#professor neil josten au | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

aftgficrec · 11 months

Note

Do you have anything for settings outside of cannon?? Like au's or completely different universes

(Preferably neil centered but not exactly a necessity)

Ahhh there are many amazing AUs in our fandom, and of course a high percentage star Neil Josten. Generally, canon themes are still woven throughout the stories. Also check out AUs on our tags page where you can explore by theme. -A

a small sampling of AU themes:

single parent aus here

more band aus here

sitcom/romcom vibes here

long no exy aus here

new Hogwarts aus here

staff recs Mermay here

florist/tattoo artist andreil here

andreil enemies to lovers here

some Neil-centric AUs:

famous Neil (no exy) here

Neil as barista/waiter/bartender here

Neil with wings and lots of magic here

Oblivious ace-disaster Neil here

quirky Neil like ‘WUTBF’/‘Quicksand’ here

fics like ‘A Different Matter’ here

‘Neil’s Guide to Stalking Your Neighbor’ here

‘Dear Advice Guy’ here (complete)

‘The bittersweet between my teeth’ here

‘Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger’ here

‘Point Nemo’ here

‘still’ here

‘12 Ways to Woo a Minyard’ and ‘Deadly Affections’ here

Perennial by notyouranswer [Rated T, 11373 Words, Complete, 2023]

Neil downloaded a dating app (at Matt's insistence) to make some friends, but accidentally rejected a stranger right in front of him. Mild chaos ensues leading to conversations over coffee and a walk in the park.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: bullying

Into The Deep by Fortheloveofexy [Rated E, 21435 Words, Incomplete, Updated June 2023]

Neil Josten stares at the large building in front of him, his mouth twisted into a small frown. Yesterday, Browning had handed him a manila folder containing his new name, his new life. Included in that file had been a note, the same slightly crumpled note he’s holding in his hand now, with the name of his new employer. Foxhole Aquarium. Ask for David Wymack.

tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: animal abuse, tw: implied/referenced character death, tw: blood, tw: panic attacks

NB: fic art of merAndrew by @fortheloveofexy

Only Fools Fall. by Random2002 [Rated T, 19789 Words, Incomplete, Updated Feb 2023]

Neil tests how faithful his clients partners are. Roland is a client; he's worried about his boyfriend. It isn't long until Neil notices some serious rifts in the relationship he is meant to test.

tw: child abuse

White Hands by doodlingstuff [Rated T, 23308 Words, Complete, May 2023]

Neil's life isn't exactly a life except for Stuart, trying to cheer him up, and his paintings, whenever he's inspired. Andrew's life isn't exactly a life except for his family and his volunteering work, keeping him afloat as the time goes by. When Andrew stumbles into Neil's life unwillingly, both will learn one day at a time that they still have reasons to fight and dreams to fulfill. --- Another take on Artist!Neil and Bartender!Andrew full of soft and fluff.

tw: implied/referenced csa, tw: heavily referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced self harm

If Neil, Then Fox by AlrightDarlin (WhoopsOK) [Rated T, 12838 Words, Complete, 2023, Locked]

Neil Josten’s machine warns him Aaron Minyard needs his help, but Neil isn’t prepared for the way Andrew Minyard is about to turn his life upside down.

tw: murder, tw: canonical character death, tw: implied character death, tw: drug use, tw: violence

Professor Neil series by HalfpintPeach [Rated G/T, Collection with 2 complete works, updated Feb 2023]

Part 1: Necessary Losses [T, 9783 Words, Complete, 2023] Neil's grad students invite their Exy-obsessed professor out to one of the most anticipated matches of the Exy Season, the Dallas Palms vs the Denver Yellowjackets. Neil is excited to join to watch his husband and one of his best friends battle it out on the Exy court.

Part 2: Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day [G, 3640 Words, Complete, 2022] Neil has one of the worst days and Andrew is able to make it a little bit better. Welcome to my Professor Neil and Professional Exy Player Andrew world!

I'll be a Brand New Day by especiallythezefronposter [Rated T, 15519 Words, Complete, 2017]

Neil meets a man who looks a lot like his least favorite teammate, Aaron Minyard, and it ends up changing his life. (A Winter Soldier AU, because this fandom deserves a Winter Soldier AU)

tw: self harm, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: gun violence, tw: blood, tw: murder, tw: nightmares

Unlucky Lies by Winterlynne_Norvic [Not Rated, 26365 Words. Complete, 2019]

Neil hates being a demon. Andrew hates Neil. Their lives are hell, but maybe with each other it doesn't have to be.

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: temporary major character death, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: demonic possession, tw: bullying, tw: assault, tw: attempted rape, tw: blood, tw: murder, tw: car accident, tw: canonical character death, tw: eating disorders

Neighbours series by transjorts [Collection, Rated T, Complete, 2021]

Part 1: Cat Burglar [6393 Words, AFTG Exchange Spring 2021] Neil has settled into his quiet life in Palmetto with a job at Barnes and Noble and a friend called Matt. But someone was breaking into his apartment and stealing his stuffed animals. What kind of fuckery is this?

tw: implied/referenced child abuse

Part 2: Foxes and Fruitcake [12819 Words] Neil dives deep into Minyard-Hemmick family drama, plays exy and eats fruitcake.

tw: involuntary outing

You're different than the others by Kml19 [Rated M, 21024 Words, Complete, 2017]

Neil works for the Moriyamas from inside the prisons as a guard, he doesn't think much about his own life, he is just glad that he is alive. That is until he meets a new prisoner that may change how he sees things.

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: assault

NB: inspired by @requiemofkings’ artwork of prison guard Neil and inmate Andrew

Allurement by sundowne [Rated E, 20323 Words, Incomplete, Updated May 2023]

"You think I would use my allurement on you?" "You're not?" - A vampire AU in which Neil needs a new goalie and Andrew needs someone to feed from, so they strike a deal.

tw: blood, tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced torture

Remember! Proplifting is Shoplifting! by Mystrana [Rated T, 3697 Words, Complete, AFTG Summer Exchange 2022]

Neil works at the garden center. He hates his job. Andrew is an amateur gardener who enjoys tormenting garden center employees. Somehow, he makes Neil's job better.

If You Knew What I Know by interstellarflowers [Rated G, 12361 Words, Complete, 2021]

Neil runs a relationship advice column, and Andrew is a skeptic.

Whiskey Sour by maqicien [Not Rated, 6,870 Words, Complete, 2022]

In which Neil is a bartender and Andrew is the crime lord that owns the bar.

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: assault, tw: blood/gore, tw: murder

jellyroot and many other causes of catastrophy series by jeanmorexu (papencuts), papencuts [Rated M, Collection with 2 complete works, AFTG Reverse Big Bang 2019]

Part 1: (a comprehensive guide to princes and knights and how not to acquire jellyroot) [10959 Words] Neil is a young prince of Palmetta. When he was just a boy, he was saved by a mysterious kid from a thug. Neil isn't sure who he is, or why he did what he did. That is, until he sees him again and this time, he's going to get some answers.

tw: homophobia, tw: assault

Part 2: united under kingdom, and unto each other [2099 Words]

“Can you imagine what this would do the crown? Backwater boxing matches, associating with drunkards, and criminals… These bruises, Andrew, gods… People are going to think I beat you.” “No one is going to think that. It’s almost assumed that you like me to beat you.”

NB: knight and prince art prompt by @requiemofkings

CVS by anxietycorner [Rated G, 38689 Words, Incomplete, Updated May 2023]

Neil had always worked the night shift alone. A co-worker couldn't hurt, right?

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: abuse, tw: child abuse, tw: torture, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: ptsd, tw: flashbacks, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: suicidal thoughts, tw: vomit, tw: alcohol, tw: bullying

Art

Dirtyhands Neil art by @prince-peachie

spiderman au art by @rainbowd00dles

tattoo artist!neil comic by @jordanshenessy here and here

the little siren au art by @allfortheslay25, wip 1, pre render

jellyfish Neil au comic by @emry-stars-art, also here

pirate Neil art by @heymrstargazer

winged Neil art by @mistykaru here, here, here, here and here

escaped single father Jean with baby Neil art by @estavs

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stabbyfoxandrew · 3 days

Note

Aerie 🥺

Angel Neil 🙏🤍👼

WIP Wednesday (4/24) | Guardian Angel Neil AU (Part 173)

"Neil Abram Josten." Andrew says aloud, testing it. In a strange way, it fits together. Andrew realizes Neil is looking at him and offers, "Mine's Joseph."

"I know,” Neil says, taking Andrew by surprise. “I've heard Coach Wymack yell it at you a dozen times."

"Mm. Of course you have. He likes to do that because he knows it's annoying." Andrew says, shaking his head. At least Coach lengthens his name instead of shortening it. "You sure you don't want to tell me what horrible thing your father named you? If you don't I have to assume it's something like... Quincy. Or Earl. Or... Gilbert."

Neil laughs. "Worse than all those."

"Oh, so it was just plain terrible then. I'll have to think on it and guess again sometime."

"You can guess all you want. You'll never get it."

"I have until I die, right? I'll have to get it at some point."

"I'll lie if you do, Andrew Joseph Minyard,” Neil says, giving a petulant little grin when Andrew scowls at him.

“Cheater, cheater.”

“I’ve never promised to play fair.” Neil shrugs. “Besides, if I played fair you’d be sitting in class like a miserable lump right about now.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, at practice I could tell something was bothering you. I didn’t know what, but I figured you needed some rest. But you have class on Thursdays and I knew you couldn’t skip today because you were supposed to have an exam. So while you were busy in the showers, I popped over to the Humanities building and found your professor in the copy room. She was running off the exam. I think she got three copies before I fucked up all the copiers.” Neil finishes his story with a devious little smile and Andrew laughs.

“Thanks, angel.”

“That’s what I’m here for. Destroying things and keeping you safe.” Neil sighs out, his hand swiping over the mark his knife had made in the roof. Andrew watches his hand move and counts the circles and lines of pink, raised skin.

"We're all good at something."

#andreil #aftg #WIP Wednesday #Guardian Angel Neil AU #🕊️#answered #broken-beak-flower-feast

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jingerhead · 2 years

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You know since you offered…. would you do a fic rec? I just love your taste 💛💛💛

I would LOVE to anon! Here's a few things depending on what you're interested in, all of these are andreil (plus some Kateaaron):

Fluff:

strawberry sweetness and light (doesn't taste like lies) by ephemeralsky (fake dating)

i won't fall (unless you ask me to) by moonsock (Spider-Neil being very bad at hiding his identity from his roommate)

I Hate Him by DorothyHatesYou (Soulmate AU where you feel pain when they lie to you)

Reason Number Five by fellasisitgay91219 (Andrew lists the reasons why he hates Neil)

The Last Rose of Summer by rooftopkisses (Misunderstandings but there's too much fluff to go into angst)

Crack:

shortcomings (honestly, fuck you tilda) by stickball11 (Andrew's short people problems)

Swipe Right for Idiot by @paradoxolotl (Neil on grindr)

if you can't take the heat... by Ominous (Andrew and Aaron can't handle spicy things)

i'll crawl home to him by sporadicheartcollector (honestly idk where to put this one, it's a lot in one fic PF but it's good. Andrew has fallen hard for cheerleader Neil)

Two of a Kind by gluupor (Andrew and Aaron pretending to be the same person what could possibly go wrong)

Angst:

deafening silence by jemwrites (deaf Neil)

you're holy to me by melopeya (surprise Kateaaron! Aaron needs a reminder he's loved)

Will We Ever Lift The Curse? by IKnowWhoYouAre_Damianos (warnings for mild smut, long-distance is hard enough but add Valentines day on top of it too)

Miscalculation by EmmmaMmmm (angst with a happy ending)

You Might Get It by likearecord (miscommunication)

Smut:

Yes or No? by @fortheloveofexy (andreil trying BDSM with sub Andrew)

Sonata by alexjosten (locked fic, honestly this is just so poetic I die)

Except When It's No by TheRainbowElectric (MAJOR WARNINGS, MAKE SURE TO READ THEM! Neil saying 'no')

