I don't think things through (I never get time)

It’s started as a game. Simple, innocent. Childs play, even— in the most literal way if he were to think of it. It was just a. Game. A drinking game. He should’ve accounted for how drunk and how— let’s say— personal the Foxes get, even when sober. He should’ve known a simple drinking game wouldn’t ever be simple with this group of people.

They’d won their game that night. An away game, after winning the championships the year before the school had decided that anything four hours away warranted a hotel over night. Which is how they ended up celebrating their win of the night in a hotel in the middle of butt fuck Georgia. Which is how they ended up all conjoined at the hips in the girls hotel room— barring the freshman because, inexplicably, no one likes them— playing a drinking game.

God, Aaron wishes he’d just locked himself in the room he’d been sharing with Matt and Nicky. Anything would be better than this.

It started tame, like anything with the Foxes, because they liked to keep up the illusion of normalcy. Even amongst themselves. Even when everyone knew it was a load of shit

“Never have I ever,” Allison drawls. She swings her solo cup around a bit and grins at the group. “Kissed someone in this room.”

Which Aaron had found ridiculous seeing as her and Renee had kissed on the bus on the way to the hotel. Of course, Allison is not enough of a liar to skip on taking a sip.

Predictably the answer is not news to anyone. Matt and Dan, from where they’re sharing a corner of the bed, cheers and take a sip. Andrew and Neil are leaning against the couch, where Nicky, Aaron and Kevin have folded themselves up, but they obviously drink. Of course there’s Allison and Renee, Allison is draped across Renee’s shoulder on their bed, who drink easily.

“We’re starting tame?” Matt asks with a laugh.

“Oh, you know,” Allison jeers. “Wanted to get an update on some of the current pots.”

“As if this ridiculous game would win you any money,” Aaron said irritably. He adjusted loudly on the couch, Andrew elbows him in the ankle for it but he doesn’t mind.

“Sure it will,” Allison says happily. She straightens up a bit from around Renee and grins like a shark. “Did you forget how we play, Aaron? I figured after last time you wouldn’t. It was that one question about—“

“Alright,” Aaron cuts in irritably. He glares at Allison hoping she’ll be set on fire and is only mildly disappointed when it doesn’t work that way. “I get it. Fucks sake. Who’s next?”

“I’ll go,” Matt offers.

Aaron leans back in the couch, ignored how Neil leans down to crush Aaron’s shoulder with his elbow. Fucking asswipe. So considerate of everyone’s boundaries except for Aaron’s. Who’s surprised?

Either way, Aaron says nothing about it because he knows it wouldn’t matter anyway. Neil fucking Josten does what he wants, he’s got the team wrapped around his finger so tightly. If Aaron said a word they’d all tear him to shreds.

He’s speaking from experience. It happens way too often, seriously. Every time Aaron gets annoyed, no matter how fucking valid his ire is, the team always sides with Neil. They act like he’s a traumatized little fawn that needs to be protected.

Never mind that Aaron is pretty sure Neil had someone fucking murdered from the Ravens. Other than Riko, because Aaron doesn’t even need to speculate for that one. The dude has no where near as big an arsenal on himself as Andrew but Neil fucking Josten is never defenseless. Not if he can open his mouth.

“Never have I ever,” Matt says slowly. He glances around the room with an eye too keen for anyone’s good. Matt is like a sleeper agent when it comes to these games, it’s disconcerting. “Had a fantasy about someone on the team. Like a wet dream or something.”

“Seriously?” Dan asks with an unimpressed look. She huffs and knocks their shoulders together as she takes a large sip. “You were complaining about tame.”

“I panicked,” Matt yelps. He downs a large sip as well and grins at his girlfriend. “You’ll just have to do better than me.”

“Don’t I always?” Dan drawls.

Allison giggles a little as she takes a sip of her drink. She winks at Renee then slides her gaze over to Kevin. Which is—

Okay. Whatever.

So Allison has fantasized about Kevin. Who gives a flying fuck? Aaron is near positive that Nicky’s enthusiasm on his drink is because of Kevin too and he’s—

Anyway!

“These are too easy,” Nicky complains loudly. Of course he does. He frowns and languidly leans back beside Kevin, because that’s just how Nicky is. “Stop being so boring, guys. Come on. Alcohol poisoning is only fun if we get dirt on each other. Well— Kevin probably doesn’t agree but he’s in the minority people!”

“Hey, Nicky,” Neil calls out. He leans across Aaron’s back, Aaron allows it because he saw that vicious look on Neil’s face and he knows where this is going. “How about you drink a few more times. We all know how creative your imagination is.”

Nicky squeaks in response, he does take another drink though, because Neil is definitely right.

Behind him, Aaron hears his twin scoff lightly. He throws a short glance over his shoulder and watches Andrew take a quick sip of his drink.

Aaron grimaces to himself but manages to discretely take a sip. Or, maybe not so discreetly. Leaving glances down at him slightly and Aaron just shrugs. Frowns a little and tries to seem like he’d just taken a sip out of habit.

It blows over well enough. Kevin turns his sharp gaze back to the group, he’s the only one who’s noticed Aaron’s sip. He’s also the least likely to say anything about it, thankfully, because Aaron would rather jump off a tall fucking building than explain the wet dreams he’s been having.

Fuck. He’s so fucked, isn’t he?

“Alright, alright,” Dan calls. She claps her hands together and straightens up with a predatory look. That spells trouble. “Never have I ever faked an orgasm.”

“Way to go Matt,” Allison calls with a loud laugh. She takes a sip of her drink and grins sharply.

Dan huffs, rather unamused as she proceeds to not drink and prove Allison’s point. To her credit, Matt doesn’t take a drink either.

Of course those two don’t.

Around their circle a few more people drink. Renee takes a sip which is unsurprising to basically everyone. Renee would take pity on some poor fool and fake it. Kevin takes a drink and Nicky spends a moment boasting about Erik— as he so often does.

Aaron glares at the lip of his cup for a long few seconds before taking a sip of his drink. He takes maybe too long a drink but he needs that bitter taste on his tongue as he thinks of it.

What an embarrassing story, honestly. It had been at the end of his relationship with Katelyn a few months back. For some reason he just couldn’t finish with her, which was cause for concern.

After eating her out, Katelyn had asked if he needed any help. Aaron, completely soft in his pants, had lied and said he’d gotten off on giving her head. He has no idea why Katelyn believed that, it was obvious he hadn’t. Maybe she’d been too out of it to notice, or maybe she’d been relieved over not having to suck him off. Either way, Aaron easily got away without her touching him.

He’d been a little too relieved.

“The great Aaron Minyrad has to fake it with his perfect little cheerleader?” Neil mocks him. He chuckles to himself and glances over at Andrew.

“Wait? What?” Nicky exclaims. He twists around Kevin— who is uninterested and apparently also taking a sip, Aaron raises a brow but Kevin shrugs— to look at Aaron. “You did not! Oh, my God! Aaron! What the hell? How would you even fake that? Like if your balls deep in some—“

“Maybe phrase it differently,” Renee suggests lightly. For someone who proclaims neutrality she sure is stirring the pot at the moment.

“Why would you even fake it with her? Is she that bad? You’re, like, in love! Practically married couple status,” Nicky continues, thankfully he takes Renee’s critic. Aaron blanched a bit. “You’re, like, the second most stable. After our fearless leader, obviously, but no one tops that anyway.”

“Who said it was the cheerleader?” Andrew calls out blandly.

Aaron throws a startled glance back at his twin. Andrew is watching on with a bored glare, he’s not really playing along like always. He’s got his arms crossed and he sips idly at his drink for the most part.

Everyone stares at Andrew, he’s slightly raises a brow in challenge. To be fair, if he’s saying there could’ve been another girl— then why would anyone argue? Andrew knows all about who Aaron would’ve slept with, they all know that.

It seems to nullify them, strangely enough. Just from Andrew steering them in another direction.

Aaron is so relieved he doesn’t even bother to be annoyed that Andrew was defending him. He’ll be annoyed about it later, he’ll be mad at Andrew for spilling about his personal life later.

For now, Aaron leans forward on his knees and lets his cup hang between them. His eyes dance over to Kevin as Allison regales them with her story of faking it with an old fling called Vanessa.

Kevin is watching him almost too closely, but Aaron is fine with that. It’s not often that Kevin really looks at anyone other than Neil or Andrew. Aaron will revel in the attention of those bright green eyes while he has the chance.

He will also pointedly ignore the implication behind him enjoying Kevin watching him. Fuck off, Aaron doesn’t want to think of that part.

“And she was just, like, jabbing me!” Allison whines. She kisses Renee on the neck and grins over at Dan. “Poor girl had no clue what she was doing. I give pity points, though.”

“Out of ten? That sounds like a three,” Dan says with a laugh.

Allison shrugs for a second, goes thoughtful for a moment. She hums and smiles beatifically to Dan. “I’m giving it a two.”

That has Dan bursting out a laugh. She shakes her head and leans back into Matt’s shoulder, looking up at him with a fond smile.

Aaron hates couples. They’re the worst.

At least when he was dating Katelyn they didn’t flaunt it like this. (He is not spitefully jealous, let Aaron fucking live for five minutes without acknowledging that sort of thing. Jesus fuck.)

“Can I go?” Nicky asks. He bounces in his seat a little before throwing a leg over the side and leaning back into Kevin, who in turn leans into Aaron.

Aaron stiffens only a little bit but no one mentions it. Though he’s sure both Neil and Andrew have noticed it, they must have deemed it not a problem.

But it is.

Aaron is having a problem.

He’d like Kevin and all of his corded muscle to not be pressed tightly against him, if that’s an option. He’ll choose that one, holy fuck. Stop thinking about his muscles, Aaron screams to himself.

“Everyone prepare yourselves,” Matt teases lightly.

“I resent that,” Nicky complains. He grins happily and sits back up normally. Kevin doesn’t move away from Aaron. “Never have I ever….had a crush on someone who has a partner.”

“And this is where we start cleaning up some of the pots,” Allison announced with a laugh. She took a sip easily enough and no one commented or cared, it was like Allison had lived every life— they expected her to be the most plastered.

Dan and Matt didn’t drink, but shocker. Aaron wasn’t surprised when Nicky did drink, he may love his cousin but even Aaron knew that Nicky could be a fucking slut.

He doesn’t look but Aaron is near positive that Neil and Andrew don’t drink. Neil because apparently he’s never been attracted to anyone but Andrew, and Andrew because he doesn’t do something frivolous as crushes.

Seriously. He actually fucking said that to Aaron once when they were teens. Andrew genuinely used the word frivolous in casual conversation when they were sixteen. If that’s didn’t explain his twin Aaron didn’t know what would.

Surprising, to everyone, is when both Aaron and Kevin take drinks. Kevin has yet to drink in their game and this is his first, hopefully that puts him in the hot seat and not Aaron.

“What do we have here?” Nicky says excitedly. He looks far too pleased with him.

Allison is also entirely too invested. She leans forward and looks at them like they’re animals she’s planning to kill— and Aaron’s not sure she isn’t about to fucking end his life. That’s her power or something.

“How scandalous of you two,” Allison drawls. She glances between the boys, neither of them are really reacting. “Does that clear any of our bets?”

“No, it doesn’t,” Renee answers easily. She twists free of Allison’s grip and grabs her phone from the ground.

Presumably to double check.

“No matter,” Allison waves off. She grins even sharper. “The resident straight boys both crushing on taken girls?”

“Wait,” Matt says, his eyes widen slowly as he looks at Kevin and Aaron. “Aren’t you both dating people?”

“The question doesn’t ask if it’s current,” Kevin says curtly. “Just if it’s ever happened.”

“Boring,” Nicky groans loudly.

“You’re boring,” Aaron snaps back lamely. He takes another drink just to swallow down the nervous lump in his throat.

“Whatever,” Allison says easily. Too easily, Aaron is suddenly worried. “The rest of you are going to be boring with your turns. New game, anyone?”

“I’m not playing more of these,” Neil says. He takes a drink of his soda.

Allison glares over at him. She shares a look with Dan and Matt before becoming very obviously smug. “But, Neil. You’ve never played Truth or Dare before, right? You’ve got to experience it. Everyone does it.”

Ah, yes.

That angle.

Always appealing to the need for normalcy. It’s a smart ploy, Aaron mournfully admits. Even if he doesn’t give a fuck, and Aaron suspects that Kevin doesn’t either, about whether or not Neil has a life as a normal boy— the rest of the team damn well does.

“Fine,” Neil relents, knowing as well as anyone that he has no choice. “Go a few turns so I can figure it out.”

“Fair enough,” Dan agrees. “No one call on Neil for four rounds, that’s more than enough to figure it out.”

“No one call on Andrew,” Renee adds. She looks straight past Aaron to his twin and nods to herself. “He’s not playing.”

“Figured,” Allison says with a shrug.

Matt downs his cup and reaches over the bed to pour a new one. He glances around the room for a moment. “Take a drink every time you do truth. No chickening out of the dares unless it’s, you know, bullshit. Everyone’s got their boundaries. Any other rules?”

“Truths have to be posed as a question,” Dan adds with a shrug. “Everyone good?”

The group murmurs their agreements. Aaron is really fucking reluctantly agreeing. He hates truth or dare, it’s always more trouble than it’s worth.

The Foxes nearly never play it. Sure, Aaron knows sometimes at after parties it gets brought up but usually it involves the cheerleaders.

Having just the Foxes? This is sure to be a god damn disaster. They all know each other too well to do anything that’ll be out of line necessarily but it’ll still be a shit show.

“I’ll go first,” Allison offers. “Nicky.”

“Dare,” Nicky says without hesitation.

