Chapter Text
The harsh lights of the hospital room made Neil want to wince. Nothing about hospitals was appealing, everything stark and clinical and cold. Also, if he was ever in a hospital, he was usually in substantial pain. Most things he could fix with a bottle of whiskey, ace bandages and sewing supplies, so a hospital was always a bad sign. The pain meds made the situation less horrible, but it wasn't much of a benefit.
Also the temporary amnesia thing. That was a bitch to handle.
The nurse had been abrupt, but polite, and strangely familiar with him. (Knowing himself, he was probably in the hospital a lot: his life was a little bit hazardous.) Temporary amnesia induced by anesthesia and the aftermath of surgery. Memory should return rapidly, but try not to do stupid things, with a cutting look in Neil's direction.
It was disquieting to have other people with him too, people that weren't his mother. The two that had been in his room when he woke up were still there, sitting in the uncomfortable chairs next to the bed. The brunet who had introduced himself as Nicky was fiddling with his hands nervously. He had tried to instigate conversation in the few minutes after the nurse had left, but the blonde next to him shot him a look and he had shut up.
The blonde was interesting. He had been the first one to notice he was awake, and the one to call the nurse as soon as Neil hadn't recognized the pair. While the nurse was sure to address Neil, she spoke mostly to the blonde about the effects of the amnesia, which was interesting enough. He seemed quiet, but dangerous, the kind of person that Neil should be wary of. Strangely, looking at him, the breadth of his shoulders and the quiet deadly strength he carried, Neil felt safe. Instead of cataloging possible weaknesses, Neil found himself staring at the line of his nose, the curve of his eyelashes, the soft skin of his lips. He wasn't used to noticing those kinds of things. The blonde tilted his head to the side, working out a kink in his neck, exposing a stretch of pale skin on his throat. Neil wanted to press his lips there, to bite down and leave a mark.
“Weird,” Neil breathed out, against his own will. The drugs loosened his tongue, made him speak when he didn't mean to. The brunet- Nicky’s head shot up at his word.
“Why, what's up? Are you okay, do you need anything?” Nicky said, his words spilling out as if they had been blocked by a dam, sentences piling up behind his teeth.
“I’m fine,” Neil said quickly, not missing the looks the pair shot each other. He resolved not to say anything else, his thoughts too embarrassing and potentially revealing to speak. “I was just so sure I didn't swing.” Goddammit.
Nicky’s eyes bulged out, before he fumbled for his phone, probably to record Neil incriminating himself. He almost told him not to, but the blonde turned to face him and the words dried up in the back of his throat. Facing him, Neil was taken aback. His eyes were hazel, but seemed close to gold in certain lighting. His laser focus on Neil made Neil flush slightly, warmth pooling along his cheekbones.
“What?” The blonde said, somehow making the word sound like a demand instead of a question. It was impressive but Neil wasn’t going to break. His mouth was shut.
“I said I thought I didn't swing. This has never happened before,” Neil said, cursing himself in his head. The blonde tilted his head slightly. There was almost no facial discrepancy, but somehow Neil knew that he was confused. “What’s your name?” Neil asked. The blonde narrowed his eyes. God, his eyes were something else.
“Andrew. Why?”
“Andrew,” Neil said wonderingly, rolling the sounds on his tongue. “I like that.”
“Nobody asked.” Andrew said scathingly. The tone was meant to sting, but Neil just felt a wave of overwhelming fondness sweep over him. Neil felt his face break into a somewhat goofy smile, and made very little effort to stop it.
“Get that look off your face, idiot,” Andrew snapped. Neil tried to school his facial features into blankness, but the smile wouldn't go. This gorgeous ornery bastard made him lose control, apparently. His mother would have killed him.
“I can’t.” Andrew’s cheek spasmed the smallest amount at that. Neil chose to interpret it as amusement.
“Try harder.” Andrew’s tone was studiously devoid of any emotion.
