Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Neil looked over at Andrew. The sun was in his hair, illuminated it just right.
“Staring,” Andrew drawled. Neil looked down at the parking lot, a small warm smile decorating his face. He chuckled remembering what Agent Browning and Agent Towns said two years ago.
“What Junkie?” Andrew said in his warm monotone voice.
“Just remembering what the FBI agents said when I woke up asking for you all in the hospital room” Neil chuckled again. Andrew just let his head roll to the side to glare at his Rabbit until he got the message. He did. He always did. “They said that they would eat their hat if you guys ever wanted to be in the same room as me after what happened.” He looked at his ‘Drew. “We have definitely been closer than just the same room” again Neil chuckled at the light pink that decorated Andrew’s cheeks and ears. Andrew head snapped at Neil.
“Did you believe them?”
“No”
“Good” then Andrew pulled out his phone. A new smartphone because classes are boring and he might as well FaceTime his Rabbit, since he’s all the way in the back. Clicked a few buttons and then typed something.
****
A new group chat w/o Neil.

Andrew
We are storming the FBI meet in 5 in the parking lot.
Nicky
WHAT HAPPENED DO THEY HAVE NEIL
Andrew
No. But two made a promise and I’m going to see it through but you will want to too.
Dan
Why isn’t Neil in this you don’t like us
Matt
Yeah, what’s going on
Andrew
Andrewwwwww
~Andrew left the chat~
Aaron
Ofc this mf would leave after admitting to a literal crime
Nicky
FOR LOVE
Kevin
Shut up Nicky
Wait will we miss practice
Allison
FUCK YEAH FOR MY CHILD
Dan
NO HE’S MINE
~Matt left the chat~
Allison
Awww we made Matt leave. Neil is totally his child
Dan
Yep…….
I GET TO CO-PARENT
SUCK IT
Allison
Nuh-uh
~Aaron left the chat~
****
Andrew's head was spinning with a new plan. He was going to storm the FBI, find these “Agents” and make them eat their hats. (Or shove it down their throats how dare they let his precious Neil think he isn’t wanted to stay)
“Come on Rabbit”
“Where we going ‘drew” Andrew did not get pinker. Andrew continued down the stairs. He didn’t look back but he knew he was behind him.
****
Andrew waited until Nicky came barreling into the other foxes' little circle. He looked at Neil.
“Babe, Tell them what you told me” Neil looked at him confused. Andrew glared.
“WAIT BABE?!?!??!”
“Shut the fuck up Nicky” Andrew grunted. The pink dusting his ears again. He glared harder if possible. (Neil thinks he looks like a little angry strawberry bc his cheeks are pink and his freckles)
“Oh the hat?” Andrew raised his eyebrows in a no shit motion. “Oh well my FBI agents said they would eat their hat if you wanted to ever be in the same room as me again after everything that happened and I also said…” Andrew slapped a hand over his mouth.
“Did you just fucking lick my hand.”
“Nooooooooooo.”
“Idiot.”
“AWWWWWW!!!”
“Nicky shut up.”
“But I say we storm the FBI place find Agent Browning and Towns and make them eat his their”
“What?” Neil said. He probably still didn’t know what was going on.
“Ok I don’t want to hear you all scream yes so just raise your hand if you're on board” Andrew drawled. It was unanimous. He raised an eyebrow at his twin. His twin who is the leader of the “I Hate Neil Josten” fan club.
“What I just want to see someone eat a hat. Or you shove it down their throats because we know they will ingest this hat one way or the other.” Andrew raised one brow.
“You are learning my padawan”
“Why is the monster soft now?” Allison said, seemingly the only person caring. Renee put her hand on her arm. If looks could kill Neil would have just killed his best girl friend.
“Loveeeee” Nicky said with stars in his eyes. Andrew, who was sitting on his car without a single care, put his arm around Neils waist and pulled him closer. Neil nodded to show he was fine with the gesture.
****
Neil had a feeling when he felt Andrew tug him over this was affecting him more than he was willing to truly show. Andrew always wakes up mumbling “stay” and goes to bed asking “you will stay right?” Andrew’s nightmares about Baltimore have Neil waking up with his blond tucked into his side with his head on his heart. Everyday Andrew wakes up to Neil’s steady heartbeat and hand in his hair. When Neil notices he’s up he’ll whisper “yes or no”. Andrew will say yes and Neil will kiss his hair. Only running every other day now electing to hold his blond.
He nods to show he’s ok with it. It’s alway yes.
****
Andrew scans his tiny mob nods gets down still holding Neil and tugs him away to smoke quickly so Kevin won’t complain. He knows Neil knows something is up. He’s scared to lose his Rabbit and if these men put those thoughts in the world they will be eating their hat if it’s the last thing Andrew does.

