for @skis

[mtherfcknmonster]

[Weekends have been different since Kevin has been with Andrew and Neil and now that they're sharing the same bed, Andrew expects it to be even more different. Mainly, getting up has been harder, because Kevin never really wants to get his ass out of bed once he's in it, and this both amuses and frustrates Andrew- he's not entirely sure why. It's not like he cares if they make it to class or practice.

Andrew is always awake first, because he needs to be, but sometimes he thinks Neil wakes up before him and just waits for him to wake up before opening his eyes. It sounds like one of those stupid things Neil would do for him, to make him feel safer (and it works), but more often than not, Andrew is just too light of a sleeper to stay sleeping for too long.

This Saturday, he really is the first one awake, Neil sleeping next to him, curled into Kevin's side. Kevin is snoring softly (okay, maybe it's just heavy breathing but Andrew will swear on everything that it's snoring), his limbs sprawled out everywhere, one arm under Neil's neck, reaching out to almost touch Andrew's shoulder, the other above his head. One day, Kevin is going to end up on the floor, and Andrew won't feel bad about it. But today he seems firmly planted in bed and Andrew watches them sleep. He can do all the staring he wants and not get called out for it. It's images like these he wants to keep in his head so he has something to focus on when things get bad. He has something real to come back to, though he's not sure he deserves any of this at all.

It's when those thoughts start filtering in, that Neil stirs, turning from Kevin a bit and cracking his eyes open to look at Andrew. Neil gives him a small, sleepy smile when he sees that Andrew is awake, just like he always does and just like always, Andrew thinks it's horribly unfair and stupid that Neil could look this good as soon as he opens his eyes]

Morning.

[Neil says to him quietly after what what Andrew can tell is Neil quickly assessing to see if Andrew is in an okay place, if he had any nightmares or is unusually tense. Andrew doesn't return the greeting, but he reaches out and brushes his fingers through Neil's messy locks. Neil's smile grows wider and then he turns his head to look at Kevin again]

He snores.

[Andrew wants to make sure Neil knows that, and Neil laughs softly and shakes his head. ]

No he doesn't.

[Andrew lets out a soft huff, but tugs Neil forward and kisses him, because all these laughs and smiles so early in the morning, they're too good. Kevin's hand is between them, but Neil pulls it down a little so they can kiss easier, but he keeps his hand in Kevin's, curling his fingers around his]

Comments

[1hundred]

[ Neil shrugs. Whatever they wants when it comes to drinking. He's not as strict with it as he used to be, of course, but it's not like they do it on the regular and he's noticed that even Kevin has stopped drinking as much as he used to. But if Andrew wants to go have one after this, he wouldn't object to it.

He hopes Kevin doesn't always feel that disconnect, but he'd understand, if Kevin talked to him about it. Sometimes he and Andrew do have this way about them, but they try to include Kevin as much as possible.

He follows them to the counter, listening in, because all of it sounds important and the only contract he's ever signed has been with the Foxes. Andrew mostly looks like he wants to stab the guy, which is a little funny while he's holding that rainbow lollipop.]

Are you sure? You're not just saying that it's easier and cheaper?

[mtherfcknmonster]

[ Andrew drinks less as well, he's given up cracker dust completely. All he really does is smoke and eat sweets which is a hell of a lot less vices than he used to have. They're good for each other, there's proof in that. Kevin is doing well. But they don't have to be saints. They never will be.

Andrew doesn't try, so at least Kevin can be comforted by that.

He eyes Kevin for a moment, then nods.]

Because he almost had a meltdown and he is worried you are trying to spare him more grief. If it is easier and cheaper, we will go on your plan.

[1hundred]

[They're making all sorts of good changes. Neil figured Kevin would stop doing cracker dust when Andrew did, so that worked out as well.

Kevin can glare all he wants, but Neil is always going to make sure, especially when it comes to things like this. Contracts and such. ]

Okay. We'll do that, then.

[mtherfcknmonster]

Anything that saves us from filling out more forms.

[he is not the filling out forms type, that's for damn sure.

But he does understand why Neil is hesitant about it. He's always like this when it comes to anything but Exy, testing the waters of new life things. He tries to be patient in his own Andrew way, just as Neil is patient with him]

Can I pay for the rest of it while he does that?

[1hundred]

[ Andrew holds out his rainbow monstrosity to hold while he pays and signs things and Neil feels a flash of guilt that they're taking care of all of this now, but he tries to shove it down and listen to what they're actually saying to him.

