#Dan may have recruited him but when Neil reached out to her she says she doesn't really remember it

[jtl-fics]

Fluent Freshman - Part 05

PREVIOUS

It might be objectively funnier if no one knows Fluent Freshman’s first name (even me because there’s some funny ideas but nothing as funny as “UNKNOWN” Smith) aside from Wymack.

Even the announcers just refer to him by his last name (maybe his first name is very foreign and hard to pronounce, maybe that’s why he got into foreign languages, maybe it’s so bland that the announcers just can’t his full name without yawning, maybe it’s just that someone else on the Foxes has the same first name so there’d be confusion, who knows) This only occasionally creates confusion because the Terrapins and the Ravens both have someone with the same last name as him.

Either way after one-two hit confidence crushing combo of the CVS girl knowing he has tummy trouble and the conversation with Neil where Neil asks about his stomach ulcers FF utilizes all of his years of learned behavior to fully fade into the background. Wallflower? No man I’m Wallpaper you cannot see me.” This has unintended consequences.

1. He has become undetectable which means that he is now, once again, hearing all sorts of relationship talk but now it’s not just between Captain Neil and Andrew Minyard and their surprisingly soft private life.

He is subjected to Nicky gushing to Erik in German. He has to listen to Kevin talk to someone named Jean in French (he only finds out later that they’re NOT dating but it sounds like date talk...though most of his experience is listening to Captain Neil and Andrew Minyard loving say they hate one another so maybe he has a bad pool of knowledge.) Matt, Aaron, Jack, and some of his other freshman players all speak in English but CHRIST he wishes it was in any language he doesn’t know. (If he hears Jack say ‘Yeah sure whatever Babe.’ one more time HE’S going to slap the asshole for being so dismissive to his girlfriend.)

2. He has become objectively better at being a defensive dealer because other teams just kind of don’t notice him and pass right to him. Kevin wants to study him on what about him makes him so adept at causing unforced errors in objectively better players. Fluent Freshman, having been yelled at by Kevin more than once, takes the moment Kevin’s eyes are diverted by Captain Neil saying something and just slides out of his seat into a different seat (Middle of the bus. The least noticeable section) and puts up his hoodie and pretends to sleep. (he does not. what if he drools? It’s already hard enough getting sleep in a room with two roomies. He got to campus earliest so that he could claim a top bunk so no one could see him even if heights make him nervous.)

3. Since he has become undetectable that means that Andrew Minyard and Captain Neil have a hard time detecting him. So he has not had to endure their silent judging company. He is sure that Andrew is waiting for him to slip and he’s also sure that Captain Neil thinks he’s stupid. No other freshman gets as much homework help from the Captain as he does. Still, he doesn’t have to sit in the silent knowledge that they both dislike him enough that they want him to know it. HIs ulcers are starting to get better and the girl at the CVS (He’d have to have a whole conversation to change where his prescription is filled and he’d rather die) didn’t even recognize him when he came in for a refill on his prescription or note that he was buying pepto bismol again.

HOWEVER

This means that Neil has come back with slumped shoulders and uneaten snacks the last five times he’s gone for his usual hangout. They are never planned hangouts it’s just that FF is always in the same 3 locations because there are only so many spots on campus where your back is completely secured and that weren’t so intimidating to go into (The library is terrifying. What if he sneezes???) and for the last two weeks Andrew has been unable to find FF outside of practice either.

(It has to be stated that FF is in the EXACT same spots as before but he is in stealth mode and therefore only visible if you are a mantis shrimp.)

Andrew Minyard does NOT like this. FF is THE singular tolerable teammate. Andrew likes the decompression time  he gets when him and FF sit in quiet and do their own things. FF never asks for his attention but occasionally offers him good german literature recommendations for every stage of literacy ever since Andrew had mentioned wanting to get better at the written language so he wouldn’t have to rely on Neil or Nicky when the Monsters vacationed there next summer. He doesn’t call people friend easily but FF is a friend.

So it’s incredibly irritating that for the last two weeks he’s been completely unable to grab that friend and ask what the hell is going on. The Foxes have histories and it wouldn’t be the first time a Freshman’s past caught up with them or that one of them had something set them back into old survival habits. It’d happened with Matt, it’d happened with Aaron and Andrew, it for SURE happened with Neil, Sheena’s coping mechanisms had been the bane of Andrew’s existence the year before, some of the other freshman had setbacks this year and a few players over the years have had to leave due to the very circumstances that gave them a home with the Foxes. Andrew had never really cared as long as his people were fine.

