#this is the twinyard content i like to see

[jtl-fics]

Brain science anon here

As an apology consider twinyards fluff...

Aaron learning about this is in class (Like I just did) and finally understanding Andrew a little better. Do you think he’d share this tidbit with Andrew? Would it be a conversation where Andrew decides to give a truth about his past to Aaron, telling him what happened? Would Aaron share it with the rest of the foxes (with Andrew’s blessing aka “do whatever you want” type answer when asked if it was okay) when someone starts to rag on Andrew about it, in defense of his brother? Just think of all the internal growth Aaron goes through when he realizes it’s not his fault. What else does he start to rethink and relearn about Andrew? How much closer do you think they get when Aaron realizes it's not out of animosity that Andrew acts the way he does.

I now only accept apologies by way of sweet Twinyard HCs.

Maybe Aaron finds this out and maybe he finds himself watching his brother more. Maybe he starts noticing how sometimes when Andrew is sat with Josten Andrew's eyes are warm and bright and content.

Maybe he listens to what Andrew says and sees what Andrew does more than the way Andrew says it.

I think Aaron would hold onto the information for a while. Maybe just a little bit because he doesn't know how Andrew will react to him going 'you're actually brain damaged not an asshole', maybe it's shame that he had thought his brother a monster, and maybe...maybe it's Aaron wanting to hold onto something only he knows about his brother (eat it Josten).

Then he hears Matt shit talking how Andrew will never make Neil feel loved with the way he talks.

Aaron's been watching, he is DEEPLY aware of his brother's feelings towards Josten, and has unfortunately seen his brother make those feelings quite clear even if his voice never gave anything more than 'phone book read' energy. Josten never needed to know about Andrew's brain damage to understand what Andrew means and realizing that makes him hoarding the information feel stupid (fuck off Josten).

He wants to say something but he did just take that whole 'patient-client confidentiality' ethics bit so he thinks twice. He stands up and goes to see Andrew.

Andrew and Josten are on the couch. Josten's asleep on Andrew's lap, it's domestic in a way that he's learning Andrew can be, and Andrew gives him a look.

Aaron knows if he wakes Josten up this conversation will go worse, "I took a course on brain injuries. I think you damaged your Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area and that's why your voice is like that." he says and Andrew blinks, "Did you ever...did any of them ever...hit your head really hard. Especially on the right side?" and Andrew's silent stare gives no clues but the way his hand curls in Josten's hair like he's the asshole is a preferred teddy bear. "When people bitch about how you can't emote in your speech can I tell them to shut the fuck up?" he asks.

"Do what you want." Andrew says with a shrug.

Aaron pauses before he leaves, "I...I don't think there's anything to fix-"

"I don't need to be fixed." Andrew returns and Aaron sees as Andrew traces his fingers along Josten's burn scar.

Aaron gets the impression that the only person Andrew needs to understand his emotions already does.

It doesn't bother him as much as it would have before he had started watching.

He shuts the door quietly and returns to his own dorm room to slam the door open. He points at Matt who is trying to to choke on the fig newton he'd been in the middle of chewing, "FIRST OF ALL-"

#Aarons about to call Matthew Boyd ableist #and that sweet boy is going to lose SLEEP over it #Examining his actions #Contemplating his inner biases #He will emerge an even better man #Even more perfect #Even more loving #Even more accepting #I see him and Dan doing an Exy program for kids with disabilities #He still thinks Neil could do better though #Which is fine since Aaron's first point was that Josten is lucky to have Andrew #Thank you for the sweet Twinyard thoughts #I'm still crying about Andrew #He's looking down at Neil on the couch #Thinking about the stuff he wants to say and how he wants to say it #But Neil doesn't need all that #He gets it #This is why Neil gets his hair played with the way he likes #AFTG #AFTG HC #Twinyards #Andreil #TW: Medical #Andrew Minyard #Aaron Minyard

[heybabyricecake]

It took me a long time to like Aaron but I’d like to officially announce he’s one of my favorite characters in the series now. It took me a while to see it but I’m caught up.

I do think he could’ve been explored a little more because there’s so much there to work with. His backstory is so interesting, his addiction issues were hardly touched on, his relationships with Andrew, Kevin, and Nicky have so many intricate little nuances and a million layers. Why pre med? Why Katelyn? Who does he dance with at Eden’s? (Okay the last one is more of me just trying to picture Aaron on the dance floor even though I can’t, he’s def a stand in the corner and stare guy)

At the end of the day he was there for what he needed to be there for. He steps it UP in books 2 and 3 and he shows he’s a force to be reckoned with and not a side character or pushover. He’s still a huge part of the series and I’m here for all the twinyard content.

#all for the game #aaron minyard

[this-little-lighthouse]

Wymack: sometimes people ask me how i manage the foxes so easily. truth is, i don’t. i have no control over them whatsoever. aaron called me this morning and when i showed up andrew shot me in the throat with a nerf gun

#this is the twinyard content i like to see #just two college kids #joining forces to prank their father figure #as you do #rip wymack #david wymack #coach wymack #dadmack #andrew minyard #aaron minyard #twinyards #aftg #all for the game #the foxhole court #tfc #els original

[thefoxholestuff]

I am wholeheartedly convinced that Neil thinks Andrew‘s muscles are hot but Aaron’s are gross and over exaggerated.

the foxes: hey Neil look at Andrew lift weights! Neil: *already staring, obviously spaced out, has let Kevin nearly suffocate under a barbell from where he’s supposed to be spotting*

the foxes: hey Neil look at Aaron lift weights! Neil: haha he looks stupid, those biceps are like something out of a cartoon. Hey Gaston, go read a book!

foxes: ???

Nicky, on the verge of tears: NEIL THEY LITERALLY LOOK THE EXACT SAME

Neil: The fuck are you talking about? They’re completely different, obviously.

(he goes back to staring at Andrew, who may or may not have added another plate while Neil was distracted because he’s a fucking showoff)

(Kevin has managed to get rid of the barbell across his throat and Neil is gonna get what for once he gets his breath back)

#I’m doing an experiment #I wanna see if I can summon a specific blog with beefy twinyards content #don’t @ them I wanna see if it happens organically #like and reblog as you normally would tho #beefy twinyards #beefy twinyard supremacy #hey. blog I’m summoning. you know who you are. shoot me an @ in the tags once you find this if you will. I need conclusive data #on exactly precisely how long this takes #thank you for your cooperation #one last time for good luck: #beefy twinyards supremacy

[adamslynches]

headcanon that andrew used to/does listen to old skool emo avril lavigne (the k is for punk rock purposes) bonus points if nicky catches him singing it but can't get past the initial "oh. my. god?" & intake of breath to say more before andrew cuts him off- "Do. Not. You were never here."

Andrew absolutely BOPPING to sk8r boi and Nicky’s entire life is flashing before his eyes because holy shit that cannot be his cousin.

See also: Aaron had a scene phase and Nicky has enough pictures to never let him live it down (Katelyn has them now, and they will be shown to their children. She has to hide them so that Aaron doesn’t burn them.)

And lastly: Andrew at 40 years old with Neil in the kitchen and Neil starts miming the words of Girlfriend to him, Andrew is not smiling and he absolutely is not getting up so that when a slower song comes on he can dance with his boyfriend husband.

Thank you for your time, and your headcanons I love this so much

#andreil #andrew minyard #neil josten #aaron minyard #aftg #tfc #katelyn #twinyards #this is the kind of content I like to see thank you so much anon #asks

[jingerhead]

For 100-follower-day prompts: Neil trying to explain the differences between beefy twinyards to the other foxes (or, alternatively, trying to explain how he tells the difference WITHOUT mentioning the beefiness 👀)? Love your stuff btw, thanks for all you do!

Now this is quality content, thank you so much, lovely!! Here's a short:

They were trying to trick him again.

Neil and Kevin had gone to the court for some early practice before actual practice, and now Neil was paying the price for not traveling with Andrew. He and Aaron had dressed in baggy black sweatshirts, thick sweatpants, and only wore socks on their feet. Andrew had removed his earrings and Aaron had styled his hair like Andrew's. The rest of the Foxes were sitting in the lounge, smirking amongst themselves and snickering once in a while, no doubt at whatever face Neil currently had on his face.

"You guys..." he huffed. There had to be a bet of some kind, and a good one, too. The only reason Andrew and Aaron went along with bets were if the prize was worth it.

"Go on, Neil," Allison said cheerfully. She was the organizer, no doubt.

"This isn't funny," Neil said lowly. "And it's getting old."

"You only say that because you lost last time," Matt replied with a loud laugh.

Neil didn't loose last time, because there was no bet last time. Last time, Andrew was being a dick, and Neil had been feeling sick and miserable. Aaron shouldn't have walked into their dorm that day if he didn't want to get mistaken for his brother.

"Just guess, Neil," Allison said.

He considered leaving just to spite everyone, but at the same time, he did want to make up for last time. While the twins were identical, there would always be differences. They both had broad shoulders, but Andrew had bigger biceps because of the position he played, having to hold his heavy racket and working out specifically to build that strength. Aaron had more muscle in his legs, giving him larger calves, but not larger thighs. Unfortunately, with them dressed like this, it was nearly impossible to see those differences.

"Want to walk us through your thought process?" Dan asked with a teasing note to her voice.

Neil really didn't, but that did give him an idea. "Faces," Neil decided to go with. "Aaron scowls too deeply."

There was no reaction. Shit, he was getting better.

"So you know?" Allison asked. Kevin apparently decided he was done with the team's bullshit and left for the locker room.

"Sure," Neil said uneasily. The unfortunate part here was that Aaron had clearly been practicing - or maybe Andrew gave him lessons on how to school his expression perfectly - because he couldn't pick out the little differences from this distance. "I just need another look."

"What're you looking for?" Matt questioned.

There was no way he was going to explain that he could tell them apart if he could get a good look at their biceps. "Trying to see which one styled their hair and which one didn't," Neil quickly lied after he got a few steps closer.

Still nothing. Both twins had their arms hanging at their sides, which didn't give Neil a good look at how the fabric shaped against their arms. The black of the sweatshirts didn't help, either. Neil didn't know yet.

That was fine. It was fine.

The team was clearly getting impatient. "Figure it out, buddy?" Matt asked. He looked worried, like if Neil got it wrong he'd die or something.

"Just need to check one last thing," Neil replied, walking around the twins until he was looking at their backs.

"What's the last thing?" Dan asked.

Neil's gaze traveled down the twins' clothed backs until he could take a look at each ass. There was some things they'd never be able to hide, it would seem. Neil had spent hours in the weight room watching Andrew do backsquats. It had helped build his thighs, but it also shaped his ass.

Aaron doesn't do backsquats. Neil was not going to tell anyone this.

"Aaron's shorter," Neil said, cupping his chin like he was observing something interesting.

Somehow, neither one of them reacted. Neil had no doubt it was taking everything in Aaron's short body to keep his composure. Behind him, the upperclassmen had begun to laugh loudly, but all that mattered to Neil was that they didn't realize what he'd really been looking at.

"Aaron," Neil said, pointing to the twin on the left. "Andrew," he added, pointing to the twin on the right.

"That's bullshit!" Aaron immediately yelled, turning around and glaring at Neil. "We're the same height!"

"Hmm, you might want to get that checked," Neil said, allowing a smirk to quirk his lips.

There were a few groans from the couch. Matt was telling someone to pay up, and Aaron walked towards them to hand over whatever money he owned. Andrew didn't move, but he motioned for Neil to step closer. Neil went, finally able to pick out the larger build on Andrew's body now that he was so close.

"As great as that was," Andrew began, "you do know that me and Aaron are the same height."

It was a statement, not a question. "Yes," Neil responded.

"Tell me how," Andrew demanded.

Neil was still smirking. He wasn't going to say anything - not yet, anyway. He was going to gloat in his victory for a while, first. "There's just some things you can't hide," he whispered instead.

#aftg #aftg fic #aftg fanfic #tfc #tfc fanfic #all for the game #all for the game fanfic #the foxhole court #andreil #andreil fanfic #andriel #neil josten #andrew minyard #aaron minyard #beefy andrew supremacy #beefy twinyard supremacy #you human i like you very much #this prompt was so much fun #it ended up a little longer than i meant it to be #but you know what who cares when we can write about beefy twinyards #myworks #myasks

[givemetheusernamethatiwant]

TWINYARDS BIRTHDAY

It's been a few years since the events of tkm

Aaron and Andrew Minyard still dont like a big celebration for their birthday

But Neil and Katelyn (they are good friends not just because their partners are siblings) want to do something special for their partners.

They plan something special for them

A surprise party

With the whole pomp and show.

They have been sent (read: forced) out to get each other presents and booze (this is the only reason they agreed, except maybe they want to get the other something but of course it wont be mentioned, the presents will be hidden away for the other to find)(Andrew knows where its going hidden and will purposely stay there to annoy Aaron who will not get time to hide it and will have to think of a new place, which would be just not perfect as the previous one)

Calling everyone they know bringing a huge cake and the bursting thingies (I dont know what they're called), and pretending it's just a dinner with the four of them and Nicky and Erik who were already visiting them – Nicky said it was for halloween but it was obviously for their birthday, but the twins are happy to play along because they like it when Nicky takes out time to come and stay with them— and ya know everyone hiding behind the couch with the lights off to shout "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" when they get home. The whole shebang.

It's exactly like the movies,,,,other than the things that are different

It's the Foxes and Wymack and Abby and Bee. Because, why would they want anyone else there

It is a huge cake, because come on, they both have a huge sweet tooth (Aaron's is not mentioned in the books because he never gets anything as Andrew eats everything sweet he can get his hands on) and its cooked by Neil and Katelyn who shooed everyone else away (it's a bit too sweet but the twins are not complaining about that).

The bursting thingies are in fact not there (wait, is that what confetti is? I don't know what confetti is either). But there is a pinata-esqe balloon filled with chocolates for them to break open and enjoy, Kevin tried to put in some sugar free stuff but he was banned Nicky from entering the room

It is in fact a dinner – mostly made up of various desserts – but it's not only them (that was lunch)

Everyone was not hiding behind the couch– there is not enough room for them all – the lights are not turned off. But everyone's cars are hidden and they do shout HAPPY BIRTHDAY to try and scare them which is obviously not successful because they both have a practiced emotionless face

So the twinyards have their fox family with them for their birthday. Which they celebrated with cake and booze

and they enjoyed kicking out everyone drunk at the end because they're still little shits (no they didnt abandon them completely, Renee and Abby are sober and they drive everyone home).

