Chapter Text
It’s 6:00 in the morning; Neil is still in bed. He has been up for at least an hour by now. He would have taken his morning run on a typical day. But today isn’t a normal day. Memories had woken Neil up. Ones he has desperately tried to bury.
Four months have passed since Stuart shot Nathan and freed Neil from death’s hold. Four months since Neil’s need to lie and run ended. Neil has been free to live his life the way he wanted for four months now. Despite the time that has passed, the events of four months ago still trouble his thoughts. It’s a never-ending cycle, and Neil is breaking down.
The auburn male has these episodes at least twice a month. Normally, it’s just a constant replay of events. He wishes he could make it stop. Everyone keeps telling him to see Bee, but Neil won’t do that. He’d never willingly talk to Dobson. What reason does he have to talk to a shrink? Yes, Andrew trusts her, but that doesn’t mean he has to. Andrew has even mentioned it himself, though he’d never force Neil to talk to Bee.
Here is Neil, stuck in bed. His mind is becoming too dangerous for himself. The warm cocoon of blankets and the warmth of Andrew beside him, becoming nothing but a blur. Neil’s breath becomes quick, his body frozen in place. The rising sun is becoming too bright as it envelopes the bedroom.
The only thing Neil can feel is pain. He can hear the blood rushing through his veins and the pounding of his heart. Every scar on his body burns. Salty tears cascade down his tan and scared face, blurring his vision. His tears cause the scars on his face to burn more.
He tastes and smells blood. The metallic taste causes him to choke. Neil gasps and coughs. Cruel laughter filled his mind. Flashes of his father make themselves known. Everything becomes too much. The sun is too bright and his thoughts are too loud.
Then silence. There is nothing besides the familiar pressure on the nape of his neck. He slowly opens his eyes and his breathing slows. Tears slowly cease from falling, leaving behind salty stains on his cheeks.
“Drew?” His voice is raw as he speaks.
Neil doesn’t receive a verbal response, but he receives a light squeeze on the back of his neck. But the blonde male has his eyes trained on Neil’s face, analyzing him. There is no movement in the air. The room is still. Only cool blue crystals gazing into warm, caramelized honey.
The two athletes sit in perfect silence, neither moving nor speaking. A warm blanket of sunlight envelopes the two men. The air is light between them. Neil collapses against the blonde’s chest. Andrew welcomes the contact as he pulls the taller male closer.
Exhaustion overtakes the man with auburn curls. Within mere seconds, he’s fast asleep against Andrew’s chest. Andrew tugs the weighted blanket over himself after lying down with Neil securely against his chest. He cards his fingers through soft curls. He lets the 19-year-old male rest. His mind cataloging how he had woken up to Neil, and running through what could have caused such a reaction. For now, he’ll let Neil rest. They’ll discuss what happened once the younger male is awake and in the correct mental state.