Seven Years Too Late by @amaliaisabel (Smut sequel to the Professors AU)

I Want 10 by Anonymous (Neil gets edged 10 times)

Absolute Favorites:

Like A Hazy Summer Morning by shadowdreams (YouTuber Neil and Andrew who watches his videos)

Pulling and Pushing by @amaliaisabel (Professors AU)

Missed Cues by ApprenticedMagician (Andrew keeps trying and failing to propose)

Love To Hate You by crumplelush (Minyard-Josten Rivalry and it could also go under crack and it's amazing)

Highly Improbable by NikNak22 (Neil trying to see what Andrew's interested in 'cause this 'friend' might be interested in him)

#aftg #aftg recs #tfc #tfc recs #all for the game #all for the game recs #the foxhole court #jinger's recs #jinger answers #andreil #andreil recs #andriel #andriel recs #aftg fanfic #andreil fanfic

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smol-midgets · 3 years

Text

Professor!Andrew AU

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

On their anniversary, Neil decides to surprise Andrew and shows up at his office. He enters and Andrew isn't there yet, so he waits for him

Suddenly there's a knock on the door, and Neil automatically says "come in"

A small group of students enter "Professor And—" and suddenly they've stopped because they aren't looking at Andrew, they're looking at Neil Josten. At Neil Josten. In Andrew's office

"You're not Andrew"

As a response to Neil's comment, they're just standing there, stunned, mouths open. It was getting a little awkward now

That's when Andrew enters (thankfully) and freezes for a second when he sees Neil in his office

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to surprise you" he holds out a box "Cupcakes" and then the most gorgeous smile lights his face

Andrew holds up his finger to tell him to wait a slight smile tugging his lips and turns towards his students

The first thing his students say – "That's Neil Josten"

Andrew lifts a brow "Congratulations on having eyes. Now tell me why you're bothering me after hours"

"Umm... We had a question about a case..."

Andrew clears their doubt for them, but their eyes keep flickering over to Neil. So he stops and says "You have 2 minutes"

They squeal happily and are asking Neil for autographs and pictures. Once their 2 minutes are up they finish their discussion with Andrew and leave, but they can't stop thinking about who Professor Minyard is, and how he knows these people

Of course, word spreads and students go asking for Neil and Kevin's autographs. So a few days later in class - "If you don't want to be gutted with a knife in your sleep, you will not ask me to get you any autographs"

One day he comes in wearing a shirt with "Josten" written on the back. They don't notice at first because he's wearing a coat over it

When he removes his coat they ask him about it but he glares at them, so they stop

But this one student, Johnson, refuses to stop

He keeps bugging Andrew about why he is wearing a famous Exy players shirt. So at the end of the day "If you ask me that one more time I will give you an F on your test Johnson, and no I do not give a fuck"

One day Andrew is really late for class. All the students are talking about him, trying to figure out who he is and how he knows famous Exy players

So they decide to search him up

They aren't expecting to find much, but

They are SHOCKED

They knew he went to juvie, but it was because he was protecting his cousin (they were also a little concerned about the fact that he was able to singlehandedly almost kill 4 people twice his size)

He was in foster care, found his twin, was in the crash that killed his mom (and the entire thing seemed a little off to a few students...because it kind of seemed like he killed her??? But that wasn't possible)

And. He is married. To Neil Josten.

He'd made Court. Played next to Neil and Kevin. And they'd won the freaking Olympics (many students were freaking out over that amazing kiss Neil and Andrew shared when they won gold)

He scored a goal from his position

(everyone was frozen for a few minutes when they saw that)

Later, Andrew enters his class only to see the projector down and exy playing on the screen

When he gets closer he realises that they're watching his matches. Andrew Minyard's highlights.

They're so awed by what they're seeing on the screen, they don't notice Andrew is there until they hear a bored voice drawl "Having fun?"

Andrew is standing right there, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised

They regret watching exy in his class

Nevertheless, they've learned to pretend that he's not a brilliant Exy goalkeeper in front of him

But behind him

People are obsessed

They are constantly talking about his stats, his greatest saves, marvelling over how he seems to know where the ball is going to go before the striker shoots, and how he's able to hit it back to his players perfectly, talking about how amazing he is

So now, with every new batch of freshman

"You will NOT talk about exy in front of me. No matter fucking what. If you do, you will not live long enough to regret it. If you value your vocal chords you will not ask for any autographs whatsoever. Don't even think about saying the word "fine" around me".

All this in the most bored voice he can manage, which somehow makes his threat seem more threatening

Everyone's eyes are wide and their mouths have hit the floor. They are appropriately terrified.

Every batch of freshmen find out about Andrew and Neil from the older batches, and people occasionally see Neil around campus (especially after he retires)

Students try to talk to him and quickly realise that he's not really going to respond unless they talk about Andrew or Exy

Andrew has had to glare murderously at people several times so they leave his husband alone

They all eventually have a love - hate relationship with him, where they are fond of him but that doesn't mean they'll push him because he's still scary

The final part! Finally! Thank you so much for all those of you who read and liked this, I'm sorry it this long to finish it!

EDIT: Yes I changed this one slightly too :)

#all for the game #aftg #nora sakavic #criminal justice professor au #professor!andrew #andrew minyard is a teacher #andrew minyard #neil josten #andreil #palmetto state foxes #aftg post-canon #andreil headcanons #aftg headcanon

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jemej3m · 7 years

Text

Professor

In which Andrew didn’t choose Exy but still chose Neil, which meant Neil had to learn how to talk about something other than stick-ball.

warning, mention of implied sexual assault/non-con

Lucy had not anticipated what she was dealt.

Her first day of second year brought a tone of finality to it all: it wasn’t just a year-long dream of terrible decisions and alcohol and chaos. It continued on, and so would she.

Her first day also happened to bring Professor Andrew Minyard, five feet and blond and utterly terrifying.

Introducing the course had started off mundane enough, until Eddie Court – an asshole she’d regretted sleeping with dearly – decided to lean over her shoulder. He never got the chance to say anything because a pencil dotted him squarely in his forehead, so hard that a tiny droplet of blood threatened to bead.

Everyone stared. Shocked, confused, but remaining in complete silence as they – Lucy included – tried to remember if anyone had mentioned anything about the man, whether or not this was normal or out-of-the-ordinary behaviour.

“Name.” He sounded bored.

Eddie rose his fingers to brush his forehead, smearing the tiniest of droplets. He stared at his fingertips, then at Minyard, then at the pencil that had clattered on his desk. Then at Minyard again. “Eddie Court.”

“Court. Christ.” The professor said, with a palpable distaste to his tone. “I will say this once, despite having to repeat it every year, because students seem to get thicker with every new class.” His face was blank. Stone. Lucy had never heard someone utter insults with such apathy. She didn’t know whether or not to be scared or curious: Such a mask was difficult to maintain. “Shut the fuck up, or get the fuck out. Understood?”

Swearing in class. At the students. Completely against protocol.

Lucy couldn’t help but smile. Just a little.

Within weeks, the class had learned how to abide by Professor Minyard’s rules. His previous students were sought out, but they merely grinned at the mention of his name. One student dared to ask another law professor, questioning the teaching methods of the criminology expert. They shook their head, leaning to the professor next to them and sharing a laugh, an inside joke that none of the second years were a part of.

Yet.

Curiosity won out over fear eventually, and what that said about Lucy, she wasn’t sure. Eventually, he won her respect: The piece of white chalk he’d flung had imbedded itself in her tightly curled hair when she’d fallen asleep at the eight AM lecture on a Tuesday morning.

“You think I want to be here, Rone?”

That piece of chalk rested on her bedside table. Lucy didn’t want to be weird, especially considering her professor hadn’t played Exy since college, but he’d played with Neil Josten and Kevin Day. The Neil Josten, and the Kevin Day. And if she had spent nights watching old Palmetto State Fox games, sitting in awe as she watched him flick balls away from the goal like it was absolutely nothing, no one was going to know.

He was just as apathetic as he had been back then. Lucy had decided he was just emotionless: That didn’t make him any worse at teaching, so it wasn’t really her problem.

And then she became his problem.

Her grades had dropped dramatically low. Andrew stared at the results that he’d just drawn up, picked the paper up off the desk, and leaned back in his chair.

It was a midterm. He’d eyed Lucy Rone’s bad results in the past two mini-quizzes, her surprisingly worsening attendance, and this was enough to force his hand.

Half an hour later, he was convinced this was abnormal behaviour, if her patterns rang true.

Caring, caring. Perhaps the internal monologue would never leave him alone, but he knew better than to listen to it’s mocking tone. Watch yourself turn into Wymack, why don’t you. Call Dan and say you’re taking over as coach of the Foxes.

He almost told himself to shut up, but the chime of his phone snapped him out of his head. It kept chiming and he sighed, picking it up and wedging it between his shoulder and ear, returning to stare at the mark scrawled in the corner of the exam paper.

“Are you going to be here for dinner?”

“Not if you’re attempting to make something.” Neil had improved past the broke-college-student level of cooking skills, but he wasn’t apt enough to cook dinner without some form of disaster.

It hadn’t taken long for Andrew to learn the sound of Neil grinning through the phone. A particular tone of voice, a particular exhale. “It’s already done. Just has to be heated up again.”

“Edible?”

“Can’t really be the judge of my own creation, can I?”

“I’ll be home soon.” Andrew liked the way his mouth curled around the word home.”Lucy Rone. Sound like someone problematic to you?”

“Not particularly. Lucy’s always been the name of that old woman sitting on the front porch, knitting. Five cats, crocheting and all.”

“So, you?”

“If old ladies swung heavy sticks at other people, sure.”

Andrew let himself smile. He allowed himself this. The small curl up on his lips. He’d earned that, after all this time. “Sure.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Unusually bad performance. Moved from sitting front and centre to back corner. Shit attendance.”

“You’re probably a much better judge of character than I would be, now.”

Because I’ve studied criminal, suspicious and victimised behaviour for a long time, Andrew wanted to remind him. But this was no longer a sore spot for Neil: He no longer needed to read people’s intentions in need to survive, because he was safe. He could let that overly-analytical part of himself behind. It had been almost 12 years since their first win against Edgar Allen. He was still alive, well.

Happy, even.

Hard to believe that was partly Andrew’s fault.

Focus.

Andrew emailed Lucy to visit him before their next class at nine o’clock the next morning.

She was five minutes early, he was five minutes late. He couldn’t say anything about her appearance, considering he was wearing Neil’s jersey under his coat and that he had walked out of the door with a coffee, slippers and nothing to comb his hair with but his fingers.

His students knew not to say anything.

Lucy sported a pair of sweats that had her high school’s initials printed on the front, with a pair of exy sticks embroidered just underneath. Her name was printed on the back pocket, and they only just came down to her ankles.

Exy fan, then. Andrew wouldn’t have guessed.

She didn’t say anything, sparing him a hollow looking before following him into his office. He’d used to share it, until he’d bribed the finicky financial law to move somewhere else. It was entirely his own space, clean and devoid of decoration.

He motioned towards the desk and she leaned against it, clutching the binder to her chest.

Brown skin didn’t usually lose this much of it’s valour, even during winter.

And winters in South Carolina were hardly anything worth mentioning.

“Your grades.”

She was staring at the floor. Her eyes didn’t move when she nodded.

“All I need is a reason.”

She said nothing.

“It’d probably be easier on you if you told me. I’m your criminology professor: I’ll find out eventually.”

“I’m not on drugs.” She said, quickly, but not so quickly that it was an immediate red flag. An orange flag. Andrew settled back into his seat and propped his ankle on his knee.

“Never said you were.”

“I’m fine.”

Andrew gave her a flat look. “You know who also says that?”

She shook her head.

“Surely someone who still wears her high school’s exy uniform would have an inkling. Yay-high, hair like a fire-engine siren, mouth like one too.”

Her eyes lit up. “I’ve always wanted to ask if he knows that you wear his old Palmetto jersey. I thought he hated you?”

“I hated him.” Andrew corrected her. “I hate him.” He corrected himself. “And he knows.”