It’s just that Andrew actually kind of cares about this Freshman, he considers him as someone who could be one of his people.

Which is why Andrew will keep stalking the campus around FF’s preferred haunts until he grabs him.

Andrew catches him outside of stealth mode (He had been using a urinal that is NOT where you don’t want people to notice you) and grabs him by the scruff. “We’re taking a drive.” he says and FF just sort of goes limp and lets himself be dragged off.

He hopes that he can write his grandma a letter telling her how much her love and care over the years meant to him before Andrew kills him. He’d even take if Andrew would only let him write it in his own blood.

NEXT

Per your requests:

@i-have-three-feelings, @blep-23

#Fluent Freshman AU #Neil watching as FF fades into the background and pointedly doesn't draw attention #Neil: It's hard to see someone else living your wildest dream. #All of the Foxes have tried at one point or another to indirectly get Wymack to say FF's name #No one knows it #Dan may have recruited him but when Neil reached out to her she says she doesn't really remember it #Dan: I think it had an E in it? Or was it an A? Maybe a U?" #Anderw: Great his name has a vowel. That narrows it down. #AFTG #AFTG Fic #AFTG AU #AFTG OC #AFTG shitpost #Andreil #Fluent Freshman is very Kuroko Tetsuya RN #Slaps FF look at how many Expys I can fit into this bad boy #FF - Pt. 05

[aftgficlibrary]

100k +

All the aftg fics over 100k. Grab a drink, get comfy, these stories might take you awhile. (Note: ranked in descending word count, highest-lowest).

Way Down We Go by nekojita (E | 620,923 | 46/46)

How would things be different if Nathaniel and his mother had been in Seattle early enough to put him in California the same time as Andrew? What if their paths had crossed back then? What if Andrew's first promise wasn't to Aaron but to Nathaniel?

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

Armies by nekojita (E | 341,918 | 20/20

Upon Mary Hatford's death, Nathaniel Wesninski makes the call to his uncle Stuart rather than continuing on the run and ending up in Milport, Nevada. Upon graduating university, Andrew Minyard turns down all offers of a professional Exy career and muddles through a 'normal' life, until the boredom and inanity of it all wears him down and he accepts an offer of a break to spend some time with his cousin Nicky in Stuttgart, Germany. There he meets Abram Hatford, a handsome and broken young man who has more in common with Andrew than he suspects, and nothing's normal anymore.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

Heartlines by nekojita (E | 291,539 | 17/17)

The Fae king and queens have gone away, closing the knowes behind them and abandoning their offspring to the mortal world. As the Fae have spread far and wide, their bloodlines thinning if not vanishing forever as they flee from mortal persecution... two Fae have found a way to reopen the knowes - Kayleigh Day and Tetsuji Moriyama. The Fae regroup once more, the balance of power shifted amongst them, and 'changelings' appear now and then in the mortal population.

Andrew Doe is one of those changelings, a young child suffering in the foster system, shunned by his peers for some reason and hearing voices in his head.

Alex - the latest name gifted to him by a charm - is on the run along with his mother from his father, using their talents as shadow walkers to slide between worlds and stay one step ahead of the powerful Fae. Except even that is not enough anymore. Except that's not Alex's only talent.

******* An urban fantasy where I throw Fae, necromancy and magic at TFC characters, pretty much!

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

The Odds Are Never In Our Favor by MalikShah (M | 258,621 | 29/29)

“A truly exciting development here in District 12. Let’s see who will be the other brave tribute traveling to the Capitol this year.” She simply grabbed the first slip she encountered and walked back to the podium. Neil didn’t even have time to wish for his own safety when she read the name.

“Neil Josten.”

A simple The Hunger Games AU because apparently the Foxes haven't suffered enough already.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

The First Breath by nekojita (M | 180,524 |18/18)

Death is presented with an interesting challenge - to live among the humans whom he finds so confusing for a short time. Normally he wouldn't consider such a thing, content to spend his days constantly wandering around while doing his job (and avoiding his father, Destruction), but this time, he's found one human in particular to be of interest so he decides to give it a try, to stay in one place for at least a few days. What can go wrong?

Only a Fury and a Virtue (or three) are determined to 'help' him out, for reasons of their own, and nothing is ever simple when so many powers that be start plotting. Death may very well regret giving in to his curiosity, along with the humans around him.

