cigarettesmokeandexyracquets:

If Andrew was honest with himself, and he often was, he had missed having Neil around. Six weeks was a long fucking time to be apart now that they were so used to being together, and the cats pathetically crying and dragging themselves around the apartment hadn’t made things any easier on Andrew. Six weeks ago Neil had gone to France with Kevin and Jean, a getaway Andrew was supposed to go on as well but a well placed strike by an opposing backliner to his knee had shattered that plan to pieces. Neil had wanted to stay home and Andrew refused, instead Abby Winfield had flown herself from South Carolina to Washington to look after him while Neil was gone.

It had been six weeks of sticky summer heat and watching old game shows in relative silence while Abby made sure Andrew didn’t so much as think about putting any weight on his knee. The cats had made themselves a nuisance, walking around and meowing pitifully, checking to see if Neil had magically appeared by Andrew’s side while they weren’t looking. Andrew was content to ignore them, even if Abby made a sad clucking noise every time the damned things went to check the front door.

Abby had left around eight in the morning to catch her flight back to South Carolina, leaving behind a lasagna and at least three different types of pie in the fridge and a stern warning for Andrew to keep off his leg as much as possible until Neil got home. Andrew waved her off and listened to the door shut and lock click back into place.

He passed the time between Abby’s departure and Neil’s arrival with trashy reality tv, the volume turned down to a low murmur and his eyes flickering between the television and the clock on the wall.

If Andrew was honest with himself, he’d missed Neil an awful lot.

Andrew woke with a start to the sound of the front door opening and the cats crying and realized he had fallen asleep waiting for Neil to get home. The thought was disgustingly domestic but he shrugged the feeling away.

Neil’s voice followed the sounds of the door shutting, luggage being dropped, and a lock turning. “Oh, hello sweetheart.” Neil said. Andrew’s heart clenched, a mild panic because since when did Neil start using endearments? They had never been that kind of couple. Words like that tasted like ash on Andrew’s tongue. He’d thought it was like that for Neil too. 

Neil walked into the living room, holding Sir cradled in both arms against his chest. King wormed her way around Neil’s feet, mewing pitifully for his attention as well.

“Oh,” Andrew said. It sounded a little like a gut punch, the sound pulled from him unwillingly. Half relief and half disappointment. 

“Oh?” Neil asked, his lips turned up in the corners in amusement.

Andrew tried to think of a way to recover and came up blank. “You were talking to the cats,” He said blandly.

“Yes,” Neil said and then inhaled a sharp little breath, “Did you think-”

“No.”

“Andrew, I-”

“Welcome home, Neil,” Andrew said.

Neil opened his mouth, likely an argument forming on the tip of his tongue. Andrew moved his arms like he might push himself up off the couch to go shut Neil up himself and Neil shook his head. “Alright, fine, just-” Neil let go of Sir and made those last few steps back to Andrew’s side. “I’ll shut up, you sit down.”

“To think,” Andrew said, “all it takes to shut you up is me being grievously injured.”

“I’m sure there are less drastic ways to do that,” Neil said, bending down into Andrew’s space and smiling.

“If there are I haven’t found them,” Andrew said and brought a hand up to Neil’s neck, pulling him down to seal their lips together. 

Neil hummed happily and used one hand to balance himself against the couch, he other finding its way to Andrew’s jaw, scratching through the light stubble gathering there. 

“I missed you,” Neil breathed once he pulled away, pressing their foreheads together.

Andrew breathed in the scent of him, heavy cigarette smoke from his clothes and that damned cologne he was always borrowing from Kevin. “I missed you too,” Andrew said, eyes screwed shut.

Neil hummed happily and pressed his lips to Andrew’s forehead before pulling away. “I’ve got to put my luggage away. I’ll feed the cats and order something for dinner if you want to pick a movie.”

“Okay.” 

Andrew felt Neil shift out of his space and opened his eyes. Neil crouched down to pet King, scratching behind her ears and letting her paw at his jeans. “Alright sweetheart, let’s get you something to eat then.” He heard Neil say softly, likely not meaning for Andrew to hear.

As Andrew watched him walk away he had the vague thought that if Neil wanted to call him sweetheart, he probably wouldn’t mind all that much. 

prev post // if you like what i do consider buying me a coffee?