“I dare you to tell a secret about someone in the room but not whose secret it is,” Allison states.

So, they’re not even easing into it tonight. They’re going for the throat, fucking vicious. That’s great, Aaron muses.

What a wonderful dare to start with. For Nicky of all people. Everyone knows that Nicky isn’t the person to keep secrets, he’s only got them on Andrew and Aaron from when he was their guardian.

It’ll just be a game of guessing which twin he’s talking about.

Nicky hums, he tilts his head back and forth thinking before smiling. “One time this person forgot to lock the door. I got full view of them with someone between their legs. They never knew anyone saw.”

Oh.

Great.

So fucking great.

Nicky’s telling a secret about Aaron!

Aaron loves playing this game and he loves his cousin!

“Oh shit,” Matt says with a laugh. He knocks shoulders with Dan. “Apparently everyone on our team is shit at locking doors.”

“That’s not an achievement or a consolation,” Dan snipes playfully.

It’s no secret that Matt and Dan forget to lock the door. Nicky and Aaron have both walked in on them before. Too many times. Way too many fucking times.

Obviously Nicky wouldn’t have used that as the secret, practically everyone has walked in on those two. However, Aaron will remain calm because the secret could be assumed to be about Kevin just as easily.

“We need more givers on this team,” Allison says sadly. She shakes her head like this is the highest of tragedies.

“Oh, we have plenty,” Nicky says with a wink. Allison laughs, so does Renee. Nicky looks around the circle and grins. “Kevin?”

Kevin glares for a long second before taking a shot and waving his hand. “Ask your question then.”

Allison boos him, Renee smacks her in the arm to get her to quiet down. It barely works, of course.

“How many people have you kissed?” Nicky asks, raised brows.

For a long few moments, Kevin continues to glare. Like he’s trying to set Nicky on fire and just waiting to succeed, as if Kevin would succeed at that— because he succeeds at everything.

Then he huffs. Kevin leans back in his seat, shoulders squared. His thigh jostles and hits Aaron’s. “Five.”

“Five!” Nicky shouts. “That’s it?”

“Do you need to hear it in german? Fünf,” Kevin snaps at him. He glares at a point on the wall before turning his attention to Renee. “Truth or dare.”

“Truth,” Renee answers easily. She takes a short sip of her drink and smiles kindly at Kevin.

“If the zombie apocalypse was real,” Kevin begins. Allison groans loudly but Renee’s smile grows larger. “Who in this room would you take as your survival partner?”

“Neil,” Renee says easily enough. Andrew huffs in mild agreement with the choice. “He’s very fast and resourceful.”

“Nice way of saying he’s a cockroach,” Aaron mutters with a scowl.

The upperclassmen throw a scathing glare Aaron’s ways, of course they do. They always fall back into hating him the second he makes a petty comment against Neil Fucking Josten.

Loyalty holds no bounds, apparently. Aaron doesn’t want to keep fucking dealing with this double standard. But who gives a shit what Aaron wants? Not a single person in this room, anyway.

“Truth or dare, Allison?” Renee asks, kind enough to divert attention but still giving Aaron a look.

“Dare,” Allison says instantly. She squares her shoulders and faces Renee head on.

Her girlfriend smiles sweetly and nods, Renee thinks for a few moments. “I dare you to finish your drink in one sip.”

Allison scoffs and downs her drink without hesitation. She lets out a breath and shakes her head. “Too easy, babe.”

“Someone give her a refill,” Nicky says lazily.

Matt dutifully grabs a bottle of tequila from the floor and passes it over to Allison to refill her drink. Like a well oiled machine.

Sometimes Aaron hates to watch them interact. The upperclassmen have this sort of system that they all run on, weaving in and around each other with little to no difficulty. All existing separately but completely together at some intrinsic level. It’s almost like a symbiotic relationship.

Except for the fact that Aaron knows that Kevin, Andrew and Neil are the true symbiotic relationship of the Foxes. As loathe as he is to admit it, and Aaron fucking hates to think of it. The three of them help each other out, give and take, with a professional level of care. Without even fucking noticing it.

Being on the outside of that fucking sucks like nothing else. Nicky is too, if Aaron’s honest, but he blends into either group with ease and has Erik when he doesn’t want to. Maybe last year Aaron had Katelyn, and he didn’t care to be understood by any Fox in any way.

Now he hates them differently from before and Aaron hates more that it’s his own fucking fault.

“Aaron,” Allison calls loftily. He turns his attention to her with a blank expression, Aaron holds it steady as she grins devilishly. “Truth or dare?”

Now. Aaron knows that having Allison of all people ask him is probably a death sentence either way. He weighs the pros and cons of the situation and finds that, honestly? He’s so fucked no matter what.

Aaron groans slightly and rolls his eyes. “Dare.”

“Uh oh,” Nicky laughs.

Allison’s expression sharpens to a dangerous degree. He glances between Aaron and where Kevin’s shoulder is just behind his back.

“I dare you—“

Aaron sees the moment the idea sprouts in her brain.

No way. No fucking way is Aaron doing that. He scowls fiercely and stands up. Aaron forcefully pushes his cup in Neil’s direction, doesn’t really wait for the douche to grasp it before he’s storming out of the room.

No.

Aaron will not be played like that. Not by fucking Allison. She doesn’t get to do that, she doesn’t get to out him based on a hunch. She has no right to even try it.

—

None of it is mentioned. Nothing that happened that night is brought up on the plane ride home. It’s not mentioned at the first practice back on Sunday, or in their dorm or at practice Monday.

Aaron thinks he’s gotten away with it. He’s so sure he has that he’s almost grateful. If there’s one thing about Aaron, he doesn’t like to talk about it. Talking is just not Aaron’s forte at all and he’s fine to keep it that way, it doesn’t need to change.

Of course he should’ve known he wouldn’t be so lucky. When has Aaron ever been lucky about anything?

Maybe he should be surprised or glad that Andrew cared enough to bring it up at the session with Dobson on the Wednesday after that horrid game night. Somewhere in the back of Aaron’s mind he knows it means Andrew cared, in some way, about whatever had upset him. Cared enough to ask, to ask with Dobson around to mediate.

But right now Aaron is just angry. He’s scared, really, but being angry is easier than being scared. He’ll put up a fight just to not have to talk about this.

“You ran away,” Andrew points out, his eyes are sharp. It’s not abnormal to see Andrew fully aware of a situation but he doesn’t usually have that sort of awareness for Aaron. “Why?”

“Ran away when?” Dobson asks with a frown.

“After the game,” Andrew says.

Dobson nods slowly like that’s enough of an answer. For her it probably is, she’s good at taking what she can get from Andrew. Better than Aaron is anyway.

He doesn’t want to talk about this. He doesn’t want to think about this. Think about what Allison saw going on between him and Ke—

“Nothing happened,” Aaron says blandly. He leans back on the couch and stares Andrew down with a bored look. “I just didn’t want to play anymore. That game is stupid.”

“You were upset,” Andrew counters. Every time they talk it’s like a fight, Andrew strikes and Aaron pivots only to be met with a counter attack. Offense and defense. “What did she do to upset you.”

That’s more like him, demanding things. Andrew pretends to be a stoic wall but when he feels control slip he gets as angry as Aaron does.

“Who do you think upset Aaron?” Dobson asks politely.

Andrew turns to her slightly and gives a huff that almost seems unimpressed. “Reynolds. She was going to dare him to do something but Aaron ran away.”

“I didn’t run away,” Aaron snaps. He clenches his hands into fists, ready to block whatever blow is coming at him. “I was sick of that lame fucking game. That’s it. I wasn’t upset, stop pretending to care.”

“She was looking at you like she’d won a prize,” Andrew says, instead of dropping it like he’s asked. “What does she know?”

“Allison Reynolds doesn’t know fuck all about me,” Aaron says with a scoff. He leans back and forcibly relaxes his fists. “None of you do. She’s just better at acting like she does. Ignore it.”

“No,” Andrew says. He squints slightly at Aaron and hums. “She figured something out that you didn’t want her to.”

“The fuck are you going on about now?” Aaron groans.

“Aaron,” Dobson chastises. She frowns at him and glances at Andrew. “What do you think she figured out, Andrew?”

“Something Aaron hasn’t yet,” he says slowly.

Aaron groans loudly and shoves up from the couch. He glares at his twin and points forcibly at him. “Stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you.”

“If that’s what you want,” Andrew says after a moment.

“What I—“ Aaron barks out a laugh and tears at his hair. “Since when has that mattered to you? Take and take and take. Oh, what you want, Aaron. Fuck you and fuck that.”

“Your crisis is not amusing.”

“I’m not having a fucking crisis,” Aaron snaps desperately.

Except.

Isn’t he?

Isn’t that exactly what’s happening?

That’s why he likes when Kevin looks at him and why he enjoys how bright his eyes get on the court. That’s why he throws himself into plays just to see Kevin relaxes into the motions of the game.

Fuck.

Fucking shit.

Aaron opens his mouth and closes it a few times before turning and leaving Dobsons office. He’s not doing this in front of fucking Andrew of all people.

—

Aaron is leaning against the wall of the Tower and watching as the last cars come rolling in for the night. This is about time when his twin will leave for those night practices with Kevin and fucking Neil. It’s funny to think they go as soon as everyone else is in, Aaron is sure they do that with a level of unplanned nonchalance that is unparalleled.

His eyes narrow at Matt pulling in with his extremely loud truck. He’s a few spots down from where Aaron is lurking so he won’t see. Not that the upperclassmen ever see Aaron when he lurks like this. No one does, which is maybe the best and worst part of his day.

This is how he takes his study break. Aaron goes outside in his thickest sweatshirt— but not a jacket, because Aaron doesn’t wear those regardless of the fact his body doesn’t regulate temperature— and kicks his brown converse against the grass. Some days he’ll nick a cigarette from Andrew’s pack and smoke it.

Aaron knows that Andrew knows. He’d never miss the fact that an extra cigarette is gone on occasion. Still, it’s been going on since around end of fall semester last year and Andrew hasn’t said a word about it. Which is just a show of how Aaron never gets a thought in edgewise.

Oh, well, beggars and choosers or something a rather.

So Aaron has a cigarette out tonight, is what he’s getting at. He’s taking slow drags to make it last because Aaron would need three or four to calm himself if he were being honest. There’s this project Aaron has been powering through and he nearly finished his lab, two questions left on that, but he’s going through a bit of a crisis.

And, no, Aaron is not enjoying that Andrew’s wording choice was perfect. He does not enjoying admitting that to himself or out loud but Aaron finds focusing on that to be much easier than thinking about the focus of his crisis.

There’s door to the Tower opens and closes, signaling Matt and whichever of the girls is with him. Aaron’s money would be on just Dan— that the two of them are going to capitalize on Renee and Allison being at the library together tonight. At least it’s kindly not Aaron’s room when they know he’s there, because occasionally they do that.

The grass is drying out because they’re approaching October. Halloween won’t be fun this year, not that it was last year or literally ever, but Aaron is getting ahead of his disappointment this time. Before he and Katelyn called it a quits two months back— her internship and his training schedule was too much to manage and they had to admit they’d been growing apart— they had planned a couples costume that he’ll have to scrape.

Maybe ghost face? Not bad, easy to hide. Probably not his best choice. Aaron will find something he’s sure. Skeleton? No that’s lame.

If he and Aaron would better twins he’d be able to find a better costume for them both to do but alas.

Aaron will probably end up going the easy route and being a devil or a cowboy.

The door to the Tower opens again, Aaron doesn’t look over because he knows exactly who it’ll be. He takes a longer drag of the his pilfered cigarette and breathes in.

A set of footsteps breezes past. Aaron lets out the remaining smoke and grimaces. He holds up the cigarette and crosses his arm over his chest, almost gone. He’ll have to head in soon and finish off his lab.

What joy.

“Aaron.”

He turned his head slowly, putting the cigarette to his lips as he does so. Aaron raised a brow at his twin. Andrew is watching him, hands curled around his keys and cigarettes pack. “Yes, Andrew?”

“Another?”

Aaron blinks for a few moments, letting the cigarette leave his lips and he openly frowns. Andrew scoffs and holds up his pack, shaking it in the space between them. Really? Andrew offering him a second cigarette feels stranger than it should.

Once again, Aaron just blinks at his twin for a moment. Then he steps through the space between them and nods. Andrew hums and taps a cigarette out into Aaron’s palm.

“Thanks,” Aaron mutters. He grabs the unlit one and puts it behind his ear, a flash of one of his piercings draws Andrew’s attention. “I’ll stop nicking them if it bothers you.”

“Do what you want,” Andrew says blandly. He shoves his cigarettes in his pocket and waves a dismissive hand. His eyes stare at the two hops on Aaron’s ear. “Gages are cooler.”

“They’d fit you better than me,” Aaron’s acknowledges with a huff. He turns away and takes the last drag of his cigarette, Andrew plucks it from his fingers when he’s down and grounds it out with his thick soled boots. “You could do a conch well enough, never take it out. Hide it from officials.”

“Maybe,” Andrew says after a moment. He looks down across the parking lot and scoffs with a scowl. For a moment he glances at Aaron before he starts walking away towards the car.

Aaron shrugs, take it or leave it. He’ll do a bit of both. Having Andrew acknowledge him is good enough most days and he’s gotten a second cigarette out of it.

Maybe Aaron should count his wins. This one feels like a huge one.

He digs his lighter out of his jeans pocket and flicks it open it once or twice. Aaron grabs the cigarette from behind his ear and lits up again.

Cigarettes are a far cry from the weed he used to get in high school after getting clean. Then Andrew had found out about it and cut him off, very strictly as well. Aaron knows he can just go back to the weed now that the deal is over but finding a hook up is a slippery slope and Aaron doesn’t want it that badly. The occasional stolen cigarette will do him well enough.