She looked wistful. “Cool.”

“Lucy.”

She looked back at him.

“If there’s a problem, you come to me. Alright?”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Why?”

“Because you can trust me. I can be a lawyer, a therapist, an advice column, what have you.”

“Can I trust you?”

“When you’re ready to.”

She seemed satisfied enough to nod, murmur a timid thank you, and slipped out the door.

Lucy banged on the door, feeling sick. She couldn’t go back to her dorm, because it made her want to crawl into a corner and be enveloped in a shadow. To be the smallest, most insignificant thing.

She wasn’t sure how on earth her criminology professor was supposed to empathise with her, when he was the human embodiment of a brick wall, but here she was, trembling, feverish, panicked, and knocking on his office door at ten o’clock at night.

He opened the door with a mildly annoyed expression, which flattened out immediately at the sight of her.

She’d only seen him this morning, but that felt like a whole world away now.

“Hello.”

She wanted to ask why he was still here, on campus, this late at night. What on earth he could possibly be working on, at ten o’clock on a Tuesday evening. Instead, she blurted: “What does it mean if I didn’t say no?”

He stilled.

Too much, too much, too much: She had asked too much of him, a middle aged professor who apparently had two cats and a boyfriend, if the senior’s rumours were true. Criminology professor aside, this was the last thing someone like him would want to be dragged into –

He stood aside and motioned for her to come in. She shuffled by him, arms around her stomach. He shut the door.

Lucy wanted to be sick.

He pulled a pen out of his pocket – professors always had pens on them, didn’t they? – and tore a corner off a piece of paper, scribbling down a phone number.

“This woman helped me.” Betsy. “She can help you, too.”

“You said you could be a therapist.” Lucy hedged.

He sighed, and she’d never seen him so reflective. “I have my limits.”

She nodded. She took the piece of paper. She left.

“Where the fuck is Court?” Andrew leaned on the edge of his desk at the front of the lecture hall, eyeing the empty seat. Second lesson in a row.

Lucy Rone sat in front of it, back straight, gaze steady.

“Suspended.”

Andrew looked at her. “For how long?”

There was a hesitant smile. “Undetermined. Charges have been pressed against him.”

Andrew drew a long line through Eddie Court’s name on the attendance.

Lucy waited by the door and saw her professor approaching, with the stack of papers in his hands. She was anxious about this mark, more-so than the others. Her dip in performance would be hard to get back up from, but if she could do it in criminology, she could do it in the rest. There was a cluster of students waiting to get their essay’s grade back, but Lucy was first in line.

“Yay or nay?” She asked.

Professor Minyard gave Lucy a flat look, and opened the door.

Lucy promptly had a heart attack at the man beyond the door.

“Feet. Off.” Her professor said, looking flatly at Neil Josten, with his feet propped up on the desk, arms folded. He, too, was wearing a faded jersey of the Palmetto Foxes’ colours, but it was too bunched up for Lucy to read the name.

“Surprise.” Neil Josten said, and Lucy wanted to scream.

“Get your fucking feet off my fucking desk.” Her professor dropped the large stack of papers next to where Neil Josten had propped up his heavy boots. Neil did not get his fucking feet off the fucking desk.

Lucy almost had the nerve to scream: do you know who that is? Do you have any clue how famous he was? But she remembered that the two of them were friends. Sort of. She held her tongue, and let her heart thrum in her chest, happy to be completely ignored.

“Leave.” Professor Minyard flicked Neil in the temple.

Neil smiled. Neil Josten smiled.

Lucy was having heart palpitations.

He slowly drew his feet away from the desk to stand, still smiling. “Have a nice day.”

“You weren’t meant to be here till tomorrow evening, Josten. Explain.”

“You’re busy. Later.”

Lucy watched her professor’s arm reach out to brush along Neil Josten’s forearm as he slid past, and there was a startlingly foreign crinkle of warmth in his eyes.

The back of Neil’s Palmetto jersey read Minyard. A thin platinum ring, identical to the one her professor wore around his neck, clacked against the doorknob as he pushed it open. She remember her professor occasionally wearing Josten.

There was a startling curve of her professor’s lips, an almost smile that made him look almost human.

Neil grinned before slipping out the door.

Oh, Lucy thought, and then she said it aloud.

Her professor turned on her, pointing. “If you dare to ask me for a single autograph, I will fail you.”

Lucy was still smiling.

“If any word about this gets out, I will fail you.” He warned.

“Are you married?” Lucy laughed.

His face was stone.

“Holy shit. Professor Josten-Minyard. Two cats and a husband.”

“It’s Minyard-Josten.” He said coldly. “Get out.”

Lucy got out.

By the next class, everyone knew, despite Lucy not breathing a word. Which meant the entirety of Neil Josten’s personal but still public Instagram account displayed his home life. But that was none of his student’s – or anyone’s– business.

And if Neil started coming in with breakfast on those Tuesday morning lectures during his off season, that was none of their business either.

#hahahaha this cracks me up #professor minyard #andrew minyard #neil josten #dan wilds #tfc #aftg #professor!au #jem writes

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bookwormlostinwonderland · 4 years

Text

Andreil college professor au excerpt 2

Part one

Inspired by this post

Did he know who he was? If he did, he was keeping quiet. That was fine with him. The less he had to do with Neil Josten, the better. It seemed likely that their paths would have to cross at one time or another, what with the way they sought each other's work out to tear down. Part of him had been wondering if Neil would be attending the conference, and now the answer was sat right next to him, watching him out of the corner of his eyes when he thought Andrew wasn`t watching.

“Satisfaction brought it back,” he said, folding his arms. "

What? He rubbed at his temple. Neil`s smile was smug, parted lips curled upwards as if daring him to retaliate. Right. The cat. The damn cat that curiosity killed. He captured the attention of a passing flight attendant. “I need a drink.”

It was going to be a long flight.

#tfc #aftg #andreil #the foxhole court #all for the game #andrew minyard #neil josten #i ramble about tfc #my writing

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halfpintpeach · 9 months

Text

Thinking about Professor Neil again got to the park on a picnic with Andrew, Kate, Aaron, and their two girls 😭 Neil takes Duke off harness so she's not working and she goes and plays with the girls while the adults sit on a blanket under a tree (Andrew requires shade).

They have stupid cute sandwiches because Katelyn has been in a pintrest mood and wants to try them all! Neil watching the joggers on the path and mentioning that he should have worn his running blade rather than his normal leg (not good to just walk in them, made for running!).

And so Andrew promises they can come back and Neil can run with his blade on the path.

I have feelings and emotions about this silly (very important to me) AU

#aftg #andrew minyard #all for the game #andreil #neil josten #the foxhole court #pint rambles #professor neil josten au #amputee neil #prosthetic limb

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aftgficrec · 8 months

Note

andreil being domestic in front of the foxes

Everyone is so surprised to see these two being soft! -A

latest foxes react asks

Foxes react to coupley Andreil here

Foxes react: andreil can’t hide it here

Foxes walk in on cute andreil here

more foxes react

andreil having incomprehensible convos here

andreil + pda here and andreil casual pda here

kandreil coming out to wymack/the foxes here

andreil secret marriage here and secret marriage/relationship here

‘It's a Home’ here

‘I Found’ here

‘A Dad By Any Other Name’ and ‘small as a wish in a well’ here

‘you're here and you're you’ here

‘it starts like this,’ ‘Love's an Endgame, but It's Not a Game,’ ‘hedge your bets,’ ‘can you keep a secret?,’ ‘The Bet,’ ‘We aim to win,’ ‘They Look Like The Stars,’ and the tumblr posts here

‘Andreil Massages Turned War…’ here

‘andrew minyard’s gossip sessions with david wymack’ here

‘What everyone doesn't see unless they look close enough.’ series: part 1 here, part 2 here, part 3 here

‘Secret Privacy’ here

‘simple romance,’ ‘call it what you want,’ ‘The Foxes Date Night,’ and ‘Andrew scares the waiter’ here

‘Consequences of Coaching’ here

‘they match’ and ‘baby, baby’ here

‘Better than a Blanket, Your Coat’ here

‘Surprise?’ here

and more

‘night by night’ here

‘you make my heart shake, bend & brake,’ ‘we'll be the last ones dancing…,’ and ‘you, forever, everyday.’ here

‘Calling All My Lovelies,’ ‘for a heart beats best…,’ ‘Not boyfriends,’ and ‘Neil calling Andrew cute nicknames’ here

‘I'll See You in My Dreams’ and ‘Seeing Stars’ here

‘there's no way JOSTEN has a girlfriend,’ ‘every piece of you, it just fits perfectly,’ and ‘The One Where Everyone Finds Out’ here

‘Same old fresh air’ here

‘never stood a chance’ and ‘You've Begun to Feel Like Home’ here

‘Happy Birthday, Neil.,’ ‘ i wanna hold your hand,’ and ‘Fuzzy Feelings’ here

‘The Road Trip’ here

‘Dare You,’ ‘never have i ever…,’ ‘Too Drunk,’ and ‘Here.’ here

‘i’ll crawl home to him’ here

‘Halloween couples costumes’ and ‘skirt and a crop top’ here

‘ANDREIL + #120’ and ‘neil gets his wisdom teeth taken out’ here

‘Hospitals and Anesthesia,’ ‘ I see who you are,’ ‘Ficlet Collection’ Ch 10 and ‘Going Green’ here

‘the one with the black sweater’ here

‘In Too Deep,’ ‘Surfin' U.S.A,’ ‘In a Lifeguard's Gaze,’ and ‘andreil + the beach’ here

‘Me and You’ series here

‘Andreil- Piggy Back Rides’ here

‘The Love We Lost (then found)’ here (completed)

‘Sugar & Spice (and everything... nice?),’ ‘skylight,’ and ‘scarier things’ here

‘Hungover,’ ‘neil josten goes to the dentist,’ ‘mistakes were made (but it's okay),’ and ‘au where Neil and Katelyn work at a coffee shop’ here

‘Twinyard Trouble’ and ‘the ‘which one is Andrew’ game’ here

‘Identity Theft,’ ‘don't be so cold,’ and ‘Step 1 in "How To Handle A Crisis"...’ here

pro teams/outsiders reacting to andreil

foxes react + pov outsider here

freshmen react/pov outsider here

andreil secret relationship/relationship reveal here

canon compliant, post canon Minyard-Josten rivalry here

details of Andreil being intimate go public here

andreil in a magazine here

‘Professor Neil’ series here

‘Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before’ here

you may also like

foxes revise opinion of Andrew here

super and long domestic andreil

Like no one does by trubenblack [Rated T, 3689 Words, Complete, 2023]

He should get up, he should go for a run but as soon as he looks at his husband he decides he would rather just stay here. Andrew’s face is calm, smooth. Not in the way it used to be, he looks younger, the wrinkles that are just beginning to form between his eyebrows and on his forehead smoothed. - A day in the life of two men that are simply in love thats literally it

Married To Annoy by chaoticas_hell [Not Rated, 6068 Words, Complete, 2023]

Andrew and Aaron's relationship was better, much better, than it had ever been before. They could talk to each other about anything, fights no longer threatened to destroy their relationship. It was very peaceful. And that was boring as hell. So Andrew plans to do something about it, something that would majorly piss off his dear brother. So Andrew decides to marry his long-term boyfriend, Neil Josten- the guy his brother can't stand.

