Just any and all thoughts I have abt aftg

The ref:

I think there are a few possibilities, but I have no idea which one seems the most realistic

1. The team has seen Andrew's scars in passing, he isn't very particular abt keeping them hidden 100% of the time. (As seen after the Drake scene, he removed his sleeves without second thought, thi this can ofc be due to him being high as fuck at the moment)

2. His scars most likely being on his inner arms, he'd likely be able to hide them while showering, as long as he wasn't flipping his arms over or any of the other foxes were staring at him (which you usually don't do in the shower) it would be easy to overlook

3. Another possibility is that he just doesn't shower, at least not after away games. And him not usually running around so much, being a keeper and all, he likely doesn't get quite as sweaty as the other foxes

4. He might also just shower with his sleeves on. I don't think the foxes would comment too much on it, just figuring he doesn't want to remove his knives. Maybe he'd change the sleeves out for dry ones after or maybe he'd just walk around with constantly damp sleeves, who knows.

It took Neil a few days to get used to, but he loves it. However, Aaron just about lost his shit the first time he heard his brother say "hey babe, where did you put my bag" with the exact same stony expression as when he'd say anything else.

[A fluffy oneshot of Neil getting an infection in a fresh piercing, but refusing to ask for any help. Some light angst]

“Have you ever gotten a piercing?” Andrew’s voice pulled Neil out of the peaceful bliss he was in. Just relinquishing the warmth of a body on top of his own. He stroked Andrew’s back as he answered; “Nope.” Neil could feel Andrew’s hand sliding upwards, caressing his neck and jaw before stopping at his ear. Slightly pinching it. Neil opened his eyes.

“What are you doing?” Andrew didn’t answer right away, just kept on pinching Neil’s ear, it wasn’t unpleasant, but seemed a bit weird. “I’m checking you for scars stupid.” Neil just huffed at that. “I told you, I’ve never gotten a piercing, why would you even check?” He’d said it lightheartedly, but Andrew got quiet for a moment.

“Kevin has had pierced ears, I’ve noticed the scars, and Riko always wore something in his, so I thought, maybe it was some gang thing, one you didn’t remember.” Andrew moved his hand away from Neil’s ear, placing his palm on his chest instead. This made Neil think. Were piercings a thing his dad, or the Moriyamas, cared about? He started thinking back, imagining all his fathers people in his mind, most of the women had pierced ears, and he supposed he’d seen a few other piercings here and there too, but nothing consistent. “I don’t think so, I have no idea why Kevin would ever pierce his ear, but I guess Riko just was edgy like that. But from what I’ve seen, piercings don’t seem to be a common thing for any of the Moriyamas’ people” Andrew snuggled closer at this. “Good.”

A few days later the foxes celebrated a game they won with unholy amounts of alcohol. Andrew and Neil being quite tipsy, went for a walk, just to catch some air and enjoy the peaceful quiet the snow brought. Their shoulders kept bumping into each other, and Neil was giddy. After walking in a comfortable silence for a bit, Neil stopped underneath a streetlight. When Andrew turned to see why Neil had stopped Neil pulled off his glove and raised his hand, nearly touching Andrew’s face. As Andrew nodded Neil gently touched one of the tiny spikes over Andrew’s eyebrow. “How did you even get this?” He said, indicating Andrew’s piercing.

“I went to a piercing shop of course,” Andrew answered, trying, but failing, to suppress a smile. This slightly disappointed Neil, and it must have shown on his face, ‘cause a second later Andrew spoke again. “But these,” he tugged at the piercings filling his ear, “I did myself.” Neil smiled at this. “Could you maybe. I don’t know. Pierce my ear?” Andrew didn’t answer. Just grabbed Neil’s hand and dragged him towards Fox Tower.

As they entered the door to their dorm, which was blissfully empty, Andrew asked him, “Why?” Neil just shrugged, “I don’t know, it just seems kinda fun, and I’d like to change something about my look, something I know my father would never do.” Andrew just nodded before turning and walking into the other room. Leaving Neil with his thoughts. He’d never really realized that he wanted a piercing before this very moment, but when he came to think of it, it felt like a good way to finally be able to see himself, and not just his fathers face, and the way Lola hurt him, whenever he looked in the mirror.

Andrew came back shortly after, carrying a lighter, a sewing needle, and what Neil assumed was some sort of jewelry. He stopped in front of Neil, close enough for them to breathe the same air, but not touching. “Yes or no?” Andrew held out the needle. Neil smiled, “it’s always yes with you.” Andrew rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth was turning upwards. Neil reached out to the hand Andrew was holding the needle with, waiting for Andrew’s nod before gently grabbing his wrist and lowering it. Taking a half step closer to Andrew, waiting for him to close the gap. Neil gave him a quick kiss before pulling away, “okay, let’s do this!”

Neil sat down at the couch, waiting for Andrew’s instructions. “Lie down.” Neil did as he was told. Andrew was standing above him, placing one knee onto the couch besides Neil’s hip, the other firmly planted on the floor. He looked at Neil. When Neil nodded, Andrew placed himself on top of Neil, straddling his hips. He lifted the needle and lighter to where Neil could see. “I’m going to light this, and burn the needle to disinfect it, okay?” Neil nodded, having a hard time speaking with Andrew on top of him.