Basically, my take on the Sandman universe with TFC characters.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Black As Is The Raven, He’ll Get A Partner by nekojita (M | Incomplete | 10/?)

When Wymack, Kevin and Andrew came to recruit Neil Josten in Millport, Neil decided to say 'no' instead of 'yes' to joining the Foxes and does what he does best, which is runs. Unfortunately, that brings him to the attention of the Moriyamas, who return him to to his 'rightful' place.

Now Neil has to learn how to survive at the Nest with his only ally another 'asset' long kept under Riko's heel.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

Raven to Fox by Andrw_Jstn for AsfaHan (Not Rated | Incomplete | 36/?)

AU: Neil's mom ran without him, he was sold off to the Moriyamas soon after, growing up with Kevin and Riko. It'll all be explained in the prologue.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

Doe & Josten: Deductionists by SpangleBangle (M | Incomplete | 17/?)

Andrew Doe, rude but brilliant consulting detective, thought he had no need of a partner as he worked slowly away at dismantling the largest crime family in the country, helping out with other cases on the side to relieve the tedium. That was, until a scruffy runaway with a stupid amount of secrets stumbled into his life. Or, more accurately, broke into his kitchen.

/Rape/Non-Con

a switchblade is my preferred weapon by badacts (M | 150,134 | 48/48)

The Foxes take on an injured Kevin Day, and get a Raven-trained backliner with a point to prove into the bargain.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

shooting for the stars, desperately reaching for something in the dark by cryptidkidprem (T | 146,073 | 22/22)

"He just won't be back in black."

A look at Jean's first year with the Trojans, and his slightly rocky path to recovery.

A Hole In The World by lscar123 (E | Incomplete | 29/?)

An accomplished FBI agent. A young runaway who is more than he appears to be. A serial killer that's haunted both of them for years.

The City of Angels just got a lot more interesting.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence 

The Unkindness of Ravens by crazy_like_a (M | Incomplete | 29/?)

After Kevin publicly announces his intention to play for the Foxes, Riko sends Nathaniel Wesninski to convince him to return to the Nest. Unfortunately for Riko, Nathaniel has other plans.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence 

A Chance To Start Again by eikoexe (M | Incomplete | 6/?)

Andrew Minyard was a consulting detective - probably one of the best. He lived a life alone and only kept well to his demands, solving more crimes than nobody could think possible. Wymack usually said he was stuck up on the job, Renee has been suggesting he finds himself someone to live with, just so he won't live a life full of solitude. Andrew said he doesn't need it, doesn't want it, that he was perfectly fine the way he was. But what if one day he met a boy who stubbornly tripped into his life? Who has been wanted by his father for running away? Who needed a place to stay... and who needed home?

And so Andrew's life changed when he met Neil Josten.

--

Or alternatively, a Sherlock AU where instead of Johnlock solving crimes, we get our Andreil boys.

Lessons in Cartography by crazy_like_a (E | 121,706 | 37/37)

Nora mentioned in her extra content that Neil slowly maps out Andrew's body and then this fic happened. Starts after The King's Men. 

No Mourners, No Funerals by gluupor (M | Incomplete | 44/54)

In Ketterdam’s pleasure district you can find anyone. A wayward son trying to escape his past. A pampered noblewoman who chose a different life. A recovering addict who can’t turn down a bet. A stranded pirate in need of a boat. A deserter who is looking for a place to belong. A Grisha assassin who wants to be a better person. A convict looking to regain her life. A runaway who has become a killer. A survivor who has become something worse.

These fractured isolationists must cooperate and trust each other to achieve their goals. An impossible heist with a big payout. A revenge scheme years in the making. A high stakes con that could start a war if it goes wrong. They probably deserve better, but if they got what they deserved then they wouldn’t be Foxes.

A Six of Crows AU where the Foxes are a gang, Neil’s good at disappearing, and Andrew Minyard is the Bastard of the Barrel.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence

The Road to Nowhere by emmerrr (M | 118,526 | 30/30)

The population has been decimated by an epidemic, society has fallen, and no one is safe. But Neil has never been safe to begin with.

When the death of his mother finally leaves him with nothing left to lose, Neil inadvertently stumbles across a miss-match group of people living and working together despite the odds.