“Do all of you insist on slowly killing yourself?”

Aaron chuckles lightly and looks over at Kevin— Kevin in a fitted blue shirt, arms crossed over his chest with a petulant little school that’s far too endearing— and grins sharply. “Some of us are killing ourselves quickly. Way I see it, I’ll still outlive you all.”

“Superiority has always been strange coming from you.” Kevin’s shoes scrape against the pavement as he watches Aaron, brow raised and eyes alight. “Is it a twin thing? That sense of always having an answer to matter how snarky.”

“Do you not enjoy my attitude?” Aaron drawls. He turns to face Kevin more fully and holds in a sound at that dark look in Kevin’s eyes. Not the time, Aaron. “And here I thought you loved our sparring matches.”

Slowly Kevin uncurls his arms. He rocks on his feet for a moment. Kevin looks away and chuckles a little bit, shaking his head. “I enjoy your attitude more than Neil’s anyway.”

“That sounds like a consolation prize,” Aaron says with a grin.

He puts the cigarette to his lips, still grinning around it, and keeps eyes with Kevin. Aaron feels the way Kevin continues looking at the cigarette with disdain, absolutely annoyed at Aaron.

At least he’s paying attention.

If smoking cigarettes is a way to get Kevin’s attention, sign him up. He’ll smoke a pack a day if it keeps that dark look in Kevin’s pretty eyes directed at him. Aaron loves the feeling of Kevin watching him.

Kevin glares, lets out a low sound before turning on his heel and practically stomps his way over to the car. Andrew honks his horn loudly and Kevin shouts at him to shut up and wait.

A chuckle slips out of Aaron’s lips, his eyes track Kevin as he walks out. Broad shoulders straining against the top, slim and muscular incomparably.

—

The difference between the twins was all in the way they held themselves. It would look so similar to the unobservant or those unwilling to actually distinguish between the two. Sure, mostly they held themselves in a way that was mirror image, but Aaron knew that if it was looked at with a perspective they were nothing alike.

Andrew held himself like a flimsy trigger, anger on the precipice on tipping over at any ill placed word or moved to fast hand. Andrew held himself tense, ready to strike as quick as a snake would, he made himself purposefully look like he was on the offensive because Andrew could never allow someone the advantage of him being on the defensive.

Aaron— he curled in himself when he was angry, people only felt one emotion at a time and usually when he was scared he was angry. Aaron spent a lot of time scared. Aaron was as tense as he was uninviting, unforgiving words on his tongue but never the violent backlash expected of a Minyard. He curled in on himself, tried to be small and braced for any impact, constantly Aaron was on the defensive.

Very few people noticed this distinction between the twins. Nicky— of course— had learned after his stint as their guardian that they were different in this way but still hasn’t really grasped the concept. Coach, obviously this is his way of telling them apart, probably sees this as mostly applicable to how they look on a court as he doesn’t really need to know anything further. Neil— because he sucks— figured out Andrew so well that he doesn’t need to know Aaron to be able to see the difference.

Katelyn had known the difference.

Someone new got added to the list. Kevin. Somehow, somewhere, some way, at some point. Kevin also picked up on the difference between the tension of the twins, and he slowly was figuring out what it meant.

Aaron supposes if anyone can understand waiting for a back hand at all times of the day, it’s Kevin. Though he probably waits for a literal knife in the back while Aaron waits for shards of glass in his hands— the point still stands, Aaron supposes.

He’s not exactly sure when Kevin picked up the difference between them but Aaron is sure he knows why. Kevin spends enough time with Andrew, more than basically anyone has managed on the team. If Kevin hadn’t managed to learn Andrew that well yet, then Aaron would be disappointed. So, Aaron means, Kevin knows the difference between them because of how well he knows Andrew. Not something Aaron can fault him for.

It is, however, something that can annoy Aaron so thoroughly that he slams the door shut as he’s leaving his room. Kevin is walking down the hallway with Andrew so they can all head to practice. Neither of them seem to notice, mostly just ignoring, that Aaron is following after them haphazardly. Kevin is too busy talking Andrew’s ear off, complaining from the sounds of it, while Andrew fiddles with a lighter and feigns not listening.

The three of them get in the elevator together and finally, finally, Kevin throws a glance Aaron’s way. Aaron must be looking rough today because Kevin frowns. “Don’t act like a mess today.”

“I’m always a mess,” Aaron counters in a bland tone. Neutrality over his supposed uselessness on the court annoys Kevin like nothing short of Nicky, and it maybe keeps his attention on Aaron.

“You are not, and you know it,” Kevin snaps. He leans around Andrew and pokes a finger between Aaron’s eyes. “You are perfectly capable of being our best defender, you had better act like it.”

“High praise,” Aaron drawls. He looks Kevin up and down, trying to go for nonchalant but he is definitely too chalant. “Too bad I don’t give a fuck what you think of me.”

Kevin scoffs and leans back. He crosses his arms over his chest and raises his brow in a haughty gesture. “Lie to yourself all you like but show up on my court.”

The door opens before Aaron can think of some denial. Instead, he is suddenly extremely aware of his twin stood beside him. Andrew is drawn into a tense line, looking less human and more like he’s prepared to cut someone.

Aaron glances away and walks out of the elevator. He’s running away with his shoulders curled in on himself, showing his back as a shield from whatever mess he’s leaving behind himself.

—

Kevin slams the door of Aaron’s locker and Aaron just stares at the closed door for a moment. He’s just stood back up to grab something out of it when that large left hand had gotten in his way.

Fun!

Slowly, Aaron turns his attention over to Kevin. Hopefully he looks either apathetic or annoyed, and not the helplessly confused he actually feels. Aaron raises a brow at Kevin when he notices the smug smile on the son of a bitch’s face.

“Can I help you, Kevin?” Aaron drawls.

“I told you,” Kevin says. His hand finally drops back down and he takes a step towards Aaron, the smug satisfaction drips down his shoulders like honey. “When you actually show up on the court you are our best defender. Maybe you should listen to me more often.”

“You read my file, yes? I have trouble with authority figures,” Aaron says, sounding rather bored.

He turns away from Kevin and opens his locker again. Ignores the huff of amusement that flows out of Kevin’s lips.

In the other end of the locker room the shower cuts off. Andrew is leaning against the wall of the doorway watching. Neil is the one in the shower, he’s gotten used to occasionally just changing in the stall instead of always waiting for everyone to be gone. Still he only does that much if it’s the other people in their group left in the locker room.

Aaron should focus on whatever that means but he can’t.

He can’t because Kevin takes another step closer as Aaron is grabbing his shirt from his locker. Suddenly he’s very aware of his lacking clothes, very aware of how Kevin leans down to speak directly to him, very aware of Kevin’s breath ghosting over his skin.

“I think,” Kevin says slowly. All hot breath and too close to Aaron’s bare skin. “You enjoy it, but that’s fine. Keep pretending you don’t.”

Aaron takes a deep breath and clenches his fists around the shirt in his hands, he says nothing as he waits for Kevin to back away.

Clearly Kevin can see how he’s affected because the smug bastard chuckles to himself before turning away. Kevin grabs his bag from the ground and slings it over his shoulder as he makes his way to the door.

Both Andrew and Neil come back to the row of lockers now and find Aaron just stood there staring like an idiot.

(God, he’s such an idiot, isn’t he? Everyone knows, don’t they? Now they’re going to fuck with him. Allison managed to figure him out and probably blabbed to everyone else. She’ll never shut her mouth.)

He’s never going to hear the end of this. When everyone decides the making him way for the other shoe to drop has gone on long enough they’re going to tear him apart. The vicious pack animals that the Foxes are, Aaron will never survive this. He won’t survive, not this time.

Not this time.

“Do you just spend all of your time standing around like an idiot?” Neil calls out. When Aaron looks over Neil has a sly smirk on his lips, hands on his hips. “And they told me you’re the smart one. Pre-med doesn’t make a person any less stupid apparently.”

What the absolute fuck kind of insult is that? Neil is usually such a creative person when mocking someone but that was just—

Tame.

Maybe? Aaron doesn’t know if he’d really call Neil telling him he’s an idiot of which proportions a tame insult, but compared to what he’s said about other’s? Compared to what Aaron is sure he’s practicing to say when they all decide to tear into him?

Yeah. That was sort of tame. Since when is Neil Fucking Josten nice enough to Aaron Minyard to be tame in his insults?

Did he die and go to Hell?

“Hurry up,” Andrew says, because apparently Aaron has spent near a minute not moving or saying anything.

Neil scoffs and grabs his bag to slide out of the locker room. He throws Aaron one last smirk before the door clambers shut behind him. An air of finality in that door closing.

Hurriedly, Aaron looks down at his hands and pulls his shirt back on. His skin feels clammy, not from sweat because he showered, so the shirt sticks to him a little. God, Aaron is such a mess.

“God,” Aaron mutters to himself. He grabs his jersey and tosses it at the wall where the rest are piled in a bin, Aaron grabs his duffle and turns to leave only to find Andrew watching him. “You wanted to leave. Let’s fucking leave.”

Andrew scoffs, that watching look falls off his face and he turns away to the door, waving a hand for Aaron to follow. “Can’t believe I waited for you.”

“Next time just fucking leave me behind then,” Aaron snaps quietly.

Not said loud enough for Andrew to fully hear because Aaron knows his twin. Andrew would genuinely leave him the next time just to prove a point.

Spiteful asshole.

—

Betsy Dobson is not Aaron’s least favorite person in the world but every Wednesday she fights the battle for second place. She’s usually very good at it, as well, and today is no different.

Aaron shows up to these damned session and tells himself there’s a reason to be here when he knows—

Look, alright, Aaron is a liar, yeah? Everyone knows that. Everyone says it. One of the first things Andrew ever said to him was that he could tell Aaron was lying. He’d have thought by now he’d gotten better at lying— at least to himself, but honestly? Aaron is just a really shitty liar.

These sessions mean something, he knows that no matter how much he is loathe to admit it. Coming here means something to Aaron and Andrew lets him do it must mean something to him. Even if it’s an annoyance, Andrew is letting him. Aaron knows that Andrew doesn’t do things he doesn’t want to do.

It matters and he can’t pretend it doesn’t.

But Betsy Dobson? Of all people?

“So, last week you two had a bit of a disagreement,” Dobson begins. She scoots forward in her chair and Aaron tilts his head back to glare at the ceiling. “Should we start with that or just pretend it didn’t happen?”

“Pretend it didn’t happen,” Aaron votes.

Except Aaron knows this isn’t a democracy and he has no vote. What Andrew says is what’s goes. So Aaron knows he won’t be getting away with it, he’s not surprised when Andrew—

“What did she figure out?”

— asks a question? That can’t be right. For once he isn’t just demanding the information. He’s genuinely asking for it.

Aaron drops his chin to his chest and stares at his twin blankly for a few moments. Well, if Andrew actually had the decency to ask then Aaron supposes he has the decency to answer.

“If we’re not pretending it didn’t happen then you can stop pretending you don’t know,” Aaron says easily. He’s on edge, curling in on himself as he says it.

“If I knew I wouldn’t be asking,” Andrew says pointedly. He sits up straighter, ready to strike back.

Aaron scoffs and lulls his head to the side in an act of faux boredom. He really does not want to talk about this, especially not with Andrew of all people. Maybe he could talk to Nicky? That would be better. Even better than doing it around—

“How about,” Dobson cuts in with a soft tone. Both twins throw her an annoyed look that she ignores with practiced ease. “You both be more specific.”

Andrew curls his lips slightly, that’s how Aaron knows he is uncomfortable with this. Still, it’s a compromise. Even Andrew isn’t always unreasonable, if Dobson gives him the idea anyway.

“I don’t know what Reynolds did,” Andrew states plainly. “I am asking you what she did to upset you.”

“Why?” Aaron counters.

“Do you think she’d tell me—“

“No,” Aaron says. He sits up fully and looks at Andrew, not flinching— neither of them flinch from that probing stare they share and throw at each other. “Why do you want to know? We don’t have a deal. You have no reason to protect me from whatever slight you think has happened. I’m not the red head, you don’t need to be a rabid protector anymore.”

Andrew stares at him. Mouth shut firmly, and Aaron knows that means he won’t be getting answer. Maybe a response but it won’t be answer to his questions.

That’s something Andrew tends to do, the whole not answering thing. He hates to answer a question as much as he hates to not be answered.

Hypocrisy, Aaron knows, is a natural human phenomenon. It’s one of the few ways he knows Andrew is human. Sometimes he does forget, what with Andrew managing to be a meat shield for the yakuza by choice and the inhuman things he does on the court. (Those are two drastically different things, Aaron is amused to realize.)

“I don’t want to know,” Andrew says tersely.

“Now, Andrew—“

“No,” Andrew snaps at Dobson, which surprises Aaron. He looks at his twin and watches Andrew huff a breath. “Can we talk alone.”

“Real mature.” Aaron stands up from his seat on the couch and starts digging his phone out of his back pocket as he leaves, trying to figure out who the hell he can call. “And my crime, they ask. Well it was simply asking a question and not always giving the answers. Wrongful imprisonment, they cry—“

He cuts himself off with the slam of the office door. Aaron barrels down the hallway and straight out of Reddin Medical Center. He hates this place with a passion.

Until that messy little red headed fucking insanity chaos. That psycho. That genuine sociopathic prick is the reason Aaron is here every week. He comes for Andrew, of course he does, Aaron will always trail along when Andrew says to, but Andrew only said to because he wants— inexplicably— that fucking blue eyed monkey fuck.

