#soft andreil

On a semi unrelated note I had planned to do a silly second part to this where Andrew playfully pushes Neil away in a silly cartoon style, but I realized I don’t really have a silly cartoon style. I spend so much time working on anatomy and lighting I kinda forgot about having fun with silly little creatures.

Andrew and Neil in the future. Neil sitting on the couch in Andrew’s apartment, scrolling threw Exy related articles on his new and upgraded phone. Andrew walks out of the shower, already dressed and drying his hair with a towel. He drops it around his shoulders and leans his elbow on the back of the couch. Right next to Neil’s head, but basically leaning in over Neil. Neil looks up, his head against the headrest, and stares. After barely a second Andrew says: "Starring.” Neil just smirks: “Yeah. What are you gonna do about it?” Andrew’s nose flairs the tiniest bit in irritation (love) and he drops his head down, brushing his lips against Neil’s forehead in a soft lightning-fast kiss. Then he stands straight and hurls the towel at Neil’s head. Walks away into the kitchen pretending like he’s not smug at all.

Yawning as his alarm blares at him, Neil rolls over in bed and turns it off, eyes snapping open when he stretches and realises he is alone. He furrows his brows as he gets changed and groggily heads to the kitchen for a glass of water and small snack before his run. Andrew is never up this early, he has gotten many death glares in fact for setting his alarm so early and waking him up. He stops in his tracks as he sees the blond waiting for him in the kitchen with a small cupcake on the counter and a single candle in it illuminating his hazel eyes in the most mesmerising way. 

“I didn’t think you’d…” 

“Remember your actual birthday, not your fake one?” he asks. Right, eidetic memory. Why wouldn’t he remember? 

Neil smiles as he steps closer to him, a single question in his eyes. Andrew answers by gently tracing the lines on his face before leaning in and softly connecting their lips. “Make a wish.” 

He stares at the cake for a while, trying to think of a wish, but he can’t seem to come up with one. What does one wish for when they have everything they have ever wanted? Freedom, safety, family. A strong likelihood of playing pro. Andrew. Neil takes a deep breath and blows, thinking, “I wish for more moments like this.” 

Picking up the small treat, he takes a bite then holds it out to the other man, who does the same. They share the cake, their kiss afterwards tasting sweet. 

As Neil opens the front door to leave, Andrew says, “Happy birthday.” 

"What do you want, Junkie?'' Andrew asked, catching him staring yet again.

"Can I hold your hand?'' Neil whispered, extending his hand close to Andrew's, but not enough to be touching.

Andrew replied by intertwining their fingers together.

Neil glanced at their hands, at Andrew's long, pale fingers and neatly cut nails. Those hands that were capable of great violence if needed.

He slowly brought them to his lips, not touching.

Locking his eyes with Andrew's, he asked "Can I kiss them?''

After a short pause, Andrew nodded.

Keeping the eye contact, Neil started planting kisses on each of his knuckles, a small smile tugging at his lips. He wanted to savor the moment.

***

The breeze that rolled in from the river had that end-of-winter chill that sent goosebumps up Neil’s legs. March weather was hit or miss. Some days the sun shown brightly enough to warm his skin through his jacket and jeans. Other days had rain pouring down in sheets so heavy you couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of you.

Today was an in between day.

Fat, puffy clouds meandered lazily through the sky, and every so often they blocked the sun. Distant caws of seagulls blended with the children laughing on the other side of the lawn. Neil felt a sense of calm slowly diffuse throughout his muscles as he laid back against Andrew’s blanket. Uneven ground beneath him had Neil shifting every few minutes, but he didn’t mind. His eyes were closed and a warm hand gripped his ankle, keeping him from floating too far away.

“Falling asleep?” Andrew’s voice was slightly gruff from disuse. On lazy days, neither of them felt the need to talk much. Instead they communicated through silent glances, gentle touches, and contented sighs.

“No. Are you enjoying your book?” Even with his eyes closed, Neil could hear the soft crinkle of Andrew turning the pages of his latest spoil from the library. “It’s the second one in the series, right?”

Andreil cuddles again oops