Definitely Not Valentine's Day by sillyunicorn6154 [Rated T, 961 Words, Complete, 2023]

In which Neil and Andrew definitely don't celebrate Valentine's Day.

head case (what to do with you) by Major_816 [Not Rated, 4007 Words, Complete, 2023]

It bolsters him now. Because Andrew’s in the hospital and this medical fuck with an incompetency problem won’t let Neil in to see him. ~ Andrew gets hurt and Neil...handles it.

tw: major character injury, tw: blood/gore

midnight love by imaddictedtoreading [Not Rated, 2141 Words, Complete, 2023]

Andrew and Neil have been acting very couple-y lately. 5 times somebody witnesses a moment and one time Andrew clears everything up

Words Are Important Too by sensetia [Rated G, 1937 Words, Complete, 2021]

They all knew that Andrew and Neil loved each other. They’d seen it through subtle touches and passing glances throughout the years. But what they didn’t know is if the two boys said it to each other. Did they say ‘I love you’ ? Did they whisper sweet nothings in each others ears? Did they hold hands just for the sake of being close? Did they kiss when there was really no reason to? That’s what the foxes wanted to know.

tw: nightmares, tw: implied/referenced torture

flashes of intimacy by mostly_maudlin [Rated T, Collection, Complete, 2023]

NB: this series was recced in our romantic andreil/growing together ask

Chapter 1: death threats [506 Words] Andrew’s expression cracks, his baseline apathy shrinking under bright headlights. Neil hears Nicky calling his name, and then he’s being yanked up onto the curb, almost knocking Andrew over in the process. Chapter 14: "devotion" [493 Words] Neil sees Andrew across the dining hall first, but it doesn’t take long for Andrew’s eyes to meet his as he scans the room. Chapter 18: baby steps [443 Words] “Truth or dare, Neil?”

Forever Is A Big Word by ADifferentTime [Rated G, 14154 Words, Complete, 2022]

Neil gets injured and ends up in the hospital which leads to a marriage proposal and a very quick courthouse wedding with all of their friends.

Pointless by maqicien [Not Rated, 3034 Words, Complete, 2022]

The Foxes have only ever known him as the vicious, vindictive Monster he’s portrayed himself as. Now, he’s a mystery no one knows how to solve; hard and violent for strangers, soft and gentle for this boy with the sharp smile. - 5 times the Foxes accidentally spied on Andrew and his secret boyfriend and the 1 time they actually get to meet him.

One day we'll reveal the truth by allyasavedtheday [Rated T, 3773 Words, Complete, 2019, locked]

“Is there a reason you don’t like Neil?” Bee asks him then and Aaron doesn’t understand how the fuck they got onto this when she’s supposed to be fixing him and Andrew. “I don’t trust him,” he says eventually. “All he’s done since he’s got here is cause trouble.”

TFC headcannons by Sugden_in_a_beanie [Not Rated, Collection, Updated 2018]

Chapter 1 Instagram Chapter 11 Pancakes Chapter 13 professional Exy after the match when they all line up and shake hands they take kids on with them too

Tumblr Drabbles by PumpkinspiceLou (CatyDreamDwyer) [Not Rated, Collection, Updated Jan 2022]

Chapter 4: Secret Husbands Neil gets injured during a game (set after everyone has graduated/gone pro)

these feelings, they keep running the red by orphan_account [Rated M, 3589 Words, Complete, 2020]

Neil Josten had never imagined getting married. He’d never been allowed to. He was meant to keep himself disconnected and alone, only in the company of his mother. He couldn’t let himself be distracted by the girl he kissed in eighth grade, sticky with lipgloss, let alone marriage. His mother had told him, endlessly, that love was nothing. It was worthless. Attraction was weakness, love was pain. or, 5 times Neil thinks about marriage, and 1 time he gets married.

tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon

Nap Time is Best Time by Willow_bird [Rated G, 2659 Words, Complete, 2021]

“Is he dead?” “Don’t be stupid, he’s clearly breathing.” “Yeah, okay, but like - you should go check.” --- The Foxes are chaos-gremlins who have to stick their noses into EVERYTHING. Neil loves them anyway

Photo Shoot by sheskyripa [Rated G, 2473 Words, Complete, 2021]

Neil was not shy, not at all. He had no problem with being placed in front of a camera and saying shit about everything he was thinking. But a photoshoot was completely different. A photoshoot would have an almost total focus on his appearance and Neil didn't like it at all. or, the Foxes have to do a photo shoot and Neil is not happy with it. Andrew helps.

tw: scars

NB: fanart by @linecrosser here

AJMICKEY56's Fanfiction Palooza! by AJMICKEY56 [Rated G, Multifandom Collection, Complete, 2023]

Chapter 2: aaron asking andrew to tell neil to help him with math Chapter 82: aaron saying something homophobic…this time neil won't ignore it and chews aaron out

tw: homophobia

Chapter 86: Three times Andrew couldn't help but smile and one time he chose to. Chapter 100: foxes react to neil buying the maserati for andrew

Master post for Fluent Freshman AU by @jtl-fics [Tumblr Fic, 2023] The serialized adventures of a foreign language major freshman Fox who is unwittingly subjected to sappy Russian pet names and spicy flirting between Captain Neil and the scary goalie.

Foxes Reacting to Andreil by @kanekicure [Tumblr, 2022]

foxes reacting to andreil being cute by @rainbow-femme [Tumblr, 2017]

foxes accepting and loving andreil fluff prompt fill by @whatmack [Tumblr, 2019]

the upperclassmen. the monsters. andreil. fandom fun post by @lemonboyjosten [Tumblr, 2023]

Neil: *sticks Andrew’s hand under his shirt* fandom fun post by @4-fox-sake-txtpost [Tumblr, 2019]

Art

mittens and stitches art by @greenchilypepper

anyway this is gay and transparent art by @rotenkehl

Cute lil AFTG tweet 😌art by @eislekaj on instagram

andrew minyard this is boyfriend behavior… art by @02511213942

i'm sorry kevin... it's too early for this art by @02511213942

this bastard is kissing my brother art by @jayjuls

aftg meme redraw art by @s-hanna-h

he does that sometimes art by @jeannemaybedarc

107 notes · View notes

alexjosten · 6 years

Text

Peppermint Toads

Gift fic for @scattered-shadows who requested a Neil & Andrew Hogwarts AU as part of the 2017 Winter @aftgexchange. I was really thankful when I got this prompt, because I’m a huge Potterhead so this was an absolute pleasure to research and write. Enjoy!

Rating: T Words: 2586

(P.S. I plan on continuing this at some point, so feel free to drop headcanons in my inbox!)

—

Breaking into the headmaster’s office at Hogwarts wasn’t particularly difficult for Andrew, considering the passwords had historically always been the names of various magical sweets. After seven years of visiting Honeydukes (only four of which were permitted), Andrew had sampled and memorised the entire store’s catalogue, so reeling off names until he landed on ‘Peppermint Toads’ was more a test of his patience rather than his cleverness.

He ignored the suspicious glances and whispered words from the portraits of the previous headmasters as he rifled through the contents of Headmistress McGonagall’s desk. It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for: the register of students who were staying at Hogwarts over the winter holidays.

He scanned through the Ravenclaws, looking to see if Aaron or Katelyn had been added to the list. His twin had boldly proclaimed he was going home for the holidays with him and Nicky, but Andrew hadn’t believed it for a second after Aaron had conspired to stay unsupervised in the castle with Katelyn last year. Andrew had only discovered his brother’s betrayal after he was already stuck in a carriage on the Hogwarts Express going home. He wouldn’t be tricked twice.

It seemed that this year, however, Aaron was telling the truth. Andrew was about to toss the list back to McGonagall’s desk when a name under a different house caught his eye. It was a name that he recognised from the list of Death Eaters that were still at large after breaking out of Azkaban during the Second Wizarding War: Wesninski.

It didn’t surprise him to find the name was under Slytherin. What concerned him was that Kevin hadn’t told him someone from an infamous Death Eater family was in his house- which meant that Kevin didn’t know. And if Kevin, as paranoid as he was after his history, wasn’t aware… that meant this particular student was keeping his identity a secret.

Andrew didn’t like secrets. Especially ones that threatened his things.

He picked up a quill and scratched his own name onto the list.

Hogwarts felt larger after the majority of the student body packed their trunks and went home. The Great Hall tried to compensate by boasting Christmas trees so gigantic that their tips brushed against the snowy skies of the Enchanted Ceiling. The woven garlands of holly, mistletoe and tinsel in every doorway were so ostentatiously bulky that students had to squeeze together to get through the narrow space that was left. Even the warm, dry snow fluttering down from above seemed determined to collect upon the books and homework of the remaining students to distract them with festive cheer, however Andrew was more focused than ever.

After sifting through the lies of the Daily Prophet and the utter nonsense of the Quibbler from the back catalogue in the library, Andrew pieced together a working theory: Nathan Wesninski had been a werewolf serving under Fenrir Greyback during the Second Wizarding War, sentenced to life in Azkaban but broken out shortly before the Battle of Hogwarts. Further research revealed that he had a son, Nathaniel Wesninski, born in January 1987- which would have placed him in the same school year as both Andrew and Kevin.

Since the other Slytherin seventh years had gone home for the holidays, this narrowed Andrew’s hunt down to the one remaining student: Neil Josten, starting Chaser for the Slytherin Quidditch team.

Andrew knew him, of course. Over their seven years at Hogwarts they had shared various classes together. Neil stood out- not only for the auburn hair that made him the butt of every Weasley joke, but also for the deep gashes that scored the skin on one side of his face. Wounds like that weren’t uncommon after the war, even on the younger students, but now combined with Andrew’s theory about who Neil actually was, he couldn’t help but think those scars looked awfully like claw marks.

Considering Kevin was close to Neil as a fellow Chaser and Captain of the Slytherin team, and would be sharing a dorm with him when he returned to school in a week, Andrew felt the need to act quickly.

Neil was minding his own business eating his Christmas dinner when Andrew dropped a four inch thick tome on the table in front of him with a resounding slam.

“Lupine Lawlessness: Why Lycanthropes Don’t Deserve to Live, by Professor Emerett Picardy. Fascinating read,” Andrew drawled as he took the bench opposite his new nemesis.

Neil flicked him an annoyed glance and then went back to slicing through a rare cut of roast beef, “Go away, Minyard. The werewolf jokes got old in third year.”

“I know what you are. Or should I say who? Interesting how you managed to get all of the professors to play along and call you by your new name in class.”

That got Neil’s attention. His chin snapped up and he held his head high as he stared Andrew down. His lips contracted in a snarl, “Are you really so bored without Kevin around that you’ve resorted to making up fantasies? Leave me alone.”

Andrew drummed his fingers across the book’s cover, underlining the subtitle, “How about I present you a deal. If you can score on me, I’ll leave you alone and your secret stays safe. If I block all your shots, I let the Prophet find out that Hogwarts is knowingly housing a class five beast, you pack your bags and get the fuck out of my school.”

Neil ignored the threat and focused on the challenge instead, “Quidditch? I’ve never seen you play.”

“Exactly. So it should be easy for you, no?”

Neil looked bewildered, “You did hear that I got an offer to play for the Montrose Magpies when I graduate?”

Of course he had. Kevin hadn’t shut up about it when he had gotten his matching offer letter the same day. Andrew rolled his eyes, “I don’t care. Is it a deal? Yes or no.”

“Fine. Deal.”

Visibility was poor when they stepped out onto the Quidditch pitch. The beginnings of a blizzard had picked up as dusk fell, swirling around and slicing mercilessly at every sliver of exposed skin. Dark snow clouds loomed above, casting a grey shadow over everything that dared to step foot outside of the safety of the castle. Neil had tried to convince him to play on another night, but Andrew had chosen that night for a reason: in a matter of a few hours, it was going to be a full moon.

Choosing to spend time alone with a potential werewolf who was about to turn was reckless to say the least. Doing so while balancing being a hundred feet in the air with his crippling fear of heights made it downright suicidal. It was a wonder how Andrew had survived this long when he made a regular habit of making self destructive decisions in order to get what he wanted.

Andrew’s gloved fingers already felt numb as he tightened his grip around his broomstick, but not from the cold. Rather, it was from the way his stomach had bottomed out and his head span when he kicked off the ground and took to the sky. Neil had briefly attempted to delay their challenge again, even going as far as claiming to feel poorly- which only added to Andrew’s conviction that he was, in fact, a werewolf. However all complaints stopped once he had a Quaffle in his hands.

Andrew had seen Neil play before; Kevin had begged Andrew to supervise enough of his games, terrified of another jinx cursing his broom and leading to an even worse accident. But Andrew had never seen Neil play up close before. If Andrew hadn’t been so focused on determining if Neil was a threat, he would have lingered a bit longer on the thought of how the wind swept his hair back and brought colour to his cheeks . The boyish, competitive grin on his lips pulled Andrew’s attention away long enough that he nearly missed blocking the first shot.