Chapter Text

When they get in the car Andrew waits until at least Nicky is sleeping before reaching over and nudging his junkie’s hand. He gets the message and gives Andrew his hand. Andrew holds it over the gearshift. He makes eye contact with Aaron who just nods. He focuses his eyes back on the road he squeezes his junkie's hand to let him know he can sleep. He shifts in his seat so he’s facing Andrew. Andrew squeezes his hand again to say “staring” in the silent environment. Neil smiles at him only illuminated by the street lights. It makes him look warmer than he already does. He falls asleep shortly after. Andrew allows himself a small smile after making sure Aaron is also asleep.
He drives for a while with Matt in his truck with Dan and Allison behind him with Renee in her stupid pink car. Soon a loud phone starts ringing waking up his sleeping car. It’s Kevin’s because it’s always Kevin's fault for ruining peace. Nope, would have been Andrew’s probably if he had a smartphone. It picks up Wymack’s and connects to people in the other two cars. “Yayyy” he says in a monotone voice in his head but Neil looks at him with a warm smile and he doesn’t know if he said it out loud or not. Neil offering no help just squeezes his hand, which ok is help but shut up.
****
Neil sits back and listens to Wymacks voice and just watches his ‘Drew.
“What are you fucks doing? Why aren’t you here for practice?” Wymack screams. Dan ever the helper.
“Andrew has us on a team building mission.” Nothing happens for a few dead silent seconds. Then…
“WHAT?!?!” Wymack practically screeches. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING. THE ONLY TEAM BUILDING THIS HE WOULD BE DOING WOULD BE TO LIKE … like… WELL I DONT FUCKING KNOW STORM THE FBI” and all the foxes got very quiet. “I got that right didn’t I? No wait, don't tell me I want to be able to say as least as possible.”
“Ok I’m all fairness it’s the fbi agents fault” Kevin says. Neil can see Andrew bite his lips in a straight line to keep from smiling then…
“FOR TRUE LOVE BITCHES” Nicky screams.
“No the fuckers said they would eat their hats if we wanted Neil back after everything happened. That ticked Andrew off and now we are on our way to see it.” Kevin said.
“Coach, my bank account password is 76910. Bail is out if necessary.”
“Hey isn’t that your number, Seth’s, Renee’s and Neil’s”
“SHUT UP MATT”
“Double just in case mine is 1410”
“Matty just shut the fuck up”
“…bitch”
“CHILDREN” Wymack is donneeeeee.
“Sorry coach” Matt and Allison say in unison.
“Don’t get arrested”
“We’ll try” Rennes soft voice shut everyone up.
“How far away are you idiots”
“Hey that’s one of Andrew’s nicknames for Neil coach we can’t be called idiots” Nicky oh so helpful states.
****
“Nicky” I practically hiss. Neil squeezes my hand to say it’s fine. I glare at him and he smiles. I hate him “269%” I whisper.
“YOUR GONNA 69 TWICE”
“Nicky if you don’t shut up I’ll throw you out of the car right here right now” I feel Neil’s hand slide up my armband and remove the knife. I look over unamused. He giggles. Giggles. “270%” I mouth this time. His smile grows.
“Fine. Morons”
“30 minutes,” Dan says.
“Ughhhhhhh” coach groans. “Don’t be stupid.”
“Yesssss Coooaaacchhh” all the foxes say it at one time. Wymack hangs up.
****
We finally pulled up. And everyone exits their car and comes over to the Mas. Andrew walks around to open Neil’s door, he nudged him with his knee to wake him up.
“Chivalry isn’t dead” Allison whispers to Nicky thinking I wouldn’t hear it.
“Tea” Nicky says ever the highschool girl.
I get Neil and wrap my arm around his waist while he wakes up and we join the circle. When we get there Neil lays his forehead on my shoulder I judge it up a bit to wake him up.
“I won’t fall asleep just comfy” he grumbles.
“We go in, we ask for them, we walk over there and demand they eat the hat we watch them…”
“We record them,” Allison says, putting her phone in her front pocket with the camera on, obviously.
“That incriminating evidence of us if they get mad we stormed” Neil mumbles. I can feel his breath down my arm and the vibrations from his voice. So cute his fluffy red hair. I lean down to peck it.
“Bingo. I say then we leave.”
“So what happens if they don’t let us in?” Kevin says, putting his arm on Aaron’s head. Aaron, giving Kevin ample time to pull off, winds his arm forward and smashes it into Kelvin's stomach. Kevin falls to his knees coughing. Aaron brings his arm to the side watching the crumpled Stricker.
“Drama queen” he whispers. Then looks back to the circle as if nothing happened and Kevin is dying next to him.
“Kevin,” Neil starts “just because your talk doesn’t mean you get to act like it.” Unfortunately I have no better choice than to roll my eyes (fondly).
“Sounds good let’s go!!” Dan says already walking off. This is going to be fun.