And what about Aaron? Huh? What about him? No one stop to consider that as much as he hates the deal he likes that he has his twin some way. Somehow. What about how Aaron might’ve just wanted to change the deal instead of completely calling it off? Being brothers was something that Aaron wanted but Andrew didn’t want things so of course he didn’t want—

Oh, but he wants things. Doesn’t he? He wants that fast mouthed mother fucker. The reason they all got torn to shreds last year, with Drake and the trial and fucking the Moriyama’s— okay, fine, sure, Kevin would’ve brought Riko but Neil Josten brought the main branch of the family. How fucked up is it that Andrew wants him? Of all people?

God, what Aaron wouldn’t have given to be wanted by his twin. In any way he could be, desperately. All the ways he tried to be worth something when Aaron has always known he’s worth very little, and that’s brainless pit of nothing gets everything Aaron ever wanted.

He hates him. Aaron hates Neil Josten with every inch of his being. The man who put his twin in front of Drake, in Easthaven. It’s Neil Fucking Jostens fault, but no one else can see that, can they? Aaron knows the truth, that the ways Andrew was hurt in the past could’ve stayed dead if it weren’t for Neil Josten dangling his superiority in front of Riko Moriyama. The two sociopaths, really. They put Andrew at risk, they put everyone at risk. They put Kevin at—

“Aaron? Aaron, what the hell?”

He snaps out of his anger and feels all the fight drain from his body at the sound of Kevin’s voice. Urgent and getting louder, he’s still talking in Aaron’s ear.

Kevin sounds worried.

For Aaron?

Can Kevin be worried for Aaron?

It seems ineffable. For Kevin, great, amazing Queen like Kevin. Green eyes, deep and passionate stares. Focused completely on one thing. Frown turning on pink full lips. Dusty pink cheeks from exertion. Always overly attentive to the things he likes and cares about.

Worried for Aaron. Maybe he’d started annoyed, Aaron had barely heard him speaking at first. Maybe he’d got concerned for Aaron, worried he’d be dead in a ditch and would somehow cost them the season. Even if they have plenty of players, he’d still ruin it, right? Because Kevin says that Aaron is their best defender.

“Aaron, come on,” Kevin says again. He’s moving, there’s rustling and what sounds like cleats against hard floor— Kevin should have taken the off or he’ll ruin the spikes and whine about it. “Just say something, alright? Tell me you’re fine. Yell at me at least. I—“

“Kevin?”

“Aaron,” he breathes out quickly. He sucks in a breath, Aaron can hear him doin it and it makes him shiver. “Alright, alright. Tell me where you are.”

“What?”

“I’m coming to get you,” Kevin says. He sets the phone on speaker for a few seconds. “It’s Wednesday. You’re near Reddin? Where’s Andrew?”

“Not here,” Aaron says, he sounds too relieved probably.

“God, okay. Wymack! Keys? Yes, I know, alright—“ The speaker turns off and Kevin fits the phone against his face again by the sounds of the ruffling. “Just go to the parking lot and stay there. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“It’s a twenty minute—“

“I’ll be there in fifteen.”

Kevin hangs up. Aaron stares at the ground and sits on the ground by the curb.

—

When Kevin pulls into the parking lot of Reddin, nearly ten minutes later instead of fifteen, Aaron stands up and waits. Kevin pulls the car to a stop right in front of him and Aaron silently gets in. He pulls the door closed and buckles the seat robotically.

Maybe Aaron shouldn’t have called Kevin. Of course he didn’t even realize that’s what he was doing but Aaron really wishes that his fucked up head hasn’t thought of Kevin first. But of course it did.

“What happened?” Kevin asks calmly.

Aaron doesn’t want to talk about that so he doesn’t say anything. He stares out the window and drops his head against the cool glass.

He doesn’t want to talk about whatever just happened in there. Aaron doesn’t even really know what happened. One minute he was upset that Andrew was demanding things of him, feeling like there was no end in sight for his demands— that Andrew was just taking from him and giving him nothing back. Then Andrew was snapping. Aaron wasn’t sure Andrew still could snap but he did, and he kicked him out.

But what happened? Aaron has no clue what made Andrew snap.

Does he want to know, probably not. Aaron Minyard likes to not think of things, he likes to stick things away in a box and ignore them. It’s easier. It’s safer. Thinking of what happened with Andrew means thinking of what won’t ever happen with Kevin and Aaron can’t do that.

“Still not going to tell me anything?” Kevin mutters. He hits the turn signal and turns them into somewhere that isn’t the Tower or the Foxhole court. “That’s fine. Come on.”

Kevin shoves himself out of the car and Aaron scrambles to follow after him. He almost falls out of the truck as he follows Kevin to the—

Are they at a fucking abandoned park?

Seriously?

Aaron huffs and falls onto the grass across from Kevin. He looks at the space put consciously between them and glares at his black converse, knees drawn to his chest and shoes almost touching Kevin’s purple adidas shoes.

Those shoes are sort of hideous. Aaron won’t tell Kevin that of course, any time the former cult member wears color it makes something warmer in Aaron’s chest. It also makes his head hurt and his gut feel tight but Aaron won’t think of that part. He’s just proud that Kevin can get himself to wear less basic shoes.

“Do you have a lab due tonight,” Kevin asks. He’s watching Aaron as he digs a shallow hole in the dirt with his foot. Aaron looks up and nods slowly. “I heard once that as freshman biology majors had labs nearly every night. Even on weekends.”

“That’s true,” Aaron says slowly. He drops his chin to his knees and huffs a breath. “I took advanced chemistry this semester. Probably a death wish.”

“That’s a requirement to be on this team, though, isn’t it? If you didn’t have one I’d be concerned,” Kevin says. He’s trying to grin at Aaron for some reason.

His eyes are worried. Too worried. Why did he drop everything and show up? Why did he answer Aaron’s call during practice? Why didn’t he hang up and get annoyed? Why did Kevin force them to go back to practice?

“Why are we here?” Aaron murmurs. He watches Kevin for a few long moments as his eyes darken a shade.

“Something happened, and I guess,” Kevin says slowly, like he’s figuring it out for himself. “I figured you didn’t need the Foxes tearing into you right now. Especially Neil. Well, and Nicky’s concern.”

“Right,” Aaron says slowly.

That’s true. He doesn’t need the Foxes messing with him right now. Josten would probably tear into Aaron and provoke him into shouting something he doesn’t mean— something meant to be a defensive barb that gets him off Aaron’s back— and then the rest of the Foxes would join in. He’s probably storm off and hide for the rest of the night.

Like usually. Which— Aaron doesn’t want to do the same thing over and over. He feels like he’s going insane. It’s such a waste of his time to keep doing this. All of this, all of the things that keeps crushing that weight on Aaron’s chest.

He read once about this man. Who got crushed to death. He was an outlier just the way Aaron always feels on his team. Aaron doesn’t fit with the Foxes, he lets them crucify him and lets the public tear him to shreds with the rest of them.

Aaron lets his legs stretch out, the edges of his shoes touch Kevin’s. He mostly avoids the contact so Aaron doesn’t dirty Kevin’s shoes. He pulls at his fingers before adjusting his legs again, tucking on under himself and leaning on his upright knee.

“Do you know anything about the Salem Witch Trials?”

“Well, I prefer ancient European societies,” Kevin says slowly. He leans forward and frowns in confusion. “But I’ve got some knowledge.”

“Ever hear of Giles Cory? Only guy to be accused and killed. They crushed him to death with stone slabs, he kept saying to add more weight apparently.” Aaron frowns a bit to himself and looks up at Kevin. The taller man is just watching, waiting, listening. Actually paying attention to Aaron. “Sometimes I feel like that.”

“Aaron,” Kevin says miserably. He leans further forward and reaches a hand out but stops himself. “You—“

“There was twenty some other women who were accused, and everyone knows about them,” Aaron continues on. “The rest of the Foxes and then me.”

Kevin stares at him with his frown. His eyes are narrowed and Aaron doesn’t know what the means at all. Maybe he’s said too much, Aaron had really realized he was still talking until he stopped. It’s probably a bad thing, he’s even more surprised that Kevin listened to him speak.

Aaron knows Kevin, that he’s a quieter person than everyone seems to realize. He’s so charming, so charismatic, with the media. Kevin Day and Kevin are too very different people. Aaron knows that, it’s something people are quick to learn about Kevin. It’s really the only way to live with him, and Aaron did live with him for two odd years. He knows how quiet Kevin can be.

But for Kevin? Being quiet is never from having nothing to say. Kevin being quiet is when he doesn’t know what to say, doesn’t know how to say it. There’s plenty he could say but he doesn’t know how, there’s so much Kevin wants to say. Aaron has always seen it in the way his brows furrow, Kevin wants to speak but doesn’t know what to say. So he’s quiet.

“Kev—“

So when Kevin has nothing to say, he doesn’t something. He’s not an always moving person the way Neil is, he’s not a never stagnant person the way Nicky is. Kevin is a man of words until he has none, then he’s confidently a man of action.

He leans completely forward, his floating hand grabs Aaron by the front of his shirt and Kevin yanks him in. They’re kissing before Aaron can feel his warm knuckles against his chest. He only feels those pink, plump lips against his.

Aaron’s eyes fall shut slowly and he lets himself have it. He’s wanted this, even though it’s been causing a crisis, Aaron is so bad at lying to himself. Aaron has wanted this, wanted Kevin.

Quickly, because Aaron is a reactionary person, he leans up. Aaron puts a hand on Kevin’s shoulder and curls his fingers in firmly as he presses back into the kiss. He may have nothing to say, no way of confirming verbally for Kevin, but he will give him this.

Aaron tilts his head lightly and deepens the kiss. Kissing Kevin isn’t any different from kissing the girls of his past, it feels a little like kissing Katelyn but only in the way it makes his chest feel like it’s on fire. Aaron has no idea what that means about him but he doesn’t care.

Kissing Kevin is amazing. Kevin tongue presses against Aaron’s bottom lip, Aaron doesn’t gasp or anything like that. He retaliates by biting Kevin’s bottom lip lightly, which makes Kevin gasp. Aaron takes advantage and gives Kevin what he’d been asking for. Their tongues slide across each other.

It feels electric in some ways and soft in others. Aaron gives up on leaning forward and parts from Kevin for a moment. He uncurls his bottom and plops down, thighs spread across Kevin’s propped knees. Aaron sinks down into the small space and leans back in.

His lips don’t go for Kevin’s, Aaron goes for his neck instead. He places warm kisses, open mouth, against Kevin’s neck and gently sucks on a spot right below Kevin’s ear that makes him shudder.

“Aaron,” Kevin moans gently. One hand is wrapped around Aaron’s waist and the other is curled into the ends of Aaron’s hair. “This is— oh— fine, right?”

Aaron hums against Kevin’s pulse point and kicks at his skin gently. Kevin tightens his hand in Aaron’s hair and pulls his head back, which makes Aaron huff and glare. “This is more than fine.”

“Good. Good, that’s good,” Kevin lets out a breath slowly. His hand around Aaron’s waist tightens and his fingers slope forward on Aaron’s waist band but stays a respectable distance. “Not that I don’t want to keep doing this.”

Aaron snickers and leans back in. His lips find Kevin’s pulse point again and he sucks gently for a few moments, relishing in the delicate little breathes he draws from Kevin. He grins and makes his way to Kevin’s ear, bites down. “But you want to talk too, hm?”

“Y-yeah,” Kevin stutters. His hips buck forward as Aaron licks the shell of his ear, Aaron presses back down against Kevin’s crotch. “This is great, really great. Been waiting to do this, but— since when do you— oh, right there— like guys?”

Aaron rolls his hips more firmly and bites down against Kevin’s collar bone that he’d exposed. He looks up at Kevin and shrugs a little self consciously as he sucks a deep bruise where Kevin’s shirt will cover.

Below him, Kevin withers and keeps bucking his hips against Aaron’s ass. He seems impatient. Aaron is a little surprised he’s managed to make Kevin Day wither impatiently.

Kevin’s hand on his waist slips further to Aaron’s stomach, hand slips under his shirt. His thumb stays firmly on the waist band as Kevin’s other fingers rest firmly on Aaron’s stomach. Just a settling weight but it makes heat pool right there in Aaron’s gut.

“Just you,” Aaron says as he pulls away a little bit. He leans into Kevin’s hand and kisses him chastely. Aaron leans his forehead against Kevin’s and listen to the heaving breathes. “Don’t really know how it works but…just you.”

“Sounds like Neil,” Kevin murmurs.

Aaron groans loudly and pulls away. His hands stay on Kevin’s shoulders as he drops his head backwards. Kevin leans up and takes a turn leaving chaste kisses to Aaron’s neck. “Don’t bring him up. That’s such a mood killer.”

“I mean,” Kevin says slowly. He trails the sweet kisses up to Aaron’s lips, they fight for a few seconds before Kevin pulls back with a grin. “Liking people is something you’re very particular about. Not the only thing.”

“Is this your version of sweet talk? Because it’s only sort of working for me,” Aaron says with a smirk. Kevin grins back at him and Aaron leans back against his legs. “And, I don’t know. I thought girls were hot but dating them didn’t appeal to me.”

“Not so different,” Kevin says. He shrugs a bit and pulls his hand from under Aaron’s shirt to reach up and smooth a thumb against his cheek. Entirely too tender.

Aaron tilts his head into the gesture for a few moments before leaning away. Tender isn’t something he handles well, no matter if he yearns for it. Sometimes, though, for someone like Kevin? Aaron can let himself feel it.

For a few moments, anyway.

Kevin’s watching him with a private little look in his eyes. If Aaron is reading it right, that might be fondness of some sort. Kevin looking at Aaron fondly feels strange. Anyone looking at him fondly feels strange.