Neil zipped away on his broom to collect the rebounded Quaffle and returned to hover a few feet away from Andrew, concentration and concern now knitted into his features. Having his shot blocked by some nobody was most likely alarming for a rising star like him, and Andrew took great pleasure in the distress he had caused. When Andrew continued to whip around and effortlessly block each subsequent shot, Neil started to get angry.

“What the hell, Minyard? I thought you didn’t play!”

“I don’t,” he replied coolly. His gaze drifted to the horizon and his heart dropped into his gut when he remembered how high up he was, and he continued in order to distract himself from his unease, “I’ve been practicing in private with Kevin since first year. We have a deal.”

Neil was astonished, “Why don’t you play for Ravenclaw? You could go pro. None of the other Keepers at school can block my shots like that.”

Andrew simply shrugged one shoulder, the movement jostling him on his broom and making his vision swim. He didn’t need to tell Neil about his fear of heights. He already felt dangerously close to the edge of tumbling loose from his perch - verbalising it would be the final push.

“Are we going to talk or are we going to play?” he snipped back.

Neil didn’t need to be told twice. He tucked the Quaffle under his arm and darted out of sight, disappearing into the snowstorm in a matter of seconds. Andrew squinted into the dusk, trying to spot where he would be approaching from. With each passing moment, the nausea gurgled in his stomach forebodingly. His temples pounded and threatened to collapse the dark edges of his vision inwards. He couldn’t tell if the ringing in his ears was from the wind whistling by or if it was all in his head.

He finally spotted Neil hurtling towards him from below. Andrew jerked his broom to the side to block his shot, but swayed into the motion too hard, taking his balance with him. His grip slipped. He tilted too far. And then, he fell.

Andrew came to in a dark place, the only light dimly provided by the moon pouring in through the frost-speckled windows. He sat up and the deep green Quidditch robe that had been keeping him warm slipped down to pool in his lap. He was in the Slytherin changing rooms, and he wasn’t alone.

Sat further down on the bench that he had been laying on was Neil. He was hunched over with his head in his hands, and he jolted upwards when he heard Andrew move.

“Thank Merlin. Are you okay? Did you break anything?”

Andrew frowned, but peeled off his gloves to flex his fingers, and then patted himself down to check for injuries. He didn’t remember hitting the ground, but he must have. His clothes had been nearly soaked from flying in the snow earlier, yet now they were magically dry, most likely due to a hot air charm.

“I know I should have taken you to Madame Pomfrey, but if they found out we were flying in this weather and you got hurt, I could get banned from playing for the rest of the season, and my offer from the Magpies depends on-”

Andrew cut him off, “Did you score?”

“What?”

“Before I passed out. Did you score, Wesninski?”

Neil flinched and fell quiet. Andrew became acutely aware of the moonlight painting pale strips across Neil’s scarred face. Andrew stood and pointed his wand at him.

“I’m not a werewolf,” Neil declared confidently, however his voice wavered as he continued, “But since you know that name, you know who my father is.”

His hands were trembling as he gestured to his cheek, “This wasn’t from the war. It was from him. He tried to turn me before he was sent to Azkaban.”

Andrew slowly lowered his wand, “But he escaped.”

“Yes,” Neil shuddered, and lowered his head back into his hands. Andrew recognised the resignation in his body as something all too familiar he had once felt himself.

“He’s coming for you, isn’t he?”

Neil nodded.

“Hogwarts can only protect you for so long,” Andrew pointed out coldly, “What are you going to do when you and Kevin graduate? Once a werewolf shows up at a match and your real name gets out, your career will be ruined. Kevin’s too, most likely. No team will want to be associated with a Death Eater family.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Neil snapped and ripped his hands away from his face, “You don’t think I obsess over this every fucking day?” He stood up, getting in Andrew’s space as his blood boiled. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to dispel the rumours after we studied werewolves in third year? I’d get so anxious on the nights of a full moon that he was coming for me that I couldn’t get out of bed. People noticed. And there’s only so long you can live in a dorm with four other guys before someone finds out you have bite marks on your body. I know my days are numbered, and I don’t need someone like you telling me.”

Andrew pushed two fingers into Neil’s chest to get him to back off. Something about the touch deflated him, and he crumpled back down onto the bench.

“You are a mess,” Andrew declared, “And you are creating problems for me.”

“This doesn’t involve you,” Neil hissed.

“Yes it does. I told you I have a deal with Kevin, didn’t I? I agreed to protect him. You are making that complicated by putting a target on his back.”

“Then uncomplicate it,” Neil retorted petulantly.

“Tell the Magpies you won’t accept their offer.”

“What?” Neil looked like he had been sucker punched.

“If you don’t play for them, Kevin won’t get caught in the crossfire,” Andrew explained dispassionately.

Neil stared at him in disbelief, “You’re insane. They’re the best team in the UK. I can’t turn them down. That would end my career even faster.”

“I don’t care about your career.”

“Well, I don’t care about your stupid deal you made with Kevin.”

They were at an impasse. Neither were willing to back down.

“I could expose you,” Andrew threatened.

“And risk dragging Kevin’s reputation down with me? We’ve been inseparable on the pitch since first year.” Neil reminded him. Andrew wanted to wipe that cocky smirk off his face.

“You are impossible,” Andrew sighed, and the last of his resistance left his body in one breath, “Unfortunately, as long as my deal with Kevin is in place, you are inextricably part of it.”

Neil narrowed his eyes at him, “What do you mean?”

“After we graduate, I will watch your back for one year. During that time, I will prevent your reputation, and thus Kevin’s, from being dragged through the dirt. Additionally, I will protect you from your father.”

Andrew didn’t miss the flicker of hope that widened Neil’s eyes, before they narrowed back in distrust, “What’s in it for you?”

“Starting from now, you will detangle yourself from Kevin’s life. So when our deal ends, if you go down, you will not take him with you.”

Neil fell silent as he considered the terms. Then, he stood and held out his hand. Andrew appraised it before carefully slotting his own into it.

“Deal.”

#aftg #andreil #fanfic #the foxhole court #harry potter AU #alexwrites

43 notes · View notes

eggscelsior · 6 years

Text

AU where Riko is the leader of The Elite Four

The Pokemon League Officials have started discussing the idea of a “final boss” after the Elite Four, the Pokemon Champion

And whether or not Kevin Day (Grass Type master) is more suited to the title than Riko (Water Type master)

Riko breaks Kevin’s Pokeball-throwing hand, and Kevin leaves, assumed to be unable to aim properly to catch a wild Pokemon ever again

(Kayleigh Day and Tetsuji Moriyama are the first two people to ever start making up rules for having Pokemon fights, before that Pokemon were either just wild or taken in as pets or taught work skills like Machokes)

Riko wants the attention of his father, Kengo Moriyama, who on the outside is just a businessman but actually is the leader of a criminal force called Team Rocket

Riko’s Perfect Court is the Perfect Elite Four, and Nathaniel Wesninski is supposed to be Number Four, taking after his father “The Butcher”’s proficiency for being a Steel Type gym leader

Neil Josten has been on the run for years, leaving his father’s Steel Pokemon behind him. He and his mother avoided battles and stayed out of Pokemon centers and hospitals, treating themselves and her Fighting type Pokemon to avoid being tracked through Pokemon ID numbers. When she died he released his mother’s Pokemon into the wild when he burned her remains on the beach, and settled in a tiny town no one’s heard of

He eventually joins the Trainer school there, desperate for Pokemon interaction, but the school is so tiny that they don’t teach all the Types, just the elementals, so Neil takes what he can get and accepts a Ponyta as his “starter” Pokemon

Fiery personality and good at running, they’re a great pair

Hernandez, the leader of the school, sends battle videos of Neil to his old friend Wymack

There are little street groups of friends that band together to train and try and get good enough to take the Pokemon League challenge

The “Foxes” are one of these, a bunch of misfits under the tutelage of Professor “Coach” Wymack, who has Fire Blast tattoos up his arms and whose partner Vulpix gives the Foxes their nickname

(When Seth is murdered and they’re down to nine trainers, Wymack uses a fire stone to evolve his Vulpix into Ninetails)

He only takes in the “worst of the worst”, people who he feels could use Pokemon training to get their lives back on track, who need the second chance. So they’re not a bunch of ten-year-olds, they’re older teens

They get in so much trouble that they have a Nurse Abby traveling with them instead of going to Nurse Abbys at Pokemon Centers

And Coach’s good friend and former Psychic Trainer Betsy Dobson, whose current partner Combee earns her the nickname Bee herself. Combee makes lots of honey and she loves to share sweets in her therapy sessions

Some trainer-pokemon pairings (I’m completely ignoring Regions and Generations for this):

You’d think Andrew would go for things with knives on them (Scyther, Beedrill, Skarmory), but no, he doesn’t need a Pokemon to physically protect him, he carries his own knives, which is why people are afraid of him and think he’s psychotic. He has Dark type Pokemon, chief of which are Murkrow and Mismagius. He has an eidetic memory and can easily memorize the base stats of all Pokemon types, the potential moves they can learn, and all the known caught Pokemon and commonly used battle items of a trainer they’re facing, and that’s why he’s such a great trainer

Nicky has a Feebas and he loudly proclaims to everyone who will listen that someday it will be the most gorg Milotic belonging to the most gorg gay trainer there is (Eric his fiance is a Hiker with Rock pokemon who lives in a different Region)

Aaron I’m-gonna-be-a-doctor Minyard has a Chancey

Katelyn is Abby’s assistant and has a yellow PomPom style Oricorio, she believes that cheerfulness and support are just as important to healing as medicine. Aaron is gaga for her, Andrew thinks she’s a perky waste of space

Half joking but not really, Kevin caught a Bellsprout right-handed and power-evolved it into a Victreebell that holds a fuckton of vodka in its pitcher to drown its food in instead of acid, so Kevin has an unending supply. (He had a Celebi but he has to earn its respect back by overcoming his injury and facing Riko again)

The girls, hoo fuck, Dan and her super tough Nidorina, Allison and Dragonite (her parents wanted her to have Beauty Contest Pokemon and not evolve her Dragonair but she Gave No Fucks), and Renee and her sweet-looking Mawile that can Fuck You Up if need be

Seth has uhhhh a Pidgeotto, Pidgeottos are assholes.

Matt and his Salazzle (listen this boy’s type and also Type is Strong Badass Black Females okay)

Jeremy has a Mudsdale named Trojan, which his group of trainers are nicknamed after, and he’s the most sporting and sunny gym leader you ever did meet

Riko has a Tentacruel that he likes to use to restrain and/or whip or poison his victims, he’s a fucking jackass. He also has a Sharpedo for cutting people with

I’m getting way too deep into this AU but I’m going to leave off with Andrew telling Neil at some point “You’re more like a Mimikyu than a Vulpix, trying to blend in with the Pokemon that trainers go for so you can have battles, and changing your disguise any time someone gets close enough to see the clawed ghost underneath. I don’t trust you.”

(But clearly Andrew finds Mimikyu fascinating lol)

(Andrew also obviously thinks Neil’s natural auburn is much more suited to his personality and trainer type than brown hair. Neil’s eventual burns suit him too, make him look like a seasoned Fire trainer.)

(Ponyta trusts Andrew enough to pet him without burning him with his mane, because Neil so clearly trusts and needs this man)

And also “Nathaniel...you were supposed to be an Elite Steel master” “I’m NEIL, I’m a Fire trainer now” “Your Ponyta isn’t strong enough to face Riko, you’re at a type disadvantage. He has to evolve into Rapidash, and quickly” “Will you still train me?” “Every night”

Bonus: Riko telling Neil “That name means ‘Champion’, you will never refer to yourself by it again, your name is Nathaniel” and Neil responding with a grin, teeth red from a bloody nose, “I knew there was a reason I picked it.”