“I’m trying, but it’s difficult to control my facial expressions on heavy medication, oh brilliant one,” Neil said, having given up on any pretense of a working brain-to-mouth filter.
“You’re ridiculous,” Andrew said, rolling his eyes.
“And you’re beautiful,” Neil retaliated, before closing his eyes and wincing. Nicky, whose presence Neil had entirely forgotten, made a tiny squeaking noise in his chair. Andrew looked borderline homicidal, but Neil noticed the tiniest blush on his cheeks.
“I really don’t have any control over what I’m saying. Whatever I think just slips out,” Neil said, trying to backtrack. The corner of Andrew’s lips quirked up for a millisecond.
“At least that never changes, no matter how much medication they put you on,” Andrew said wryly and Nicky nodded agreement behind his phone.
“How about an incentive to make you behave? If you talk again, I kill you,” Andrew threatened. Nicky winced in his chair, but made no move to stop Andrew. Power dynamics in play. Neil registered a distinct lack of fear in himself, which really made no sense. Andrew’s coiled control and dangerous words made him terrifying; he was a predator, and Neil had always been prey. Neil should have wanted to run, to hide, to play dead.
“Not the first time someone threatened me with death. It is the first time I've wanted to kiss that person though.” Apparently Neil really believed in pushing his luck. Andrew rolled his eyes and stood up, walking closer to the bed, until he stood over Neil's prone form. Neil would have called it looming, but Andrew was too short for that. Neil found himself smiling again.
“What will it take to make you shut up?” Andrew murmured, leaning his hip against the edge of the bed. His hand fell casually right next to Neil’s on the white sheets.
Neil pretended to consider his options. “A kiss.” Andrew rolled his eyes so hard, Neil was worried for him.
“You have no idea who I am or what I've done. You could despise me and you have no idea, and you're asking me to kiss you?” Andrew said, words sharp and tone sharper.
“I obviously know you well enough for you to be sitting in my hospital room when I woke up, and don't think I didn't notice the nurse only talking to you about my amnesia. The me with memories trusts you with my life. Come on, just one kiss,” Neil wheedled.
“You are on medication, you don't know what you're doing and thus cannot offer consent,” Andrew evaded.
“Now you're just saying stuff. I’m on pain meds, but I haven't said anything I didn't believe, and I know what I'm doing,” Neil said. “Besides,” Neil lowered his voice, forcing Andrew to lean in the slightest bit, “I know that I trust you. I can tell. Don't ask me how or why, but you feel like safety.”
Andrew sighed out loud, infinitely put upon. “You are a menace, did you know that?” He said quietly. His hand moved to cover Neil's on the bedspread. Neil smiled triumphantly.
“That isn't a no,” he said. Andrew leaned forward.
“No it wasn't,” Andrew said, before pressing his lips against Neil's. Neil met him halfway, hand instinctively pushing into Andrew's hair. The kiss felt familiar but new, and Neil loved every second of it. They had obviously kissed before. Nicky was making strange noises in the background, but Neil wasn't exactly paying attention.
Andrew broke from the chaste kiss after a couple of seconds, but before Neil could open his mouth to talk, Andrew had pressed his hand over it.
“The deal was you would shut the fuck up if I kissed you,” Andrew said, blank faced except for the slightest tinge of red on his cheekbones. Neil pouted for a second before closing his mouth. The excitement of the interaction had faded, leaving Neil exhausted. His eyes began drooping.
Andrew moved his hand away from Neil's face to push it through his hair instead.
“Go the fuck to sleep, junkie,” Andrew said, the last thing Neil heard before closing his eyes and succumbing to exhaustion.
