Jeremy is only one among them who does not have nightmares at all, but he knows when they sneak up on his loved ones.
He doesn't sleep at night.
It's best not to approach Neil and Andrew in a dream, so Jeremy just waits for them to leave the room.
Jeremy smiles as he hands Andrew a mug of hot chocolate. Neil notices the bruises under his eyes and frowns. Drew finds out about it too, because they have no secrets from each other.
Andrew grumbles, "Are you sleeping at all?", falling on the next edge of the sofa. Jeremy waves him off, but Neil comes over and puts Jeremy's head on the pillow.
The quiet tread of footsteps breaks the silence that has arisen, and Andrew reflexively tenses up, preparing to defend his guys.
"C'est juste moi", Jean mutters, rolling the growling sounds of his native French on his tongue.
In the doorway, Neil notices Kevin, who slides towards them after Jean.
Andrew puts his finger to his lips, silently says them not to make noise.
Neil runs his fingers through Jeremy's dozing hair.
"He didn't sleep again?", Kevin asks quietly, placing his palms on the back of the sofa behind Andrew.
"Again?", Neil frowns, tossing his head.
Jean leaves and returns a couple of seconds later with a blanket, covering his boyfriend with it.
"Oh, you didn't know?", Moreau mutters confusedly. "We all have nightmares from time to time, and… mon soleil feels obliged to be around at such moments."
Andrew shakes his head disapprovingly, tucking the blanket under Jeremy's feet. It's such a small thing compared to what huge chunks of himself Knox tears off for their well-being.
Jeremy turns over in his sleep, getting comfortable, and Neil's hand freezes in his hair.
Kevin sits down on the floor at Neil's feet, intertwining his fingers with the Trojan.
Andrew pats his ankle reassuringly: "It's okay, go back to sleep, I'll look after them here."
Jean settles into the chair opposite, humming a French lullaby. At the sound of his voice, they all begin to feel sleepy.
"To bed?", asks Neil, looking sleepily at Drew.
Andrew looks down at Kevin, whose head is comfortably perched on the hip of their junkie, and it seems to Jean that a shadow of a sincere smile appears on Minyard's lips.
"Not today", Andrew says, planting a chaste kiss on Neil's cheek.
Neil shrugs and settles down next to Jeremy, trying not to disturb Kevin.
Jean hides his smile behind the spine of the book, intending to start reading from where he left off, but a hand in armbands pulls it out of his hands.
Jeremy, Neil and Kevin are already snuffling on the couch in an incomprehensible mess.
Andrew folds his arms over his chest, bowing his head: "It's time to go to sleep, Moreau."
Jean looks back at him, squinting: "A kiss before going to sleep?", Andrew looks down, clearly considering the offer, and Jean excitedly adds: "If you want, of course."
"That's acceptable to me", he nods, but he considers it necessary to clarify so as not to harm. "And for you? It's okay if you don't want to do it… after the Nest."
Jean hesitates, not finding what to say. Andrew doesn't often show such emotions to them, Neil knows him much better.
"I think… yes, I want you to kiss me. I trust you", Jean doesn't expect tenderness from him, but Andrew manages to surprise him in this aspect as well.
The way Andrew gently bends over him, crossing the border, remains forever in Jean's memory. "Still yes?"
The moment of intimacy with Andrew is especially precious, because this gesture means trust. "Always yes."
Andrew grins at him on the lips. "Hey, don't be a thief, that's Neil's phrase."
Waking up Jeremy tries not to breathe, watching the unfolding scene. When Andrew kisses Jean, he can't help but chuckle contentedly.
Jean's confused "good night" dissolves into silence.
Andrew returns to the sofa, encountering a contented look from a barely awake Knox: "Sleep, California boy."
Jeremy nods, closing his eyes again, but mentally makes a note to discuss what happened with his boyfriends in the morning.
Hey. Psst. You. Yes, you. You, who thinks that Andrew choking Kevin for Neil is sweet and romantic.
Yes, please, come closer.
*slams a rolled up newspaper on your face*
No.
It's not romantic. It's not sweet. It's not proof of Andrew's undying care and love for Neil. It's Andrew, going back on his promise to protect Kevin. It's Andrew, choking someone who trusted him and who had already been betrayed and abused by a person he once trusted in the past.
Loving a character doesn't mean you can't recognise they've made mistakes and shitty things. Especially when it comes to the AFTG ones.
im proud of him!!
My adaptation of the God of Arepo short story, which was originally up at ShortBox Comics Fair for charity. You can get a copy of the DRM-free ebook here for free - and I'd encourage you to donate to Mighty Writers or The Ministry of Stories in exchange.