Aaron and Andrew dont have any leftover animosity, it's just for pretend that everyone sees through. They are both healed and content with their lives.

bonus:

Andrew got Aaron a pair of socks with pompoms as a mock gift, (it might be a joke but aaron loves those socks) because I said so. But the real gift is actually a tie and a brooch designed to say "heilung" (it means healing in german according to google) for Aaron's upcoming wedding (Aaron is going to propose and only Andrew knows about that because he was nervous and Andrew was the first person he turned to – can you see their development <33 )

Aaron got Andrew a gift card to his favourite sweetshop (I dont know if that's a thing but we are pretending that it is) and matching ring set, half of which is with Aaron (not that anyone except Andrew knows that it's a matching set) (because Andrew would not agree to any other jewellery and Aaron wanted something that would be for them). He also got Andrew an exy racquet fridge magnet which he knew would piss Andrew off. (And there was also a doormat that said "fuck off"with that cat showing the middle finger but that was not found until the day after. Its cherished by Andrew and Neil forever)

#i just want my boys to be happy and just happy man #and dont ask me their age #i do not know #and i really wanted to say instead of wedding but i didnt #and Aaron's gifts arent like or something #he wanted to get Andrew something useful #he made Andrew a set of crocheted armabands their previous birthday #he learned crocheting for that exact reason #and Andrew is torn between wanting to wear them everyday and never wearing them to preserve them forever #so Aaron wanted to get him something chill and fun and useful #so yes #i apologise for the too mnay notes and brackets in between #its mostly because i do not know shit and because i have thoughts in the middle and i cannot go back to the beginning to add it there #and they were content with their lives #and in peace with their lives #and just let them be happy dammit #ok so this is my first huge headcanon and i really liked it so yayy #twinyards #aftg #all for the game #andrew minyard #aaron minyard #happy birthday twinyards #the foxes #ya know....the regular #so yeah #aftg headcanon #i wanted to say aarons upcoming nupitals instead of wedding...but i resisted...this was a tag that just vanished...i don't know why #*aarons gifts arent like something not personal* is also a tag that vanished..this was before the explanation about the crocheting #happy twinyards day

[whomst-the-hell]

andreil fic recs

(@definitelyarationalstone asked for fic recs? idk if this is what u wanted but?)

arsonists lullaby by gerifalte (complete)

Andrew Doe learned from a young age that not everyone could hear what he heard. Not everyone felt the fire like he did. Not everyone cared enough to believe him. He also learned that no one was as nice as they first seemed, and that he could sometimes trust the voices that whispered softly in his ear.

Andrew Doe learned something else in those years with nothing to call his own, but that’s a secret kept between him and the fire.

***

Or: a magical realism AU with lots of pining where Andrew can talk to fire and uses an incredible amount of fire metaphors.

i loved this so much? the twinyards content we deserve tbh and the magic is V Cool. ive always been a sucker for urban fantasy. the andreil is less prominent but still there

tales of a martyr in xii parts by redskiesandsailboats (complete)

Neil closes his eyes and counts the things that he knows:

One: Death has a name.

Two: He has met Death before. Several times, in fact.

Three: Someone is trying to kill him. Permanently. But it's only kind of working.

Or, the one in which Andrew is the Grim Reaper, Neil is very, very good at dying, over and over and over again. They teach each other a few things over the centuries.

this is one of my favourite fics i have read of any fandom tbh. the history, the different meetings, andrew as the grim reaper, its all so cool.

ive been confused on how to move (real loves so hard to find) by talls (complete)

Justin: John Doe says “I am a student athlete and I have an issue with someone on my team. The first time I ever met him, he hit me so hard in the stomach with a racquet that I went flying to the floor-

Griffin: Okay, wait, I know the answer to this question, get a restraining order. Or leave the state. Probably leave the state. Leave the state might be the right answer.

Justin: Let me finish, it gets so much worse. He hit me so hard in the stomach with a racquet that I went flying to the floor. However, over this year, though he has threatened me with death on a number of occasions, he has promised to keep me safe from my past (don’t worry about it).

Griffin: DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT?

the funniest aftg fic ive read. at the time of reading it, i hadnt listened to any mbmbam so dont worry abt needing the context to enjoy it. its a rlly good outsider pov on andreils development and how absurd the books were

honey dont feed me (i will come back) by talls (complete)

There’s a new god in the pantheon; Andrew remembers hearing about the scandal a while back, the newest Demeter having a child with the current Zeus and then going on the run, child in tow. They call him Persephone, the god of springtime and new life, the antithesis of Andrew's realm. It would be ludicrous of Persephone to ever interact with Andrew at all.

If only someone told Persephone that.

--

“Hades, right?” Persephone asks.

“Andrew,” Andrew responds, and Persephone hums.

“Nice to meet you, Andrew. I’m Neil,” Neil responds. Andrew cuts a look sideways to see Neil watching him, something assessing in his gaze. Andrew nods in response. “I have to say, you’re not nearly as scary as everyone says you are,” Neil continues.

“You barely know me. Give it time,” Andrew says, because the rumors don’t exaggerate. People fear him for good reason.

“I’d like to, I think,” Neil says. Andrew quirks an eyebrow at him. “Know you,” Neil clarifies. Before Andrew can think of a response, Neil’s head turns. “I have to go. Zeus called for me, and he’ll notice if I’m missing. Thanks for the cigarette.”

a hades and persephone au need i honestly say more. talls my beloved honestly i didnt realise this one and the mbmbam one were the same person till right now so good on them i love them

we used to be friends by gluupor (complete)

Neil's life is thrown into disarray when his best friend is murdered. As he starts his senior year of high school, he finds himself on the outside looking in, a social pariah whose former friends are only too willing to bully and ostracize him.

Working for his father, a private investigator, leads him to evidence that his friend's murder may not be as straightforward as it seems. Neil throws himself into the investigation, hoping that solving the case might help him regain some of what he lost.

classic teen detective story, so well written. i actually gasped a couple times. it has some of my favourite characterisation of neil which is of course feral bastard (i think fanon neil gets softened too much in order to contrast andrew but thats a different post) and the neil & jean friendship, even though its mostly flashbacks, is so sweet

the continuing adventures of the nine-nine by gluupor (complete)

this ones a series so no summary here sorry but its a series of oneshots of a brooklyn nine nine au. it once again features feral bastard neil along with another of my fav tropes: andrew and neil are married but no one knows. its great.

Inked truths by paradoxolotl (the series is ongoing but features many complete works)

another series so no direct summary but basically: neil and andrew meet through a pen pal program while andrew is in juvie. the second fic follows this (while andrew is in juvie) the third is the time andrew spends living with aaron and the fourth, currently ongoing, will be andrews time at palmetto. the first was a 5+1 fic of aaron discovering their marriage years after all this.

i love alternate first meeting fics so much? and neil living with stuart in the uk is another of my fav tropes so this ticks all the boxes. also paradoxolotl is an adorable name

doe & josten: deductionists by spanglebangle (incomplete)

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.

this is almost your classic case-an-episode cop show. it reminds me of psych or bbc sherlock. i also liked the characterisation in this one, even though it doesnt feature feral bastard neil. i should say though: DISCLAIMER THIS FIC HASNT UPDATED SINCE 2018!! bc it follows that case-an-episode format, this isnt the most disappointing and the andreil does happen before the fic was dropped, however the main plot was picking up a bit at the end there which might be frustrating. read at ur own risk

#lol forgot to tag this for a sec #andreil #fic rec #andrew minyard #neil josten #b99 au #detective au #magic realism #hades and persephone au #historical fiction au #idk if i did this right #also i didnt include any ratings or warnings or anything #am i supposed to btw? idk #but basically make sure to read the tags #i dont remember there being anything worse than canon? #but check anyway just in case #aftg

[crows-and-crumbs]

Andrew and Aaron go weekly grocery shopping together

Here’s another one! I loved this as well, please I want to write more little things like this! Hope you enjoy Anon

I love the twinyards, they just need a little nudge to reach their full potential :3

———————————————————————

Aaron and Andrew didn’t talk about it. They didn’t sit down and plan it, didn’t communicate anything other than simple text of when, and then they did it.

It had been Bee’s suggestion, and not something either of them would have proposed themselves.

“It would be good for you to share short and necessary errands with a specific goal in mind” she had said with a soft smile that was only met with Aaron’s look of doubt and Andrew’s indifference.

Normally it was Nicky who did the grocery shopping, it had always been like that, and it had stayed that way.

Kevin was too busy with Exy and whatever monthly existential breakdown he’d succumbed to that week to do anything.

Aaron was a MED-student and athlete leaving little time for stuff like that, and Andrew was... well he was Andrew.

That and for the first long while of them going to college, he had been high as a kite and not allowed to drive anywhere.

Not even to the grocery store.

Which is where the Aaron found himself, pushing the wagon as Andrew carelessly threw stuff from the isles down into it, eyes never leaving the tiny list Nicky had handed them.

“Kevin’s gonna strangle you” Aaron broke the silence that had been suffocating him ever since they left Fox Tower.

Andrew had already placed three tubs of ice cream into the basket and was reaching for the fourth.

Slowly Andrew raised his eyes to meet Aaron’s own, and for a second Aaron thought he might have broken one of his brother’s stupid unspoken rules.

But Andrew didn’t seem angry at all, he never seemed anything now a days, but this was a different kind of nothing.

It was in the twist of his eye, slightly upward, he was fucking smug.

Slowly and deliberately, without breaking eye contact, Andrew let the fourth tub drop into the wagon.

“You’re Andrew Minyard!” The starting contest Aaron had been intend on winning was cut short by a high pitched child’s voice, making both the twins turn to look down.

A little girl was standing there, dark hair a mess and bright eyes so wide It looked like they might pop out.

Andrew tensed beside Aaron but didn’t answer, the girl didn’t seem to notice or care all that much.

“You are so cool!” She shrieked, jumping slightly where she stood “your game against the Ravens was legendary! You totally beat their ass!” She giggled, it sounded like bells.

“Andrew” Aaron hissed when his brother seemed to be doing nothing.

“Can I have your autograph? Pretty please?” There it was, every single alarm bell went off in Aaron’s head.

Body moving before he thought, he got ready to stop Andrew from murdering a 10 year old by the ice cream section, but that proved unnecessary.

Andrew slid down into a squad, making himself a couple centimeters shorter than the girl, who could only look at him as if he was gods gift to earth.

“Sure” Andrew answered simply, reaching for her book.

She scrambled through her back pack, almost dropping the notebook with how enthusiastically she pulled it out.

Andrew caught it before it could hit the floor, taking the pen she offered and signed it before handing it back to her.

“Thank you so much mr. Minyard! This is the coolest thing ever! She exclaimed “I’ll keep watching all the games! My friends aren’t gonna believe this!” She hugged the notebook close to her and in that moment Aaron decided to turn his gaze on his brother.

Andrew seemed... content? Another word he wouldn’t associate with his worse half, but the only one he could come up with to describe what he was seeing.

It made something tingle somewhere in him. He pushed it down enough to punch the wagon forward, nudging Andrew soft enough that it would make him fall over, but hard enough to gain his attention.

Andrew got up from his half seated position on the floor, still looking at the girl.

“Gabriella?” Somewhere a frantic woman’s voice called and the girl spun around on her heel.

“That’s my mom, goodbye mr. Minyard! Thank you!” And then she was gone in the crowd.

They spend the rest of the trip in silence, Aaron trying to banish the picture of Andrew’s features softening when he sat down in front of the girl.

He didn’t like to think of his brother as a human like anyone else. If he had to use any descriptors for his brother it would be the uncanny valley.

Something that lived, breathed and paraded as a human, but something was just off enough to make one doubt.

It was stuff like what had happened at Thanksgiving, when Josten went missing and now this little girl, that reminded him that his brother was human. And that terrified him.

The trail was in two months, and Aaron had done his best to keep the thoughts of it as far away as possible, but how could he ever forget, when Andrew did stuff like this.

Had emotions that could be other than apathy and rage. Aaron didn’t know how to interact with that Andrew.

It also pissed him off endlessly.

All these random things and people that waltzed in and out of their life, sometimes even ruining it, could make his brother feel, but Aaron couldn’t? What had he done that made him different?

“Does Katelyn want kids?” The question comes out of nowhere when they reach Fox Tower and Aaron goes for the bags in the trunk while Andrew lights a cigarette.

“I don’t know” Aaron answered honestly, it wasn’t something they’d talked about yet, and wouldn’t be for many years if ever.

“Hm” Andrew hummed and took a drag “do you?” He continued.

Once again Aaron didn’t know what to respond. Did he want kids? He didn’t know. At first thought the answer was, no, absolutely not.

He knew that the cycle of abuse was hard to break, and if he wanted to be healthy enough to have a kid, he had a lot of work to do. And even then, Katelyn and him would have to talk about it for a while.

However the longer he thought about it, the more doubtful he became of his initial definitive no.

“I don’t know” the long period of silence that had been left between the question and the answer spoke volumes and Andrew blew out another smoke cloud.

Aaron left then, up with the elevator and into their dorms to put the things away.

Maybe These shopping trips wouldn’t be that bad.