#aftg #andreil #au

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smol-midgets · 3 years

Text

Professor!Andrew AU

So I saw this post about Andrew being a criminology professor a long time ago, and I have not been able to get it out of my head ever since. This is the result. It may be a little unrealistic but only very slightly. There will be more parts. Presenting to you – a messy fic.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

After winning a gold medal in the Olympics with Kevin and Neil, Andrew decides he's done. He's achieved whatever he wanted to (not that he wants anything) and exy isn't going to give him anything more

Neil plays for a few more years. ("Junkie.")

He gets a PhD in criminal justice just so he can call himself Doctor Minyard and annoy Aaron

But he gets a good job to teach college students Criminal Justice at a nearby University, and he accepts because he wants to teach kids because he's bored

On his first day, he walks into the classroom and asks everybody to stand up and introduce themselves. After giving them his name he starts off

"Unless any of you want to be standing outside the classroom you will not talk about exy, you will not lie to me, and you will not utter the words "I'm fine"". (I like to think he's moved from murdering people when they say please or misunderstanding, especially after he and Neil spend time with the foxes' kids)

Nobody knows that he's the Andrew Minyard – exy legend, has one of the best goalie stats in the world

His voice is impassive and his face is bored but when he explains something most students listen with rapt attention

His aim is scary good and whoever doesn't listen gets a well aimed chalk thrown to their head

They quickly figure out that his memory is near perfect

"I'm sorry I didn't attend class last week mister Minyard, my cat died"

"How many cats do you have Marcus?"

"One, sir"

"That's interesting, because I remember you saying the same thing for missing class on 4th September as well"

*shocked silence*

"Uh...sir—"

"I also remember something about not lying to me unless you want to stand out of the class. You not attending class is your problem, but do not lie to me again. If you do, I will know"

And true to his word, he spots every lie a student makes

"I read that extract yesterday professor"

"Sure you did"

"I left my assignment at home"

"Is that the new code for 'i didn't do it'?"

"I don't know what happened to the chocolate on your desk professor, really!"

"And I'm the tallest man on earth"

Anyway they realise that he cares less about incomplete assignments and missed classes than he does about being lied to so they stop (it's not like they could get away with it anyway)

He constantly calls them idiots and says he hates them but contradicts himself by doing something caring

It's one of his students birthday, and he lets her choose the case they will be working on, and distributes cupcakes for the whole class

Students are shocked that he remembers her birthday (does he EVER forget ANYTHING!?!?), and that he did something about it

"That was very sweet professor, I didn't know you cared"

"I don't, you're all idiots and I hate all of you"

They just smile knowingly. Andrew is annoyed. He throws peices of chalk at their heads

Andrew bringing cupcakes for each students birthday becomes sort of a tradition

Sir gets sick, so he and Neil have to take him to the vet in the morning before school

Then they're running late, and don't have time to go home and then to their job. Neil can't take Sir to practice so Andrew agrees to take him instead

He's sitting on his desk correcting papers and Sir curling and purring around his feet when his students walk in. As they filter in the cat is rubbing her head against Andrew, jumping on the desk, walking on his papers, jumping down to his lap and walking in circles before curling up there and closing her eyes

His students are surprised by the gentleness and patience with which he handles his cat.

"Professor is that your cat"

"No". He's rubbing her head now and they see through him, they know it's his cat

"What's its name?"

"..." *sighs* " Sir Fat Cat McCatterson"

*shocked silence* None of them are able to contain thier smiles. The only reason they haven't burst out laughing is that he's glaring at them

"Professor, did you just say your cat's name is Sir Fat Cat McCatterson?"

He mutters "Not my cat...I call her Sir" They smile. Andrew is annoyed. He throws pieces of chalk at their heads

He lets Sir walk around in the class and cuddle up to his students. He leaves them 15 minutes early, and some of them stay back to play with Sir

They know that despite being bored and grumpy he really cares

One day he enters class, and raises his hand to silence the students, the ring on his left hand clearly visible

Dead silence

"... Professor Minyard, is that a ring on your finger?"

"Really putting those observational skills to work, aren't you"

Another student exclaims "You're MARRIED!?"

"Excellent deduction, I can see you flourishing in a future of crime and justice" his voice is amused, but his face is blank as always

He continues teaching as if nothing happened

(So this is completely self indulgent. This was just an idea I had and I wanted to share it. I hope you enjoyed!)

#aftg #all for the game #andrew minyard #andrew minyard is a teacher #proffesor!andrew #neil is a junkie #nora sakavic #aftg fanfiction #aftg headcanon #aftg au #criminal justice professor au #neil josten #andrew cares

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nathanielwessninski · 6 years

Text

AU!Football (Aareil!Andreil), Part 1.

I feel quite angry because yesterday I spent hours writing pieces of this, so that suddenly the light goes out in my urbanization and EVERYTHING I wrote is erased. fuckin 'shit. Now, again, I come back to this because it really is an idea that has not left me alone all day yesterday (and today). In itself, it is an AU in which instead of the Foxes being an Exy team, they are now Football, except Neil, who will now be a Vixen.

This will be like a light introduction to the characters.

Here the sport of Football is mixed, so the alignment will be the same as in the canon, except that Neil will be a cheerleader and Seth will be alive and occupy his 'position'.

Kevin will continue to be an obsessive sportsman who plays with an injury to his left hand (because of Riko), but will recover. Seth is less asshole here, because I admit that a certain part of me liked the character and I want to give it a try, but it will still have its sassy bitch side (not really homophobic).

(Seth and Allison are not in relationship romantic here, but they are best friends; Renee and Allison are girlfriends).

(The Moriyama here are not any kind of mafia or anything like that, only a high-ranking business family; and Riko is just a jerk. Do not worry).

Allison and Dan are still wild and loyal to theirs, and with Renee shutting the fucking mouths of all those who still think that a girl can not play a contact sport as well as a guy.

Matt and Nicky are smiling and adorable as always, but protective of their family. Andrew is a little less aggressive than usual with the Foxes (God bless you, Betsy Dobson), but an imbecile with sociopathic instincts as always; is a little closer to them and can engage in small conversations when the Foxes aren't being intrusive (Renee helped a lot to get to this type of 'truce'), and on RARE occasions defended the fools when someone tried to pass with them.

Aaron does change here a little more than the others did, it's something more closed than before in terms of his thoughts and feelings, but he considers the Foxes the true family he never had, although it took a lot to reach this understanding (Nicky , Renee and Betsy fought a lot for this); he is among the first to jump to defend them, although he is usually a asshole with them.

Another radical change is found in the fact that Aaron never sent a letter to Andrew, so they never met or knew of each other's existence until a slightly funny situation occurred at the University; It was something like Nicky strongly confusing Andrew with Aaron, which brought many questions that had no answers until they reunited the twins in the same room (along with a broad search in the family registry and a blood test).

Andrew had just transferred to PSU to continue his career in Criminal Justice, due to certain complications (he savagely beat a professor who tried to hurt Bee) at his previous University; To say that he was stupefied by such a finding would be bullshit, he really expected a strange shit like that of his sanguine 'family', not that he cared more, actually. What he was curious about, with a simple transfer of universities, he had just discovered that he had a twin and a cousin.

At first he stayed away from them as much as he could, he did not care a bit, he just focused on his classes and visiting Bee in his new office (she got a new job at PSU as a psychologist for his athletes).

Until she confused Andrew with Aaron when coach Wymack led his team to meet before her and decide what day it was for each of them to have a session with her. From there she advised Andrew a lot about how well it could make him try to know and approach this part of his family that he did not know, and that they seemed to be alone (besides the Foxes).

It was a complicated and lengthy process that Andrew and Aaron could engage in a long conversation, without monosyllables or sharp and sarcastic answers. From there they were able to reconstruct a bit of family history: Tilda gave both twins up for adoption, only to finally repent a bit and take one of them (Aaron) before finalizing the paperwork, Andrew went to the Foster System (and then to Juvie for his problematic attitude) and Aaron stayed to live with an abusive mother for years (not that Andrew was better in the foster homes), until he met Nicky and after his mother died of an overdose (and a strong argument between Nicky and Luther Hemmick in which the minor finally cut off all relationship with them), Nicky took Aaron's custody (with the help of another distant relative who did not agree with the method of raising of the Hemmick).

Andrew suffered physical and psychological abuse in the homes to which he was given, but was only sexually abused once by Drake Spear when he was thirteen, one year after he was adopted by that family; but on that occasion Drake was caught in the act by the very Cass Spear, who called the police directly.

Destroyed for having failed a child as wonderful and amazing as Andrew was, she moved some contacts to move Andrew to an adoption and help institute where a distant friend of Richard Spear, Betsy Dobson, worked as a psychologist. (And after two years of understanding, fighting and love, Andrew let Betsy finally adopt him).

So, now both twins and cousin are in the process of approaching with help from Betsy (poor of her, with Andrew antagonizing everyone, Aaron being scathing and Nicky very gaudy).

A few months later, and all three of them maintaining a more civilized relationship, Andrew was slightly coerced by Bee (again) to join the football team (which was a fucking trick because Betsy knows there are VERY few things that Andrew can deny her).

(At times, Aaron admits to himself that he feels somewhat jealous of Bee's close and loving way of being with Andrew; he would have loved to have someone like her nearby).

Andrew's expressionless face and slightly psychopathic behavior constantly intimidates the Foxes a bit (except Renee and Wymack, and sometimes Allison), but over time they get used to it.

Aaron does not even like football, but he was violently harassed by sportobsession!Kevin Day to be part of the team after having seen him wildly tackling a son of a bitch who tried to touch Neil Josten (And Nicky happily joined the team to not be alone).

Aaron have a thing with Neil Josten, everyone knows it (except Andrew, because he don't know about Josten).

The day that Andrew Minyard met Neil Josten was fucking memorable for Allison: it was on a type of team-building weekend organized by Dan and Wymack, that they somehow managed to reunite everyone including the twins and Seth (Bee and Abby were really happy).

Then as the day progressed and the afternoon fell, they decided to make a movie marathon in Abby's living room, but before they needed to recharge supplies, so Wymack asked Renee and Allison to take care of it; somehow the trip was joined by Andrew and Seth.

They arrived at 7/11 and set out to collect different types of snacks for everyone; then in one of the corridors Allison spotted a very familiar auburn hair, let out a small squeak of joy and ran over there, alerting Andrew and Renee that they thought there was some threat, only to see the blonde hugging wildly to a short guy.

After leaving the mysterious boy and letting him breathe, Seth also approached and released a sassy comment: 'look just who is here, if it is other than a whore vixen smartass'.

Before any Fox could say anything else, the unknown boy (for Andrew and Renee) counterattacked: 'what's up, drug addict? Have not you received your daily dose, that I notice you something cranky?’

Surprisingly, Seth only grined sideways and stretched out a hand to stir the hair of the boy under: 'how did you do in the competition, midget?'

The auburn boy reply to Seth: 'of course we won, Gordon; nobody compares to us, so I hope you Foxes do not leave us in bad during the season'.

In that Allison jumps and assures with conviction: 'clearly this is our season, Josten, we have two new members who are monsters in the field when they want; we will destroy the asshole of Riko'.

Josten only gave a small laugh at that and nodded in support; and that sound really caught Andrew's attention, that he looked up from the candy shelf to finally see the one who seemed to be friends with Gordon and Reynolds, being stunned.

'Shit,' was the first thought that went through Andrew's mind, followed by 'fucking gorgeous' and 'problem': in front of him was a boy a few inches taller than him, with auburn hair and impossibly blue eyes, like celestial ones. Beautiful. His left cheek had a slight pink burn of three circles, barely visible, and on his right he had three fine cuts; However, not a single one of those scars left any kind of beauty, not even remotely. Even though Andrew's face remained expressionless, an intense blush was staying on his cheeks as he detailed the impressive boy in front of him; he never had seen someone so painfully attractive like Josten.

Allison noticed it (Renee too, but she did not anything).

The blonde took the Vixen's forearm and pulled him closer to the group saying: 'Oh, right! You do not know Renee or Minyard, personally; You never could meet to meet my Renee and Minyard arrived when you were in the competition. Babe, Monster, he's Neil Josten, sub-captain of the Vixens.'