Chapter 2
Summary:
In which the team reacts to stuff that really isn't any of their business
Notes:
i genuinely can't believe I did this, but after five years and many comments asking for reactions from the foxes, I actually wrote the damn thing. It's been a while since I touched this fandom but this was kind of a fun little return to a piece I wrote a long long long long time ago. The first chapter is kind of stupid and stilted (I like to think I'm a better writer now than I was then) but I'm still fairly fond of it :)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Nicky: he woke up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more info 2 come
[This message was sent with Balloons]
[Kevin loved this message]
[Aaron disliked this message]
[Renee loved this message]
[Aaron emphasized this message]
[Matt loved this message]
[Dan loved this message]
[Allison loved this message]
Matt: oh thank god!!!!!!
[This message was sent with Confetti]
Allison: it was a routine surgery matthew he was always gonna wake up
Matt: if anyone could get killed during a routine surgery it would be neil
[Aaron emphasized this message]
Aaron: boyd has a point
Aaron: $10 says something’s gone horribly wrong
[Allison laughed at this message]
Renee: Do you really think you should be trying to make an easy profit off of Neil’s misfortune?
Dan: ‘easy profit’ you think aaron’s right?
Renee: Oh, almost certainly.
Allison: I’ll take that bet neil is unkillable he’s like a cockroach
Kevin: As I have already stated twice this hour alone, this chat is for important team announcements, not idle gossip or chatter.
Kevin: That being said, I’m with Allison. Neil will never die. Andrew wouldn’t allow it.
Dan: okay, Matt and Aaron say something terrible has happened to Neil for 10 each
[Matt disliked this message]
Dan: Kevin and Allison say he is unkillable like a god for 10 each
Matt: no no, i’m just saying he could have died, not that anything terrible happened, i’m not in this at all
Matt: also we know for sure that he woke up so this bet makes no sense
Aaron: i’m raising my bet to 20 dollars and i maintain that something terrible has happened to him
Allison: i’ll take that bet he literally already woke up
Kevin: I withdraw as well. Neil is too much of a wild card to bet on.
Dan: okay it’s Aaron and Allison twenty v twenty on something terrible happening to neil.
[Aaron liked this message]
[Allison liked this message]
Nicky: hey guys, sorry i haven’t caught up with the chat, we were talking with the nurse
Nicky: everything is mostly fine with neil, and he’s gonna recover from this within the week!!!!
Nicky: but he technically lost all memory of us and has no idea who we are or what he’s doing here
Dan: lmaooooooooooooo
[Nicky questioned this message]
Allison: fuck my stupid ass life
[Aaron loved this message]
[Renee laughed at this message]
*
Matt: any updates nicky???
Nicky: no it’s literally been silent for the past ten minutes
Nicky: the nurse said neil might be weird and loopy and talkative but he’s just staring at us in silence
Nicky: i tried to make conversation a few times but the heart monitor started beeping faster and andrew made me shut up :(((((((((
Kevin: That was probably for the best.
Kevin: If Neil has no memory of us, he’s going to be the most paranoid version of himself.
Kevin: I’m honestly surprised he hasn’t tried to break out of the hospital room.
Matt: the night is young he still might
Nicky: omfg omfg omfg
[Renee questioned this message]
Nicky: one sec
[Dan questioned this message]
[Kevin questioned this message]
[Matt questioned this message]
[Allison questioned this message]
[Renee questioned this message]
Kevin: Nicky, what the fuck.
Kevin: What happened?
Matt: omfg i was right he’s fucking gone with the wind
Matt: i bet he jumped out of the window
Kevin: I would have guessed he sprinted into a hallway but jumping out of window makes sense.
Kevin: What floor are you on, Nicky?
Dan: no way would andrew let either of those things happen
Kevin: What’s happening, Nicky? Is Neil okay?
[Renee emphasized this message]
Allison: nicky wtf
Allison: why would you drop a text like that and then dip completely you maniac
Aaron: just give him some space
Aaron: he’ll respond when he can
[Allison disliked this message]
Aaron: don’t be a bitch allison
Allison: fuck you aaron
Matt: lets all calm down alright
Dan: nicky what the fuck is happening right now
Aaron: neil is fine, he’s always fine
Aaron: everyone just cool it
Nicky: he’s okay it’s okay just look at this
Nicky: Attachment: 1 Video
Nicky: i missed it in the video but he started by saying he thought he didn’t swing
Renee: What’s in the video?