Again it's an honour to be drawing one of my favourite short stories ever. Thank you so much for the original authors for creating this story; and for everyone who bought a copy and donated to the above non-profits.
I’ve decided that once Kevin gets comfortable with casual affection, he becomes a kisser. He kisses everyone. Cheeks, foreheads, tops of heads (lots of this because everyone is so short). Goodbye kisses, greeting kisses, excited kisses. He likes the softness and intimate nature of the act. Likes that he can have this kind of affection with people, and it stays entirely innocent. The only person who doesn’t get kisses is Andrew, and he is bitter about it, but only Neil knows. Kevin’s never wanted to ask because he didn't want to make Andrew feel uncomfortable but also because he didn’t want to face that kind of rejection. He doesn’t have to, though, because one day after Kevin’s given Neil a quick peck on the top of his head, which Neil hardly even notices anymore, Andrew places himself in front of Kevin expectantly and glares. Kevin freezes, thinking Andrew is no longer okay with Kevin kissing his boyfriend, but when Kevin looks at Neil, he just pats his head and gives a quick thumbs up. Mimes out, “Yes or no?” Kevin asks, “Andrew, can I kiss your head?” To which Andrew replies, like an adult, “I don’t know, can you?” Kevin rolls his eyes and asks again, “Yes or no, asshole” Andrew nods in the affirmative and so Kevin leans down and softly kisses the top of Andrew’s head. When he pulls away, he watches Andrew for any signs that he’s messed it up but is met with Andrew’s blank, unaffected face. “Boring,” Andrew finally says, and it almost stops Kevin’s heart because there it is, the rejection he fears. Only Andrew steps closer and grabs the front of Kevin’s shirt. “Kiss me for real.” Neil nods encouragingly behind Andrew with both thumbs up, so Kevin does what he’s told. Now, Kevin still gives kisses. Cheeks and foreheads and tops of heads but also lips, and necks and shoulders too.
It's too cold outside, I wanna join their warm and cozy hugs :"
thinking about kevin day winning his first olympic gold medal.
kevin day who appears to the media as a confident athlete who knows how talented he is. everyone knew the gold medal was only a matter of when he’d get it and not if he gets it— he’s the son of exy after all. they might have seen him a bit stiff in his earlier years and people did not forget about his class i exy interviews in which he confirms he had never been skiing or that the palmetto state foxes’ coach is actually his father— but he has always maintained that kevin day winning smile and his polite composure with the perfect amount of charisma.
but then the US exy team wins the final game at the olympics. it’s the first time he has won the olympic medal and when the final whistle fills his ears, he quite literally drops to his knees, he yells out in celebration, and then when he takes off his helmet he is crying. he has finally done it. he has won the gold medal which he was so determined to win ever since he could remember.
and most people do not know the extend of what he had to sacrifice for it. they don’t realise the extend of how hard he had to work to get back to exy after his hand got broken— both mentally and physically. nor do they know the amount of panic attacks he had to deal with and the same amount of times he had to drown his feelings away with a bottle or three.
and he’s crying. the fans cheer him on. and it’s not just the USA fans— but it feels like the whole stadium starts cheering his name in celebration and support. because at the end of the day that’s kevin day and he has finally done it. he has gotten the medal and it’s literally going to be a historic moment.
andrew makes his way to kevin’s side and he helps kevin take off his gloves like he has done many times before. andrew wants to say something, maybe a remark that will get under kevin’s skin— but then he looks at kevin’s expression and he realises this is all they’ve been building up to for the past years.
and it’s not just kevin who has won the golden medal right now. it’s him too. his team. their team. and they’re all a bit speechless and astonished by this moment. so andrew helps kevin up and neither of them say a word to each other just yet, but kevin feels andrew’s weight shifting into him too— they’re both leaning onto each other; they’re both holding each other up.
Sometimes you have to beg your best friend to leave the only place he’s called home since his mother died because he will not survive if he stays - even if that means leaving you. Sometimes you have to mop up your best friend’s blood and try not to look at bone sticking out of skin. Sometimes you have to convince your bestfriend that the person he loves (the person you hate more than anything) does not love him and will never love him and never did love him because love doesn’t look like sacrificing someone else’s dream for the sake of your own pride. Sometimes you have to let your best friend go even though it might end with you soaked in your own blood because you know that you were always stronger than him and you can endure it - you have to endure it. Sometimes you are Jean Moreau and you are very very alone.
Batman : The Deal - Fan-Fiction - DANIEL BAYLISS
Ooops
First it was Neil and Jean but the thought of Andrew kept me up so
I really love them…