#andrew minyard #aftg #aftg fandom #twinyards #aaron minyard #they’re brothers your honor #they just don’t know how to #soft twinyards #aftg fanfic #fanfic

[heybabyricecake]

What the AFTG pipeline (downward spiral) looked like for me:

Step 1: WhAt are these books, why do I keep seeing them everywhere on my social media , I hear they’re bad but curiosity won this round *buys first book*

Step 2: end of book 1: WHAAt?!?! You’re telling me Neil and Andrew don’t even kiss in book 1?!?! *buys books 2 and 3 and finishes entire series in 3 days*

Step 3: I’m pretty sure this is the greatest love story ever written. Mafia/sports is my new favorite genre. All of the characters are my fave I would die for Andrew Minyard

Step 4: *rereads book series many times appreciating it more each time if somehow possible*

Step 5: obsession with fan art

Step 6: now we enter dangerous territory…. Open ao3 just to see… just to see what there is out there. Okay the first few feel a little off, not sure I’m into it but I don’t hate it

Step 6: ao3 is my life - Minyard/Josten Rivalry, books from Andrews POV, future professional exy players, adopting cats, wholesome twinyard content, everything you could ever want about their future, soft Andriel <3

Step 7: I like my fics LOnG AND PAINFUL. Alternate universes, I live there now, what’s this, Neil and Ichirou?!?!?! I’m pretty sure the fan fiction is the real book (losing sense of time and reality at this point)

Step 8: I think we need one more long and painful fic *pulls out laptop and starts writing*

Ah, the brain rot :)

#all for the game #andrew minyard #neil josten #the foxhole court #kevin day #andriel #aftg funny #ao3 author

[crows-murder]

Twinyards

it’s 2am and i hate myself and im literally dead on my feet but i cant fucking sleep so here i am instead

as far as most sibling relationships go, the twins have a....unique bond

they hate each other

but they don’t

it took nicky some time to understand that yes, the twins did care for him and each other

in their own way

at first glance, no one would see it-- not even nicky. through longer exposure, it would be hard to discern, but nicky did, somehow

he really first noticed after Andrew had almost killed the four guys attacking nicky

after that, nicky started picking up the small things

when aaron went to the local starbucks on days they woke up early but didn’t want to make breakfast, he knew andrew and nicky’s orders by heart

when andrew convinced nicky to buy ice cream despite nicky protesting that they should be mindful of their money, andrew always got nicky’s favorite flavor as well

on rough days when nicky was just drowning in the stress of holding a job and paying for the bills, the twins would stay in their room, to let nicky pick himself back up, before ordering pizza and turning on the tv

they never talked about it. if someone brought it up, an argument very often followed up

the twins have a strange way of showing affection, but that’s because they never learned to show proper affection

aaron was always quick to get angry and andrew was indifferent to the point of aggravation and pure frustration

it was their ways of coping

andrew by not caring and aaron by being angry at anyone for no reason

their first meeting could have gone a lot worse, but they both in a subconscious way saw the other as a survivor of their circumstances

and andrew did care. so did aaron

aaron reached out to his brother, filled for the first time with the hope that someone out there cares about him. he hopes and hopes that it will work out.

it doesn’t. aaron’s heart just breaks and his hope is shredded when andrew tells him to fuck off. 

andrew wanted a brother, too. he wanted to have at least one good thing, one thing that life wouldn’t fuck up for him

but andrew couldn’t even have that. he couldn’t let his brother, his twin, go through what he was going through. so he pushed him away, made sure he’d be safe from his life. 

when andrew learns that despite trying to protect his brother, he had still failed, he was angry. he was so angry. he was protecting someone who was being hurt by his mother. by their mother. who’d been so hurt, he would get high just to forget the hurt

deep down, aaron always knew his mother never truly cared. deep down he understood why andrew killed her. but he refused to admit it. he refused to believe his mother deserved it. 

the twins weren’t subtle, but they didn’t know how they felt towards each other. it was hard to describe, and not one word really could.

andrew was first fiercely stubborn and loyal to aaron, trying to protect him the way he’d never been able to protect himself, and it slowly shifted onto nicky

aaron did care about andrew. he reached out. he wanted a brother. he wanted a twin. but he wasn’t expecting andrew. and it muddled the feelings, and when Tilda died, it just became worse, because of course aaron was angry and sad, and andrew couldn’t understand. and aaron didn’t understand how andrew could feel so little sympathy for their mother. andrew didn’t see how aaron could mourn the person who’d ruined him. who’d ruined them both, really.

nicky did try his best to get them to get along. but he didn’t really understand the issues and the layers of caution and hurt. he was pushing, but not in the right direction

and it’s not like either of the twins really tried either

in another life, they might’ve. in different circumstances, they might’ve. but Tilda was dead, and aaron and andrew had so many miscommunications to get through.

it wasn’t until Neil, and the early Thanksgiving at the Hemmicks that it changed

neil was different

he coaxed more out of andrew than aaron ever did. it’s one of the reasons why aaron hated him. how could he, practically a stranger who’d known them for half a year, could know more about andrew than aaron had learned in three years? some of it felt unfair to aaron, but he felt like he half deserved not knowing his brother. it wasn’t like he’d tried his hardest to get to know him. 

and it was how quickly neil had puzzled together the mess that was andrew and aaron

not even they could piece it together. it felt so thoroughly messed up and convoluted that they never though any of it was salvageable anymore

when neil brough up Tilda’s death, right after aaron had killed drake, aaron had felt angry, pissed off, borderline furious

but the thought stayed. and nagged.

and when andrew left for Easthaven, without even waiting for aaron to get back to columbia, it hurt more than he’d anticipated

aaron thought about it a lot. and he hated that neil’s statement had made so much sense

after that it was slow going

so slow no one really noticed at first. not even neil. but then neil started picking up one or two things, and then progressively, so did nicky

aaron started

the twins never really verbally apologized for hurting each other, either physically or with words. they’d just spit hurtful words at each other until one of them (usually aaron) stormed out. then, usually a few hours later, one of them called out the answer of a particularly hard homework question for the other and the whole thing was forgotten

it was just how they worked

maybe it was the way they were brought up, or maybe it was just the way they operated, but neither twin needed the other to physically say the words “i’m sorry”. it was usually implied through action, as were most things with them.

and aaron found it easier to forgive andrew for killing Tilda that he thought

one morning in the Columbia house, andrew walked in the kitchen and aaron was there drinking coffee, waiting for his toast to pop out of the toaster, and handed andrew a cup of hot chocolate

andrew simply raised an eyebrow, but took it anyway.

after that, it remained slow.

when andrew went to the store, he’d sometimes buy aaron’s favorite ice cream flavor

and it goes back and forth for a while

they don’t mention it. aaron never brings up the fact that study sheets occasionally appear on his desk the day before a test. andrew never mentions the newly stocked cocoa powder in the kitchen, stacked next to the coffee and tea.

its such small things its only noticeable to the twins and sometimes neil

and it stays at that, but it’s progress, and that’s never happened before, and when neil (and later nicky) notice, they just smile a little, because no matter how little, progress is progress, and it’s a big step for andrew and aaron.

they’re far from talking through their issues, and it occurs to neither of them, but they’re content to go slow 

once, aaron had a bad nightmare that woke him up at an ungodly hour of the night. he knew sleep wouldn’t come, not with the way he was shaking and sweating, so he decided coffee and a movie would distract him

he’s surprised to find andrew sitting on the countertop eating m&m’s aaron had bought just a day prior

they don’t speak at all. aaron just makes his tea and sits on the couch, and andrew stays on the counter, scrolling through his phone

aaron turns on the tv and puts on an animated series at low volume

at one point andrew turns his attention to the tv before sliding off the counter and going back to bed. aaron falls asleep on the couch

a couple of nights later, same thing happens again-- nightmares aren’t uncommon for the twins, or anyone really. if the twins cross path in the kitchen, one would just go back to their room

this time the kitchen is empty so aaron pulls out the ice cream and turns on the tv

andrew, being a light sleeper, wakes up. he knows who it is and debates getting up. he does, and this time directly goes to the living room and sits in an armchair, staring blankly at the tv. he only goes back to his room when aaron falls asleep, leaving the tv on.

andrew manages his nightmares better, but some still rattle him every so often, and enough that he usually stays up the rest of the night or finds neil and stays with him.

it’s one of the worse nights, and andrew wakes up in a panic, shivering and angrily wiping his wet face clean. he leaves his room, intent on finding neil before he realises it’s not neil he wants to be with

it annoys him, and he doesn’t like it, or even understand why, but he goes to aaron’s room anyways. he opens the door and settles in aaron’s desk, refusing to wake his twin up.

aaron finds him the next morning, snoring softly in his chair, his head resting in his crossed arms. (he’s really confused, and considers waking him, but decides against it and instead makes him hot chocolate for when he wakes up)

they still don’t talk much about it, but now they don’t act as tense around each other, and usually leave it at insulting the other.

nicky, having dealt with the twins, notices this and almost cries and nearly hugs both of them. he cares too much about graduating with all his limbs to do it, however

he mentions it to neil later, who had noticed the smaller gestures, and shares in  nicky’s delight. yes, neil has a certain dislike for aaron, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want andrew and aaron to have a healthy relationship with each other they clearly deserve.

to anyone else, this might be slightly ridiculous, not meaning anything, and probably not even noticeable, but for both of them, it was a huge step forward. 

aaron manages to find a spare mattress that he fits under his bed for andrew. andrew doesn’t put a mattress or explicitly tells aaron he can come in his room, so aaron opts instead for tv and snacks. sometimes andrew shows up, sometimes he doesn’t, and aaron finds he doesn’t mind.

one of those nights, aaron finds andrew already watching something on the tv when he shows up. it’s not a cartoon, but aaron grabs the leftover pizza from last night and watches with andrew

later, he looks up the series and ends up watching it. he catches up to the episode andrew was watching, and a couple nights later turns on the show

andrew is surprised that aaron wanted to catch up, and was invested in the show. he settles for telling aaron he’s a couple episodes ahead. aaron shrugs and replies that they can watch until he catches up. it’s their way of agreeing to watch it together at 4 in the morning

one wednesday, a couple months into the twins’ tentative healing, they mentions to Bee what’s been happening. and Bee smiles. she’s just happy that the twins are getting better, and striving to fix things a little.

the Upperclassmen catch up much later

probably because andrew still calls out insults his brother during practice and aaron retaliates

and yes sometimes andrew purposefully deflects balls in such a way that they hit aaron’s back or legs just to annoy him

but andrew tolerates katelyn

and aaron still doesn’t know what andrew sees in neil josten but doesn’t mind his relationship

andrew tells aaron one wednesday he hates being touched, and it doesn’t take a genius to know why. aaron has the urge to go find all of andrew’s abusers and bash their brains in like drake

aaron and andrew never really had people to care for them, so their sense of family is a little extreme, but it’s there

and it’s proof they can get better over time

they’re both in their own way protective of each other. and it’s a silent pact that anyone who hurts nicky will have to face two very pissed off blonds

movie nights at four am become a regular at the Columbia house, and sometimes (though they both have less nightmares over the years) during the week, so they get used to the extra key specifically for each other’s dorms.

one morning matt walks in and see aaron and andrew asleep on oppsoite ends of the couch while sharing a blanket, and takes a picture that he sends to everyone.

dan frames it and hangs it on the wall in the Foxhole Court (next to the one of Andrew and Neil at the airport)

the twins find out and wear practically identical “i am going to murder whoever did this” scowls

andrew thinks birthdays are a waste of time, but neil convinces him to spend time with aaron 

so andrew drags aaron to the roof after raiding the liquor cabinet and get drunk on the roof

the twins have a lot of things they never mention

it’s a maze that’s hard to navigate, but the twins know how the system works

there are things and moments and people they never bring up, and there are gestures and little things that are not worth mentioning. both twins don’t know how to really communicate with each other, and sometimes with other people

they don’t know how to express things verbally

so between them its almost and unspoken agreement that phrases like “i love you” or “i’m sorry” are meaningless and dumb. 

its one of the reasons why it’s hard to see that the twins are closer than they ever were, because they don’t communicate with words. they’re better at showing what they mean than actually saying it

they get more comfortable around each other, and by the time their senior year rolls in they make jokes (it’s hard to classify them as jokes when it mainly consists of one of the twins pointing at a random object and going  “that’s you” with a blank expression while the other scowls)

nicky’s already back in germany and as graduation comes near, both twins find that they don’t want to get away from each other

andrew who doesn’t give a shit about aaron and hates him, texts him pictures of the cats or neil being idiots every once in a while

aaron doesn’t text often, because he doesnt really know what to text

but sometimes andrew will receive a picture of an empty store shelf with a single can of soup on it and the caption “is this u?”

and its so fucking random that andrew can’t help laughing

and aaron begins sending birthday cards to andrew (andrew calls him just to say fuck off and then hangs up immediately, but aaron just smiles and keeps doing it anyway)

(and andrew does start texting aaron happy birthday when it comes around)

one christmas nicky invites both twins and their significant others to germany and andrew gets aaron one of those stupid mugs with a science joke on it

aaron scowls because he knows andrew is blatantly mocking him. he knows.

but its fine because aaron got andrew a black sweater reading “dumber twin” (he had it custom made in rainbow font)

andrew doesn’t even try to act pleasant and says fuck you to aaron’s face

after that christmas, aaron always drinks from the cup andrew got him and andrew wears aaron’s dumb sweater

(katelyn and neil sneakily take pictures and send it to each other because “they’re bonding”)

it takes a long time for the twins to really get around their issues, and they’re both still healing, but at least whatever tilda severed when she separated them is healing too

it might never be perfect, and there’s a lot of healing, and it might never be okay, and it might take them their whole life to properly heal, but the steps they take are forward, and together

and their relationship is still complicated and messy and not the best 

but theyre both trying

they both want this

#enjoy whatever this is #i tried okay #i tried my best to english well enough #its 2am and im mentally checked out #twinyards #andrew minyard #aaron minyard #nicky hemmick #aftg #all for the game #aftg katelyn #andreil #sir fat cat mccatterson #king fluffkins #tw abuse #tw rape

[jasonsscar]

ALL FOR THE GAME: PERCY JACKSON AU

((an au made by yours truly with @youareprettierthanthestars ))

Neil is definitely a child of Nike!! Don’t question us on this. I don’t even think we have to discuss why.

Matt is a son of apollo because he is a ray of sunshine. No criticism is being taken at the moment.

Allison is a daughter of Aphrodite. Nicky is a son of Eros. They don’t take shit from anyone. They are the most fashionable people at camp. We love them.

Dan has child of Athena vibes. She is the leader of the team so I feel like that fits her pretty well!!

Renee is a daughter of ARES and I do NOT want a single comment AGAINST this because it is CANON.

Twinyards are children of Demeter. The potential is there for them. If you don’t see it just mind your business.

Kevin Day is a CHILD OF ROME SON OF VICTORIA!!

Seth is son of Dionysus,,, the parallels,,,

BONUS CONTENT:

Wymack is a Satyr. Abby is a nymph. Tree nymph in particular.

BONUS CONTENT x2:

Imagine the AU where instead of “seven half bloods shall answer the call...” we get “nine halfbloods shall answer the call...” and we get the prophecy of nine.

The Raven’s ARE Camp Jupiter and the Foxes are CHB (THEY HAVE ORANGE!!). The Raven’s are about strategy and precision then we have the Foxes that are just going nonstop and never quitting even when all hope is lost.

Imagine,,, Neil and Andrew falling into Tartarus,,, imagine their friendship all solidifying. The story that could come out of this,,,

BONUS CONTENT x3:

Jean is actually a magician from the Kane Chronicles.

