follow. "Uh you.... fell asleep on the couch, and it was about to be lights out so I had to uh... carry you back here."
Todd was silent for a few painful seconds, while Neil attempted to finish getting dressed as quickly and quietly as possible to make this conversation end as soon as possible.
When he heard Neil climb into bed, Todd finally turned back around and they locked eyes. "That was really sweet of you, Neil. Thank you for doing that."
Neil's heart melted. His gaze met the floor before coming back up to Todd's. "It was um, really no big deal. You're uh- not that difficult to carry."
Todd laughed a little before standing up to close the short distance between their two beds. "You know, um," he said, hands in his pockets and eyes on his shoes, "next time, I'd really like to be awake to see you do that."
Neil's eyes widened. Cheeks flushed, he stammered out, "Um, you mean, you would uh... like? Me to do that? Again?"
Giving Neil's heart yet another jolt, Todd's brown eyes met Neil's. "Yeah. I- I guess I would."
With these words of confirmation, Neil couldn't contain his urge any longer. He jumped to his feet, grabbed Todd's hands, and kissed him.
Neil could feel the heat radiating off of Todd's cheeks, and he reached up to cup them in his hands, as he had always dreamed of doing. Neil couldn't help but smile at the thought of cooling him down with his always-too-cold fingers, and after a few seconds, Todd pulled away. His mouth was slightly open, and his eyes were completely bugged out. He was definitely awake now.
"I'm sorry that I fell asleep out there! I-I didn't mean to be a burden, and force you t-to carry me back."
"Todd!" Neil exclaimed with half-serious exasperation. "You could never, ever be a burden on me! You are about the sweetest, most talented, and, frankly, beautiful person I've ever met. You have only made my life better, Todd."
He blushed under the compliments. "Neil, I'm pretty sure you're the talented one here, with your acting and all..."
"What, like your poetry is nothing? Todd, you're a writing genius!"
They locked eyes once again as Todd smiled, just a little more confident than before. "Well, if Neil Perry says it's true..."
And they kissed again. Todd's hands weaved through Neil's chestnut hair, and Neil's hands hugged around Todd's waist, stepping to bring them ever so slightly closer together.
Once Todd was finished changing, he flicked off the light and climbed into bed with Neil. They were both a bit hesitant at first, but eventually, Todd found his spot again, listening to Neil's steady heartbeat.