Q

Anonymous asked:

Since Neil has been so deprived of affection in his years, wouldn't he want some to experience with Andrew? Or is what he has with Andrew more than enough to fill that missing hole?

A

Neil doesn’t understand affection enough to miss or crave it, but he and Andrew aren’t cold with each other. They might not bury each other with I love you and hand-holding, but they don’t doubt what they mean to each other. Their affection is quieter, in the comfort of each other’s presence and the knowledge they aren’t going anywhere the other can’t follow. It’s letting Andrew check his bruises after an on-court brawl or standing shoulder-to-shoulder to watch the ball drop in NYC, or slow kisses on the hood of the car when they’ve taken a midnight drive to nowhere and Neil needs to forget the taste of blood in his mouth. It’s Andrew trying to trust Neil with himself in halting see-through attempts, or Neil’s quiet quest to figure out the best brand of hot chocolate to bring home.