#pjo #hoo #aftg #all for the game #the foxhole court #neil josten #andrew minyard #aaron minyard #twinyards #kevin day #dan wilds #allison reynolds #seth gordon #matthew boyd #renee walker #nicky hemmick #david wymack #abby winfield #the urge to write out this au is too strong #aftg au

[nekojitachan]

I just read armies for the third time and every time I reread is just as fuckin amazing as the last time... Also I saw an ask once mentioning a collection about Aaron visiting Andrew in London, just wondering if you have any plans of posting again? I'm just so weak for my minyard boys. Hope you're good! Love your writing please never leave us ❤️

Ah... I went looking for the link to the story but I’ve been unable to find it yet (I know I would have used something to tag it, but that’s not working). I do have it saved, but not the link (on a side note, I found a twinyard prompt that I’ve forgotten about). So here it is again (until I either add it to Armies properly or do an Armies side stories post on AO3):

*******

Abram smiled at Ashley as he leaned gingerly against the top of one of her monitors with his chin resting on top of his folded arms. “So, I sent you the file last night, and let me tell you, it was rather difficult reining in Andrew while I corrected the few grammar mistakes – he wanted to make a couple comments on the paper.” That had surprised Abram, his husband’s interest on the topic, but Kimberly had picked an interesting book for once.

Ashley laughed as she leaned back in her chair and toyed with her long, dark brown braid. “I appreciate your efforts since I can only imagine what he’d have put in there.” She shuddered a little which made Abram smile in shared horror. “She’s doing better?”

“Yes, I imagine soon enough you’ll have to come up with something else when I ask for a favor.” Ashley smiled at that, a mixture of pride for her younger sister and delight in thinking up a new ‘price’ for Abram when he needed certain things done; he didn’t mind because Ashley was a minor miracle worker and usually asked for small, easily to do things in return such as proofing her sister’s uni papers or bringing back certain items from their travels.

“I’m sure I’m up to the challenge,” Ashley said as she tapped away on her keyboard. “As is, I’ve just sent you my part of our latest bargain. The email contains all the information you need in regards to the reservations I made for your dinners and a private appointment at Barts Pathology Museum.” She gave him a pleased smile as she once again toyed with her braid. “Anything else?”

“Don’t let the place descend into chaos while we’re away, yes?” Abram asked as he stood up and gave her a jaunty salute.

“I’ll do my best!” Ashley called out as he walked away, voice bright with laughter. Maddy and Rita (who was back in the office while she did some research before her next mission) wished him a nice ‘holiday’ as he left the office to meet up with his husband.

Andrew was standing out in the hallway with Lloyd and Kathryn Ambrose, one of the higher-ups who handled the EMEA region. Despite Lloyd’s occasional grumbling about the woman (he tended to grumble about anyone ranked above him), Abram never had a problem with Kathryn, who always treated him and Andrew with polite respect. “Hello, Abram,” she greeted him.

“Hello, Kathryn. Everything all right?”

“Yes, I was just talking to Lloyd and Andrew about how there’s a potential situation in Hungary. I know you’re about to go on holiday, but I just wanted to give you a head’s up that we may need to send the two of you there once you’re back.”

Lloyd nodded as he motioned to Andrew and then Abram. “Bit of a special request, but some people feel that you two could help out the agents already there.”

It wasn’t as if they could say ‘no’ when it was their jobs; Abram shared a look with Andrew who gave a slight nod after a moment. In a way, it might be better for them since someone else would be taking the lead on the mission and they would be providing support, would be more in the background. Though it meant that they’d have to do a bit of research before they left even though they were supposed to be on break.

“Send us all of the necessary information,” Abram said as he went to stand next to his husband.

“Though we’ll need an extra day or two to prepare,” Andrew argued as he stared down Lloyd.

“Of course. I’ll have Maddy put together the intel and send it to you by tomorrow.” Lloyd knew better than to fight with Andrew by then, especially with Kathryn right there (and when she appeared pleased by their agreement). That dealt with, they said their ‘goodbyes’ and left.

It wasn’t as if Andrew’s brother and sister-in-law would want to see them the entire time they were in London – they were visiting for a medical conference, after all, so they should have plenty of time to go over the material. If anything, the extra day or two they’d won from Lloyd would be spent by themselves to ‘recover’ from the visit.

Abram had the suspicion that they would need the days to recover, considering how Andrew was already on edge from the approaching visit, which was why he’d done everything he could to ensure that Aaron and Katelyn had an enjoyable (and busy) time once they arrived. He’d enlisted Ashley’s help on the matter, since he didn’t want the family too involved with Andrew’s brother ‘just in case’.

The Minyards were due to arrive the next day, and were staying at some hotel in central London where the conference was being held (along with a couple of ‘minders’ from the family), but had agreed to meet up with Andrew and Abram during their free time. Nicky and Erik would come to visit in a couple days for a mini-reunion, so there were dinners arranged and Abram had planned for an excursion or two for the couple to enjoy (by themselves).

Things between the brothers had improved since the wedding in South Carolina last year, had been tense phone calls at first before the two had moved on (somewhat) from the past, but Aaron and Andrew spending time together like this was a big step that Abram wasn’t certain that they were ready for just yet. Still, it was what it was, and in a few days Aaron would return to the States and soon after that Andrew would have an excuse to vent any disappointment by killing someone (more than likely).

“What idiocy are you contemplating now?” Andrew asked as he drove them home.

“Hmm, just that you’ll probably have to wait a week or so to commit therapeutic homicide, hon,” Abram confessed, and laughed when his husband heaved a weary sigh.

“Should have had the damn judge say ‘until insanity do you part’, could have gotten out of this marriage ages ago,” Andrew grumbled even as he held out his hand for Abram to entwine their fingers together.

“You like my mental instability,” Abram insisted as he smiled. “Keeps things interesting.”

Andrew did the sighing thing again but didn’t disagree.

Stuart and Davis were in the townhouse when they arrived, which drew a displeased frown from Andrew when he caught sight of Abram’s uncle standing in the kitchen with a purring King in his arms. Davis grinned while he held up his hands in a placating manner. “Just dropping off a few things and checking in on the kids.”

Abram patted his husband on the back before he went to hug his uncle, mindful of King who was handed over when they stepped apart. “You look tired, is everything all right?” Jamie had told him that Stuart was traveling a lot lately when they’d last talked; Abram had checked a few documents for the family to ensure that everything was on the up and up in the contracts.

“Too much drinking with Camillo last night,” Stuart complained. “Looking forward to being home for a bit.” He gave Abram an exhausted smile as he scratched King’s chin. “I know you’re busy the next few days, but if you’ve some time, call me and we’ll have some tea, yeah?”

Abram nodded in agreement. “That’s doable.” They should be able to meet up while Aaron and Katelyn were busy with the conference.

“Good. There’s some chocolates and jenever for you, and Ravi will show up with the cars when you need one, just call.” Stuart waved to Andrew as he left, and Davis bent over to give a meowing Sir a stroke along the back on the way out.

“Couldn’t he have brought some damn whisky?” Andrew complained as he headed straight to the boxes of chocolates out on the island while Abram shook his head and set King down on the floor.

“Your life’s so hard,” Abram remarked as he picked up the bottles of gin-like liquor and stored them away in the cabinet (he had a feeling he’d need them soon enough). “So, we eating in tonight or going out?”

“In, since we’ll be going out the next few nights,” Andrew said between bites of sweets.

That decided, Abram checked the fridge and cabinets before he settled on a spicy chicken and rice dish to make later, and worked on a few more documents for Jamie in-between calls with his cousin and Nicky while Andrew read a book. They went out to sit by the fish pond for a little while before he started on dinner, a mug of tea in his hands and a glass of whisky in Andrew’s, an enjoyable half an hour where Andrew made his usual threats over the poor fish and Abram slumped down enough to rest his head against his husband’s broad shoulder, content to sit there next to him and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Then he was given a shove to the knee and told to go cook something that wouldn’t poison the both of them.

Abram bit back a smile as he called his husband a prat for the umpteenth time, affection a warm tingle in his chest.

Andrew sat at the island and texted with Nicky while he made their dinner, and had a glass of wine waiting for him once it was done (and stole the damn naan once Abram sat down). It was nights like these which Abram treasured the most during all the years they’d been together, when they ‘bickered’ during dinner then curled up together in the living room (since it was late spring it wasn’t too warm yet for a fire) to watch a few episodes of a baking show they both enjoyed (easy to follow with their schedule) then head upstairs after a few hours.

They were tired, but not too tired. Looks were exchanged and clothes were shed before they sprawled out on opposite ends of the bed, where Abram spent a moment enjoying the sight of Andrew’s stocky yet muscular body (save for the slightest pouch of fat on his belly which he adored) before he gasped as his husband stroked his half-tumescent cock then leaned in to nuzzle it and-

He much enjoyed it when Andrew performed oral sex, but he also much enjoyed it when he could reduce Andrew to a shuddering mess with his mouth and hands, so it was the best of both worlds when they both blew each other. It didn’t take long until they both were shivering messes sprawled out on the bed, and then the bastard dragged him off to the shower to wash off before they tucked in beneath the blankets for a restful night’s sleep.

Mostly.

Andrew was up first, which was a rare occasion; Abram resisted the temptation to follow his husband out of the bed but decided to give him a bit of peace (half an hour) before he got up as well. He found Andrew working out and only put in a mile or two on the treadmill before he went to wash off then began work on a batch of chocolate chip and hazelnut hotcakes. It was right as he finished the last one that Andrew joined him, fresh from his own shower.

“I guess you won’t be fish bait just yet, babe,” the prat remarked as he rested his chin on Abram’s left shoulder and wrapped his right arm around Abram’s waist.

“If it wouldn’t be so traumatic to the cats and Nicky, I’d file for divorce,” Abram teased as he added the last hotcake to the huge stack next to the stove.

Andrew clicked his tongue before he snatched up the plate. “You’ve never had it so good and you know it.”

Yes, Abram did indeed ‘know it’, but there was no need to say it, was there? “Did you hit your head with a weight or what?” he asked instead, and rolled his eyes when Andrew made a rude gesture his way. “I’ve merely decided to wait for you to die from clogged arteries or diabetes instead, it’s much easier than dealing with solicitors and the such, hon.”

“What was that?” Andrew waited until he was seated at the island and his precious carbs set down to reach for his phone. “I’m making note of this so when we’re either divorced or you mysteriously disappear one day, there’s no problem with me taking custody of the cats and Bren – yet another cruel comment bordering on abuse.” He made a show of typing on his phone before he set it down then got up to fetch the whipped cream and syrup for his hotcakes. “How I suffer for this relationship.”

“Yeah, yeah, be sure to tell Nicky – oh, wait, I’ll do it for you.” Abram grinned when Andrew’s shoulders hunched upward at that remark. “I’m sure he’ll be ever so helpful with recommendations on how to save our marriage.”

Andrew gave him a long, level look for several seconds (which was impressive, considering the stack of hotcakes before him) before he spoke. “He’ll torment you just as much as me, you know.”

Ah, a flaw in an otherwise perfect plan. “Uhm… I’ll be off with Stuart?”

“You think the pest won’t rat you out to the family?”

Dammit, there was that – Stuart had actually calmed down on the whole ‘Andrew is bad’ front and all. “He’ll still be worse with you,” Abram argued as he set about making some scrambled eggs for himself.

“Right. Idiot.” Still, Andrew appeared smug as he finally cut into his stack of sugary carbs, so Abram felt pleased as he prepared his own breakfast. Once it was done, he sat down and rolled his eyes at how most of the hotcakes were already gone.

Andrew checked his phone while they ate and reported that Maddy had sent the intel for the Hungary mission, which they’d start parsing through later. Abram had just enough time to wash the dishes and go change before they left for the airport in the Aston Martin sedan which Navi had dropped off for them to use to pick up Aaron and Katelyn since neither of the sports cars in the garage would handle four people and luggage. Since Andrew didn’t trust anyone but the two of them or Bren (who made sure the cars didn’t sit idle too long) driving the sports cars, they didn’t want to have them out of the garage for the few days that Aaron and Katelyn were in town, so Ravi would drop off and pick up the sedans whenever Andrew needed one to drive his brother around town rather than let them sit in the driveway overnight.

Abram waited until they were past the worst of the traffic to speak up. “Aaron’s into general practice and Katelyn’s pediatrics?” He hadn’t paid much attention when Andrew spoke about his brother, other than to note that they were getting along (finally).

“Yes.” Andrew tapped his fingers against the steering wheel then sighed. “They both work at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Guess it balances out us a bit, right?” He glanced aside at Abram with a slight quirk to the corner of his mouth. “We kill people, they heal them.”

“We don’t kill everyone,” Abram argued. “There’s some missions where people live.” He smiled when Andrew snorted in dissent. “Whatever.”

“Whatever indeed.” Andrew’s eyes narrowed at the hatchback driving much too slow in front of them. “I’m about to kill someone right now.”

Someone was probably going to get multiple vehicle violations in the mail within the next few days, Abram suspected, but for once the threat wasn’t directed toward himself so he merely settled a little lower in the comfortable leather seat and used his phone to check the traffic ahead.

They reached Heathrow shortly after Aaron texted to say that he and Katelyn had cleared Customs and retrieved their luggage, and so drove to Arrivals to pick them up. For some reason the two had declared that they didn’t have to go into the airport to greet them, so Andrew drove the sedan to the general arrival area where the two should be waiting and found them by spotting Aaron’s familiar visage.

The couple appeared surprised by the Aston Martin as it pulled up to the curb and when both Andrew and Abram exited the vehicle, with Katelyn breaking into a grin while Aaron shook his head. “It’s so good to see you!” the young woman exclaimed as she made an abortive motion as if to give Andrew a hug then thought better of it. “Thank you so much for coming to pick us up.”

“Ah, yeah, you didn’t have to do that,” Aaron said in a much more subdued manner; he was dressed in worn jeans and a MUSC long-sleeved t-shirt, while Katelyn wore leggings and a brightly colored PSU sweatshirt. “We could have taken a cab or something.”

“But the hotel room won’t be ready for a few hours,” Abram said while Andrew grabbed the luggage to put into the car’s boot. “I thought that’s why-“

“Ignore him,” Katelyn insisted as she nudged her husband in the side. “He’s grumpy because of the long flight.” She gave Abram a grateful smile while Aaron huffed and went to help his brother with the luggage. “We appreciate everything you’re doing for us.”

