lau

the foxes: *deeply concerned*

there’s some deviation but like overall…

matt: dont fool yourself, im his best friend

nicky: keep telling yourself that but you’ll see, the day will come

jean: not to burst both your bubbles but much to your dissatisfaction, and quite frankly my own, neil would have me do it

neil, dropping his book: okay I’ll bite. you’ve been at this since you came into the room. what are you arguing over?

matt: who you will ask to be your best man at yours and andrew’s wedding

nicky: the real question should be WHEN will you ask ME to be your best man

neil: oh

neil: yeah i guess i never told you huh

neil: we eloped

neil: like 3 years ago

neil: *lifts hand to show off his ring*

nicky:

matt:

jean:

*all at the same time*

nicky: ANDREW!

matt: SINCE WHEN WAS THAT THERE??

So Neil is mentioned to read the news and shit like that in other languages to keep practicing so he doesn’t forget it. And we know he is also a) an overthinking anxious freak and b)a trust issues ridden weirdo

i think sometimes Neil needs to ramble and talk to himself to work through his thoughts or emotions but that’s vulnerable and he doesn’t wanna be overheard by just anyone, so he goes on these long rants in foreign languages to get it all out while also knowing nobody can understand him and keep practicing his languages

and it becomes this quirk or habit thay he can’t kick, so he just will randomly speak to himself in spanish or french or german like “y las llaves?” (“where did i leave the keys?”)

and Andrew picks up on this, he doesn’t realize what Neil is doing until Neil happens to do it in German and Andrew gets it. and he wasnt gonna ask Neil about it but it just. keeps. happening. so he caves in and during one of their Honesty Thing™️ games he asks. And Neil says he just does it to maintain the language. and that’s that. except it’s not.

Andrew slowly starts to learn Spanish and French from this, because hey eidetic memory right? so maybe he google translates a thing or two but for the most part, it just sorta happens. he always ignored Kevin when he rambles in french but now he starts listening and filing away verb tenses and vocab.

Andrew starts to understand more and more and now he knows exactly what Neil is rambling about which helps Andrew know what Neil needs. And Neil keeps being shocked at how well Andrew must know him because he always does or says the right thing to help him feel better.

and one day Neil is studying for some spanish exam and Andrew wants to just go to bed and Neil refuses to leave the desk so Andrew just switches to spanish and goes “Sí vamos a la cama te hablo en español para que practiques” (if we go to bed I’ll speak spanish so you can practice”)

and Neil has this ???wtf since when do you speak spanish??? moment and Andrew just shrugs it off and kisses him. and the next morning when Neil is not being deeply distracted by Andrew he teases Andrew asking if he learned for him. And Andrew, who never lies but does tweak the truth like a motherfucker, says no. because technically he didn’t right? memorizing is different.