Sometimes it takes the apocalypse to find out where you truly belong; the hard part is holding onto it. And when so much of him is held together by lies, Neil might have to learn that you can never outrun your past indefinitely.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Connection through pain by sacchan (T | 106,373 | 3/3)

Nathaniel was six years old, and he was in pain. His body ached, but the one actually in pain was his soulmate. Their connection started when he was born, but he noticed its existence only now, and the reminder was very cruel. From now on, Nathaniel would experience the pain and the nightmares of this other person, as they would do the same with his. Till one of them died.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

fear in a handful of dust by flybbfly (M | 104,521 | 26/26)

“I need to talk to Minyard,” Neil says, sipping at a soda. “How do I make that happen?”

Kevin chokes on his whiskey. “You don't.”

In which Neil doesn't have Kevin Day to convince him to play, so he becomes a sports journalist; Andrew is a keeper in more ways than one; and Quidditch is the sport du jour. Featuring a frankensteined team, eternal roommate Matt, and hawkish sports section editor Dan. Oh, and Andrew has a shady past (present? future?) that Neil can't quite figure out. But that's nothing new for Neil, who is constantly hiding everything about himself anyway—this time with magical abilities greasing the way.

A Raven's Chance by abernathy (M | Incomplete | 17/?)

[PREVIOUS TITLE: SELLER OF SOULS] Raven!Neil; Nathaniel Wesninski has lived his entire life in the shadows at Castle Evermore, but now that star-player Kevin Day has deserted, he's the newest replacement for the Edgar Allan Ravens. Stuck in a city he hates and suffering through a lifetime of abuse from Riko, Nathaniel finds his only way out is through a promise with the most unlikely of allies.

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con

the letting go by WingsOfWax ( E | 100,409 | 12/12)

Goofy version: "In another life, Tilda fucks up even more than in canon and Aaron literally goes through Hell(tm). Can the Foxes help him help himself with the powers of Therapy and Friendship?? Vote now on your phones!"

Serious version: "In another universe, Tilda abandons both the boys and Aaron is sold into a life that isn't really worth living. However, the Foxes are drawn together in every world, and they're not giving up on him. Can they convince him not to give up on himself?"

/Graphic Depictions Of Violence /Rape/Non-Con  /Major Character Death (AFTGFL note: This fic has a multitude of trigger warnings, so please be careful everyone)

#aftg #aftg fanfic #aftg fanfiction #masterlist #andreil #andriel fanfic #andriel fanfiction #andrewminyard #andreil fanfic #andreil fanfiction #all for the game #the foxhole court #100k+ #theme:slowburn #theme:100k

[foxyfetches]