Nicky: just watch!!!!!!!
Matt: im watching im watching wtf
Matt: wait holy shit what the hell is happening
Dan: stop texting ur notifications are fucking up the audio on my phone
Allison: EL
[Dan laughed at this message]
Allison: EM
[Dan laughed at this message]
Allison: AY
[Dan laughed at this message]
Allison: OH
[Dan laughed at this message]
Dan: literally al sameeeeeee
Matt: that was so fucking good
Allison: this video quality is shitty and you should feel bad
Nicky: eat my ass
Dan: true i couldn’t hear half of it over ur reactions
Dan: that being said, i’m not sure i’d do better
Dan: when he asked for the kiss i lost it
Matt: he literally wants a little kiss
Matt: i couldn’t believe andrew actually kissed him tho
Dan: what were they saying at the end I couldn’t hear any of it
Nicky: me neither they were whispering so I wouldn’t hear them
Nicky: whatever it was ended in a kiss
Nicky: sweet nothings?? perhaps???
[Aaron disliked this message]
Aaron: i needed a content warning for that shit
Matt: they’re cute!!!
[Aaron disliked this message]
[Dan emphasized this message]
[Matt emphasized this message]
Allison: is that how neil flirts for real tho
Allison: cause that was appalling, if adorable
[Matt emphasized this message]
Nicky: cw: cuteness for aaron - i think they might be in lesbians with each other
Kevin: As someone who spends all my time with them, I can attest to the fact.
Kevin: They are almost certainly in lesbians with each other.
Kevin: This honestly feels fairly tame for them. I’ve heard them discuss marriage before, if only for easier hospital access.
Dan: marriage??? seriously???
Aaron: i wouldn’t put it past them
Aaron: i’m surprised they’re not already married i feel like andrew wants to lock it down sooner rather than later
Matt: i would if i was him
Matt: neil is insanely hot who knows how long he’ll stick with him without a ring
Kevin: Neil intended to stick with Andrew until he died when they made their deal. That hasn’t changed for him.
[Matt disliked this message]
Dan: is it the same for andrew?
Dan: ik they kissed but rings are a different thing
Allison: renee would know
Allison: right??
Renee: I’m not sure I’m comfortable discussing that, especially in this forum.
Renee: This was a private moment.
Renee: How would Neil or Andrew feel if they picked up their phones and read these messages?
Allison: it’s not like we’re really making fun of them
Allison: besides, neither of them is in this gchat
Allison: well, neil is but he muted six months ago cause he gets his updates straight from kev
Allison: andrew left immediately i think
Matt: can we talk about the ‘ur beautiful’ comment because that killed me
Dan: he literally thinks andrew is beautiful
Dan: not handsome, beautiful
Dan: that’s so funny
Dan: no offense aaron
[Aaron liked this message]
Aaron: no it is funny
Aaron: they make no sense
Allison: the beautiful comment was crazy but the part that got me was the way he smiled when andrew threatened him
Allison: like we all knew he was deranged about him but that’s something else
Matt: it was probably the drugs right
Nicky: no way the nurse said the drugs just lowered his inhibitions a little bit
Nicky: this is neil no memory no filters
Renee: I must say, in that context, this video really is very sweet.
Dan: yeah i didn’t think they actually liked each other under all that drama and violence
Dan: but they flirt and kiss and get along and stuff
Aaron: they flirt badly, you mean
Aaron: like excruciatingly badly
Aaron: i haven’t heard dialogue that stilted before in my life
Matt: you share those genes minyard
Aaron: yeah but i got all of the charisma genes
Aaron: you can tell because i’m dating a division one cheerleader and he’s dating someone with a number on the FBI watchlist
Dan: a ten’s a ten tho :/
[Allison emphasized this message]
[Matt emphasized this message]
[Kevin emphasized this message]
Dan: and neil’s got those eyes and that body
Nicky: also andrew doesn’t need charisma he’s got some kind of hot guy magnetism that makes hot guys wanna get up in his grill
Nicky: kevin for one
Kevin: Shut up, Nicky.