He takes the lollipop and leans against the counter, watching them. They're so good to him. They even tolerate his phone freak outs. At least this time it was only vaguely about his mother and how disappointed and angry she would be at him for spending this much on something so frivolous.

But he's not on the run anymore. He doesn't' have to pay for identity changes. He can pay for things that will keep him closer to his boyfriends. That will keep him in their orbit and permanently here. His name is on contracts and things now, and that's okay. ]

Thank you.

[He says to both of them}

[mtherfcknmonster]

[ Andrew looks over at Kevin when he kicks his shoe, then over at Neil. It really is a damn shame he doesn't have his camera already. ]

That means I will have to get another one at some point so we can recreate this moment.

[Any excuse for another lollipop. Plus, Kevin is right. It would be a good picture.

Andrew dislikes Neil's mother and he would disagree with anything she would have to say. Neil belongs with them now and he deserves this better life, with whatever helps him feel like he wants to stay. Andrew is completely on board with these phones now. ]

You do not have to thank either of us for anything.

[1hundred]

It's a big deal to me.

[Neil says, because he wants them to know.

Like Kevin, he understands his mother's reasoning, and while she wasn't really good to him the way mother's are supposed to be, she did what she could to protect his life and get him to the point where he could survive this far. He's grateful for that and he misses her.

All if that is put aside though, as Kevin snaps a pic of him and he sees the slightly pleased expression on Andrew's face. He's sure that's more emotion than he's seen all day and it's very worth it]

Let me see.

[mtherfcknmonster]

[Andrew certainly doesn't want Neil to feel like he owes them anything either. It's the last thing he ever wants.

He would kill Neil's mother if she were still alive. She may have dragged him away from a life he never should have had, but she fucked up a lot inside of Neil in her own way and Andrew can never forgive her for that.

But Neil seems happier now and this picture Kevin took is very good. Good enough to distract him from signing things. Good enough that his fingers curl into the paper a bit and he feels like he's falling off a rooftop]

Those puppy ears are ridiculous.

[It's the best he can come up with. Clearly this pic has thrown him off his game]

[1hundred]

[It is much better that it will never be relevant, because Neil would probably be very upset at Andrew's view and that's not a fight he wants to get into.

He leans forward and looks at the picture, then laughs loudly attracting maybe a little too much attention, but he doesn't even notice it, because he's in a good mood and he's alright, and Andrew looks so good in this moment and so does Kevin.

Neil is wearing puppy ears. He never thought he'd see the day. He doubts any of them did. ]

Oh my god. Delete that! [His first instinct, but Andrew looks absolutely affronted by that, so he laughs again and shakes his head] No, don't. Keep it.

[mtherfcknmonster]

[ Andrew hopes to be left out of this conversation. Kevin and Nell can talk about their mothers all they want. He wouldn't have anything good to contribute anyway.

It's definitely a lot. It's too much, all of a sudden, so Andrew quietly goes back to finishing up with their paperwork and then he can't help but sneak another look at the photo, before looking at Neil again.

He wants to hate all of this, but it's hard to even think it, and that's definitely progress for him too.]

If you try to get me, I will stab you.

[1hundred]

[ Neil is definitely not ready to talk about his mother, not yet. But one day maybe he would like it if the two of them could talk about their mothers together. Right now though, he still buries it deep inside of him, trying to keep it there as much as possible.

He's happy. He's really happy standing here with his two favorite people, doing something as mundane as buying phones and having the time of his life. ]

A cat filter? Oh, Andrew. A cat filter.

[mtherfcknmonster]

[ He can't believe they are actually asking him this! He puts the pen down and glares at both of them, but the sales person looks like he's about to laugh, so he gets the glare instead. If looks could kill.

The salesperson clears his throat and gets back to processing their paperwork, so Andrew turns away from the counter, taking his lollypop back from Neil. ]

You are both at three hundred and forty percent.

But fine.

[1hundred]

[ Neil highly doubts Andrew is going to leap over the counter and stab the guy, but it's always a possibility. Still, he knows Andrew better than to think he completely hates this and he just about explodes when he agrees to take a picture with cat ears. It's a miracle, really. He feels especially blessed today.

Andrew's expression doesn't change, which only makes it even more amusing with cat ears.

Neil practically bounces over to Kevin's side to take a look, grinning from ear to ear. ]

This is the greatest picture I've ever seen.