Concept: Nicky, wearing a “SAY HEY IF YOU’RE GAY” shirt. Andrew, walking downstairs, looking at his shirt, and saying “Hey” before going into the kitchen and grabbing something that’s probably not suitable breakfast food.
All of this takes place before Palmetto, but Nicky is so stunned that Andrew acknowledged him that he completly forgot about the shirt he was wearing.
Thus subsequently didn’t realize that Andrew had in fact just come out to him.
a few years post graduating USC, the crew goes back to visit LA together ((even though they all play on pro teams in the same region and see each other every few weeks anyway))
Federal Agent Towns found dead in Baltimore, beat to death by Neil’s Nathaniel’s cast-iron balls
Just imagine being Towns in this situation. You’re a federal agent of the USA and you’re about to bring down one of the largest criminal rings in the country, and your only obstacle is a 5’3, scarred, traumatised teenager handcuffed to a hospital bed, with an attitude problem the size of Jupiter. Just i m a g i n e
It starts, like so many of the things in Neil’s life, with someone being cruel
Allison’s visiting and they’re out grabbing lunch and a passerby cracks a joke about Neil’s scars
And it’s been a hot minute and Neil doesn’t really care but he’s tired of this, tired of people recognizing him as damaged when he’s working on being a whole real person
Allison notices and once she’s finished her biting one-liner coming for the passerby’s life she leans across the table and presses a firm kiss to Neil’s right cheek, directly over the pull of knife scars
Neil’s been learning he likes physical contact, from people he trusts, and he’s surprised but he blossoms under the contact and relaxes
So it becomes a thing
Dan busses Neil’s cheek in greeting when she visits
Renee’s cheek-kisses always leave Neil with the lingering scent of citrus shampoo
Nicky likes to make a joke of it, give Neil’s burn scars a huge smacking kiss when Neil’s feeling down
Matt throws himself into this idea completely, of course
Even Kevin, sometimes, if it’s just them in their dorm and Neil passes Kevin the notes they’re taking on a game, will press a brief kiss to Neil’s cheekbone in thanks
(Aaron doesn’t; but he doesn’t complain when the others do, and that’s– that’s something)
And of course Andrew
Andrew
Never in front of the others, but at night when Neil’s curled against him Andrew will work slow and reverent lips over Neil’s cheeks and nose, dropping down frequently to kiss that mouth that features in so many of Andrew’s dreams
Nothing but My Aching Soul 