Kevin: Wait, I think that was a compliment. I’m sorry.
Kevin: Thank you, Nicky.
Nicky: yw babygirl <3
[Allison laughed at this message]
[Kevin disliked this message]
Kevin: Shut up, Nicky.
Matt: has neil said anything else since the end of the video ???????
Nicky: no he passed out after he got his smooch
[Aaron disliked this message]
Aaron: don’t say smooch
[Allison emphasized this message]
Kevin: Is Andrew still blushing?
[Dan questioned this message]
[Allison questioned this message]
Nicky: yeah lol
Nicky: he told me to delete the video so i did but only after i sent it to you guys lmaoooo
Allison: guess he doesn’t want any proof of him being human to get out huh?
[Matt laughed at this message]
[Renee disliked this message]
Renee: That’s a very uncharitable thing to say.
Renee: Andrew is human all of the time. He is no less human than any one of us.
Renee: He’s also entitled to his privacy, just like any one of us.
Renee: The ways he and Neil express affection are none of our business.
Renee: Our curiosity doesn’t entitle us to their intimacy.
Wymack: Well said, Renee.
Wymack: As usual, I have to remind you dipshits that I am in this text thread and am privy and subject to each of your terrible messages.
Wymack: Nicky, thank you for updating us on Neil’s status. It’s good to know that he’s still alive somehow.
Wymack: The rest of you, try to remember, as Kevin stated before, that this chat is only for IMPORTANT TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[This message was sent with the Slam effect]
Nicky: did you watch the video coach
Wymack: I watched as long as I needed to confirm that Neil was still alive.
Matt: you don’t have any thoughts on their secretly very romantic relationship????
Wymack: First of all, their relationship is above my pay grade, like all of your relationships. I don’t get involved in your personal affairs. I don’t care enough about you for that.
Wymack: Second of all, even if I got paid enough to think about your relationships, they’ve been openly romantic since November. It would take effort to not notice that.
Matt: say it ain’t so!!!!!!
Matt: you knew about them before we did??
Wymack: That’s an incredibly low bar.
[Renee laughed at this message]
Wymack: You people have the perceptive ability of rocks.
Wymack: Also, you abused your group chat privileges and annoyed me on my day off, so you’re all running extra laps next practice except Renee.
Wymack: I’m not telling you how many because I’m the coach and that’s my right.
[Renee laughed at this message]
Wymack: Next person to send a message that isn’t team related runs twice that number.
[Aaron disliked this message]
Nicky: wait Neil woke up again and now he’s asking Andrew if they can cuddle omg
Wymack: This team chat was a mistake.
Wymack left the chat
Dan: welp :/
Kevin: Look what you assholes did.
Allison: whatever im bored now anyways
Allison: neil and andrew’s weird relationship was more interesting before this video tbh
[Dan questioned this message]
Allison: there’s no drama really they just like each other and want to kiss
Allison: thats boring
Allison: they're boring
Matt: she has a point
Matt: context aside,,,,,,,
Matt: theyre kinda lame
[Aaron loved this message]
[Allison liked this message]
[Dan laughed at this message]
[Nicky laughed at this message]
Kevin: Well, now that we’re satisfied with the relative lameness of their relationship, as well as Neil’s continued survival, we can go back to not talking to each other.
Kevin: Except at practice of course.
Kevin: Speaking of which, we should get to sleep. It’s late and everyone in this chat has practice <u> tomorrow at 5:00am.</u>
[Aaron disliked this message]
[Nicky disliked this message]
[Kevin disliked this message]
[Allison disliked this message]
[Dan liked this message]
[Matt disliked this message]
Notes:
let me know if this lived up to any and all of your expectations :)