This, though? Aaron really wants to get used to it. He wants to get used to the feeling of Kevin looking at him fondly, acting like he’s something worth touching so tenderly. Aaron wants to feel that, wants to be able to feel that.

“We can keep doing this,” Aaron says quietly. He looks all over Kevin’s face to see a reaction, the only one he gets is a small pleased smile. Kevin leans in to kiss him again, Aaron laughs and pushes his chest away. “Not right this second. Someone’s getting eager.”

“You taste good,” Kevin murmurs.

Aaron groans a little and drops his head to Kevin’s shoulder. He smiles to himself before looking up with a bit of a scowl. “Let’s go back to the Tower. Nicky and Matt never stick around after practice.”

“Long term,” Kevin says slowly. He leans back and lets Aaron stand up, he receives the hand stretched to pull him up. Aaron is reminded how Kevin towers over him when Kevin reaches down to touch his cheek again. “We’re doing this long term? Not just a string of hookups?”

“Are you asking me for a label?”

“No, you’ll give me one when you’re ready,” Kevin says lightly. He shrugs and pulls away, offers an hand to Aaron and starts dragging him back to the car. “But— long term, yes?”

Aaron turns and looks at Kevin as he reaches the passenger door. Kevin is worrying his hands behind his back, obviously trying not to let Aaron notice it.

With a grin, Aaron strides forward. He grabs Kevin by the collar and drags him down into a searing kiss. When they pull apart, Kevin’s eyes are wide and Aaron is smiling.

“Yes, long term.”

—

Aaron is laying against Kevin— who’s leaning against the wall of Aaron’s bunk— the two of them have Kevin’s laptop out across their legs.

It’s been three days, they have a game tonight against Breckenridge. Kevin wants to watch footage of the team’s last game in the time before they head to the Foxhole for their game. Neither of them have any classes on Friday this semester so they’ve got Aaron’s dorm to himself.

Aaron has a note book on his chest for Kevin to scrawl in whenever he wants to, taking notes on their opponents for the night.

There’s a play on scream for the strikers. Aaron furrows his brow and watches the pass go off the wall. “They’re relying too much on wingspan. That’s a shit passing angle, he’s lucky his arms are long.”

“What—“ Kevin rewinds the play and pays attention further. “Shit. You’re right. That’s good. Yes that tonight.”

“I said it, of course I’m using it,” Aaron agrees with a scoff. He grabs the pen from Kevin and scribbles it down. “If I get under his shoulder when he tries to receive then that wingspan won’t matter.”

“Remember to tell Matt and Jack,” Kevin mutters. His attention is flipping between the screen and where Aaron is writing down his notes, he seems mildly surprised. “This is what I mean, by the way.”

“What?” Aaron hums. He sets the pen down and settles back against Kevin.

“About you being our best backliner,” Kevin mutters, mostly distracted again by the film they’re watching. His hand is cursing with Aaron’s hair as they watch the last few minutes before they need to meet the Foxes at the court. “You see the field better than Matt and have more skill than Nicky.”

The two of them have been fighting for moments together for the last three days. Aaron is a little annoyed by this, a little anxious over how they’ll do this long term. It’s going to be difficult. Aaron knew that when he said yes but, well, it doesn’t mean he likes it.

Okay, sure, Aaron likes being alone with Kevin. He likes having Kevin’s attention on him, divided by other things like exy is fine but there’s no other person but Aaron— he likes that part. Obviously he likes the privacy to make out. Who wouldn’t?

They mostly only hangout when Andrew is in class or off with Neil. Surprisingly that gives them plenty of time. It’s a little more difficult to work around Nicky and Matt, Aaron knows how noisy those too get when he goes somewhere. For now he’d rather not start giving them excuses. That’ll make them catch on quicker. He’d like to delay the inevitable for now.

Part of him wonders how long the two of them can keep this up. How long they can hide this from the entire team. Aaron knows the second Andrew, Neil or Renee sees them too close it’ll be over. They’ll know just for a look. Kevin is bad at hiding how he looks at Aaron, he’s noticed that now.

Aaron looks up at Kevin’s focused face and smiles to himself. He stretches up and kisses Kevin on the check before sliding out of bed and getting his things together to leave for the court.

“Halloween is in a week,” Aaron says, his back turned to Kevin as he grabs his team jacket. “We’re going costume shopping on Sunday when we get back from Columbia.”

“What are you going to be?” Kevin asks, he looks over at Aaron for a few seconds but goes back to his game again.

“Maybe a cowboy? I don’t know.”

“Not bad,” Kevin says. He grabs his pen and writes something before shutting his computer quickly. “I think I’ll be one of those Roman soldiers that are inaccurate.”

“Oh, joy,” Aaron says with a grin. He turns around and looks at Kevin with a raised brow, laugh on his lips. “You’ll complain all night over a costume you choose.”

“And we both know you’ll listen the entire time,” Kevin says with a self assured smirk.

—

After winning the game there was talks of staying for the party with the rest of the Foxes but Andrew goated at Neil when he suggested it and Aaron pointed a thumb and Kevin to show agreement with his pointed whining.

Hanging out with the upperclassman is great and all but Aaron lives with Matt and occasionally he wants to get the fuck away from that. Plus! Aaron has so far been succeeding and completely avoiding Allison Reynolds, he knows it’s because she’s allowing it for now. She’s definitely waiting to strike but Aaron will hide as long as he’s able.

So the five of them pile into the car and drive up to Columbia. They stop at Sweeties on the way and it doesn’t fail to annoy Aaron every time. He knows Andrew does it as some statement, whether it’s some romantic gesture to Neil or a pointed joke at Aaron he’s unsure. Still it annoys him.

Aaron leans back in the booth and crosses his arms over his chest, covering up the dark green turtle neck he’s wearing. He’s glaring directly at Andrew, who is easily ignoring him.

Under the table Aaron feels a shoe poking at his ankle. He doesn’t look away from Andrew but his posture turns a little to face Kevin as the older man slides his foot up the edge of Aaron’s leg.

Slowly he leans back into the booth and sits up normally. Aaron turns his glare down to the menu as he sticks his leg further forward for Kevin to have his fun.

No one notices as Kevin and Aaron don’t spare each other more than a glance all night.

They both end up on the dance floor for a while but Aaron and Kevin stay on opposite sides of Nicky before they spread out further. Aaron lies in wait.

When Neil leaves the booth and heads through the back room to get outside, Aaron perks up and pulls away from the girl he’d been dancing with. He glances at Kevin as he passes him on the dance floor and makes sure Andrew sees him heading for the bathroom.

Aaron knows as soon as Andrew spots where he’s going his twin is going to follow Neil outside for a smoke. He’s got no clue where Nicky is but he waits at the doorway for Kevin to make his way over.

As soon as the other man is in reach, Aaron grabs him by the shirt collar and drags him into the bathroom. They head straight to a stall where Aaron grabs Kevin around the shoulders, slots a leg between Kevin’s and absolutely devors him.

A few minutes later Aaron pulls away. He’s waited until Kevin is rutting against his thigh, hard as a rock through his skinny grey jeans, head thrown back against the stall door and begging Aaron for something. It’s a dangerous position, a lot of power being handed over to Aaron and he feels like he’s going to drown in it. Or get off from it, either sounds nice now.

He taps Kevin on the cheek, pushes his knee up against Kevin’s cock for a bit more friction before pulling away completely. Aaron bullies around him and opens the door to head back out to the dance floor.

Kevin comes back just as Neil and Andrew have come inside. Their smoke break is usually the signal that they’ll be leaving soon. So Aaron’s been cruel to Kevin but the poor fool only has to manage the car ride back and another few minutes until Nicky is passed out.

He’ll be fine.

The two of them get in the back seat together. Aaron has Nicky and Kevin on either side of him. Andrew and Neil are always in the front, taking turns in the passenger or driving.

Leaning back in the seat, Aaron glances over at Kevin. The lights still on as Neil gets in the passenger side so Kevin gets a full look at Aaron’s body, taut line of tight clothing that shows off his muscle definition and the hard on his still sporting.

The light turns off a second later but Aaron gets a glimpse of Kevin’s checks getting more red. Enough that Aaron knows the source but no one else does.

On the drive back Aaron risks it. He knows he’s drunk and that’s why but he’s enjoying it. The secrecy being right in front of everyone and still it’s just him and Kevin.

His hand settles on Kevin’s knee first, he squeezes it in a gesture that might be comforting or calming. Once they’re five minutes out Aaron slides his palm further up Kevin legs, he stutters over the terse response he’d been giving Nicky about something and glances down at Aaron’s completely empty expression.

Aaron glances up at Kevin and slides his hand further up until his fingers are teasing at Kevin’s zipper. They pull onto the street with their house and Nicky is badgering on in slurred words. Kevin lets out a little breath as Aaron moves his hand again.

No one notices.

His hand shifts on last time, Aaron’s palm presses down against Kevin straining budge. Kevin lets out a weak little sound, he tilts his face into his hand where it’s resting against the window and tries to be quiet. Aaron’s smirks to himself and draws on finger slowly up across him as they pull into the driveway.

As soon as they park Aaron pulls his hand away. Andrew shoves himself out of the car and the light turns on to show Kevin looking maybe nauseated while Aaron looks rather in different.

“Hurry up,” Aaron drawls out. He shoves his shoulder against Kevin as the other man fumbles with the door.

Kevin spills out and glares down at Aaron while he slides out of the car. “Jackass.

“Oh! They’re arguing? How lovely. Was it that play on the court where Aaron almost got his head taken off? I’m surprised the argument didn’t happen sooner,” Nicky calls excitedly. He claps his hands as the three of them make it into the house. “How my Kevin impression? It was reckless! Could’ve cost the game! Entirely too dangerous of a play for someone so unskilled! How’d I do?”

“Spot on,” Neil shouts back from the staircases. He’s leaning against the stair entry and looking at the three of them with an amused grin. “Could’ve said it better. Surprised Kevin hasn’t. Have you been distracted, Day?”

“Only by your complete lack of finishing ability in front of the goal tonight,” Kevin snaps. He makes a break for the couch and falls onto. Probably trying to hide himself from how he grabs a pillow.

Cute, Aaron muses, but the only person who’d notice his boner is already gone to his room. Entirely unnecessary but Aaron still finds it endearing.

“Have we forgotten that Kevin couldn’t care less if I’m concussed?” Aaron drawls as he hips checks Nicky into his room. “At least the mess would leave his court.”

“How many times do I have to tell you—“

“You’d be our best backliner,” Aaron starts.

“If you gave a damn,” Neil finishes easily. He chuckles derisively and glances between the two of them with a satisfied smirk. “Yes, we know, Kevin. It’s my favorite argument to listen to because you say everything I could possibly think of.”

“Gee,” Aaron mutters. He walks for the stairs and glares up at Neil before shoving his shoulder and walking up— avoiding the squeaky step. “So glad you can take a back seat on tearing into me for one argument.”

“I know. It’s really nice of me,” Neil says from behind. He follows Aaron up and avoids the squeaky step with ease. “Maybe if Kevin tore into you more I wouldn’t have to.”

“So considerate,” Aaron snaps. He stops at his door and yanks it open, throwing a glare over his shoulder. “Why don’t you fuck off for the night, yeah? People will think you’ve got the wrong twin if you talk to me too much.”

“Nah, they’d never think that,” Neil says with a wave of his hand. He pulls open Andrew’s door and gives Aaron on last disgusted look. “Everyone knows I would never hang around someone who looks like that.”

He slams the door shut.

“We’re fucking identical,” Aaron shouts in return. He hears a bit of a chuckle from down the hall and groans.

Aaron pushes himself into his room and doesn’t close the door, he texts Kevin right away even if they should wait. He leaves the door open for ease of entry.

If Aaron’s going to stupidly have Kevin come in so early then he’s not going to make more noise than strictly needed. He heads for his connected bathroom and changes out of his turtle neck first.

The door to his room closes softly, so quiet that Andrew probably didn’t even hear it. It locks as well. Aaron glances over his shoulder as Kevin appears in his bathroom doorway.

“You’re a fucking tease,” Kevin snaps with a furious scowl.

Aaron laughs quietly and turns around, leaning against his sink in just his black jeans. “Poor thing. Don’t enjoy some edging?”

“I would enjoy it if I could get off,” Kevin says irritably. He scowls at Aaron but seems mostly embarrassed that he’s still worked up. “Can I use your shower?”

“Did you not want me to get you off?” Aaron asks with a raised brow.

Kevin’s eyes snap to him and widen. There it is, Aaron was waiting for that.

He grins to himself and turns back to the sink so he can go through the motions of his evening routine. Aaron doubts Kevin did more than brush his teeth downstairs before getting that text and coming up but that’s fine.

Aaron turns and looks over his shoulder and Kevin and raises a brow. “Go on, get in bed. Get comfortable. Get naked. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Aaron,” Kevin whimpers. His hand grips the doorway tightly and he makes eye contact through the mirror. “Are you sure? I can just shower and—“

He turns around and crosses the two steps between them. Aaron grabs Kevin by the chin, uses his other hand to grab Kevin’s crotch and looks at him with a scowl. “If I didn’t want to I wouldn’t have said it. Now go on if you want to do this. Otherwise you can wait til I’m done and have the shower.”

“Alright, right,” Kevin says calmly, but he’s very obviously trying not to ground himself against Aaron’s hand. “I’ll just go get ready for…bed.”

“Mm,” Aaron hums. He lets go of Kevin and turns away. “You do that.”

He listens to Kevin quickly move away and grabs his tooth brush again. Aaron takes his time brushing his teeth, his background noise is Kevin stripping out of his club clothes rather quickly.

