Work Text:
Mini Minyards and their Mother
Nicky: guyyyyyyssss
Nicky: we have a problem
Aaron: What.
Nicky: i was just chillín, yanno, texting Erik when I needed something from the dorm room
Nicky: so i go in and see Neil just laying there
Aaron: Okay.
Nicky: Aaron this is serious!!!
Nicky: he's wrapped up in a depression burrito
Aaron: A depression burrito.
Nicky: yeah, yanno. Bundled up in multiple blankets covering everything but your eyes and nose.
Aaron: i do not have time for this. I have class. Andrew, deal with this.
Seen: everyone
-
"Hey, Neil," Nicky calls out softly while sitting down on the floor near Neil's bed. "How you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"should have guessed you'd say that."
Neil continues to lie there, his gaze slightly unfocused, as Nicky chatters away.
"...... Anyways that's the frog accident of 2004. You are never allowed to use that information to blackmail Aaron okay? He'll know I told you and I promised-"
Nicky's monologue is cut off when the front door bangs open. The next moment the bedroom door bursts open and Andrew is standing in the doorway. He says nothing as he enters, crossing straight across the room to Neil's side. He crouches down to Neil's eyeline and starts to whisper. Nicky can only make out the word "junkie".
Deciding that with Andrew's presence Neil is in capable hands, Nicky leaves the bedroom to wait in the sitting room. He paces for awhile, pottering around the kitchen and sitting room looking for a way to be helpful. Eventually he tires and ends up slumping on the couch watching movies on his laptop.
He's half way through the Notebook when the dorm door bangs open once again. This time Aaron stands in the doorway. School bag slung over one shoulder, massive watermelon supported by the other hand.
Aaron walks calmly into the room and kicks the door closed behind him. He seems to completely ignore Nicky's bewildered expression and continues further into the room, letting his bag slip off his shoulder near the couch.
"Neil?" Aaron questions, finally glancing in Nicky's direction.
"Neil?" Nicky repeats back, not understanding his cousin.
Aaron huffs, hosting the watermelon up into his arms, before clarifying, "Neil, where is he?"
"Umm," Nicky hesitates, unsure whether to answer him.
Nicky might not understand the relationship Aaron and Neil have made in the past years, both in the effort for Andrew, but he is sure Aaron won't be helpful for Neil at the moment.
When Nicky takes too long to answer, Aaron turns a heated glare on him. Nicky sighs but answers him.
"He's in his room."
Aaron nods and takes off in that direction. Nicky jumps from the couch and runs after him, calling warnings not to go in. When Nicky reaches the door to the bedroom he is frozen in place.
There in the room is Andrew curled up behind the mountain that is Neil and Aaron kneeling on the floor in front of Neil, holding the watermelon out to him. Neil's unfocused gaze settle on the offered fruit pulling a small smile to across his lips.
There is shuffling as Neil removes his arms from the mass of blankets to take the watermelon from Aaron's hands. Neil's arms wrap securely around the large fruit, pulling it closer to his body, only to be hidden under the blankets. He curls his body around the watermelon, letting out a quite happy sigh.
It's only when Neil seems settled that Nicky's brain seems to catch up with what he has witnessed.
"What the fuck Aaron?" Nicky loudly whispers, turning to look at the man.
Aaron, now sitting on the floor, looks up questioningly at Nicky.
"What?"
"Don't fucking "What?" me," Nicky demands, stepping further into the room, "What's with the watermelon?"
"Neil loves watermelon," Aaron states, clearly confused why he needs to explain.
With that Aaron pulls himself from the floor. He leaves the room, brushing past Nicky and giving Andrew an acknowledging nod before leaving.
The silence stretches after Aaron's exit. Nickys eyes flick from Andrew to Neil a good few times before he speaks up.
"You understand whatever the fuck just happened between them two?"
"No," Andrew replies, lying back down beside Neil again.
Nicky takes this as his cue to leave, and does so closing the door behind him.