this is my second hard of hearing post but neil josten being deaf in his left ear from an accident on his part when he was in a close encounter with his father's men. his mom scolds him, slaps him, tells him how his mistake is the reason they are going to die
and eventually the reason mary dies is because neil had failed to warn her of an approaching mob that had nathan's lackeys in it. he realizes that it really is a weakness, a vulnerability.
andrew is the first person he tells. not scared of being shamed, knowing andrew would accept the information without fuss. he is shameful of it, though. andrew wouldn't know at that moment but it was ultimately neil's fault she had lost her life, and her fight. he only tells him what he views as facts: that he can't hear in his left ear.
the thing is, andrew's known. he's figured it out when neil once put earphones on in his right ear, leaving his left out. but despite having a ear unaffected by music, he couldn't hear andrew calling to him.
after andrew figures it out, he makes sure to always stand left of neil. just in case there's a noise or person approaching thart neil can't sense on his own. whether it's to be neil's ear, on guard, or if it's because he doesn't want anyone to exploit a vulnerability that neil can't help, he doesn't know.
later, when the full-full story is out, andrew tells him to stop being stupid (in between the lines, that it's not neil's fault). and it's unlike any "stop being stupid" from before, from his mother or otherwise. this "stop being stupid" is laced with barely hidden affection and exasperation.
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