Next he washes his face and takes off the eye liner he’d been wearing for the night. As Aaron is pulling out his earrings he hears Kevin sliding into his bed and adjust the blanks a little.

Aaron grins to him as he puts his earrings in their container. He grabs sweatpants and swaps his jeans for them. As Aaron exits the bathroom he flicks off the light.

Kevin is leaning against his headboard, waiting anxiously with the blankets pooled around his waist. His erection is obvious through the not so thick blankets and Aaron has to refrain from laughing.

Seems as if Kevin’s a bit embarrassed by that so he says nothing as Aaron slides into bed beside him. Aaron places a gently hand on Kevin’s left one and squeezes. “We don’t have to.”

“Shut up,” Kevin snaps. He turns and plants a harsh kiss on Aaron’s lips.

Aaron leans into it and lets Kevin take his time handing over the reigns. Which doesn’t seem right because Aaron’s the new one here, but he’s not going to complain about any of this.

Slowly Aaron leans across Kevin and flicks off the bedside lamp. He pulls away from Kevin as the other man gasps, his free hand slides down Kevin’s chest and goes for his nipples.

To distract him, or maybe overwhelm him, Aaron goes to his neck and bites at those spots that he knows sends Kevin into a withering mess. Aaron twists Kevin’s nipple between his fingers and hums when his partner gasps out.

Aaron pulls away from his neck a little and slides his leg across Kevin’s lap. He kisses Kevin as he moves, plants both hands on each of Kevin’s nipples. He keeps playing with Kevin as he kicks into the other man’s mouth, Kevin bucks his hips wildly against Aaron. It sends a hit thrill straight to his dick but Aaron ignores it, he wants to get Kevin off but he doesn’t care to get himself off.

He slides down Kevin’s body, hands going against Kevin’s sides as Aaron kisses from his bruised neck towards his nipples. Aaron replaces his fingers with his mouth, sucking and biting and pulling until Kevin sinks his hands in Aaron’s hair.

Kevin arches up fiercely as Aaron sucks his left nipple between his teeth. The hands in his hair pull Aaron away, Aaron reached a hand up and covers Kevin’s mouth quickly. He grins. “Quiet down, baby.”

“Aaron,” Kevin whimpers around his hand. He bucks his hips again and Aaron grins.

The hand stays in place as Aaron goes back to Kevin’s nipple. His free hand reaches down slowly, ghosting around where he knows Kevin wants him and digs into the flesh of those muscular thighs. They feel like silky heaven beneath Aaron’s fingers.

He groans against Kevin’s nipple and tightens his hold, enough to leave bruises but probably not break skin. Kevin cries out from behind Aaron’s hand and cants his hips up so quickly he almost dislodges Aaron.

Deciding to show mercy, Aaron pulls off of Kevin’s nipples. He leans up and kisses Kevin sweetly on the lips just once. “You alright?”

“Good, yeah. Good,” Kevin manages to stutter out. He’s heaving and withering— trying to roll his hips for friction but Aaron’s pulled his body away. “So good. You know what would be better? Not getting edge a third time tonight.”

“Be nice,” Aaron mocks. He kisses Kevin once more and grins against his lips, Aaron bites and pulls as he breaks it. “You sure you don’t want me to do it one more time?”

“No. Merde, please no,” Kevin gasps. He groans loudly when Aaron settles his weight right back on Kevin’s cock.

“If you’re so sure,” Aaron says loftily.

He pulls way from Kevin fully and slides down the bed, he pushes the blankets away as he gets between Kevin’s legs. Aaron grabs one of Kevin’s thighs and puts it over his shoulder, the other one he grabs roughly.

“Aaron,” Kevin whines.

“Shh, I’m getting there,” Aaron says softly.

Leaning forward, Aaron lets go of the leg around his shoulder and runs his hand up Kevin’s chest to tweak his nipples again. He keeps going for a few seconds until he knows Kevin’s going to complain again.

That’s when Aaron kicks a long stripe up Kevin’s cock. He swirls his tongue as well as he can on the tip of Kevin, sucks down on it and drinks in a few beads of precum. Kevin mewls as Aaron sucks more of him down.

He comes off, tongue gliding across the tip and then back down. Aaron’s trying to make sure this isn’t painful and it’s a plus that Kevin seems to really enjoy Aaron using his cock as a functional lollipop.

Kevin reached a hand down and pulls at Aaron’s hair, as if his favorite part. Aaron looks up through his lashes and grins at the older man— Kevin’s head is thrown back and his mouth is dropped open in bliss.

Aaron squeezes Kevin’s thigh tighter, getting closer to genuinely breaking skin. It tears a ragged moan out of Kevin, which is interesting. The older man looks down at Aaron with dazed eyes, not really focusing on what’s happening.

His mouth returns to the his task. Kevin chokes when he feels Aaron’s mouth sliding back down his cock. It pulls a long moan out of the older man that Aaron relishes in.

He takes Kevin down until it hits his throat and stays there, relaxing for a few moments. Kevin heaves more breaths, one hand leaves Aaron’s hair and scratches down his shoulder painfully but Aaron lets him do it. He hums around Kevin’s cock.

That draws out a truly wonderful sound, if Kevin hadn’t sounded pornographic before he certainly does now. Aaron pulls back and sucks against the head again before dropping back down as far as he can, Kevin bucks his hips up as Aaron breaks skin on his thigh.

He can feel Kevin digging into his shoulders as well. Aaron swallows around Kevin’s cock a few times and feels Kevin freeze a little. The leg over Aaron’s shoulder squeezes Aaron’s head, the hand on his back pushes down hard.

Aaron pulls off Kevin just a little to give himself space to swallow as Kevin comes down his throat. Little sounds fill the room as Aaron milks Kevin through his orgasm.

Once he’s down, the leg around his back falls lip and Aaron can move his upper body again. He lets go of Kevin’s thigh and comes off his cock, tilting his head against that limp leg with a lazy grin.

“Fuck,” Kevin gasps out. He’s staring up at the ceiling trying to pull himself together slowly. Eventually he drops his leg off Aaron and pulls him up with the tight grip he has on Aaron’s back. “Shit, Aaron.”

“Calm down,” Aaron says with a grin. He pats Kevin’s thigh and leans down to kiss Kevin back to breathlessness. “The whole point was to get you to relax. You’ve been all worked up since the bathroom.”

“Whose fault is that,” Kevin mutters.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t my fault,” Aaron agrees with a smile. He kisses the corner of Kevin’s mouth and shifts to lie next to him instead of on top.

Kevin shifts and turns, he’s still dragging in breaths and looks a little boneless but he’s back to being aware. His hand reaches out and pushes Aaron’s sweat soaked hair off his forehead, the gesture is so soft that Aaron feels he might just implode.

There’s one of those smiles on Kevin’s face, so soft and sweet. So small, so private. Like he’s reserved it for the one person seeing. That person being Aaron feels wrong but he likes it selfishly.

“Give me a minute and I’ll be able to return the favor,” Kevin offers softly.

Aaron hums a little, he leans into the hand the shifts to be resting on his face and shakes his head tiredly. “I’m all good.”

“You sure?” Kevin frowns and looks down Aaron body to spot the obvious erection. Aaron’s leaning into his hand like a cat, tipping to lay on his chest. “I’m not just some pillow princess.”

“I’m sure you’re not,” Aaron says. He yawned into the side of Kevin’s neck and places a soft kiss there. He throws a leg over Kevin’s waist and leans into him. “Just don’t always like someone getting me off. Not feeling the need tonight.”

“Fair enough. You don’t need to but tell me if you ever change your mind,” Levin says softly. He pets the back of Aaron’s head and murmurs into his ear as he says it.

Aaron shivers a little and nods as he sinks tiredly into Kevin. He whines wordlessly when Kevin moves but he doesn’t go far, just pulls on underwear or something before sliding back under Aaron.

Not that Aaron is proud of it, or would ever admit it, but he clings to Kevin like a koala as he sleeps that night. It feels great to have Kevin wrapping an arm around him and gripping onto him like he never wants Aaron to move.

—

What people don’t seem to get about Kevin is he loves. He has a lot more of it than people want to acknowledge. He loves his mother unflinchingly and unfailing even against the test of time. He loves his father even through the pain of consolidating that his coach is his father, that the position of power that’s hurt him so much before is the one his father holds.

He loved Jean and probably still does about as much as anyone can love someone like Jean. That is to say Jean doesn’t want to be loved, he doesn’t let himself be and Kevin tried but there’s only so much to be done. Someday maybe Jean will want to be loved, someday maybe he’ll let Kevin love him. In a way more generic than the gentle touches of the nest.

Abby as well, Kevin loves. In a way that doesn’t feel like cutting off anyone else, it doesn’t feel like forgetting.

All of those can seem shallow and be taken at face value. Anything else, anything that can and Kevin doesn’t know what to do with his love. It manifests in a way he doesn’t understand and no one else does either.

And Aaron thinks that Kevin loves him, that’s how he feels about Aaron, right? He thinks so, he thinks he feels it. The soft touches, so tender and sweet. Lingering glances of their elbows. Longing looks across the room when no one looks. Challenging grins where everyone will misinterpret them. Those private, barely there sweet smiles that make Aaron feel so warm and light.

That’s Kevin loving him, isn’t it? So differently from how he loves his family he’s found here, from how Kevin loves the friendship he has with Andrew and Neil. It’s still love, though, and Aaron is sure of it.

He looks over at Kevin across the table and wonders how long this has been going on for Kevin to so clearly feel that way. Aaron wonders how he’d sent himself into a shame spiral and didn’t notice.

Nicky is at the counter puttering away and making them all bowls of cereal even if they’d only emerged downstairs around two in the afternoon. Well, that’s when Nicky showed his face.

As far as he knows Aaron and Kevin went out for a run this morning and came back in the afternoon because they’d stopped somewhere for smoothies. Never mind the lack of smoothies in hand or how they looked the wrong sort of sweaty. Nicky, for a sex obsessed gossip, is rather obviously, isn’t he?

Kevin kicks Aaron in the ankle and taps at his neck. Aaron frowns and reaches up to touch his own, feels a little sting of pain that’s from Kevin sucking a hickey into his neck to wake him up. Oh well. Aaron removes his hand and grins.

The stairs creak, Andrew is an asshole but he’s a conscious enough person most days to alert them of his coming presence. That’s what comes from a group of messed up twenty somethings.

Aaron leans back in his chair, leaning back on the two legs and throwing his head to the side. He watches as Neil jogs into the kitchen and starts grabbing water. Andrew trails in after and catalogues the room around him.

His eyes freeze on Aaron and harden. Andrew stomps across the room and stops beside Aaron, he kicks the chair so Aaron sits normally. The twins stare at each other until Andrew’s eyes drop to Aaron’s neck.

“Who?”

“None of your business,” Aaron says easily. He can feel Kevin watching them, probably nervous. Aaron wants to make sure he words this right, not imply anything he doesn’t mean. “If I want to tell you about something like this, then you’ll find out when I tell you.”

“No,” Andrew snaps. Nicky stops making noise and the entire room turns to watch as Andrew obviously holds back from punching Aaron in the face. “I asked you who gave you that.”

“And I said I’ll tell you when I want to,” Aaron says firmly. He sits up in his seat and glares at Andrew.

“You keep doing this,” Andrew says lowly.

Aaron frowns, confused. He looks at the bland look on Andrew’s face and ignores it in favor of the tense set to his twins shoulders. Obviously he’s upset and acting aggressively to cover it.

It’s not hard to know that, Aaron does the same thing— they are Minyards after all. He just really doesn’t get why Andrew is so upset about this. Aaron’s never been one to give this sort of thing up easily, it was forcibly ripped from him in the past. Andrew should be used to that by now.

This makes absolutely no sense to Aaron. He glances away to Nicky in hopes that their former guardian might have a clue what’s going on but Nicky is watching with a complete befuddlement.

His next best bet is Neil but Aaron’s never really understood Neil’s reaction. His eyes are narrowed looking between the twins, he catches Aaron’s eyes and shakes his head slowly. Either saying he’s not interrupting or doesn’t get it either.

Both of those answers suck equally so Aaron gives up on that. He refuses to look at Kevin least Andrew see something in the way they look at each other.

His attention shifts back to his twin and Aaron slowly shutters off his face. Aaron doesn’t want to give anything up to Andrew if he doesn’t have to. “I keep avoiding answers? I’ve done that since we were sixteen. You’re upset my behavior isn’t changing.”

“I’m not upset,” Andrew says dismissively. He finally seems to have worked himself up enough to move away from Aaron.

He crosses the kitchen and heads for the freezer to get ice cream out. The room watches him until Andrew turns and exits swiftly to the living room. No one moved until the tv turns on.

Aaron glances down at Kevin to find him picking at the skin of his left hand. He leans forward and kicks Kevin in the ankle as his attention shifts to Nicky and Neil.

The other two men are frowning, sharing a glance. Neil nods to Nicky and swiftly exits the room— presumably to silently sit with Andrew.

Nicky plasters on a smile. “So! Have you two figured out costumes? We’re going to the shop tomorrow. I was thinking I’d go as a slutty police officer.”

Aaron frowns and looks at Kevin, who shares a look before shrugging and reaching behind him to accept a bowl from Nicky.

—

On Wednesday everyone is at practice and Aaron is once again sitting in Betsy Dobsons office with Andrew across from him. He’s a little surprised to be back here this week, it feels like some reality show.

He knows Kevin is at practice with his phone ringer on waiting in case Aaron calls him in a panic again. Which is sweet and so like the Kevin that no one seems to understand.

Aaron has an arm behind his back, scratching nervously at his neck while Dobson goes over to some housekeeping questions with Andrew. He never listens to this part, it’s a complete waste of his time.