Renee introduced herself and greeted him kindly, curious about the times when his girlfriend talked to him about this boy, Andrew only blushed a little more when Neil looked directly at him but swerved off with a cutting: 'Cheerleader, really?'

Before Allison spoke, Neil responded quickly and sharp: 'What, I do not look like that? Then you'll have to excuse me, I forgot to put on my uniform skirt for you.'

The right corner of Andrew's mouth trembled (the closest thing to a smile that Renee had seen in him): 'so sassy, Vixen.'

A grin formed on Neil's lips: 'so, Andrew Minyard, I could say it's a pleasure to finally meet Aaron's twin, I've heard a lot of things from you'.

Andrew like: 'I bet were not good at all'.

Another short laugh came from Neil's lips: 'no, they were not, but they're still interesting'.

A thought was shared among the other three present in the scene, something like 'fucking weird flirting' (being kinder in Renee's head).

Andrew may only want to kick himself when he felt so trapped looking at Neil's fluffy lips.

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jemej3m · 7 years

Text

Professor - pt 3

ehhhh oops?

read on ao3

Neil bit back a smile and tried not to seem like he was running off, but his pulse skipped every second beat, and he hadn’t had this itch to go since he’d been on the run.

But this wasn’t running away.

“Meet y’all back at the hotel?” Maggie murmured, speaking to Neil only. Neil’s head jerked, not really listening to anything except for when his coach would say “You’re free to go.”

And then he did say those words, and Neil was running.

Four months. Four months and twelve days and however many hours and however many minutes and seconds. Neil burst out through the back door, escaping the security that was going to escort them to their transportation, and veered to the left before he could be caught in an onslaught of fans.

It was barely a block away, where Andrew had promised he’d stand. He’d driven all the way from Columbia down to Florida, because it was unbearable. Four months was a long time, for them. Travelling and promoting and sponsorships and award ceremonies that Andrew couldn’t accompany him to, because no one knew and he had a job of his own.

Neil stopped short, out of breath, when he was five feet away.

There was nothing more comforting than seeing Andrew’s eyes soften at the mere sight of him, than watching his arms drop from crossed over his chest, one hand extended. Neil took it, and instantly, there was nothing left he had to keep bottled up.

“Yes.” Andrew said.

Blinding, bruising, intoxicating, yes, yes, yes. Andrew was leaning against the car and Neil was leaning over him, forearms braced against the windows.

It was, in hindsight, reckless and stupid to do this so close to the stadium. Both of them were equally as desperate and depraved of each other, and they should have at least gotten into the car.

Neil supposed they were lucky it was only one person.

“Oops.”

He was taller than both of them by far, lips rolled into his mouth and eyes wide. Sweater, jeans, lace-up leather shoes and a black scarf around his neck contrasting with the Sprinters cap he wore.

He smiled hesitantly, but that didn’t help with the sick feeling in his stomach. “Uh. Long distance must be hard.” So he knew who Andrew was. “I’ll let you two go.”

Andrew was under Neil’s frame one moment and standing in front of the man the next. “Tell anyone about this, snitch, and I won’t hesitate to carve you inside out.” He spun a knife between his fingers.

The man’s eyebrows rose up, but he seemed unfazed by Andrew’s threat. “How’d you know I was a reporter?”

“Notepad and pen in your pocket. Nicely dressed: How many people’s private lives had you sold to dress like that?”

“None.” He smiled. “I have my standards.”

“You must be a shit reporter.”

He gestured to himself. “I have my ways. You can put the knife away, Minyard. This is all off record.”

“Nothing’s off record with you lot.” Neil said, bitter.

“I suppose.” The man tapped two fingers against the bill of his cap. “Which means you owe me.”

Neil’s teeth ground against each other.

“When -- or if -- you two feel like coming out, I can cash it in then.” He pulled out his notepad and pen, scribbling out his name and number. “Have a nice evening.”

Karter Guess.

“Pretentious name for a pretentious asshole.” Andrew muttered, when they slid into the car.

They didn’t want to acknowledge the close call that it’d been. Neil squeezed Andrew’s hand, trying to shove aside the heaviness in his chest.

“He’s genuine, Neil.”

Neil nodded.

Chrissie Lauyier wasn’t a sports reporter, but RUN had seemed to want her, for some strange, unknown reason. Journalism was tough: you took any fucking opportunity that was presented to you.

Six months later, she’d wormed her way out of covering live baseball games and sitting with two other women rate the attractiveness of basketball league players. It’d landed her with Exy: specifically, writing about Exy’s infamous.

She hadn’t known Kevin Day, nor Neil Josten, or Jean Moreau. But it was an incredibly intertwined mess: She’d found herself buying an Allison sports bra, though she went to the gym only once a week. The Exy league stemmed from it’s college league, and those school’s teams had an oddly intense following, of which the media actually covered.

There seemed to also be a lot of confusing and dramatic history for a sport 40 years old.

Andrew Minyard’s name had been deeply buried, in the depths of college Exy stars and statistics a decade old, Californian news articles even older.

By the time the day was through she was sitting at her desk, her head in her hands, having watched and read about his brief career in Exy and his personality as a whole.

There was a knock on her office cubicle’s wall. She grunted and didn’t look up to acknowledge who had arrived.

“Heard you got Minyard.”

She grunted again.

Karter Guess crouched by her desk and glanced at her screen, then up at her. “I got Josten. I’ll help you out.”

She spared him a look.

He grinned. “He owes me a favour.”

“Neil Josten owes you a favour?” Chris echoed. “How did you manage that?”

He cocked his head. “Irrelevant. But he’s the only way you’re going to convince Andrew to give you anything but a scathing look.”

Karter was less the creepy colleage and more the overbearing one who organised the Christmas parties and the outings on Friday evenings. They’d worked together once before and it’d gone well and smooth, but Chris had always preferred working on her own. Karter’d respected that.

It was probably time to get over herself, though, if she wanted to keep her job.

“Fine. Fine. But shove any more Starbucks and Instagram Aesthetics down my throat and I’ll throttle you.”

“You liked it.” He said offhandedly, standing from his crouch. He was really, tall to most people but her, because she was also pretty tall. They were almost the same height when she wore her heeled boots. “I’ll try and contact him this evening, but you need to book us flights to South Carolina Regional.”

“Why?” Chris didn’t exactly have the money for cruising around the country on her own free will.

“We’re paying Dan Wilds a visit: Don’t worry, RUN’s paying. And don’t you know? Palmetto is where Minyard teaches criminology.”

Chris was sitting on the hood of the rental car, because Karter’s an idiot and locked her out of it. It’s a grossly humid spring morning, and that strange second skin she always feels after going on planes is only just starting to peel off. Claustrophobia, probably. Something about fucked up childhoods and trauma. Chris can’t stop itching through her clothes.

She liked the crisp springs of Chicago, dustings of snow that melted as soon as they fell into the puddles. She hated the feeling of suspecting the back of her neck was being burnt, but there wasn’t anywhere she could really take cover nearby. She had no clue where Karter was, or why he was taking a while, and didn’t want to give him her number by texting him (They had ten dollars over it).

Her lack of comfort and boredom almost won out, but a tall (only an inch on her, though) man walking into the narrow path that lead to the Palmetto Exy stadium’s back door, where she assumed the Foxes got in an out. He paused and Chris heard a thump that sounded suspiciously like a fist on a steel door, and he stalked out again.

Chris didn’t have the patience to deal with angry young men, but he bee-lined straight for her.

“Is that why you’re waiting?”

Chris cocked her head. “Not sure. Is what?”

“The door’s passcode’s changed.” He huffed and put his bag and racket down in front of Chris’ rental car, all green eyes and thick muscle wrapping around his limbs. There was a spot of concealer over his cheekbone.

“I’m just chilling here. Can I ask why your tattoo is covered?”

His scathing look transformed into something of mild surprise. “I just came from the airport. Most people don’t recognise me without it.”

“Unless they’re Exy addicts.” Chris’ head fell to the other side: She needed to work out the knots in her muscles, from being hunched over at her computer.

“Or reporters.”

Chris shrugged. “Guilty as charged. But it’s not you I’m interested in. Please, don’t look so surprised.”

“It’s not immodesty.” Kevin Day was a liar. He was as arrogant as a man could be. Which was very. “The lot of you usually are.”

“I don’t give a shit about your whole Raven scenario.”

“Well,” He said. “Makes sense. Not many people care about anything but the ghost over my shoulder.”

Chris felt a little bit bad. “I suppose it’d be the same for me, too. If I was famous.”

“Kevin Day.” He said, suddenly, offering his hand.

Chris took it. “Chris Lauyier. You don’t have to introduce yourself to me: I write feature articles for RUN: I know who you are.”

“Seems like you have a bad impression of me.”

“There’s a difference between real smiles and fake ones.” Chris smiled and pointed to it. “You’re pretty slick.”

Kevin’s smile wasn’t so much of a grin, but a stretch, where his lips thinned and his eyes narrowed a little. “You’re pretty observant.”

“What’re you doing down here? Path down memory lane?”

“Neil and I come back down every-so-often. Well, Neil’s here often enough.” His mouth twisted. “His team’s only the next state over: Spends a lot of time here. Off the record, right?”

“Do you see a pen and paper?”

“Some people have freakishly good memory.”

“Do not fear: I’m not one of them.”

Kevin nodded. “As I was saying -- Neil’s around here often enough, but usually doesn’t stop by Palmetto. We help out Dan.” Kevin arched his eyebrow. “And my father’s down here.”

“That’s nice of you.”

“Had a stroke two years ago. I think he appreciates the company -- and Dan appreciates the spare five minutes we give her.”

“Am I supposed to know who your father is?”

“Wymack?”

Chris shut her eyes. It took her a moment, and she nodded when she opened them.

“Strange that something so big to me, is completely nothing to you.”

“That’s generally how being strangers works.” He sent her a scathing look as she pulled out her phone and dialled the most recent number on her list.

Danielle Wilds picked up on the fourth ring. “Hello. It’s the reporter, isn’t it? Has your partner come back?”

“Not yet, but I’ve got a six-foot-two man with a high sense of self importance and a tendency to overshare with strangers angry about not being able to get through the door.”

Dan laughed. “I like you. Tell him I’ll be down in a minute.”

Kevin’s scowl was perpetually permanent when she hung up. “Rude.”

“They’re switching over security systems, so you can’t get through the door unless someone lets you in from the inside, or if you have the key. Have a nice day.”

“You aren’t coming in?”

“I’m waiting for my partner.” Chris tipped an imaginary hat. “Nice to meet you, Day. I’m new in sports, but expect me to be snooping around.”

“You lot always do.” He sighed, picking up his things. “Goodbye.”

Well, her pessimistic -- or was it sarcastic? -- nature could help but think: There’s the glorious Kevin Day.

Karter returned approximately two minutes after Dan let Kevin through the door with two six-inch subs and two bottles of coke and joined her on the hood of the car.

“Have you been sitting here the entire time?”

“What the fuck were you doing?”

“Getting wifi at a coffee corner, down the road.”

Chris glared. “You could have told me. And given me the keys to the car, so I could at least have a nap.”

“Eat your sandwich.” He was smiling. “You were desperate to pee: I wasn’t going to distract you when I was sure you’d club me over the back of the head.”

Chris ate her sandwich, and kept her strange encounter with Kevin Day to herself.

It was set: Chris had a dinner date with the Andrew Minyard. Apparently a whole foot and an inch shorter than her, and as intimidating as he had been a handful of years ago, swatting exy balls like flies.

Chris would wear her heeled boots.

Karter was going for a more casual approach, meeting Neil Josten for coffee.

Dan Wilds, who also preferred a shortened version of her name like Chris did, was an incredibly pleasant woman, and Chris didn’t spare the word pleasant on just anyone.

“You’re worrying about what to wear.” Karter teased, in their hotel room. He was about to leave for late afternoon coffee, whereas Chris had a few hours left till their booking at an Italian place in Columbia. “This isn’t a date, Chrissie.”