“Uhm, it’s nothing, really.” Abram motioned toward the car and fumbled for the door handle so he could open it for her. “Let’s get going.”

“Okay.”

Katelyn smiled as he closed the door once she was inside, yet Aaron gave Abram a displeased look over the hood of the car before he slid inside. Abram frowned over the reaction then shrugged as he returned to his seat up front.

“This your car?” Aaron asked once they drove away from the airport. “Seems a bit too normal for you, a bit proper and all.”

Abram bit into his bottom lip to hold back a chuckle as Andrew revved the 560 horse power engine to easily bypass the traffic as they merged onto the highway. “It’s not bad for a loaner, but I much prefer the Vantage S Roadster or the Maclaren 720S. They’re not meant for four people,” Andrew stated in a bored tone, “unless you want to ride on the roof.” He gave a look at his brother through the rear-view mirror. “That an option?”

His brother was quiet for several seconds before he made a disgusted noise. “Like rubbing it in that you’ve got money now, don’t you?”

“Aaron,” Katelyn protested in a quiet, unhappy voice.

“I wasn’t the one to bring it up,” Andrew pointed out as his hands tightened around the steering wheel.

That seemed to deflate Aaron’s bad attitude as he slumped back in the seat and was quiet for the rest of the drive to the townhouse. After about ten minutes, Abram spoke out in Chinese. “Perhaps we can be assigned to Hungary a little early.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Andrew replied, but there was the slightest bit of humor in his deep voice and his grip relaxed.

It looked as if Aaron wanted to say something when they reached the townhouse, but Katelyn managed to step on his foot before she walked away from the car. “It’s lovely,” she said in a bright manner as they entered the building.

“Ah, thank you.” Abram was a little unnerved by how cheerful she was about everything, despite being used to Nicky’s exuberant nature; why was she with a dour person like Aaron? “Would you like something to drink? Tea or coffee?”

“Tea?” Aaron muttered as he glanced around. “Can he be any more British?” That seemed to be directed at Andrew.

Katelyn’s smile appeared a little strained at the comment, and then Sir came trotting along, probably attracted to the sound of their voices. “Aw, would look at… him?” she asked as she glanced at Abram, who nodded. “Aw, such a pretty boy,” she cooed as she bent down to pet Sir, who began to purr at the attention. “And coffee, if it’s not too much trouble. We’re trying to stay awake until tonight, we heard it’s best for jet-lag.”

Abram made a quick escape to the kitchen and left it to Andrew to show his family around the first floor of the townhouse. He heard Katelyn’s excited voice as the coffee brewed, and the three returned as he poured the hot beverage in four mugs; it didn’t come as a surprise when Andrew headed straight for the cabinet which contained the whisky.

“The place really is lovely,” Katelyn exclaimed as she leaned against the island as she looked around at everything. “I especially like the backyard. We keep talking about getting a townhouse one day, but we’re so busy with work right now that an apartment is easier to maintain.”

“It won’t be anything like this,” Aaron muttered, but he gave Andrew a slight, grateful smile when whisky was added to his mug. “We’re saving up enough money that we’ll get something nice for Charleston.”

“Just another year or two!” Katelyn gave a slight laugh as she leaned against her husband with an arm wrapped around his waist. “And by that point, we should be able to enjoy the new home! You know what they say about residents and long hours.”

Aaron grimaced at that. “I didn’t think anything could make me feel as tired as Day’s obnoxious practices when we reached the semi-finals, but a twenty-hour shift will do it.”

Abram perked up a little at the mention of Exy, at least until his husband gave him a ‘gentle’ kick in the right ankle. “So lots of long days, huh?” he asked as he got up to fetch a tin of biscuits to go along with the coffee, which he made sure to set close to Andrew. “I’m sure you have stories to tell, yes?”

He might not know how to deal with ‘normal’ people like Aaron and Katelyn after being raised by criminals and murderers, but he knew how to get people talking, especially after going to work for Lloyd. Especially after seeing the flashes of envy in Aaron’s eyes (an emotion so unfamiliar in Andrew’s) since picking the couple up from the airport.

It didn’t take much prodding for the two (especially Aaron) to reminisce about stories during their years as interns and residents, about the patients they’d treated while on the long training shifts and their fellow students. For a while it appeared that Aaron tried to disturb them by recounting the most gruesome stories that he could, but gave up when neither Abram nor Andrew were bothered (that and it seemed as if Katelyn did some kicking of her own).

If only Aaron had a clue what his brother had been up to the last few years, but all he’d been told was that Abram’s family was in ‘shipping and trading’ and that the two of them currently worked for the government.

Abram noticed that Andrew avoided looking at Katelyn directly when she talked, his gaze often cast at the mug held behind his hands, and figured that his husband still had some issues in regards to Aaron’s relationship. He also noticed that Aaron focused his attention on his brother rather than look at him, especially once it was clear that Abram wasn’t the ‘squeamish’ sort.

Andrew wasn’t the only one with his issues, it seemed.

Katelyn was in the middle of talking about some child who’d eaten too much raw pizza dough when her phone chimed. “Oh,” she said when she read the message. “We can check in now.”

Andrew stood up while Abram gathered the mugs. “It won’t take long to get to the hotel,” Andrew said as he walked away (probably for a cigarette before the drive into the city), and Aaron excused himself for a moment, which left Abram and Katelyn alone in the kitchen. He went to put the mugs in the dishwasher and was surprised when Katelyn came over with the tin of biscuits.

“Uhm, we really appreciate all of this,” she said in a quiet voice. “I know you don’t have to drive us around or have dinner with us and stuff, that it probably would have been enough for Andrew and Aaron to just meet up for coffee or something.” She gave Abram a wry smile when he held up one of the mugs. “He might not show it, but it means a lot to Aaron that Andrew’s willing to spend so much time with him after everything, and he’s… he’s trying, honest.”

Abram was beginning to see why Aaron had fought his brother so much (according to Nicky) for this woman, with her cheerful disposition, intelligence and obvious love for the man. “Well, he is a Minyard,” Abram said once the dishes were put away. “I know what to expect.”

She giggled a little and nodded. “Yes, and while they’re wonderful men, they’re stubborn as well. Very stubborn.”

“Ah….” Abram made a show of holding up his hands and shaking his head in a clear sign of not wanting to incriminate himself (at least, not when there was a chance of Andrew walking in at any moment).

Katelyn giggled some more and gave him a sympathetic look. “Right, not trying to get you in trouble, but I understand. I can’t always say that we’ve gotten along,” she rolled her eyes in an exaggerated manner at that, “but I’m happy that Andrew found someone.”

“Thank you.” Figuring it was best to change the subject before his husband returned, Abram motioned to the young woman’s purse. “So, there’s a couple of dinners we arranged and a friend of ours lined up a tour we think you and Aaron might enjoy, but do you want or need to do any shopping while you’re in town? Anything to take back home?” There’d been times when some friends of Nicky’s had come for a visit and needed souvenirs and the such. “I’ve a good friend who works at Harrods who can be of assistance.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful!” Katelyn beamed at the offer and went on about a shopping list she’d been given by her coworkers and her mother, as well as a couple items she’d hoped to find before she left; both Andrew and Aaron rolled their eyes as she talked while Abram sent a text to Liliya to arrange an afternoon when the two could meet up – maybe even have Nicky join in since he’d probably enjoy the excursion and got along well with Liliya.

Tension seemed to leave Andrew’s shoulders once the couple was dropped off at their hotel, and it was a quiet ride back to the townhouse. Abram made them some spiked tea and tugged Andrew out to sit by the pond, content to be alone with his husband once again. “That wasn’t too bad, was it? Katelyn seems nice.”

For once, he didn’t think the frown directed at the pond had anything to do with Andrew’s ‘dislike’ with the fish. “She’s still annoying as ever,” Andrew proclaimed before drinking his tea.

“Really?” Abram sighed as he leaned against Andrew. “How long are you going to hold this grudge? I mean, it’s just been… what, almost ten years? Something like that?” Couldn’t he just accept the poor woman already?

“Forgiven Ally for Calais yet?” Andrew asked as he stole Abram’s tea, the bastard.

“Never mind,” Abram sighed as he slumped down on the bench. “It’s going to be a few awkward dinners, how wonderful. At least I’m not driving.” He had a feeling that there would be at least a bottle or two of wine consumed at dinner.

“I put up with your insane family all the time, you can put up with Aaron and the cheerleader tramp for a few nights,” Andrew told him in that ‘agree with me or else’ tone that always made Abram want to grit his teeth.

“I don’t mind the cheerleader ‘tramp’, I just have to put up with some weird, twisted copy of you.” Abram scoffed as he thought about Aaron. “Does he really think he’s getting anywhere with those feeble scowls and insults? After I’ve lived with you this long?”

There was a slight twitch to Andrew’s full lips before he finished Abram’s tea. “It is rather amusing to see him try, isn’t it?”

“Prat,” Abram said as he rested his head on Andrew’s shoulder. “Why do I bother with you?”

“Someone has to remind you to feed the damn fish, babe.”

“More like make sure you don’t try to fry them up one day, hon.” Abram hummed in happiness as his husband tugged on a lock of his hair then closed his eyes so he could enjoy Andrew’s presence and the sound of falling water. It was quiet for at least a few minutes before Andrew tugged on his hair again, harder that time. “Ow, what?”

“Come on, it looks like it’s going to rain and I’m not about to have you get soaked then pass out on me during a mission again.”

“One time,” Abram moaned as he stood up. “One fucking time. Are you ever going to let that go, either?” he asked, even though he suspected he knew the answer already.

“No,” Andrew said in a succinct manner as he gave him a slight push toward the townhouse. “Idiot.”

Abram wondered if he could get Katelyn alone during her visit and commiserate over living with a Minyard (former Minyard, in his case, he supposed) for a good hour or two, perhaps see if she had any advice which may come in handy (other than ‘render him unconscious for a bit of peace and quiet’).

*******

#nekojitachanfics #armies fic #andreil #aftg au #neil as abram #neil josten #andrew minyard #aaron minyard #aaron/katelyn #Anonymous

[aftgficrec]

What are some personal favorite well written but, like, underrated fics? especially long ones? I always feel like I must have read them all by now

This wasn’t planned, but all the fics we chose came from fandom events. That is not actually surprising because these works are often overlooked, even those written by popular fandom authors. If you’re hungry for new content, definitely check out these collections on AO3*: AFTG Reverse Big Bang, AFTG Big Bang 2019, AFTG Big Bang 2018, AFTG Big Bang 2017. Off the top of my head, some collections with generally shorter word counts include AFTG Exchange, Twinyards Appreciation Week and AFTG Bingo. You can also try tumblr searches for all of these. Oh! Also check out our April post Staff Recs - Fics < 200 Kudos That Deserve More Love. - A

*NB: Some works in collections are locked. Log in to AO3 to see them all.

Beautiful and Splendid Things by Dhillarearen [Rated T, 37105 Words, Complete, AFTG Reverse Big Bang 2019]  

Hobbes hasn’t been taught in a century, but if he were, Neil Josten would agree with his view on humanity. The only good thing about living is Exy, and being a member of a professional Exy hover-racing team means that Neil doesn’t have to think about anything else.

Enter Andrew Minyard.

tw: violence, tw: blood

NB: Art prompt by @still-waiting-for-godot

Under A Sea of Mist by puddlejumper99 [Rated T, 48992 Words, Complete 2018, AFTG Big Bang]

For a thousand years the Lord Ruler has reigned over the Final Empire. Ash falls from the sky and strange mists shroud the night. The skaa labour in the fields and the nobility dance in their Keeps, their glittering lights blinding them to the cruelty in their hearts.

The skaa rebellion is a fantasy and Neil knows it. The Lord Ruler is immortal; there's no overthrowing him. It's as much a surprise to him as anyone else when he gets recruited. But as he gets drawn deeper into the plot, he starts to discover things that will change their understanding of magic forever.

 tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: violence

NB: Fanart by @captain-ferid embedded in fic

I Want to Believe by a_case_for_wonder [Rated T, 30801 Words, Complete AFTG Big Bang 2018]

Aaron Minyard doesn't think he can be a doctor after all. Instead, he ends up joining the FBI. His assignment? Working with disgraced Bureau star Kevin Day in the so-called X-Files, pursuing cases involving supernatural and extraterrestrial phenomena.

tw: violence, tw: blood, tw: mild gore

NB: Fic art by @kitshunette​ here

Here Comes the Sun by by Fornavn, fuzzballsheltiepants [Rated M, 32832 Words, Complete, AFTG Reverse Big Bang 2019]

Neil was a child when his mother ripped him away from the only creature in the world he loved, his pony, JJ. Now ten years later, injured and desperate, he finds refuge in the stall of a racehorse. He ends up on a new track he never could have predicted, with an unexpected prize waiting for him at the finish line: hope.

tw: blood, tw: injury, tw: implied/referenced eating disorder

NB: Art prompt by @fornavnandexy here

Lately I been, I been losing sleep by jojen_hewitt, Lover_of_Fairy_Tails [Rated G, 22950 Words, Complete, AFTG Big Bang 2019]

Neil Josten has been relocated to a small town after a life on the run and months spent testifying against his father's gang. Late one night he shows up at strangers door seeking help, and Andrew Minyard really can't turn away the man with the striking blue eyes no matter how ridiculously late it is. He will find a way to make him repay him though.

tw: injured animal, tw: blood, tw: scars, tw: panic attacks, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced csa

NB: Art for this fic by @jojen-hewitt

#staff fave #neil josten/andrew minyard #kevin day & aaron minyard #universe: au #au: science fiction #au: mistborn #au: fantasy #au: magic #au: x-files #au: supernatural #au: horse racing #au: witsec #au: farm #theme: the foxes #theme: strangers to lovers #theme: pining #theme: fluff & angst #theme: found families #aftg big bang #aftg reverse big bang #tw: violence #tw: blood #tw: implied/referenced rape/non con #tw: injured animal #tw: scars #tw: panic attacks #tw: implied/referenced self harm #tw: implied/referenced eating disorder #tw: implied/referenced csa #atiredpan

[fallingin-like]

aftg fanfic review masterlist

(aka my nanowrimo 2019)

i’m super excited to say here are the fics that i will be reviewing for november so far! feel free to read through these and comment on them with me! thank you so much to everyone who responded to my post and requested fics~

*edit: i removed a fic because i forgot to check the tags/TWs before and when i did look, i didn't feel comfortable with the content. sorry!*

1. atlas by @purearcticfire / @pipedream-truths​

a magic au that features shapeshifters and a cursed neil, so immediately you know i’ll like it. this fic has some cool uses of italics, caps, spacing, etc. that creates a stylized story that helps build tone and gives the story a clearer voice. this was such a fun read and it gets very intense. this fic is incomplete.

