#neilmatt

neil: some blood🥹🥺🥺🥹would be soooo🥹🥹🥹🥺🥹good rn man

Oh I mean not dan Matt … neilmatt or you can choose sorry I didn’t read ur tags

Haha we’ve all been there! Thank you so much Scout!

19. “You’re still giving me the silent treatment?”

When Neil gets back from night practicewith Kevin, Matt’s waiting up for him. He doesn’t say anything, just washes outhis mug and leaves to the bedroom without a backwards glance.

And, okay, Neil gets it. Maybe Neilhas been compromising his health—too much exercise, not enough sleep. Neildoesn’t get how Matt is much better, always staying up to wait for Neil as ifworried he won’t come back.

(And Neil gets that too. After theriots, after Baltimore, Neil was verynearly gone from his life forever. But. Matt’s always waited up for Neil, andNeil has never asked.)

Matt’s lying in his bunk, facingthe wall, when Neil comes into the bedroom in pajamas. It’s a pretty clearmessage, but Matt’s been angry since this morning, and Neil doesn’t like to letthings lie for too long. Especially not overnight. It’s so easy to lose someonein the blink of an eye, much less an entire 6 hour stretch.

Neil climbs into bed behind Matt. Matt’sback, muscled and broad, is tense.

“You’re still giving me the silenttreatment?” Neil asks.

“You’re still putting your healthat risk by doing too much and not getting enough rest?” Matt grumbles.

“I have to stay on top if I want tosurvive,” Neil says. The reminder of his promise to Ichirou is bitter on histongue.

“You have to sleep properly if youwant to survive,” Matt says tightly.

Neil frowns, tracing Matt’sshoulder blade through his shirt. He doesn’t know how to compromise on this: heneeds to be better, be faster. He needs to be the best asset he can be.

“I know you didn’t… grow up,knowing this,” Matt starts slowly. “But you cannot work your body down so muchand expect it will keep working. You’re supposedto take rest breaks, Neil. You’re putting yourself at risk by doing so much.”

Seven hours of training a day ismore than is recommended, more than the university can require athletes topractice. Neil wants to do this much. He wants, no needs, to be better. But he also needs Matt.

Matt is sunshine and warmth andeverything that Neil missed out on as a child. His arms can support Neil whenhe falters, and Neil can counter Matt’s worst demons with soft kisses and asteadfast determination.

“I’ll ask Kevin about cutting down,”Neil says slowly. “Maybe about moving up the time.”

Matt scoots onto his back, then tohis side, to face Neil. His skin holds gold in the dim light, and Neil idlythinks that he’s beautiful.

“You’d do that?”

Neil huffs out a sigh. “You mighthave a point. Besides, it’d be awful of me to keep my boyfriend up so lateevery night. Since you refuse to go to sleep before you’re sure I’ve made itokay.”

“I wouldn’t have to if someone didn’thave a history of disappearing on me. And besides, I can think of other waysyou can keep your boyfriend up all night.” Matt grins, his hand coming up torest underneath Neil’s chin.

“I thought the point was to getmore sleep,” Neil frowns.