“Enough with the Chrissie.” She snapped. “And I know it’s not a fucking date. Moron. I just -- I’m not sure if he’d appreciate casual or formal more. Don’t laugh, I’m trying to do my job! One wrong move and I’ll fuck this entire thing over, and won’t get a word out of him.”

“If you’re insincere, you won’t get a word out of him.” Karter said. “Don’t go out and buy anything: Don’t be ridiculous. That jumpsuit is fine. And the heeled boots.”

Chris stared. “Are you sure you’re not gay?”

“Are you sure you don’t play softball?” He threw back. “Maybe you should add a vest.”

“Fuck off.”

“And an undercut.”

“Fuck off.”

He walked out grinning.

When she walked in, Andrew was glad he was already sitting. Mostly because she was monstrously tall, though being short meant everyone was monstrously tall, but she was wearing heels on top of being over six-feet.

Excessive.

But Andrew was also glad to be sitting, because she was fifteen minutes late and he hated waiting around for people whilst standing.

He hated waiting in general, but he’d promised Neil to stick it out at least half an hour.

She’d already wasted 15 minutes, so Andrew only had to stare at her until she was too uncomfortable to say anything, eat his meal that he’d already ordered and she would pay for, tell her that Neil and him were married, and then leave.

Neil had already dealt with the other reporter, the one who’d already known about the two of them and had kept it quiet.

He was staring at her, but she was staring back. Level, unafraid, and most certainly not uncomfortable. Sometimes they started like that. Journalists liked to act more important than they were.

Five minutes after not back down, he slid the menu across the table. “Well played.”

“Thanks.” She flicked it open, scanned the menu and flipped it shut again. “Andrew Minyard.”

“Chrissie Lauyier.”

“It’s Chris.”

Andrew nodded. “I’ve already ordered.”

“Good.” She gestured to a waitress and didn’t smile, ordering one of the cheapest dishes and garlic bread for the two of them. Andrew appreciated it, even if he wouldn’t mention it. When the waitress left, she checked a watch on her wrist. “Karter’s already done hassling Neil, and he was oddly tolerant apparently. You just didn’t bother reacting or talking to the press at all, whilst in the spotlight back in the day, whereas Neil openly despises it.”

Andrew stared at her some more: She was fiddling with a thin silver chain around her wrist, flicking back the black hair cut to chin length with a jerk of her head. Fidgeting. “Bore me with more of your small talk.”

“Why does Neil owe a favour to Karter?”

“That’s a question your boy can answer himself, can’t he?”

“He’s refused, as of yet.” She flicked her hair again. The pendant on her necklace made a small tinkling noise as she moved her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. “You can’t tell me?”

Andrew could, but he didn’t want to spoil all the fun. “Why would I want to? Are you going to jump to the chase, or what.”

“I’m meant to get a full page interview from you about your views on Exy. How it worked into your life, why you chose it, how you played and why you continued to. Why you stopped, would you consider it again.” A curl of a single lip. “I’ve been told that exy is your absolute favourite subject.”

“If it was, I’d be teaching it. Speaking of -- is that bracelet from your mother? Which one?”

Chris froze.

Gotcha.

But he hadn’t snatched her for long: She eased up almost instantly. “Birth mother’s. Didn’t think anyone would bother digging down that deep.”

“Criminology professor.” He reminded her. “Did you kill your adoptive mother?”

“They thought I did, didn’t they?” Her knuckles were white. “Just because I haven’t had a nightmare about it for a little while now, doesn’t mean that I did it.”

“You were lucky.”

“To be adopted? I know.”

There was a moment of silence, a quiet understanding. The food arrived, prolonging the silence for a moment more.

“Why are you reporting sports?”

“Therapeutical.” She stabbed her fork into her pasta. “It has -- or so I thought -- nothing that people could connect to me -- or that I could relate to.”

“Welcome to the Foxes.”

And Andrew almost smiled into his food, but god forbid he smiled out here, and god forbid he smiled at anything other than Neil.

They finished in silence. Andrew could write 400 words on Exy, couldn’t he? That was simple enough, even if he loathed it.

He supposed he didn’t truly loathe it. He hated how it was what kept Neil alive, how he was merely a pawn in the Moriyamas’ twisted game. He hated how it had helped, in the end. It had been a stepping stone, a vital one, in meeting the right people, in getting better. Admitting it was proof.

He hated, though he wouldn’t say, and refused to regret -- but he hated how it took Neil away from him. He hated how it separated them.

And if he ever said that, Neil would drop everything for him. It was a mutual understanding: Nothing mattered more than the other.

He supposed that was love. Wouldn’t admit it. Wouldn’t dare.

When he finished, she was only halfway through. He traced the rim of his glass with a finger, and she looked up at him with pasta hanging out of her mouth with one eyebrow raised.

“You wanted to extract my opinion on Exy for your shitty magazine, didn’t you?”

She finished her mouthful, lifted her napkin to wipe her mouth and settled back in her chair, taking her time. “I did. It’s not, however, a shitty magazine. Think of it like the Vogue of the sports world: This is an Exy special.”

“And you wanted my opinion.”

“An abstract opinion.”

“Wymack.” Andrew held up one finger. “Danielle Wilds. Jean Moreau. Jeremy Knox.”

“Already being covered.”

“Then what’s the use for mine?”

“Abstract.” She reminded him. “Shortest goalie in Exy’s short history, and yet didn’t give a shit if strikers made fun of his height, shooting goals straight over your head.”

Andrew looked at her flatly.

“Or couldn’t you reach them?” She didn’t smile: She didn’t look smug. She did seem to be enjoying herself though.

“Do you want to keep your job?” He asked, after a moment of stretched silence.

She sighed. “Sorry. I’ll stop.”

He almost rolled his eyes.

“You’re welcome to call me a giraffe at any time, though.” She leaned over to rummage through her bag.

Andrew did roll his eyes. “I’m not immature.” He paused. “Empire State.”

She pursed her lips. “Funny.”

There was a thin folder slid across the table: She picked her fork up and continued to eat.

He flicked open the folder: It was a basic questionnaire. He looked back up.

“Figured you’d rather not talk so much. Write out your answers to all of those, and it should be enough for me to fill a page.”

“It’s quite a few.”

She gave him a flat look. “You rather I stretch things and fill the page with bullshit?”

Andrew noted the last question: Is there any presence of Exy left in your life now?

He could work with this.

He nodded: “I’ll give it over to you tomorrow.”

“You can email it, here, I should have written it at the bottom --”

He stood up with the folder, finished his glass of water. “You’re paying.”

She watched him go.

Is there any presence of Exy left in your life now?

It’d be hard to avoid, when your husband’s in the professional league. Josten’s team’s jerseys aren’t warm, or comfortable, so I usually wear his old Palmetto State hoodie. Up your standards, Sprinters. Deplorable.

“Oh.”

Karter grinned. Neil Josten had his arms crossed, unimpressed with anything this early in the morning. Andrew -- it felt weird to refer to him as anything but his first name, despite not being on a first name basis -- was watching the tendrils of smoke curl from one end of his cigarette, hanging loosely from between two fingers. Neil glanced at him and saw it’s dying embers, stealing it to take a drag and slotted it neatly back into where it’d been.

Professional athletes shouldn’t be smoking.

“Well, thank you.” Chris decided that was appropriate, but she was internally screaming. This was the biggest -- the biggest -- thing she could imagine, hope and dream for. Not only coming out, but a secure relationship status?

She didn’t stare at the two tiny men, who could probably both snap her in half, who had two cats and a home and probably sat in the quiet together, sharing cigarettes and talking about anything other than Exy. She didn’t stare.

“There’s plenty for me to work with here.” She nodded.

Neil nodded. Andrew’s gaze flitted briefly from the cigarette to Chris, and then to Neil. And then back to the cigarette.

“No problem.” Neil said, voice quiet.

“Tie it off with me, Neil?” Karter offered. Chris wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but they wandered off together.

“I don’t want to deal with them.” Andrew said. Chris glanced at him.

“I’ll keep as much of the press of your back as I can. It should die down eventually.”

“That’s all I ask.” His head tipped to the side. “Will it affect his career?”

“Hasn’t affected his performance, has it?” Chris shrugged. “He’ll probably lose some rednecks, but that’s probably a good thing.”

Andrew said nothing.

“Who proposed? Am I allowed to ask that?”

“No.” He said, coldly. “You are no more than acquaintance.”

“Oh, of course.” Chris promised. “Was it during college?”

He remained an emotionless slate. Chris was good at reading people, but not if there wasn’t anything to read. Not as of yet. Unless he wasn’t joking about the whole acquaintance thing.

“It was. Cute.”

“Don’t.”

She smothered a grin.

“Was he a good father?”

The grin fell. “Way to darken the mood, Minyard.”

“I have no emotions.” He said. “Was he?”

“Not my birth father.” She smiled. “Adoptive, however. Was good to me, even after his wife died. I was all her idea: I thought I’d be cast aside when she was gone, and when all the rush died down. Wasn’t, though. I was lucky.”

Another moment of silence.

“The sexual tension between you and your boytoy is almost intolerable.” He decided. “Act on that.”

She frowned. “He thinks I’m gay. And dating a coworker is never a good idea.”

“Not my problem, Lauyier. Just fix it by the time I see you again.”

“So we’re seeing each other again?”

He glared. “When��s your flight?”

She checked her phone. “10 minutes till check-in. Did you feed the cats breakfast before you left?”

Andrew stalked off. Chris allowed herself to laugh, just a little.

“Where the fuck is Lauyier’s article? The magazine is going to be printed in two days.”

“Tomorrow morning.” Karter said, calmly. He checked his watch: Half an hour till he could clock out, and then he’d asked Chris to give him an hour and a half to get ready, fill up his car with gas and swing by her place.

Dinner down on the Chicago river. It was going to be nice.

Karter had been in denial, and thinking Chris was gay had been a good mechanism. Turns out: He was wrong, and that was currently working in his favour.

“Why is she handing it in so late? In fact -- why is she handing it in with you? What’s so special about the two of you?”

Karter’s supervisor had no right to be snitching about Chris’ due dates, when she wasn’t Chris’ supervisor. Karter looked at her over the rim of his glasses. “That’s for me to know, and you to stop pestering me about.”

“I’ve had it up to here --” She motioned above her head. “With you.”

“Shame you're only the substitute supervisor: you can’t fire me.” Karter turned back around and started popping his fingers.

“I can, and I will.” She snarled, stomping away.

Maybe she didn’t deserve all the shit Karter gave her. Maybe only some of it.

He relaxed in his chair. They’d had a handful of editors look over each of their featuring articles, but it’d remained hush-hush. Karter was both looking forward to when it was released, and what it’d amount to for his career, but also remembered watching Neil and Andrew’s quiet: Their small, impenetrable space. It was about to be blown to pieces on Wednesday, when they would be meeting with Neil and Andrew after his game in New York, to plan the announcement. Wednesday evening they would post a cryptic photo with wedding rings and black-and-white filters, and Thursday RUN would be released.

It would go smoothly. Karter would make sure of it.

Something hit his chair, and he cracked an eye open.

And smiled.

“Hello.”

Chris was scowling, and kicked his chair again. “What should I wear?”

“I don’t know, Chris.”

“Is it a fancy restaurant?”

“Look it up?”

She huffed.

“Wear whatever you want, honey.”

“Call me that, and I’ll castrate you.” She stalked off.

“You’re sounding more and more like Minyard everyday, Lauyier!” Karter yelled after her. “Sounds like you two are getting even more buddy-buddy after every phone call!”

The distant “Fuck off!” made him grin wider.

A voice from the next cubicle over said: “Gross, Guess. She’s like a foot taller than him, and they’re both brick walls. They’re a match made in hell.”

Karter only laughed.

sufficient??? let me know :D

#andrew minyard #neil josten #kevin day #dan wilds #the foxhole court #professor!au #all for the game #andrew makes FRIENDS #and is denial about being in LOVE #will hopefully not take as long on the next part #there were a loooooot of hiccups with this part oops #also: featuring a straight relationship #what?? didnt think id write about that again #oops #jem writes

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