[read the rest of my review here!]

2. andriel into the future (series) by @dustbottle

these are some wonderfully written post-canon fics that make you feel warm and safe. we get to see neil and andrew’s relationship grow and strengthen. there’s neil’s year at psu without andrew, a minyard-josten rivalry fic, just some good times, coming out, and cats! there are 5 fics in this series. 

[read the rest of my review here!]

3. my cousins by @filteredred

this wonderful fic delves into tilda’s decision to give up the twins and how it was influenced by luther and maria. told from maria’s perspective, we get a better look at the rational behind what happened and, of course, we get to see kid!nicky and baby!twinyards.

[read the rest of my review here!]

4. “i hate you” sounds like “as you wish” by @luci-cunt

this is a princess bride!au and as a person that has never read/watched it, this was a wild ride. a really funny fic, i thought this was such a fun read!!

[read the rest of my review here!]

5. paper skies by @allforthebee [requested by @annawrites]

this is a fic with absolutely amazing descriptions and imagery. featuring librarian!andrew and a lot of introspection. the writing is so beautiful, i could not possibly capture how it made me feel in words. this fic was so so good.

[read the rest of my review here!]

6. falling in reverse by @lolainslackss [requested by @annawrites]

this is a beautiful fic that really demonstrates the strength of the relationship between neil and andrew. this fic navigates neil’s difficulties following retirement and how andrew supports him during these times. features wonderful imagery, reflection, and andriel on a houseboat!!

[read the rest of my review here!]

7. call me neil by @fox-sleeping-minyard

this wonderful fic follows andrew and neil in an au where they form a friendship as kids/teens after andrew dials the wrong number and accidentally calls neil. this fic is cute, but may also break your heart.

[read the rest of my review here!]

8. i just had a growth spurt (took so long, my tippy toes hurt) by @tallsinspace [requested by @gluupor]

maybe i’m biased because i like kid!fics but i loved this fic so so much. i love the way that andrew and aaron interact, both with each other and the other characters. the characterization on this was amazing and it’s such a hilarious and fun read!

[read the rest of my review here!]

9. not all who wander are lost: the “not all that glitters is gold” remix by @leahlisabeth [requested by @gluupor]

this is a remix fic, but you definitely don’t have to read the original one first. this is a fascinating magic!au that really draws you in and makes you so invested, even though it’s a relatively short fic. this is a renee-centric fic that does a great job of analysing her character.

[read the rest of my review here!]

10. til death do us part by @apprenticedmagician ​[requested by @leahlisabeth]

this is a fantastic post-canon fic which follows neil as he ropes aaron along into joining him in visiting his mother’s grave in california. this fic does a great job of demonstrating the growth that both characters have experienced.

[read the rest of my review here!]

11. taller than giants by @allforthebee ​ [requested by @horton-hears-a-doctor-who]

this wonderful fic is a lovely take on neil and andrew as best friends in university. it’s a softer version of these characters but maintains the great dynamic between them we’re familiar with.  this fic will break you apart and knit you back together.

[read the rest of my review here!]

12. peu à peu by @zombiesolace​ [requested by @jsteneil]

this is a really interesting character study on post-canon kevin and how he finds his place within the foxes and deals with the aftermath of the events within the series. this fic has a lot of introspection and does a really great job of unpacking everything.

[read the rest of my review here!]

13. don’t bury me (with a coin under my tongue) by @mr-im-fine​ [requested by @jsteneil]

this is a wonderful fic with urban fantasy, with a lot of the characters as demigods. this was really fun to read and it sucks you in so you don’t realise you’ve reached the end of the chapter until you can’t scroll anymore.

[read the rest of my review here!]

14. sleeping with ghosts by @boybeaulieu​ [requested by @fuzzballsheltiepants]

this fic is a super cool band!au that has andrew and gang playing placebo songs and neil as a solo singer. there has great use of a non-linear timeline. be prepared to feel all of the feelings

[read the rest of my review here!]

15. like a hazy summer morning by shadowdreams [requested by @fuzzballsheltiepants]

this was an adorable and really sweet fic that has neil as a youtuber! and andrew can’t help but keep watching his videos. this is such a fun fic. you have to be logged into an ao3 account to read this.

[read the rest of my review here!]

16. l’amour parle en fleus by @scribbleb-red [requested by @fuzzballsheltiepants]

this is a wonderful and heartbreaking fic that deals with grief and the beauty of life. it is soft and sweet, while dealing with hard topics and loss. this fic is incomplete.

disclaimer: i reviewed this fic when it had 7 chapters, so no comments on chapter 8. sorry!

[read the rest of my review here!]

17. above the clouds by @gluupor​ [requested by @fuzzballsheltiepants]

this is an absolutely amazing fic that features airships, android!neil, and fantastic world-building. it’s a really fun and adventurous read, but still contains enough angst to break your heart. if you haven’t read this yet, drop everything and read it now. if you have read it, read it again.

[read the rest of my review here!]

18. apartment 314 by @nikothespoonklepto​

this is a really interesting kevneil fic that has them as detectives! it’s funny, but gets intense, with great interactions between kevin, neil, and andrew.

[read the rest of my review here!]

19. tenuous by undertow *

this is one of my favourite fics in the fandom. it has DID!neil and features a really great relationship between him and aaron, and him and andrew. i love their style of writing. please read this fic

[read the rest of my review here!]

20. back to the start by @fuzzballsheltiepants​ [requested by @nikothespoonklepto]

containing an injured!andrew who loses all of his recent memories, this fic has heartbreak and healing. this fic has great pacing and flow, you don’t even notice that you’ve read 30k words until you’re done.

[read the rest of my review here!]

21. push to talk by @alexjosten​ [requested by @nikothespoonklepto]

this is a delightfully engaging fic based on the game firewatch that follows neil as he spends a summer as a fire lookout, isolated except for radio communication with andrew, a fire lookout in the adjacent sector of the park. this is such an intense, fun, beautiful, and humorous fic.

[read the rest of my review here!]

22. fox sleep by @annawrites [requested by @allforthebee]

this is an amazing fic that features shapeshifter!neil who arrives at the foxhole coven in the form of a fox. it is such a sweet, playful, and comforting fic with a wonderful tinge of magic, i cannot recommend this fic enough.

[read the rest of my review here!]

23. the real folk blues by @annawrites [requested by @allforthebee]

this absolutely amazing and captivating fic has the foxes as space bounty hunters and neil who is, as usual, an exceptionally skilled runaway. set away some time to read this fic as soon as possible, because once you start, you won’t be able to put it down until you finish.

[read the rest of my review here!]

24. heart on your sleeve, eyes on the streets (the heart-eyes remix) by  @apprenticedmagician [requested by @soft-ravenclaw-apollo​]

this is an adorable and hilarious jeanneil fic that includes soccer! this fic is lighthearted, but has enough much pining and a bit of angst to keep things interesting.

[read the rest of my review here!]

25. neil hatford by @soft-ravenclaw-apollo

following the story of neil being adopted by stuart at a young age, this is an interesting exploration of what would happen if neiil never had to grow up as a wesninski. it’s so great to see how this changes the development of neil, but also the life of stuart. this fic is unfinished.

[read the rest of my review here!]

26. a two-man team by @idnis​ [requested by @foxsoulcourt​ and @sig66​]

this super cute fic features nicky who is doing his best to raise a kid while simultaneously falling for said kid’s teacher, erik mountain man klose. as one might imagine, this is hilarious and so fun to read

[read the rest of my review here!]

27. thick skin, an elastic heart by @badacts ​ [requested by @foxsoulcourt​ and @sig66​]

an incredible jerejean fic that focuses on jean’s transition to the trojan’s and how jeremy struggles with falling in love with him. this fic is funny and emotional and includes a lot of really interesting introspection.

[read the rest of my review here!]

28. right side of rock bottom by @littlespooneven [requested by @foxsoulcourt​ and @sig66​]

a wonderful fic that follows andrew and neil, post-canon as they grow closer and learn how to love each other. this is sweet and so lovely to read, with insightful moments of introspection.

[read the rest of my review here!]

29. baltimore blues by @spanglebangle  [requested by @foxsoulcourt​ and @sig66]

you’ve probably already read this fic, but in case you haven’t, it’s an amazing exploration of andrew’s perspective on the binghamton riot and baltimore. this fic has fantastic scenes with introspection and is just so impressive to read.

[read the rest of my review here!]

30. one way or another (or maybe neither) by @nakasomethingkun [requested by @foxsoulcourt and @sig66]

this is an absolutely amazing exploration of neil’s sexuality and what it means within the context of his and andrew’s relationship. with the best description of demisexuality i have found in a fic, everybody needs to read this immediately.

[read the rest of my review here!]

#raelle writes #aftg fic request #all for the game #aftg #aftg fanfic #the foxhole court #tfc #tfc fanfic #andriel #* means i chose the fic! #aftg fic review

[xlady-saya]

trust is a slow process [fic]

Relationships: andrew and katelyn, andrew/neil, aaron/katelyn

Summary: If Katelyn had been stealthier, she could've escaped the crowded dance floor without Andrew seeing her. But of course, she's no Neil. 

Or: Katelyn and Andrew spend some unwanted quality time together, and Katelyn sees things for what they are.

Tags: katelyn and andrew bonding, wholesome twinyards, fluff, references to canon violence/abuse

Read on ao3!

At the sight of blond hair at the bar, Katelyn has to do a double take.

The music in the crowded club bounces off the walls, overwhelming, and she's not quite tipsy enough to enjoy it. She crosses one leg over the other as she walks, angled in a way she doesn't quite see as disastrous before it’s too late. The lights wash over the dancing bodies in flashes of pink and blue, hiding the smirks of patrons sneaking off to more secluded spots.

Behind her, she hears the cheering vixens party to their heart's content; the end of the school week called for celebration, according to Katelyn's captain. She'd heard Aaron mention Eden's Twilight enough times to bring it up, and was only mildly disappointed when Aaron said he wouldn't be going that night. Aaron's internship had drained him that week, and the rest of Andrew's lot decided it wasn't worth the effort.

Still, she'd been excited to go out with her friends and get wasted, Aaron or no Aaron. She'd been headed in the direction of the bar for the sole purpose of getting toasted when she saw a familiar site, and for a moment, her heart rate accelerated.

Aaron and Andrew look so similar from the back; the striking blond hair, the height...Katelyn swoons for a moment. Maybe her boyfriend changed his mind, maybe he's actually here.

Her feet move on their own accord from where they're tangled, body trying to turn as fast as possible towards the bar where Aaron is chatting up the smiling bartender.

A grin breaks out on her face, a consequence of seeing Aaron no matter the time of day. She's so happy, but her mind isn't deluded enough to ignore what her eyes see.

She catches the edge of black armbands, the tense, broad shoulders, and the hope in Katelyn's chest deflates. Oh.

It's not Aaron.

She freezes midstep, feet away from the bar as Andrew rolls his shoulders. Katelyn hums to herself, watching the way Andrew seems to consider something, contemplative almost. Why is Andrew here alone? Where is everyone else?

The bartender's smile falters a little at whatever expression Andrew is making; Roland, Katelyn remembers. Aaron told her a lot about his days working here, and she knows Andrew and Roland have...history.

She can't exactly blame him; Roland is attractive, well-styled, with strong hands which know their way around a glass. In the next moment, he's smirking at Andrew, and Katelyn squints.

The image of Neil flashes in her head, the serenity of his features whenever he's talking about Andrew or playing with the key to the Maserati. Neil, who isn't here. Andrew, talking to his past fling.

Something uncomfortable pools in her gut as she watches Andrew tilt his head subtly in the direction of the back rooms, and whatever he says makes Roland move to follow him. Her blood boils.

If Katelyn was stealthier, she could've followed, but well, she's no Neil. She stays still as Andrew turns off the barstool, scanning the crowd. Not fast enough, she scolds herself ruthlessly.

Suddenly, piercing hazel eyes bore into her, and they both freeze, caught for different reasons. She's embarrassed to say she squeaks from how her simmering blood runs cold, iced. Andrew's thoughts are impossible to detect, locked behind reinforced steel. His face gives away nothing, but he has her pinned down anyways, daring her to make a move.

She's no longer scared of Andrew killing her, not with how well he and Aaron have been getting along, but Katelyn isn't trying to test his patience considering what she just witnessed.

She moves to spin around, to retreat to the safety of her vixens, but her poor posture finally makes itself known.

Her left foot steps on her right, and there's no one around to catch her fall. In the back of her head, she thinks she sure is a sorry excuse for a cheerleader to lack this much coordination. She's not even drunk, yet before she knows it she's hitting the floor with a wince, her ankle aching from how she twisted it.

She's beauty, she's grace...

To add insult to injury, a nearby dancer steps on her without realizing too, and she wants the ground to open up and eat her alive.

"Oh shit, are you okay doll?" There's a hand on her arm hoisting her up, a smooth voice flooding her ears. There's an edge to it, something searching and maybe a little sleazy. She grimaces at the pet name, only Aaron is allowed to be so familiar with her.

She tries to retch away, but her ankle protests when she puts weight on it. Fine, verbal approach it is then.

She turns a glare on the man, not caring for the suave grin or cool air he's trying to give off, and opens her mouth to tell him she's fine on her own.

Someone beats her to it; Andrew's palm hits the man’s chest without mercy, shoving him away. Katelyn would be thankful, but Andrew doesn't care for the fact the man was Katelyn's only source of balance. She's back on the floor in seconds, knees sticky from spilled liquor.

The guy stumbles, glaring at Andrew beneath the club lights. "Hey man, what the--"

"Leave." Even Katelyn pauses at the finality of the words, of the threat laced beneath like pulled stitches. Andrew's expression is as impassive as ever, but the coiled violence in his fists says more than enough. He's not to be messed with right then, even a stranger has to sense it. The guy's scowl falters as he raises his hands, disappearing into the crowd without another word.

The little bubble formed by the momentary stand-off dissolves, and Katelyn is again shoved by dancing bodies and high heels.

She stares up at Andrew, not knowing what to do. He...he just saved her. Right? Why would he do that, when he dislikes her so much?

