Chapter Text
1.
“It’ll be like family dinner without all the sucky family” Matt had said. That’s how Neil found himself sitting at Abby’s dinner table every week. It had started as a way for the original foxes to stay together even with the new freshmen that had joined, but it evolved into somewhat of a comfort for Neil. It became a day where he didn’t have to worry about being Vice captain: the person people relied on. Instead he could just be Neil Josten: the person that he had worked so hard to become.
Today’s meal was spaghetti and meatballs. A classic in normal households apparently. As soon as he stepped into Abby’s house, she put him in charge of cutting up vegetables for the sauce and the salad. He was just glad to be away from all his friends worrying glances. They were too smart not to notice the toll this season had already begun taking on him. The knowledge that most of the upper classmen would be gone soon weighed on him. He’d be losing his family just when he found his footing again.
He was finishing up the last parts of the salad. His reflection staring at him through the chef’s knife in hand. Knives had become easier to be around over the last year. No longer associated with his father or Lola, but rather Andrew and his golden eyes. Neil could never hate anything that reminded him of the boy who gave him a key and called it home.
“Neil.” The call of his name took him out of his trance “The timer on the garlic bread just went off. Do you think you could take it out for me? I left the oven mitts next to the stove”.
He looked over to see Abby walking the pasta over to the table where the rest of the foxes were gathering.
“Sure” came his quick reply.
Neil walked over, turned off the timer, and opened up the oven. He glanced around but couldn’t find the oven mitts Abby had mentioned. He stood there for a few moments before deciding he didn’t need them anyways. He was only going to be holding the hot pan for a second. No need to waste anyone’s time asking where they were.
He stretched out his fingers before going in for the pan. The pain spread through his hands up to his arms instantly. The limbs that were already a mess of cuts and burns. The hands that he needed to play exy and ultimately to live. The arms that had finally healed over after the torture they had gone through. Neil wasn’t afraid of a little heat. Something Andrew didn’t believe for a while, but was proven when he continued to ask for Andrew’s lighter on the rooftop. It probably is something he should be afraid of. With everything that happened in Baltimore, nobody would blame him. It would be expected, almost.
Another little fear to go along with your pages of trauma. Another thing your foxes, your friends, have to watch out for around you. You mind as well get over it.
Those thoughts swirled around his head so fast Neil didn’t even notice the screams around him. Apparently he had been holding the hot pan for a lot longer than he thought. Andrew was already at his side, mitts in hand taking the tray away from him and ushering to put the new injury under cold water.
“Neil! You could’ve ruined your hands for the rest of the season.” That voice was definitely Kevin.
A mixture of “Are you okay?” “What’s wrong” and “Oh my god” came from the other foxes. Unsurprisingly, Aaron was silent, choosing instead to stare at Neil like he was an idiot.
“Abram” Andrew’s voice sounded firm.
Neil’s eyes swung over to him, the cold water on his hands turning off.
“Keep this cool towel around your hands for a few minutes okay?” Abby was tending to him, but Neil continued to stare at Andrew.
“Outside” Andrew grabbed one of his shirt sleeves and pulled him out to the porch, choosing to ignore the others glances and whispers.
The cold air caressed his skin as he and Andrew stood there.
“What happened back there?” Andrew asked with a blank stare looking forward.
“Nothing. I couldn’t find the oven mitts and didn’t want the bread to burn” Neil replied.
“Because you care so much about cooking now” Andrew uttered.
“I wasn’t thinking okay? But it’s not a big deal. I just held it longer than I realized. My hands will be fine in a few days. I’ve had worse than this.” Neil shrugged.
“The deal is I don’t understand how you didn’t see oven mitts that were right in front of your face. Or why that little brain of yours didn’t think to open your mouth and ask where they were” Anger was seeping into every word Andrew said, “just because you’ve had worse doesn’t mean it isn’t bad”.
The last statement took Neil back a little.
Just because you’ve had worse doesn’t mean it isn’t bad.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt myself, Andrew. It was an honest accident”.
“There isn’t an honest thing about you” was Andrew’s initial reply “For someone so obsessed with exy, you don’t seem to think about the fact that you can’t hold a racquet without your hands in working order. Such an interesting turn of events”
“You’ve always said I’m interesting.” Neil responded.
“You’ve always been nothing. Now go back inside and let them drown you in their worry” Andrew shooed him away.
Neil huffed and began to walk away. Andrew spoke once more.
“Be sure these little ‘accidents’ don’t become a habit”.