That part only ever lasts a few minutes. The Andrew is quiet and they wait to see if Aaron will answer the first question Dobson tries to use again on him, which lasts it’s usual two minutes where he says nothing. Aaron still typically won’t talk directly to Dobson.

Another waste of his time.

Right now being here feels like a waste of his time. As loathe as Aaron is to admit it to himself. He could be on the court with Kevin. Watching his partner destroy their team with an impressive amount of grace. He could be dancing the line of being an outstanding player and being lazy just to get Kevin fired up a bit.

What’s happened in the last week that made Aaron want to fight less for this? Has having Kevin in his life, giving him the attention he’s never had with anyone, really given Aaron a reason?

Andrew’s never payed any attention to Aaron, not last where he is and who he’s with. Sure Andrew has his freaky memory and probably knows things about Aaron because of it, but in the last three months Andrew has been impressively scarce from Aaron’s life.

Maybe he’s just gotten used to the base of their interactions being this room and the one other moment throughout the week. Aaron knows it’s not supposed to be that, he knows he fought to be in this room— for Andrew to have the ability to be in this room. He knows, as established, Aaron’s bad at lying to himself.

Still, he feels less enraptured with the idea of needing to be here now. Aaron thinks it’s because Andrew doesn’t care to have him here. He’s finally caught a clue, Aaron supposed.

“So,” Dobson starts. She smiles kindly at Andrew. “Were you able to do what we discussed last week.”

“No,” Andrew says.

“That’s unfortunate, Andrew. You could try now,” Dobson says. “If you felt like doing so.”

“Does this have anything to do with me or am I interrupting?” Aaron calls out. He’s still looking between them, feeling a little confused now.

Dobson throws her smile over at him but it’s not nearly as sincere as it is when directed at Andrew— of course not. “You’re not interrupting, Aaron. You were invited back.”

“Right, of course,” Aaron mutters. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat and ignores the implications of that.

He can only speak to his brother when invited, Aaron knows.

Never on his terms.

“Anyways,” Dobson says breezy. She turns back to Andrew and the smile softens back out around the edges, Aaron watches it happen in real time. “How were you feeling about trying today, Andrew?”

For a quiet moment Aaron just watches Dobson. He’s got no idea what’s going on, of course not, because Aaron’s always out of the loop with Andrew.

It’s not really bothering him at the moment but Aaron knows this will set him off later on the court. Or maybe tonight while writing an essay for his required communications class. He’ll get over it somehow.

“Fine,” Andrew mutters. It brings Aaron back to reality, he glances over at his twin and frowns deeply when he finds Andrew already watching him. “You’re hiding things and it’s been bothering me.”

“That’s never bothered you before,” Aaron says instantly. He curls into himself some and smooths his face out. “Actually you’ve never not just forced your way into knowing before.”

“You were right. Our deal is finished, it’s not my place to do that anymore,” Andrew says slowly.

That draws Aaron up short. He’s not sure he’s heard that right, Andrew wouldn’t ever say that to him. That’s a lot of words that admit he’s done something wrong.

Andrew would never admit to being in the wrong with Aaron. This is exceedingly strange and Aaron isn’t really sure what to do about this.

His confusion slowly bleeds into his expression as Aaron glances over at Dobson, maybe wanting her to help. Then Aaron remembers she’s got no fondness for the idea of helping him, Andrew is her priority and Aaron is simply here.

“Okay. I was right,” Aaron says slowly. He looks down at his hands and clenches his left fist for a moment. “Not that it makes any sense but, sure. I was right.”

Andrew growls a little, barely perceivably clenched his jaw. “I don’t like not knowing.”

“That doesn’t sound controlling at all,” Aaron mutters to himself.

“Aaron,” Dobson cuts in, once again reminding them all of his position and complete bias. She throws him a look. “You know it’s hard for Andrew to tell you things like this. Antagonizing him will get this nowhere.”

As usual.

Aaron scowls at her and opens his mouth, preparing to snap at her and get angry that she doesn’t seem to care if he doesn’t want to have this conversation. Then Aaron thinks better of it.

What good will it do? Dobson doesn’t care at all what he feels. Aaron, although a member of the Foxes, is not her problem or responsibility. She doesn’t care for him any more than Andrew cares for shrinks. As fair as that is.

“You refused to tell me why Reynolds upset you. I couldn’t figure it out,” Andrew says. Aaron looks back over and tilts his head. “I used to be able to figure it out.”

“We used to live together,” Aaron says with an unbothered shrug. “Lot harder to hide things when your bed is three steps away.”

“Do you think that’s helpful?” Andrew mutters.

“You moved me out, not the other way around,” Aaron reminds his twin with a scowl. He sits up and glares at the table between them. “If you wanted to know you’d stop demanding answers of me and flying off the handle. It’s not my fault I’m uncomfortable telling you things.”

“Now, Aaron,” Dobson cuts in softly. He refrains from getting up and leaving. “It’s not easy to ask questions, just like it’s not easy for you to give answers. Don’t be unfair.”

“Unfair?” Aaron laughs. He looks up and glances between the two of them. He slopes his phone out and texts Kevin— getting a near immediate response. “It’s unfair of me to not want Andrew to know something? Last time he knew something about me he crashed a car and killed the only person I’d had. Last time he knew something he scared off the only friend I’d made outside the Foxes. That’s what happens when I answer his demands. I’m not letting him take this from me too.”

“He’s not trying to take anything—“

“Just stop,” Aaron says easily. He stands up, puts his phone back in his pocket. “Every time I give Andrew an inch he takes a mile and gives me nothing in return. I don’t care if that’s his way of showing he cares, I can’t do it again. And I’m sick of you acting like I’m the problem for that. You’re an extremely bias shrink.”

“I don’t take a mile,” Andrew says firmly. “I don’t take anything from you. Tilda was the one who took from you and I stopped that. Your cheerleader couldn’t handle being with you, that’s not my fault.”

“Whatever, seriously. I’m over the Katelyn thing and I ignore mom easily enough. How about acknowledging that you keep everything secret from me, and that’s fine— really— but you’re a hypocrite about it. I’m not giving up my secret this time just because you ask when we both know I’d never find out a thing about you in return. You take and take and—“

“Aaron that’s enough,” Dobson snaps.

Aaron stops. His shoulders sag and curl inward like a puppet with strings cut. He glares at his hand where his right one was picking at the left one.

In his pocket his phone dings. Aaron shakes his head and glances at Dobson with a glare. He pulls his phone out and turns it off at the confirmation that Kevin’s here.

He turns away from the room without another word.

—

“You’re fighting again,” Nicky says calmly when they walk into the dorm together after practice on Thursday. He slides off his shoes and frowns at Aaron in the kitchen. “You and Andrew.”

“It’s not again,” Aaron mutters. He glances behind him to where Matt is playing Mario on the couch without a care. The cabinet is tall so Aaron has to reach for his sports drink. “We’re continuously fighting.”

“But you two were, like, at an understanding for a while there?” Nicky says slowly. He leans across the kitchen counter and watches Aaron. “This is worse than normal, worse than when I met you guys. I’ve never seen Andrew so angry. I’ve never seen you so shut off.”

It’s not dissimilar from what Kevin had to say about it. He’d seen the blank expression on Aaron’s face, hadn’t said anything until they pulled up to the court and then turned to Aaron and asked.

When he heard the story Kevin had frowned. He’d reached across the console and held Aaron’s hand in his, rubbing his thumb across his knuckles. Kevin had told him this felt different than normal.

He’d expressed to Aaron he didn’t want to be a problem for them, which Aaron explained he wasn’t. The problem wasn’t Kevin but what had come between him and Andrew from it all.

Aaron knew it didn’t matter, maybe right now, that it was Kevin. He knew it would’ve been the same with anyone. Kevin didn’t change how Aaron feels whenever Andrew dismissed and demands of him.

They’d talked it to death for a few minutes before going inside. Kevin had been a little bugged still but acknowledged that Aaron knew the situation better, he’d kissed Aaron softly and told him to do what he needed.

“Did you never notice?” Aaron asks easily enough. The game in the living room paused because Matt is nosy. “Andrew has this habit of trying to get his fingers on every single part of me but refuses to let me within five feet of him. Literally and metaphorically.”

“But that’s how it’s always been. Sure you didn’t like it as kids but you let him do it because that’s your brother,” Nicky sounds empathetic. “You always took whatever you could get with him because you love Andrew.”

“I didn’t take anything, I gave everything and he still can’t love me,” Aaron says quietly. He sets his drink down and leans against the counter. “I love him even though I hate him but Andrew’s never going to feel that way about me. I guess I’ve just accepted it now.”

“Aaron,” Nicky says quietly. Aaron looks up and sees how obviously this is paining his cousin. “I hate to see you fighting.”

“Honestly? I wish we were actually fighting about this,” Aaron says with a shrug. “Then Andrew would actually know I exist and have feelings.”

“Fuck,” Matt says from the couch. He shoves himself up and crosses the room in short strides to grab a bottle from above the fridge, drinks straight from it. “If you two are going to keep going, you’re getting drunk with me.”

“It’s a Thursday,” Aaron says with a raised brow. “We have a game tomorrow and the Halloween party on Saturday.”

“Your point?”

Aaron stated at Matt for a long moment before holding a beckoning hand out.

—

The four of them are laughing loudly as they lean against each other over the counter top. Nicky takes a long sip of the nearly empty bottle and laughs.

“God, that was a good time,” Aaron says. He shoved Matt’s shoulder and the two of them grin. “Sometimes I think you’re the freakishly tall version of me.”

“Hey! Fuck off, you’re the abnormally short version of me,” Matt says with a laugh. “Plus, my dad was at least rich and my mom loved me. Only similarity was the shoving drugs down my throat.”

“I hate you. I hate you both,” Nicky weeps. He leans fully down on the counter and lets go of the bottle for Aaron to claim it. “Somehow getting sent to conversion therapy was easier than listening to you too bonding over being forced feed opioids. Conversion therapy, guys!”

“Can you image if Luther knew about me as a kid?” Aaron says around the lip of the bottle. Matt steals it from me. “Maybe then Andrew would’ve killed him too and half both our problems would be null.”

“You guys think if I asked nicely enough Andrew or Neil would kill someone from my tragic past?” Matt muses.

Nicky tilts his cheek against the counter and looks at him thoughtfully as Aaron throws his body over his cousin. “Neil definitely would. Think he did it for Jean so why not you?”

“Andrew probably too,” Aaron says towards the ceiling. “Only if you made a deal or were actively being retraumatized by that person. But I guess that second one is my specialty so I call dibs in that case.”

“Now I see why the freshman sent us over here.”

All three of the boys snap their hands up and consequently tumble off the counter into a pile on their kitchen floor at the sight of Dan and Kevin watching them. The two look mildly concerned.

There’s no reason to be worried. The three of them are fine. Aaron and Matt were bonding! Nicky was getting to shamelessly drink himself to sleep! What’s wrong with that picture?

The freshman need to bother themselves with actually problems because there’s none here. The three of them are fine!

“Alright, let’s get them to bed,” Kevin says tiredly. He drags a hand over his face.

Matt crawls out of the ole of limbs and sits up to smile at Dan like an oversized puppy. Which makes Nicky laugh so hard he dislodges Aaron.

Aaron sprawls on his back and smiles when Kevin leans down to look at him. “Freakishly tall, angry irish man.”

“How endearing of a title,” Kevin drawls. He bends down and grabs Aaron around the middle to heave him up.

He turns around to face where Dan is hugging Matt so he stands, she’s backing them towards the shared bedroom with practiced ease.

Aaron rubs his hand on Kevin’s chest and turns to smile at his partner. “Don’t frown, baby, I don’t got classes tomorrow anyway!”

Nicky laughs breathlessly from the floor. “Kevin does frown like a grown baby. Good one, Aaron!”

That makes Aaron giggle. Kevin follows Dan into their bed room and drops Aaron down on his bed. Aaron bounces up and laughs again at this. He reaches grabby hands at Kevin and smiles when his partner rubs at his shoulder a few times.

Aaron pouts when Kevin pulls away but smiles at the blanket being wrapped around him. Not as nice as Kevin wrapping around him but still nice enough to send Aaron straight to sleep.

—

Aaron spends the entire Halloween party with Nicky. They don’t go to Columbia, instead they head down to the basement to the party where all the athletes are being assholes.

He’s miserably the entire time. Aaron follows Nicky into the dance floor and they both give up when the toxic football jerks come to dance like they’re actively fucking the girls track team.

The two of them stay on the wall for a long time trading drinks back and forth between just the two of them. Nicky watches the room for Kevin, Neil and Andrew like he always does. Worried mother even when he’s shit faced.

Then Nicky complains about being bored and Aaron shoves him towards the game of Never Have I ever being played between their Foxes, the cheerleaders and the soccer teams.

Nicky tries to drag Aaron along and almost succeeds but he sees both Allison and Kevin in the circle. No fucking way. Aaron yanks himself free of Nicky and tells him absolutely fucking now.

Aaron flees the party.

—

Aaron is leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette he stole on Wednesday night. He didn’t go to the session today, got out of the car with the rest of their group and hitched a ride back with Matt— who was stopping at the grocery store, Aaron need protein bars.

Still, he’s stolen a cigarette from Andrew. Maybe it’s because he’s being petty, or maybe it’s because Aaron is trying to provoke his twin into confronting him.

The Mas rolls into the parking lot and parks. Neil is hopping out instantly and jogging into the building like a man who forgot he has an assignment due tomorrow morning. Sounds exactly like him.