She remembers Neil's words from one of their lunch dates, said with a smile and overflowing admiration: "Andrew doesn't act needlessly."

So why?

Her eyes must show her mix of shock and gratitude, because the stare Andrew gives her is unimpressed.

"Don't give me that look," he says, grabbing the back of her jacket (Aaron's) and hoisting her up. She bites her lip at the pain, shifting her weight to her other foot. It doesn't feel like a sprain, but a twisted ankle is never pleasant. She'll need a few days off it at least...

She thinks that's the end of it, Andrew's weird admission of caring, and she nearly smiles.

Then Andrew sighs, inconvenienced by the sight of her. "I'd never hear the end of it from Aaron if something happened to you, even if it is all your fault."

"Oh," she can't help but say, hopping after him to a nearby wall. She leans on it gratefully, noting how easy it was for him to clear a path in the crowd. Some people just command spaces, she figures. Even with his frame, Andrew is a force.

"Can you walk?" He asks gruffly, eyeing her ankle with distaste and assessing the distance to the door.

She wonders how many times Andrew plans on catching her off guard before the night is over. However, she knows better than to assume anything about Andrew. Maybe he just wants to know so he doesn't have to feel bad about leaving her there.

Then again, would Andrew feel bad about any decision he makes?

She wills herself to stop; Andrew analysis is not and never will be her business.

"Uh, I--I think so--" She says, pushing her sweat slick hair out of her face. How hard could it be? She puts some weight on her other leg, and instantly regrets it. Okay, so that's a no.

The discomfort must show on her face, because Andrew is huffing the next moment. Katelyn expects that to be it, to be dumped into the arms of her friends to be cared for so Andrew can go back to whatever he was doing.

What she doesn't expect is Andrew to step closer, glare making her feel incredibly small despite the few inches she has on him in her heels. After a few minutes of judgement, of eyeing her limp leg dangling in the air, he positions himself to her side.

Andrew is rarely relaxed without Neil nearby, but still, Katelyn doesn't think he's ever looked this tense.

Andrew's voice comes out as a growl when she doesn't move right away. "Put your hands on my shoulders, do not move them, do not squeeze, and don't press against me more than you have to," he warns, each command a knife to her skin even as he offers his back to her. "Got it?"

The question is phrased in such a way that any answer other than a yes will be met with a knife to the gut, and she nods stupidly. She's convinced this is a dream, and waits for the harsh reality of wakefulness to hit her as soon as her hands slide over Andrew's shoulders.

But nothing happens.

She hopes onto his back as quickly and painlessly as she can, and feels the whole body shudder that rips through Andrew's body. She half expects him to drop her, he probably thinks about it.

This is a big deal for Andrew, she knows enough about his history from Aaron, and well...

She was there at the trial.

The fact he's allowing this says a lot about how far he's come, and she silently thanks Neil, because she knows it's somewhat because of him.

Regardless, she stays as still as possible as she's carried out of the club; she doesn't have a death wish. She won't allow herself to break any of the rules Andrew laid out for her, and doesn't feel too offended when she's practically thrown into the passenger seat of the Maserati.

Andrew creates distance between them almost immediately, backing off and rounding the car as he rolls his shoulders. The trembling of his frame in her peripheral vision reminds Katelyn a little too much of their confrontation in the library so long ago, and she's thankful they've progressed past that.

Andrew stays outside the car for a few more minutes, and she doesn't rush him. Slowly, she closes the door, rolling her jacket into a pillow to elevate her foot as best she can. She sends a quick text to her friends letting them know she's alright and to leave without her, not giving all the details. She knows she'll be grilled for them later, but it seems premature to talk about a night that's not even over yet.

She still has to get through the drive home with a man who has only ever given her one word answers, if that.

Katelyn braces herself for the roughness ahead when Andrew finally slides into the driver's seat, seemingly back to normal.

Katelyn can handle this, she thinks. She can be quiet, take in the scenery...

However, ten minutes down the highway she realizes she definitely cannot handle this. She's a talker, she'll admit it. She likes rambling on and on and talking about school and movies and Aaron, but none of that feels right in the suffocating silence of the car.

It's as if Andrew has an invisible wall between them, and if she tries to speak the words will simply bounce off it right back into her face.

She's used to Neil; his brand of quiet is manageable. She knows he doesn't like to talk, and once they'd reached that understanding, she stopped trying to get responses out of him. She's content to talk his ear off with no expectations beyond a returning hum or nod from him. It works for them, and as off as it felt at first to be so impolite, she knows Neil appreciates the fact she no longer pushes.

This though, this is not that. She's pretty sure the last thing Andrew wants is for her to breathe much less talk. He's probably busy imagining she's not there.

The Katelyn from a year prior would've been fine with this, probably just grateful Andrew wasn't trying to kill her or something. Now though, now it just seems ridiculous.

This is her boyfriend's twin brother, for crying out loud. As reserved as Aaron can be, she knows he cares about Andrew, and that Andrew cares about him too. Hell, they've killed for each other. They've been doing so well, and Aaron has never been more at peace.

Besides, it's not like she's not around Andrew a ton now, even if they never talk. She's seen him around Neil, how intimate he can be when he thinks no one is paying attention.

And as much as Katelyn doesn't understand Andrew, she's always been somewhat thankful for him despite all her criticisms. He's been making an effort with Aaron, and he makes Neil so happy too...Neil deserves that more than anyone after what he's been through.

At the thought of the striker, she remembers Andrew at the bar, leaning into Roland's space, trading words meant just for each other. The ugly feeling in her stomach from before comes back, and she steels herself. She can't spend the rest of her life not speaking to Andrew, not when it's about her friend, or her boyfriend. She plans to be with Aaron as long as she can be, and that means one day...one day she and Andrew will be family, right?

Katelyn's hands curl in her lap. She's no coward, she won't act like one.

"So, why were you there alone?" She asks as casually as she can, watching the streetlights blur behind Andrew. "Don't the others usually come with you?"

The finger tapping against the steering wheel pauses, missing the beat of the song on the radio. Katelyn tries not to smile; she caught Andrew off guard, that's a good thing at least.

For a second, it seems like he won't answer, eyes fixed on the road. She's prepared for this though, and opens her mouth, ready to trudge on anyways when Andrew gives his curt response.

"I had something to take care of." It's more than she expects, and she perks up. That's also premature though, considering the path she's steering this conversation down.

But well, she has to know. It concerns her friend.

"With the bartender right?" She tries, and watches Andrew's frown deepen. Ah, not a good sign. She keeps her tone carefree. "How come?"

This time, Andrew doesn't answer. Katelyn purses her lips, nodding as if he had. Andrew thinks he can just ignore her...

She thought he'd be used to nosy redheads by now.

"Does Neil know?" She tries again, upping the stakes. His hands reposition themselves on the wheel, but there's no other tell. Katelyn knows, somewhere in the survival section of her brain, that this is the best place to stop. She's already given away her suspicions enough for Andrew to be on edge, and they're far away from campus...

Walking from here or trying to get a ride would not be fun. She doesn't know how far Andrew's consideration for Aaron extends when it comes to her.

Yet, she can't help herself. She wants to know, she wants to believe Andrew wouldn't do something to hurt Neil, not after everything, but...

Old biases are hard to get rid of. She's never understood Andrew, and as much as Neil cares for him, she doesn't have much proof from Andrew's side apart from a few instances.

She needs to do this, needs to know.

She goes for the throat.

"Are you cheating on him?" She asks, the words rushing out of her mouth into the stale car air, and in the next moment her head flies forward. Andrew brakes so hard the car tires spin, shrieking on the highway as he pulls aggressively onto the shoulder. A few cars honk from the abruptness, and Katelyn gasps, lurching forward from the force of the car stopping as Andrew switches on the emergency lights.

He spins on her faster than the tires; all she smells is burnt rubber, her eyes wide.

She doesn't think Andrew could look scarier than he did that day at the library, with her pressed to the wall and his eyes filled with disgust. She was very wrong. The look Andrew gives her now is scathing, like it could peel back all her layers until she's nothing but bone, and then he'd get to work carving those up too. She swallows down a whimper when he finds his voice, dripping with contempt. "Don't try to speak on things you don't understand."

In her defensiveness, she almost fires back. There's a lot she could say after all; Andrew knows what it looked like. Him and his old hook-up, sneaking off towards the backrooms. It's not flattering, and she could say as much, she could bring Neil into it too if she was feeling especially nasty, Neil, who only has eyes for Andrew.

But then she catches herself, and all the cattiness and accusations come to a halt on her tongue.

No, no she can't be like this.

Learning to trust Andrew completely is not something she's ever sure she'll be able to do, but Aaron is starting to. Neil does. She believes in them, and she wants to believe in Andrew too. Can she really say that Neil, who has been put through so much, would waste his affection and time on someone he didn't trust completely?

She stares back at Andrew, the tightness in his jaw, catching the glint of a chain wrapped around his neck. The Foxes have a bet about whether or not there's anything attached to it, according to Aaron, but no one doubts it’s from Neil.

The tightness in Katelyn's body floods out of her, and she slouches miserably against the leather seat, like a scolded child. She can't bear to look him in the eyes for another moment.

It's ridiculous really, to feel bad for someone who never apologized to her, will never apologize to her, or Aaron, for all the resentful things he did.

Still, the words come out.

"I'm sorry, that was...really rude of me," she whispers, as sincere as she can get. She means it, she's never meant an apology so genuinely before. Her eyes are trained on the gear shift, but she sneaks a glance at Andrew. "I know how much you care about Neil, that wasn't fair."

I won't do it again.

"I don't need your apology," Andrew says with the ghost of a sneer. "Apologies are worthless. Just don't do it again."

Katelyn almost jumps from having her thoughts echoed; she opens her mouth to say she knows, but Andrew is gunning it back onto the freeway in the next second, uncaring of the people he cuts off.

Guess that's the end of that.

The words circle through her head: apologies are worthless.

The polite girl in her, the one her mom raised, instinctually wants to say it's not true. It takes a lot to apologize when you're wrong, getting past all the shame and guilt to do the right thing.

But maybe that's what it feels like, from inside her little bubble. She wouldn't understand, if not for one of the only fights she and Aaron have ever had.

He apologized right away, but it was clear he didn't mean it, didn't get why he was saying sorry in the first place. Then she wonders how many people in foster care would've told Andrew sorry after doing or saying something horrific and cruel.

She wonders how many times Aaron's mother told him sorry, and Katelyn's fists curl in her lap.

Just like that, she thinks she gets Andrew a little better.

Apologies mean nothing, but actions are everything. Andrew would never apologize, but he still hangs out with Aaron, still goes to therapy with him and gives ground bit by bit.

He helped her out of the club.

In a backwards, almost scale-tipping exchange, Katelyn wonders if this is how Andrew makes up for things.

She decides she can live with guessing it’s the case.

The car descends back into silence against her wishes, since she's nearly as stubborn as Neil and doesn't believe in defeat. She waits about two exits before she looks at Andrew again, searching for something, anything to comment on.

Leave it to Neil to help her out even when he's not here.

"Neil bought you that," she says, perking up at the sight of the dark maroon jacket, almost black in the darkness of the car. As hopeless as Neil is with shopping for himself, he'd been surprisingly determined when shopping with Katelyn for the twins' birthday.

If Andrew felt like showing any expression to her, Katelyn is sure he'd be rolling his eyes.

"Astute observation sorority girl," he drawls, and as disgruntled as it makes her, she considers herself lucky she got a response at all. It's a step up from Andrew's old demand that they never speak again, and she's not going to question why he's now going back on that.

That or he just wants to insult her.

She pouts, sensing that's the real answer. "Well that's sexist."

"I guess." Andrew looks about as nonplussed as they come, and she wonders if he's intentionally trying to make her upset. "Stop trying to use Neil against me, it's annoying."

"Because it works?" She shoots back, and revels in the silence for once. That's a yes then. "I bet you don't say those things to Renee and Allison."

She's taking a gamble with how much Andrew actually cares about his female teammates, but she figures it's worth a shot. If Andrew isn't walking with Neil on campus, he's usually with Renee.

And again, Katelyn kicks herself. She's basing all her expectations on the Andrew who threatened to kill her (which, fair) and the one sitting here, the one making an effort with his brother.

She just didn't think to assume he was progressing in other areas too.

"I've gotten better," Andrew says, and his tone sounds like a shrug in ways she can't explain.

For all the conflicting feelings of warmth, disbelief, and distrust, Katelyn can't help but laugh.

"Yeah I think this whole ride is proof of that," she says in between giggles, not caring that she essentially referenced the time Andrew almost maimed her. Before the therapy sessions started to really take off, Andrew being within ten feet of Katelyn would've been impossible.

And now...

"I'm barely tolerating you," Andrew tells her, and she believes him, but it's better than nothing.

"For Aaron's sake or Neil's?" She asks, because she's actually curious and wonders if he'll answer. She has him talking, no matter how little, so she plans to milk it.

"Neil's not quite as concerned with you as you believe," Andrew tells her without hesitation, and she wonders if he expects it to hurt her feelings. In the end, she decides Andrew wouldn't even care to do that much; this is another truth, plain and simple.

Regardless, if she's not allowed to assume things about Andrew, she would like the same courtesy.

"You don't know what I believe," she bites back, barely keeping the huffiness out of her tone. After all, he's right.

Her heart clenches a little, but she doesn't take it too personally. She thinks of Neil, silent as she talks his ear off. The faint smiles she sometimes gets from him, the patience, awarded because he knows she's important to Aaron. It's a weird feeling, to know Neil wouldn't really be her friend if she wasn't tied into the Foxes network. Even then, between herself and the others...

Neil would sooner lose her, doesn't need her.

She sighs. Still, she appreciates Neil, she likes that he helped Aaron even in his less than moral way. She's glad to have him around. "You're right though. Neil and I are so different. I don't get him a lot of the time, but he's still my friend."

She'll call him that until he decides it's over, she promises that. Neil, with his violent temper and borderline apathy when it comes to others.

Andrew's eyes slide to her for the first time since he pulled them back on the road.

"You and him get along," he says, and Katelyn assumes it's borne from confusion.

She shrugs. "That's probably just for Aaron's sake," she admits without much trouble.

"I know."

Oh.

Katelyn startles, wondering why Andrew said anything at all. And why wouldn't he know? Katelyn never said she understood Neil, but Andrew most certainly does.