He appreciated the question, after Lola, his relationship with fire had become a complicated one. One random day, when Neil thought it was all over, he’d been on the roof with Andrew, just talking. When out of the corner of his eye he suddenly saw a bright orange flash. Andrew had just lit his cigarette, just the same as he’d done a million times before, but this time, it was no longer Andrew, the man Neil trusted, and leaned on, who was beside him. In his mind's eye Lola was right there with him, lighting that god awful cigarette lighter, moving in closer.

That had been Neil’s first panic attack. But not the last. They’d become more frequent after that, Neil’s body finally not being in emergency mode for the first time in nine years, his brain had a lot to process. It had taken Andrew a moment to react, but he hadn’t been surprised. He told Neil later that he’d actually been waiting for something like that to happen, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to move on without working through everything that happened with his dad, his mom, his childhood, everything. It had taken Andrew a while, but he finally managed to convince Neil to go to therapy, on one condition, it would be someone else than Bee. Neil didn’t have anything against Bee, but he never really felt like he clicked with her, and he didn’t want to talk to someone he’d have to be around outside of sessions. He ended up talking with a retired football coach who decided to become a therapist after his team decided it was time for a younger coach. Neil didn’t trust him at first, still didn’t, but eventually he managed to start opening up, talking about everything he’d been through. After a while, things slowly got better. And even if they weren’t perfect, and likely never would, he managed with the help of his teammates, and of course, Andrew.

Andrew lit the lighter, moving it slowly back and forth across the needle, turning the shiny metal black, purposefully turning slightly away from Neil as he did so. When the needle was satisfactorily sanitized Andrew gently grabbed Neil’s earlobe, pulling the flesh taught. “You ready?” he asked. Again all Neil could do was nod. Andrew leaned forward, pushing Neil’s chin to the side.

Neil didn’t think he’d flinch. He’d been cut open more times than he could count, a pierced ear was nothing. But screaming and hisssing were completely justified reactions during torture, however it was a bit overdramatic to suck in a breath and let out a grunt of pain. “Don’t be such a wuss.” Andrew somehow got the jewelry in, and pulled out a bottle of whiskey from beneath the couch. He took a swig before pouring a bit over Neil’s ear. It stung, but reminded him of his life with his mom, which, despite all the trauma it caused him, was a welcome reminder.

When Neil woke the next morning his ear was aching. He figured it was just a part of the healing process and went on with his day. Throughout classes and practice his ear started throbbing a bit, but it wasn’t anything too bad.

Once he finally returned to fox tower after a late night run his ear was aching pretty badly. He decided to check it out in the mirror after his shower. His ear was bright red and a bit swollen. Neil sighed, he’d likely gotten a small infection. It was nothing some vodka couldn’t handle. He decided to steal some from Kevin’s stash, he always had an abundance.

Four days later his infection was still not going anywhere. He’d somehow managed to hide it from his teammates, even Andrew. His ear hurt and throbbed constantly now, but he was fine. He figured it would clear up on his own in a while as long as he kept pouring vodka over it every now and then. This idea however turned out to be mistaken when he removed his helmet after practice that same evening.

He’d been tired and sweaty when removing his helmet. After a particularly tough tackle his ear had started hurting worse than ever. His ear must have burst or something, cause when he removed his helmet, a thin stream of blood trickled down his neck. Neil figured it was just some sweat, until Abby came running, insisting he was injured. She said it loud enough to worry his teammates too. Thankfully, Andrew was at his therapy appointment, so he wouldn’t have to explain the situation to him.

Abby swiftly hurried him off to her office, demanding she’d take a look. “I’m fine,” Neil insisted, covering his ear with his hand. “Neil, you should know better than saying you’re fine when you’re clearly not. Your face is covered in blood, let me have a look.” Neil removed his hand and turned his head to let Abby have a look. After Abby cleaned away the blood she took a step back. “Neil, how long is it since you pierced your ear?” Neil cringed, not wanting to tell her anything, but Abby kept pushing. “Neil. I need to know how long.” Neil spoke to the ground, “Five days ago…” Abby huffed. “Why didn’t you come to me? You know what an infection looks like.” Neil just looked at her, puzzled. Why would he go to Abby? She sighed. “Neil, I am your doctor. My job is literally to care for all of you. I am here to help, even if the injury isn’t exy related.” Now it was Neil’s turn to sigh.

Bonus: Kevin is the only other person on the team who is completely clueless as to why Neil's emoji use is wrong.

Kevin: "What are you talking about Nicky? No way he's angry with you, see, he just sent a smiley face!!"

*posts to tumblr* one note in two hours...

Also me: Spends 30 seconds writing down a random incoherent thought abt aftg

And if Mary did teach him, imagine how many topics would've fallen through the cracks. Neil talking with the foxes and something like the cold war being mentioned, and him just being like "was that in alaska?" And all the foxes just look at him for a second, before they realize that Neil actually does not have a proper education.