<Andreil Oneshots>

<4> And The Shadows Stilled

There is two types of tired I suppose; one is a dire need of sleep, the other is a dire need of peace.

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Shadows settled on the curves and dips of Andrew's skin as he stared up towards the dark, plain ceiling. A familiar presence was sunk in the bed beside him; close but not touching as Neil was always so damn considerate to be. The world was asleep but here Andrew laid, awake as ever, gazing around his bedroom in hopes to fall victim to sleep's ever so inviting grasp.

Neil was still next to him—he had always slept like the dead—but Andrew wished he were moving and awake, something he would never admit and planned on taking to his grave. It tore Andrew up some days, how... interested, he was in the other man. How he wanted to know every scar and every story. How he wished to never leave his side and how he wanted to never have to see another person —aside from this striker — ever again. It scared him shitless some days. How much he wanted to let Neil in, to show him a soft side he wasn't even sure was there — one that he was sure had never surfaced before.

And God did he hate that. God did that tear him up.

Andrew rolled over and traced the scars and features of Neil's face with his gaze. The harsh marred lines on Neil's cheek; the burn under his eye in place of where the number four was tattooed. The soft pink lips that were always so careful; the eyes—although closed—that made Andrew grow insane with how much passion and emotion they could hold. The lashes that were long and full, casting more thin shadows over his already umbra filled face.

Andrew wanted to touch him; not in a sexual or malevolent way. He just wanted to feel the tanned skin beneath his fingers and map out the ever so perfect imperfections that decorated it. Andrew then cursed himself for thinking such soft things and rolled back over, re-beginning the meaningless path of his gaze that he was creating across the room. Neil's breath began to change as the striker began to wake up and Andrew wondered if his thoughts had been answered by some faceless God that Renee was so attached to. Andrew knew he was most likely disturbed by Andrew's constant tossing and turning but it couldn't hurt to wonder.

"Hey," Neil all but breathed, voice bleeding out into the silent night air, soft and warm and so ever fucking disruptive. It was welcomed though. Maybe Andrew didn't mind too much; maybe it was the way it made his insides flutter so often that pissed Andrew off to no end.

"Andrew, I know your awake," Neil whispered again, reaching out to prod Andrew before deciding otherwise and resting his scarred hand on the space on the mattress between them. A space that felt as vast as an ocean and one that Andrew so dreadfully wanted to close. Andrew rolled his eyes, although Neil couldn't see, and turned his head to look at Neil's own annoyingly pretty, cerulean eyes.

"Sadly. It's less peaceful now you're awake," he replied dryly, rudely, although both of them knew he meant nothing of it. Neil took his turn in rolling his eyes and edged closer, still giving Andrew a chance to back away and tell him 'no' if necessary. Andrew did not, he himself rolled over onto his side to face Neil and watched him with false boredom as he stopped an inch or two away.

"Lair," Neil huffed blearily into the smaller gap between them, breath mingling and dancing together with Andrew's own to form one. He brought a careful hand up and hovered it over Andrew's cheek, placing it down lightly after the received nod in form of confirmation.

"I'm not lying, I hate you," he lied, though the second part was only half bullshit.

"And I hate Exy," Neil snickered quietly earning a horribly fake and monotonous gasp from Andrew,

"Wouldn't let princess hear you say that."

"Kevin called today to fangirl for an hour about the Trojans new lineup for next year."

"Bet he was surprised your phone wasn't flat."

Neil's tired laugh filled the warm bedroom air and sending Andrew's stomach rolling. The wind whispered and howled beyond the walls of their apartment and Andrew wondered whether Neil would howl much if he threw him off the 11th floor balcony. Andrew thought calmly to himself although his face remained expressionless.

Neil yawned and Andrew's stare bore into him, "go to sleep, junkie, if you're so tired."

"You're not going to sleep," was Neil's childish reply that made Andrew want to, yet again, roll his eyes.

"I was trying to."

"Do you like to sleep with your eyes open?"

"Makes it easier to see the best place to stab you."

Neil smiled and blinked his heavy eyelids slowly then mumbled, "What's keeping you up?"

Andrew didn't have an answer so he didn't force one, he just kept his eyes pinned steadily on Neils shadow dipped face. Neil waited a while for an answer that wouldn't come before giving in, never able to outlast Andrew. He slipped the hand the was resting on Andrew's cheek—thumb idly swiping back and forth—into Andrew's hair and re-began a constant rhythm, this time drawing circles. Andrew hated the way it always seemed to make him mellow, along with the fact it was almost too domestic for his taste; he wouldn't dare to tell Neil to stop though.

"Sleep," Neil whispered, his raspy voice floating into Andrew's ears and sounding oh so nice and familiar. After a 'yes or no' the blonde slung an arm over Neil's side, curling up towards the back of his auburn locks, and brought his head down to kiss him, earning a hum in contentment.

When they broke apart and Andrew finally closed his eyes, sinking into the soft bedsheets and softer pillow cases. He felt Neil's eyes on him and chose to ignore the look he was most definitely receiving. One that questioned whether the close proximity they were in was okay to fall asleep in.

"I thought you wanted to sleep," Andrew muttered in lieu of reply, answering the previously unanswered question that was so present and heavy on Neil's tongue.

The shadows once again settled and Andrew could feel himself slipping into the plush casket of sleep. This time his tired was only the one in dire need of sleep, though he knew the next day, or possibly the day after, his tired may be of a different nature. But for now, blanketed in the forever inviting aroma of slumber mixed with comforting smell of home and Neil, that would be of no concern. The wind carried on and so did they.

And finally, the shadows stilled.
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I'm gonna be honest, this could have been up like last week if I wasn't so damn lazy. But it is obviously not, so, sorry. Anyyyywaaaaay have a lovely day or night wherever you are <3