so many things

We don't read and write fanfic because it's cute, we read and write fanfiction because we are members of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion.

the fact that neil always includes todd. like… okay you don’t wanna read? that scares you? that’s fine. he doesn’t even really ask more than that, doesn’t make fun of him like the others might, he just respects his fear and finds a way to include him while keeping him in his comfort zone all because he wants him there. that’s the thing too, he genuinely enjoys todd’s company even when he doesn’t talk, it’s enough for him just to make him smile and laugh, it’s enough for him that he’s there. and that’s why todd grieves neil the most, at least the most outwardly intensely, because neil was probably the first person in his life that didn’t push him, that truly saw him and respected him and loved him for who he was. you can speculate what happened off-screen and ship them all you want (as do i) but even if they were just friends and we only took into account the canon information it still makes sense