Worry Will Only Cause Wrinkles

*Hey this is set a year before my post "Running Regrets" so it can be read separately. It is also posted on AO3!* Neil was worried, which was not an unusual emotion for him. After captaining the Foxes for two years and proving his continued worth to the Moriyamas every game; worry was a constant companion. Neil was exceptionally worried this year though, because Andrew had agreed to go pro. If, for nothing else, to keep a close eye on Kevin and Neil. Neil was not anxious about Andrew getting offers. No one could deny Andrew as the best goal keeper in the league. Neil stressed over Andrew being alone. Andrew might never admit it out loud but Neil knew how important having his family close was to the man. He knew by the way Andrew's shoulders tensed whenever Nicky began excitedly chattering about Germany. Never noticing how Nicky always looks over at him hopefully, wanting support when he mentions breaks and vacations together. And whenever Aaron mentioned med school, Andrew simply left the room. He blamed it on 'the cheerleader breathing making him reach for his knives' but Neil knew the truth. Andrew was not ready to let his family go. Which of course was further complicated by losing so many people all at once. Kevin had signed with the L.A. Jets (ranked 4th nationally, seemed to Neil that Kevin also had an affinity for the underdogs((a comment he had of course made to the press at Kevin's official signing causing Kevin to throw the pen at him, Andrew to smirk, and Wymack to noticeably not lecture Neil on appropriate things to tell the press))). When Kevin had moved out of the dorm and firmly shook Andrew's hand on the promise of seeing him on the court again next year, it seemed to be the first moment Andrew had realized Kevin was no longer going to be in choking distance. It was no longer going to be Andrew's responsibility to pull Kevin off the floor when he has one of his 'Raven moments' and dump him in his bed. There would be no one to watch history documentaries and then lecture on what they had gotten wrong. No one to yell about Andrew's diet... Neil had found Andrew on the roof during Kevin's going away party holding a cigarette with a bottle a vodka resting by his leg. When Neil had dared to say "it's okay to miss him." Andrew had stubbed the cigarette out and calmly told Neil that he only regretted not having someone for Neil to blather on about exy with, because 'who will compete with you for greatest exy junkie ever' before pulling on Neil's shirt and distracting him with 'yes or no.' But Neil had not been able to forget Andrew's expression, and how he sometimes glared at their wall calendar as if it was to blame for time continuing to run away from him. For time taking his family away from him. Andrew had finally found a family that wanted him, flaws and all, and their lives were now getting in the way of that. And soon time would be the cause of something Andrew had never experienced before. Andrew being the one to leave. There are many things that Neil and Andrew each have as off limits topics. After Aaron's court case Neil would never ask about the moment she (Neil never says her name) touched Andrew's arm and opened her mouth as if to say something, before her face crumpled and she turned around and walked away. ((And when Neil was particularly obsessive with marking Andrew's neck that night he knew Andrew was not okay until he looked in the dorms mirror three day later and said 'if you want to pretend to be a vampire at least finish the damn job' before throwing on a scarf and leaving for class.)) And Andrew knew to never comment on why Neil flinches just a little too hard whenever a female comments on their relationship. Especially the one time Dan had yelled at them to stop flirting and get back to practice. But nothing quite compared to both of their resistance to mention the looming May graduation date in a years time. The day Andrew would be leaving Neil. It was easy to say they were going to stay together. That 'this' was it for both of them, but it was harder to admit that being apart was an ordeal neither wanted to face. Since Baltimore the longest time they had spent apart was a week (5 nights 6 days to be exact) and it was fur to another event neither of them spoke about. Beyond that incident there was the occasional weekend where Neil went to visit one of the girls when Andrew was feeling particularly anti-outsiders and that was it. They were very rarely out of each other's line of sight ((outside of classes and Andrew's appointments with Bee)) much less across the country from one another. Which compounded onto Neil's other worry, because Andrew was not great at making friends. And Neil could not imagine being okay with Andrew being on a team full of people who didn't understand him. He didn't want Andrew to exist in a place where everyone only saw him as 'monster' again. Andrew may have protected Neil his first year, but they had protected each other ever since. "Uh... Captain? Neil? Dude? You alive in there?" Neil was shaken out of his own thoughts by the woman standing in front of him. She was 5'6, muscular, and with a thick mane of unruly dark hair. Robin Thompson, their new freshman goalkeeper. Neil had been put in charge of picking her up from the airport. This was perhaps the friendliest greeting he had ever received from a freshmen recruit. "You can call me Neil. No one calls me Captain." A wicked smirk turned up the left corner of her mouth, matching a nose that had clearly been broken at least once ((from reading her file Neil knew it had been broken three times)) and freckles that crossed the bridge of her nose across her cheeks. "How about Cap'n O'Neil?!" "... that's not my name." Neil was sure it was a reference he was supposed to understand, but so far Robin had proven to be the most disarming recruit he had met. From reading her file he was expecting a sullen, angsty, angry teen and instead was sent to meet with the equivalent of a firecracker. "Hmm slow on jokes. We will work on that." Before tossing her carry on at Neil's face and lifting her other bag on top of her shoulder, wheeling a midsize suitcase behind her and heading towards the exit. "You coming" was thrown over a shoulder and Neil was hard pressed to know whether or not it was a question or just merely a statement.

#all for the game #the foxhole court #neil josten #andrew minyard #andreil #my ((kinda)) oc #Robin Thompson #aftg #tfc

[foxyfetches]

Running Regrets

Chapter 2: Worry Will Only Cause Wrinkles

*Hey this is set a year before my post “Running Regrets” so it can be read separately. It is also posted on AO3!*

Neil was worried, which was not an unusual emotion for him. After captaining the Foxes for two years and proving his continued worth to the Moriyamas every game; worry was a constant companion.

Neil was exceptionally worried this year though, because Andrew had agreed to go pro. If, for nothing else, to keep a close eye on Kevin and Neil. Neil was not anxious about Andrew getting offers. No one could deny Andrew as the best goal keeper in the league.

Neil stressed over Andrew being alone.

Andrew might never admit it out loud but Neil knew how important having his family close was to the man. He knew by the way Andrew’s shoulders tensed whenever Nicky began excitedly chattering about Germany. Never noticing how Nicky always looks over at him hopefully, wanting support when he mentions breaks and vacations together.

And whenever Aaron mentioned med school, Andrew simply left the room. He blamed it on ‘the cheerleader breathing making him reach for his knives’ but Neil knew the truth. Andrew was not ready to let his family go.

