Shadow In The Light

cigarettesmokeandexyracquets:

• I want to talk more about Aaron and Neil
  developing an accidental friendship
• Things are really rocky between them for the
  first year. Aaron is still pissed that Neil tried to use Katelyn against him,
  Neil just hates Aaron’s attitude.
• But it’s the end of Neil’s sophomore year during
  Spring Championships, and they’ve just beaten the Ravens again, knocking them
  out of the Semi-Finals and keeping the Ravens from advancing to Championships
  for the first time
• And Andrew is still in the goal on the other
  side of the court, too far away when a Raven Backliner swings his racquet at
  Neil in anger
• But it’s Aaron that charges forward, blocking
  the blow with his own racquet before throwing a punch at the Backliner and it
  becomes an all-out brawl
• The Foxes make it out with minimal bruising and
  Neil tries to thank Aaron later from saving him from a broken rib, but Aaron
  just glares at him
• Aaron and Neil antagonize each other but Aaron
  protects Neil on the court because “Neil is too stupid to recognize that he’s
  in danger”
• What Aaron doesn’t say is he knows Andrew is
  happy, Neil makes Andrew happy, and Aaron will do anything to protect that.
• As the years progress and more Foxes get added
  to the line, Aaron starts helping Abby more
• Neil still ends up in the training room too
  often and Aaron hates it
• Neil is always somehow getting into fights or
  accidents
• Getting hit by a cyclist while running
• Tripping over a crack in the concrete and
  falling face first onto gravel
• Picking a fight with a drunk at Eden’s and
  getting a bottle smashed across his back
• It pisses Aaron off
• Neil seriously what the fuck how have you lived
  this long?
• How does Andrew ever leave you alone?
• You need a leash
• Anyway
• Andrew hates running so Aaron starts going with
  him in the mornings
• And they always end their run at a café where
  they get coffee and muffins and Neil brings back a muffin for Andrew
• Aaron threatens to push Neil into traffic a lot
  but when they’re running at 5am and a drunk driver runs up onto the sidewalk
  Aaron jerks Neil out of the way
• (Neil stop trying to die please we’re begging
  you)
• And eventually one of the Foxes mentions it
  because “what the fuck since when are Aaron and Neil friends?”
• And Aaron and Neil are like “???? We hate each
  other.”
• And the Foxes just give them a look because okay
  boys you look out for each other on the court and you go running together in
  the mornings and get coffee and muffins and they DANCED TOGETHER AT EDEN’S ONE
  NIGHT
• And it’s so weird but that’s just them
• They’re constantly arguing and fighting but they
  protect each other viciously and if it weren’t for Andrew’s arm bands they
  literally wouldn’t be able to tell the twins apart around Neil
• Andrew doesn’t mention it either but sometimes
  Aaron and Neil will be playing video games in the living room and Andrew will sit
  down on the bean bag chair with Neil
• And it’s not weird. They don’t say anything to
  each other and that’s almost a miracle. Aaron doesn’t glare at the way Neil
  leans back into Andrew’s chest.
• And Andrew feels comfortable enough that he
  presses a kiss to the side of Neil’s head.
• It’s all so soft and calm
• Neil and Aaron’s friendship is so strong they
  just protect each other and hang out and make fun of each other but they’re so
  fiercely protective of each other it’s amazing