Next comes Kevin, who spots Aaron in his usual spot and smiles eagerly as he approaches him. Aaron lets his cigarette hand dangle to the wall and smiles up at Kevin when he stops.

“Good practice?” Aaron asks.

“Good enough,” Kevin agrees with a shrug. He leans down and quickly pecks Aaron on the lips.

Aaron sighs when he pulls away and smiles softly. He reaches a free hand up and fixes the hood of Kevin’s sweatshirt. “I was thinking.”

“Sounds dangerous.”

“Shut up, baby,” Aaron says fondly. He flinches when the Mas slams shut and pulls away. Kevin’s face shuts down into a scowl watching Aaron take a drag. “You’ve given up on bitching at the others? Now you’re making it my problem.”

“There would be no problem if all of you just gave up those death sticks,” Kevin says lazily.

Andrew scoffs as he charges past them, clearly knowing that Aaron stole the cigarette causing them to argue. He’s probably mentally complaint about the idiots he keeps company with.

“Now, back to what I was thinking,” Aaron says languidly. He looks up at Kevin with lust filled eyes. “Two things, I think you’ll enjoy both of them.”

“Yes?” Kevin says. He steps forward and puts a hand on the wall beside Aaron’s head.

“First, I want you to get me off tonight,” Aaron says with a sharp smile. Kevin takes in a breath and opens his mouth, Aaron reaches up to cover his mouth. “And second, I’m done thinking of you as my partner. You’re my boyfriend.”

Kevin nods eagerly and grabs Aaron around the waste, yanking the smaller man into him and pressing his leg against Aaron’s cock.

Aaron knows it’s going to be a great night.

—

Their next game is another away game and ends with them in a hotel in New York somewhere. Matt and Dan go out to visit his mom but everyone else groups together in Allison and Renee’s room.

There had been a very momentary debate on inviting the three freshman with two of their members gone but that was shut down as soon as it was mentioned.

Now the Foxes are back where this mess started a month ago. Except this time Aaron has been dating the man leaning against the wall next to him for going on three weeks now. So it’s better this time.

“How about we skip past Truth or Dare this time and just stay with Never Have I Ever,” Renee offers gently. She looks down at Aaron with a smile as she says it.

“Truth or Dare is lame,” Neil calls out. He’s leaning on the opposite wall with Andrew, watching Kevin, Nicky and Aaron together like they always do.

Aaron shrugs in easy agreement and passes a cup to Nicky and Kevin on either side of him. He nudges Nicky to move and his cousin easily slides down the wall to give him room, completely used to doing that for the twins.

“Fine,” Allison agrees with a drawn out groan. “But I’m going first.”

“Do your damage early,” Nicky says sagely. He looks up and smiles over and Andrew. “You’re playing, right? You usually do for this one.”

“Sure,” Andrew says blandly. He grabs a cup from the ground in front of him and shows it off as proof.

“Right. I’m starting now,” Allison announces. She adjusts her spot on the bed, lean against the head board with Renee draped across her. “Never Have I Ever kissed someone on the Foxes.”

Aaron glances down at Kevin before nodding. The two of them take drinks as discretely as possible, only succeeding because Nicky is complaining loudly that they’re basically an incest friend group.

“No jokes about incest,” Neil says rather bored. He takes a sip and glances at Allison who shrugs in agreement. “Never Have I Ever used the court for inappropriate reason.”

“Oh, Neil!” Allison shouts. She throws her arms up in victory. No one notices Kevin and Aaron’s sips again in the commotion. “You’re getting better at this. Renee, take a sip, darling.”

“I want to know the story on that one,” Nicky says with a grin.

Aaron huffs loudly. He twists, leaning his back against Kevin’s side and kicking Nicky in the thigh. “Don’t be disgusting. No one needs the details on each other’s sex life.”

“Thank you, Aaron, but it’s alright,” Renee says softly. She smiles over at him and glances at his cup.

Oh. So she knows too.

Probably not good.

Aaron shrugs languidly and keeps leaning against Kevin but draws his leg away from his cousin. He does throw another glare at Nicky, though.

“Never Have I Ever,” Nicky drawls out. “Gotten turned on while on the court!”

Which is probably a shitty question.

“Seriously?” Allison yelps in offense.

Aaron feels Kevin’s arm move as he takes a sip. He’d assumed that before, knowing that he’d had a crush on Jeremy and a fling with Jean. Still, Aaron is going to flatter himself with thinking this is about him.

“I’m literally engaged but you people make me feel so single. Let me live vicariously while we play our game!” Nicky complains.

As discreetly possible, Aaron uses Nicky leaning forward to point at Allison for the moment he takes his sip.

Aaron awkwardly shifts to be leaning forward, he throws a small smile over at Kevin when he notices how pink his boyfriend’s cheeks have gotten. He lifts a brow in question, Kevin has in return.

How, Aaron feels very good about that. His insides feel warm.

“Okay, okay! Fine, Nicky,” Allison says with a loud laugh. “Kevin? Your turn. Go, go, go.”

Kevin hums and tilts his head back against the wall. “Never have I Ever seduced someone on the court.”

“Oh, my, God!” Allison shouts.

She spins around and looks at Neil as he takes a sip, unrepentantly. Aaron gags loudly at that. “Say a word and I’ll tear you apart.”

“That’s so disproportionate,” Aaron snaps at Neil with a scowl. “Do you think I want to—“

“Well I need the details, Neil,” Allison says eagerly, ignoring how this is probably a very uncomfortable situation.

Aaron drops his head against the bed and takes a long sip of his drink. Partly because he’s seduced Kevin on the court plenty— that question was so fucking directed— and partly because he needs this one.

“Allison,” Renee says softly. She rests a hand on Allison’s elbow and smiles sweetly at her girlfriend. “Maybe not in a room half filled with his family?”

“Fine, fine. Whatever,” Allison whines. She leans back away and grins down at Aaron dangerously. “Go on, boring Minyard. Your turn now.”

Aaron scowls up at her. “Never Have I Ever showered with another person.”

A very safe question because he’s not done that outside of the group showers and they all know it wouldn’t count. Which means Aaron won’t be drinking on his own question and no one notices.

“Seriously?” Nicky asks. He turns to Aaron with a confused frown. “I would’ve thought you and Katelyn did.”

“Nope,” Aaron says easily with a shrug.

“Who cares about that irrelevant bitch anyway?” Allison states fiercely. She glares at her cup for a moment before smiling again. “Never have I ever eaten ass.”

“You know I’ve done that!” Nicky screams in anguish.

Aaron takes a sip quickly while everyone is laughing at Nicky and lets out a grimace.

“Never have I ever,” Neil says. He glances at Andrew beside him and then looks back down at the group. “Had phone sex.”

“You guys suck!” Nicky screeches. He’s the only one to drink. “Never have I ever slept with a model. It’s a goal though!”

Aaron thinks it over for a second as everyone’s getting details from Allison about the lady she’d gotten eaten out by a few years back who was on the spread for vogue at some time.

Surely Kevin counts? He’s done plenty of photo shoots, even a few while in swim wear. He glances at his boyfriend who shrugs in thought.

Good enough, Aaron supposes that seems to be agreement. He takes a sip of his drink as Neil gives a horrified laugh to Allison’s story.

“Okay, no more of that,” Nicky says with a laugh. He waves his hands around and grins over to Kevin. “Change the subject, quickly!”

“Never have I ever swallowed—“

“Stop,” Andrew snaps. Everyone turns to face him with confused friends. Aaron tenses when his twin looks at him. “We need to talk. Now.”

“God,” Aaron mutters. He takes a long sip of his drink and glares at his twin as Andrew rounds the room and stares in expectation. “Still so demanding.”

“Aaron,” Nicky murmurs.

Andrew’s jaw tenses and he pulls back his shoulders. Looks between Kevin and Aaron before focusing on his twin again.

Not good. Really not good.

Still, Aaron tries to play it off by leaning against the bed and staring at Andrew with an unamused brow raised.

“Can we talk?” Andrew asks. He shuts his eyes and clenches his hands into fists. “It’s important.”

“Aaron, come on,” Nicky whispers.

Aaron really doesn’t think he wants to have this conversation with his twin. He knows what it’s going to be and Aaron’s not ready for this to happen. He’s not ready for Andrew to destroy this, to hurt him again.

“Maybe you should—“ Kevin starts.

“Do not speak right now,” Andrew says tersely. It makes Kevin flinch, and Aaron knows he’s not getting around this. “Aaron, we need to talk. Now.”

“Fine, fuck, okay,” Aaron says urgently. He hands his cup to Renee as he leverages himself up using the bed. Kevin pulls his legs in for Aaron to step over. “Let’s go. Somewhere private, come on, Andrew.”

Aaron stops in front of Andrew who watches him with a completely shut down face, Aaron can’t get a thing from him and that’s starting to scare Aaron.

Andrew turns on his heel and marches out the room. Aaron follows after him quickly, trying not to trip as his breathing starts to speed up. This is bad.

He knows he’s being lead up the stairs towards a roof access somewhere. Andrew does all his private moments on rooftops. That’s a known fact. Aaron’s still worried it will result in Andrew throwing him off the ledge.

The door bags open behind Andrew and Aaron scrambled to slide through the closing gap. The sound is a lot like the one he heard as a kid when his mom would get back to the house high or drunk.

He needs to not think about that.

The next door is opened much more carefully and Aaron draws in a mangled breath. He follows closely behind Andrew onto the roof, sticks his foot down to keep the door from shutting and pulls a bucket from the side of the door to keep it propped open in case.

Andrew is already on the ledge and Aaron is getting more anxious over this. He slowly approaches and stops a step away. “Andrew?”

“I can’t keep not knowing,” Andrew says. He turns around and faces Aaron with a furrowed brow. “You got upset a month ago, you’ve been strange lately and you kept drinking down there. I can’t keep having no clue what’s going on with you.”

“You’re acting like I did this to punish you,” Aaron says softly. He takes a step back from Andrew and picks at his left hand. “I mean, this is exactly what I feel like with you but I didn’t do this to punish you. It had nothing to do with you.”

“What is going on?” Andrew asks. It sounds almost like he’s pleading.

Aaron looks away to the gravel below there feet and tries to figure out what to tell his twin. It’s clear that Andrew already knows but needs to hear it from Aaron’s mouth.

He doesn’t want to do that. Aaron really doesn’t want to tell Andrew, he doesn’t want to give up this part of him again when it’s just bite him in the ass every other time.

Really, Aaron doesn’t think he can do it. Every time Andrew finds out Aaron is seeing someone, or loving someone, he has to ruin it. He did it all in high school when Aaron was just hooking up with people and he did it with Katelyn. Aaron can’t go through all of that again with Kevin.

“I think you need to hear me say it, but, Andrew,” Aaron says. “I can’t. I can’t confirm this because I know what’ll happens next.”

“What’ll happen next,” Andrew repeats. He steps hastily towards Aaron only for him to flinch back a step. Andrew freezes and stares at him. “I’m not going to do anything. Not to you and not to him.”

“I want to believe that,” Aaron whispers. “I really do, Andrew, but you threatened Katelyn and you choked…I’m sorry. I can’t say it.”

“Just,” Andrew says. He stares at Aaron for longer and lets out a ragged breath. “Neil and I are dating. As much as that word counts, anyway. He— he matters to me.”

“I know that,” Aaron says. He frowns in confusion. “You’d have to be blind not to see that. What does that have to do with this?”

“I didn’t tell you,” Andrew says. “And I never told you but you matter too.”

“Andrew, what—“

“You know I don’t do whatever this is and it’s making me nauseous to even think if, but you matter, Aaron,” Andrew says it like he’s being forced to. Like someone’s taken over and is making him say what he thinks against his will. “I can’t give you more than that and I can’t always admit to that but that doesn’t…it doesn’t make it untrue.”

“I don’t really understand what’s happening right now,” Aaron admits.

“You were right, I don’t tell you things and it makes me a hypocrite,” Andrew continues. “That’s not fair for you but that’s the way it is. I’m not going to change.”

“But I matter so that makes it, what, not as bad?”

“Aaron—“

“Just,” Aaron says quickly. He holds up a hand and tears the free one through his hair. He groans loudly and looks at the sky. “We’re not doing this again. The sessions are supposed to be what this is for. You have something to say, don’t leave it to be this bullshit again. It’s too confusing.”

“Then you have to tell me things too,” Andrew says firmly.

“I will,” Aaron agrees. “When I’m ready.”

“Aaron—“

“You don’t tell me things, just take the win and move on, dude,” Aaron snaps.

Andrew glares at that and huffs. He turns away for a moment before nodding. “I don’t know what things you expect me to tell you.”

“Next time I’d prefer to have an idea of who I’m murdering before it happens,” Aaron says loftily.

That makes Andrew stiffen. “Next time you should hope another one won’t show up for you to murder.”

“So there’s others,” Aaron says slowly. He nods to himself and shrugs a little. It wasn’t hard to assume that but confirmation is nice anyway. “I’d prefer not to go through another trial. Have Neil pay for a hit on them.”

“Don’t care enough to murder more than one person for me?” Andrew drawls.

“Was that a— whatever. We’re even this way,” Aaron says with a wave.

“Technically Tilda crashed that car.”

“If anyone would know it’s you,” Aaron says loftily. He glares at Andrew back until his twin turns to face him. A breath slips through his gritted teeth. “Andrew.”

“What happened to being ready?”

“Shut up,” Aaron says firmly. He pinches the skin of his left wrist. “I’m…dating Kevin. Have been. For a few weeks. When I left the game? It’s because I knew Allison figured out I was…into him and was going to use that against me.”

Andrew is silent.

Then—

“So when I said I had no time for your crisis, it was actually a crisis?”

“Shut up,” Aaron groans loudly.