And then Katelyn realizes Andrew's question wasn't that at all, it wasn't a curious thought to be confirmed. It was an observation, laced with annoyance. Like Andrew hates that Neil tolerates Katelyn a little more than he has to.

Katelyn huffs, somehow finding the humor in it.

"Yeah but I don't think he's the type to save face, if he wanted to he could just ignore me," Katelyn says, waving her hand back and forth. She smiles, finding comfort in knowing she won't be interrupted if she talks about Neil. "I enjoy talking to him though! I can't say why. He's really rude, extremely so."

Like...one of the rudest people she's ever met. She winces, recalling the time her cheerleader friend asked to join them for lunch, and Neil point blank told her no.

She smirks a little when Andrew's face twitches, because of course he must find the trait endearing.

She continues, and to anyone else she probably sounds like a terrible friend. It's her experience though, she doubts Neil would like the sugarcoating. "He doesn't empathize with others and genuinely will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. But I don't know, he's loyal and I trust him."

All there is to it. Katelyn may not trust Neil not to make bad decisions and stay out of trouble, but she certainly trusts him to protect what's closest to him, which includes Aaron.

Andrew's responding exhale is heavy and drawn out. It's not the first time, nor will it be the last time Katelyn wonders what he's thinking. Did she pass the test?

She has a feeling Andrew couldn't give two shits what people think of him; what people think of Neil is another story.

Yet, Andrew lets the silence fall back over them, which Katelyn is steadily starting to associate with victory on her part.

A sudden, sentimental feeling blooms in her. She asks the universe constantly how it's possible she found Aaron, someone so wary and hostile, but with so much beneath the surface. He didn't trust her when they first met, which is something a lot of people don't know. They're so smitten now, glued at the hip. But Katelyn remembers the glares and distrusting glances, the distance between them even on their first date. Somewhere along the way, the soft curves of her heart smoothed out Aaron's hard edges, until they slotted together perfectly.

Neil and Andrew are all sharp, jagged points. And even they managed to fit together, to make their own softness. Katlyn may never see the full extent of it, given how private the two are, but she knows it's there.

If Aaron says the feelings are the same, then Katelyn will believe it too.

"He talks about you a lot," Katelyn says, and it's stupid and random but she can't help herself. Andrew will know she means Neil, he has to. Katelyn thinks that if she had it her way, she'd always want Aaron to be reminded how much she loves him. She's trying to offer the same to Andrew, to let him know how much Neil cares. It's all she can offer, and she doesn't even know if it's wanted.

She just knows it’s needed, if Andrew is anything like Aaron. She swallows down her fear. "He loves--"

Andrew's interruption is quick, a slice to her airways. "No, don't."

It's a firm command, and his grip on the steering wheel tightens. Katelyn's mouth forms a small 'o' and she probably looks like a fish.

The ridiculous thought is probably the only thing which distracts her from basic self-preservation enough to keep talking.

"Why not?" She whispers, and again her old biases surge. Maybe Andrew doesn't feel the same way about Neil, maybe he doesn't want to know. It's not that Neil has ever said it to her, or admitted it.

It's just...she can tell.

"We don't use that word," Andrew says, like it's so easy to understand, like she's supposed to accept it and move on. His eyes are empty, like a ghost’s.

Like the words are filthy.

"Doesn't mean it doesn't apply," she counters, flexing her ankle as best she can to keep herself occupied. You can't help but love someone if you do...

Andrew's voice gets some color to it, but she misses the blankness as soon as she hears his tone. It's as if he's talking to a child, one who can't see beyond fairytales and sparkling rainbows. It stings, especially because for a long time, Katelyn was exactly that.

In some ways, she remains one, when it comes to love. She refuses to let that part of her go, the part which loves and loves and never quits.

"That word you're so fond of has been twisted beyond recognition," Andrew says, slow and condescending. And, because he's Andrew, he doesn't pull punches. "I'm sure Tilda told Aaron she loved him--"

Katelyn flinches; Andrew gives her no time to react beyond that. It's both a blessing and a curse. Katelyn doesn't like to say she hates anyone or anything. It's such an ugly feeling, one reserved for the worst of the worst.

She considers Tilda to be one of those people. Katelyn hates her. Hates her, hates her, hates her, and she doesn't feel bad about it.

"--like foster parents tell their kids the same before tossing them out," Andrew says without resentment or wistfulness, a simple fact. "It's meaningless, people use it for their own agendas and nothing more."

She's trembling from the baldness of it. Everything in her screams back.

But it's still real.

She almost feels bad that anyone could have such a view over a feeling she would die for, but Andrew's not the type to accept pity, she feels guilty even extending it.

But Katelyn refuses to let this go; she doesn't care what Andrew says. No matter who told Andrew that, only to follow it up with betrayal and lies...

No matter what Tilda told Aaron in the rare moments she was sober, coddling him instead of striking his face...

That was not love.

When Katelyn says it, when she whispers it in Aaron's hair, it's miles away from any of the awful way others use it. She doesn't mean to sound arrogant, but maybe she is. She's hurt Aaron without meaning to, and he's done the same to her.

But it never stays that way, it's how they handled it that proved more, proved the truth of the three words.

"I think you're wrong," she says, bolder than most people. Andrew's tapping finger on the wheel stills again. "I know, I know a lot of people use the word and they don't mean it, or they don't act like it but...that's on them. That's not real love, the actual thing, the definition. Just because people use the word incorrectly doesn't mean the feeling isn't real."

She doesn't mean to bark out the last part, but it comes out a little dramatic.

She's all too aware of Andrew's banned words, one too many 'pleases' in his presence had been an awkward end to one of their outings. She won't ever get it, but she's trying. 'Love' is perhaps another word poisoned to the point of no return, but Andrew can call it whatever he wants in Katelyn's opinion.

She just hopes one day he acknowledges that it's there, it's a thing, not a faraway fantasy.

The hum of the engine is the only thing she can use to interpret Andrew's mood; he speeds up, but there's nothing on his face. His eyes left her long ago.

It's too quiet, and her harsh breathing fills the space. The expensive leather seats feel too stiff, too cold.

Andrew doesn't give her a response, not an adequate one. She wonders if he ever will, if he has one at all. It should really be a victory, but Katelyn just feels like they're at a stalemate more than anything. No ground given either way.

A thought crosses her mind when her eyes meet the chain around Andrew's neck, when she rubs the charm bracelet on her own arm with Aaron's initials hanging from it. "You know, the only time I think I don't like the words is...because it sometimes feels like not enough."

She'd do anything for Aaron, and it scares her to think of what the extent of that promise entails. But she doesn't regret it.

The words are like a needle, puncturing and draining the wound. The heavy weight sitting in the car rushes out, relaxed tissue.

"You're more aggravating than I thought," Andrew says eventually, and Katelyn allows herself to breathe. He means it, she's not deluded about that. One day though, she hopes he'll break their stalemate somehow.

She's been acknowledged; that's more than she ever thought she'd get.

Before she knows it, they're only a few exits away from campus, and she busies herself with checking out the car. It's all she can do to not ramble; Neil might let her do it, but she figures Andrew is not ready to tolerate her to that extent. If everything he does is purposeful, her meaningless observations will be excruciating.

She swipes a hand over the arm rest, trying to figure out why guys go so nuts over things like this. She's ridden in the car before, but never from the front seat, and she can finally marvel at how expensive it is.

For someone so careless, Andrew keeps the Maserati in pristine condition. It still seems factory new, apart from the one grass stain on the floor and the empty coke can in the cupholder. The dashboard lights shine a light blue, and Katelyn finds herself in awe of the lack of fingerprints and smudges on the dash controls.

Until strangely enough, she finds something amiss. They're pulling off the freeway now, and Katelyn shouldn't care this much about a missing dashboard lighter.

It's just...it's weird. She stares at the empty hole, a piece a smoker like Andrew should find essential no?

Stupidly, she points to it. "It's missing." She doesn't expect a response, but Andrew follows the line of her finger until his gaze rests on the gap. He blinks, and his eyes return to the road.

On occasion, when Andrew talks, it feels like he's telling you an undeniable fact of the universe, and you're stupid for not knowing it already. "I threw it out the window."

As if it's normal, already explained.

Katelyn's brain tries to catch up, but as intelligent as she is in her courses, she can't find the missing piece.

Andrew slows down the car as he rounds the corner to his dorm, looking over to stare at her one last time. "Neil."

It’s the softest she’s ever heard his voice.

It takes her too long to realize that's it, that's the explanation, and her breath hitches.

Shit...

All too sudden, her heart skips a beat, and her mind is filled with the image of burn scars, red and jagged under Neil's eyes. She never asked what they were from; it would've been rude, and it made no difference to her.

The revelation makes her skin crawl.

She's not the type to bring up other people's bad memories unless she has to, for their sake.

The sight of the empty spot where the dashboard lighter should be reminds her, all too cruelly, how ugly the world can be.

Who could do that to someone?

Yet, even in the midst of her disbelief, there's an admiration there too. Andrew, tossing the lighter to the wind, if only to save Neil from even a smidgen of agony. She wonders how angry Andrew had been over it, and she wishes he could've given them hell to pay.

Someone so devoted wouldn’t cheat, she decides right then, and finds herself dumb for even entertaining the idea. Andrew would tear the world to shreds for drawing blood from Neil, she’s sure of it.

Katelyn doesn't fight her smile this time, and instead focuses on the road in front of them. Things feel lighter, better. "Aaron is gonna flip out when he sees us."

"He should've thought of that before getting wasted and losing his phone," Andrew replies, and Katelyn tries to guess if he's right. Aaron wouldn't drink...Katelyn asked him not to in case she needed him later.

And then the selfish part of her rears its ugly head. It's not something she's proud of, hiding ulterior motives from her boyfriend, but when he drinks it makes her nervous. She asks him not to, and abstains herself, as often as she can.

Aaron's history with addiction isn't pretty, she doesn't want him to hurt himself. She's shocked Andrew is so okay with it, given his protectiveness.

As if reading her mind, Andrew brakes a little too hard into a parking spot. "He won't lose control again. Enough."

She's not sure if it’s a threat or a reassurance, the first one he's ever offered, but she appreciates it all the same.

It's the kind of statement which tells her to trust Aaron, because he's yet to give her a reason not to.

Katelyn grunts in affirmation, and the ugliness in her lies dormant again. She's not as afraid of it as she used to be.

Aaron accepts all of her.

Before she can get out of the car, one of the dorm doors bangs open, and Aaron is tripping over himself to get down the stairs in a panic. Well, he's definitely sober.

"Oh yeah, I texted Neil," Andrew decides to mention, now that it doesn't matter. Katelyn winces, knowing her phone is probably a log of missed calls. She doubts Neil presented the knowledge that she and Andrew were together in a way that didn't make Aaron flip his shit.

In fact, Neil most likely did it on purpose.

Aaron peels down the stairs with the redhead trailing behind him, much more relaxed. It rips a startled laugh out of her, and she unclips her seatbelt when Andrew turns off the car.

Before she can lose the last of her nerve, her voice drops low, the slow smile never leaving her face. "Hey, I know if you're anything like Aaron you won't believe me, but Neil is really lucky to have you."

Andrew pauses, and it’s the only way she knows he heard her. Now he’ll always remember it, always will know it in some way, shape, or form.

Just like she's lucky to have Aaron, and this time, she won't accept an argument. She doesn't wait for him to reply, doesn't even wait to see his expression before she's hopping out of the car on one foot.

Andrew reaches the pavement, wrenching open Andrew's door. "What the actual fuck Andrew?!"

And of course, Andrew is completely unbothered, closing the door so quick Aaron barely manages to get his hands out of the way in time. "She rolled her ankle."

Katelyn has never heard someone make an explanation sound like 'fuck off' before, but Andrew is extremely talented about it. From how Neil smirks, he thinks it's the best thing ever.

But Aaron does 'fuck off' in a way, his eyes flying to where Katelyn smiles sheepishly, leaning against the hood of the Maserati. "I wasn't paying attention, Andrew helped me though!"

"Wha--he--he did," Aaron says, missing the natural inflection even though it's clearly a question he can't fathom.

Oh, it seems Aaron's old biases aren't completely gone either.

He looks between Katelyn and Andrew more than once, trying to find the lie. Maybe Andrew is the reason behind her ankle, or he threatened Katelyn into spinning some weird tale for his sake. Andrew just stares at Neil, not acknowledging his twin's franticness.

They'll have to work on this, Katelyn thinks, but one problem at a time.

Aaron seems to reach the same conclusion, because he snaps out of it and hauls ass over to her. She gratefully gives him all her weight, leaning on him. She's definitely going to be sitting out for a few practices. "Babe, are you okay?"

Aaron's eyes scream 'be honest' and 'are you sure?' and Katelyn can only giggle. "Yes, I'm alright. I tripped while dancing. Andrew was there for me," she feels the need to reiterate that point, and only feels a little bad for her white lie.

She'll tell Aaron about Roland later.

"Oh," Aaron says, dumbly, scanning Katelyn's eyes for evidence of tears or tension. There's none.

In all honesty, Katelyn can't say this was the worst night of her life. She's grateful for it, for the small crumb of understanding she gained. It's not much, but when Aaron and Andrew share a look of understanding, she knows it’s another important addition to the messy pile of progress they've made.

Aaron nods, gratitude radiating off him, and Andrew gives him a shrug in return. It's still more than Aaron is used to getting sometimes, and the ghost of the smile cements the night in Katelyn's mind. She'll always remember this, she thinks.

Aaron and Neil exchange an awkward glance, enough for Andrew and Katelyn to instantly recognize.

There's a story there too, one she'll definitely ask about later. For now, she wants to sleep.

She’s no night owl, but she’s not like everyone.

Neil takes a step towards Andrew, and she wonders what it's like to be a tidal wave like that. Neil's intensity is there in every movement, even when his stare gives nothing away, fixed on Andrew. His body language screams yearning, assurance, and a plethora of other things which Katelyn can't think about.

It's too intimate, and she and Aaron turn away at the same time to hobble up the steps.

She glances back only once, just in time to catch Andrew take his own step forward.

Her mind echoes her own words, the definition of real love.

She knows she has it; Aaron is gentle with her the rest of the night, helping her change into her pajamas, making her food, never leaving her side. Yes, she thinks. This is it.

And when she hears the Maserati roar to life, whisking Andrew and Neil away into the darkness, she hopes Andrew knows he has it too.

#andreil #andrew minyard #aaron minyard #all for the game #aftg #neil josten