Chapter Text
Bee pulled some strings at the college and got Neil approved for a week off of school to recover, and he’s been using that to his advantage. He sleeps off the first few days, only leaving bed to eat whatever Andrew puts in front of him.
Despite having nearly bled out, Andrew looked good as new the next day. Aaron dropped in a few times to look at Andrew’s wound and bring blood, and said it was healing nicely and quickly. He checked Neil’s wounds too, and chalked Neil’s lack of energy up to the fact that he hadn’t rested much in weeks prior to saving the world, and the amount of blood that Riko drained him of. He assured him that the exhaustion and grogginess would wear off soon.
His friends had a group chat to share pictures of their nasty bruises and brag about who’s was the most disgusting, and have a lengthy debate about who slayed the most vampires, which cheered Neil up a bit. At least it meant they were alright.
At the end of the week, Andrew opened the club back up, but stayed at Neil’s side for the most part, only going downstairs to Eden’s when security needed to talk to him.
As usual, it was Nicky who suggested they have a celebration, but it was Kevin who volunteered his family home as a venue.
Andrew and Neil arrive just after sundown, and the Wymack house is already filled with people.
Abby looks thrilled to have guests, Wymack cooking beside her and cracking jokes.
Not everyone fits around the table, so half of them are mingling in the living room.
Aaron and Katelyn arrive just behind them, and Aaron wastes no time making his way to Kevin, and Katelyn stops by to thank Abby and Wymack for so graciously hosting.
Andrew leaves Neil’s side to go talk to Renee, and Nicky waves Neil over into the living area with him and his friends.
“How are you doing, man?” Matt asks. They all look much better than when Neil last saw them, bruises fading and other injuries well tended to.
“Fine,” Neil says, honestly. “You?”
“Better than ever.” Matt says, smiling, then slides over on the couch to make room for Neil. “Come sit.”
They talk about anything but the battle for a while, just chatting animatedly amongst each other like they did before. It’s not as if nothing has happened, though. He feels closer to them, and he finds it easier than ever to join in the conversation, even smiling and laughing along with them. It’s easy and comfortable, more than ever.
“Dinner’s ready!” Abby says eventually, wiping her hands on her apron and smiling at her handiwork laid out on the table.
Everyone crowds around the table, and even his friends start to mingle with Kevin and the Minyards, who are shockingly tolerant of it.
Neil wishes he could hold onto this forever. The ease of it all, an almost familial feeling.
Most of them jump in to help clean up once the meal is finished. When Neil is finished washing the table, he sees Aaron watching him from the corner of his eye. Neil meets his gaze, and Aaron motions for Neil to follow.
He dries his hand and follows him out the sliding glass door onto the porch.
“What do you want with him?” Aaron asks, almost casually.
Neil doesn’t have to ask to know he’s talking about his brother.
“I just want to stay.” Neil says.
“Being with him is different than being with a human.” Aaron says.
“I know.” Neil says.
“Do you actually want that?” Aaron asks. “You need to be sure. Don’t think you can string him along until you change your mind.”
“I won’t.” Neil says. “I’m sure of this.”
Aaron stares him down, but eventually seems satisfied with his answer. For now at least.
“What about Kevin?” Neil asks. “What happens when you’ve had enough? Or he starts to grow old?”
“It will never be enough with him.” Aaron says. “But we won’t turn him. That I can assure you.”
Neil nods, satisfied with his answer as well. He goes back inside, leaving Aaron behind.
Kevin is standing inside the house by the door when Neil steps in.
“What was that about?” Kevin asks.
“Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page with a few things.” Neil replies.
Kevin raises an eyebrow, but lets it go when Neil doesn't elaborate.
“Hey,” Neil says to him, “Thank you for your help. I couldn't have done it without you.”
“You would have figured it out.” Kevin says, shrugging.
“Debatable.” Neil says. Then, “I’m sorry I pushed you away. I shouldn’t have.”
“I understand why you did it,” He says with a sigh, looking at his father from across the room. “And why he did it.”
“I want you at my side, if you’re still up for it.” Neil says.
“Always.” Kevin says. “I have to keep her legacy going somehow, don’t I?”
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“My lease is up today.” Neil says on their walk back from the Wymack home.
“Congratulations.” Andrew says flatly.
Not what Neil was getting at. They walk in silence some more, before Neil tries again.
“Do you want this with me?” Neil says.
“What ‘this’?” Andrew asks, humoring him.
“Sharing a bed, fighting alongside each other, cooking together, coming home to each other.” Neil says. “All the domestic shit we’ve been doing.”
“I would have said otherwise if I didn’t want it.”
He starts to walk a little closer to the vampire, and Andrew lets him.
“Aaron tried to talk me out of it.” Neil says.
“I’m sure he did.” Andrew says. He doesn’t ask if it worked. He doesn’t need to.
“Us being together goes against everything I’m on this earth for.” Neil says. “The council will find out eventually, and they’ll intervene.”
“Then we’ll kill them.” Andrew says.
“You know it’s not that simple.” Neil says, a smile creeping onto his face at the notion.
“Everything can be that simple.” Andrew says.
It makes Neil feel secure. Wanted.
“How long can this last?” Neil asks eventually.
He’s mortal. If he gets the chance to grow older someday, if he isn’t as strong, will he still be interesting to Andrew? Will he still want this?
“Until you decide you’ve had enough.” Andrew says, finally looking at him.
“I will never have enough of you.” Neil says, quoting Aaron. He feels the same way.
Surprisingly, Andrew doesn’t protest. Instead, he says “So, what’s next?”
Neil has tried to avoid thinking about it while recovering, but he’s been asking himself the same thing.
“We won this time, but this isn’t the end. There is still evil threatening this world, and there will be worse than Riko out there. The Master, my father, and other unimaginable evil.” Neil says. “This never ends for me. This is my destiny, and I can’t ignore it, no matter how much I’d like to.”
“Then we’ll face it.” Andrew says easily. “You have plenty of allies, now.”
Neil takes a deep breath, resisting the urge to argue, to tell him again that it isn't that simple. That a life with the Slayer means endless fighting and untold horrors. But if Andrew is willing to let him have this, he can't bring himself to let it go.
Besides, he's right. Neil isn't alone anymore.
"Yeah," Neil says, feeling himself begin to smile. "I do."