Which of course was further complicated by losing so many people all at once. Kevin had signed with the L.A. Jets (ranked 4th nationally, seemed to Neil that Kevin also had an affinity for the underdogs((a comment he had of course made to the press at Kevin’s official signing causing Kevin to throw the pen at him, Andrew to smirk, and Wymack to noticeably not lecture Neil on appropriate things to tell the press))). When Kevin had moved out of the dorm and firmly shook Andrew’s hand on the promise of seeing him on the court again next year, it seemed to be the first moment Andrew had realized Kevin was no longer going to be in choking distance.

It was no longer going to be Andrew’s responsibility to pull Kevin off the floor when he has one of his 'Raven moments’ and dump him in his bed. There would be no one to watch history documentaries and then lecture on what they had gotten wrong. No one to yell about Andrew’s diet…

Neil had found Andrew on the roof during Kevin’s going away party holding a cigarette with a bottle a vodka resting by his leg. When Neil had dared to say “it’s okay to miss him.” Andrew had stubbed the cigarette out and calmly told Neil that he only regretted not having someone for Neil to blather on about exy with, because 'who will compete with you for greatest exy junkie ever’ before pulling on Neil’s shirt and distracting him with 'yes or no.’

But Neil had not been able to forget Andrew’s expression, and how he sometimes glared at their wall calendar as if it was to blame for time continuing to run away from him. For time taking his family away from him.

Andrew had finally found a family that wanted him, flaws and all, and their lives were now getting in the way of that. And soon time would be the cause of something Andrew had never experienced before. Andrew being the one to leave.

There are many things that Neil and Andrew each have as off limits topics. After Aaron’s court case Neil would never ask about the moment she (Neil never says her name) touched Andrew’s arm and opened her mouth as if to say something, before her face crumpled and she turned around and walked away. ((And when Neil was particularly obsessive with marking Andrew’s neck that night he knew Andrew was not okay until he looked in the dorms mirror three day later and said 'if you want to pretend to be a vampire at least finish the damn job’ before throwing on a scarf and leaving for class.)) And Andrew knew to never comment on why Neil flinches just a little too hard whenever a female comments on their relationship. Especially the one time Dan had yelled at them to stop flirting and get back to practice.

But nothing quite compared to both of their resistance to mention the looming May graduation date in a years time. The day Andrew would be leaving Neil. It was easy to say they were going to stay together. That 'this’ was it for both of them, but it was harder to admit that being apart was an ordeal neither wanted to face. Since Baltimore the longest time they had spent apart was a week (5 nights 6 days to be exact) and it was fur to another event neither of them spoke about.

Beyond that incident there was the occasional weekend where Neil went to visit one of the girls when Andrew was feeling particularly anti-outsiders and that was it. They were very rarely out of each other’s line of sight ((outside of classes and Andrew’s appointments with Bee)) much less across the country from one another.

Which compounded onto Neil’s other worry, because Andrew was not great at making friends. And Neil could not imagine being okay with Andrew being on a team full of people who didn’t understand him. He didn’t want Andrew to exist in a place where everyone only saw him as 'monster’ again. Andrew may have protected Neil his first year, but they had protected each other ever since.

“Uh… Captain? Neil? Dude? You alive in there?”

Neil was shaken out of his own thoughts by the woman standing in front of him. She was 5'6, muscular, and with a thick mane of unruly dark hair. Robin Thompson, their new freshman goalkeeper. Neil had been put in charge of picking her up from the airport. This was perhaps the friendliest greeting he had ever received from a freshmen recruit.

“You can call me Neil. No one calls me Captain.”

A wicked smirk turned up the left corner of her mouth, matching a nose that had clearly been broken at least once ((from reading her file Neil knew it had been broken three times)) and freckles that crossed the bridge of her nose across her cheeks. “How about Cap'n O'Neil?!”

“… that’s not my name.” Neil was sure it was a reference he was supposed to understand, but so far Robin had proven to be the most disarming recruit he had met. From reading her file he was expecting a sullen, angsty, angry teen and instead was sent to meet with the equivalent of a firecracker.

“Hmm slow on jokes. We will work on that.” Before tossing her carry on at Neil’s face and lifting her other bag on top of her shoulder, wheeling a midsize suitcase behind her and heading towards the exit. “You coming” was thrown over a shoulder and Neil was hard pressed to know whether or not it was a question or just merely a statement.

#RunningRegrets