#neil perry x todd anderson
Neil after his first date with Todd:
I haven’t written one of these in forever so here goes:
Is this it? Is this what Neil has been looking for all this time? That feeling he was searching for in acting, in Dead Poet Meetings, in defying his Father, in defying Welton… This, however, it was a different feeling than any of those combined…
Neil was, for the first time in his entire existence, alive. Silly, he thought acting was what made him feel truly alive, then again it was just the byproduct of finally freeing himself from the grasp of his Father and Welton. But this? This was different.
Todd, when they first met, never really made his tummy rumble and his chest rattle, not like it did a few months ago. Todd was a slow, tender, variable to the feeling Neil would soon acknowledge as the best emotion of his life. Todd’s warmth crept up to him in moments he didn’t even think could use warmth. Neil had thought just the ambition and drive to do what he wants was enough to call ‘living’. But with Todd… it’s like… he didn’t have a choice, his body, his mind, they couldn’t help but feel even more real when they were with Todd. Neil never knew his heart could literally skip a beat, he never knew he could sweat outside of sports or hot weather, he never even knew he was into blondes (or guys for that matter). Todd was like an inevitable force in Neil’s life that he was finally able to encounter once he was able to act. Being free from his father’s judgement made him freer to think, and because of that, Neil stopped worrying about his sexuality or what he expected in a partner, all he knew was that Todd made him feel alive.
It was no surprise to Charlie either, that Neil would succumb to his teenaged whims and ask him how to ask Todd out. With a scoff, his best friend agreed but in the condition that Neil switched seats with Cameron at lunch (long story). Neil was more than elated when Todd said 'Yes’, all because Todd said it so softly and so sweetly to him. To Todds defense, when a guy who’s accidentally covered in pollen, running from bees, and holding a bunch of roses spelling out your name, you’d want to be gentle.
Their date was very much like the two of them when they were alone in their dorms or out in the campus. They visited a quiant Museum up north, some antique broadway props place Charlie recommended, the two had endless comments on every display there. They then arrived at a small bookstore nearby, it sold second hand books for a buck each and you can bet Todd lost his week’s allowance in that place. (Neil wasn’t lucky either when they happened upon an antique Shakespearean Playbook). It started to rain after that so they scurried over to a small diner and ate garbage plates of fries, gravy, mashed potatoes, and menacingly delicious pork baby back ribs. It wasn’t the most elegant of dates, but Neil had never felt so happy just spending more time with Todd.
Every word that came out of Todd’s mouth was golden. His anecdotes, his cheap shots at Neil’s sauce covered grin, his soft compliments, his even softer way of saying 'I’m happy you like me back’. Neil could die here, salt and sauce covered, and he wouldn’t mind. The milkshakes helped clean up their pallettes and their napkins cleaned their exteriors from smelling like 10 dollar diner dishes.
When the rain subsided, the two managed to walk out into a secluded park and spend their last few date hours there. Todd’s brother was going to pick him up around that town for a family trip the next day so Neil had to go back to Welton alone. The brief disappointment was cut short when Todd’s face was about a few centimeters away from Neil’s.
“I really enjoyed our date.” Todd’s voice was so beautiful. “I hope you’ll ask me out again with less pollen in your hair.”
“I’ll try,” Neil chuckled, his sugary breath matching Todd’s ever-nearing ones. “I can’t promise I won’t ask again soon, though”
“I hope you do.”
Neil’s first kiss with Todd was like the whole world stopping just for him to feel this exact moment. The world stopped to let Neil feel his heart beat, his senses emerge, his skin heat up, his lips melt at the touch of Todd’s equally nervous ones. In a split second, Neil was reborn, like a lightning bolt from the sky reanimated him and brought him back to life.
Pulling away was like exhaling too long, he needed to breathe him in again. It wasn’t a problem though, Todd saw the look in his eyes and gave him another kiss. This time longer, giving their lips time to match up and lock. Weirdly matching each other’s lips perfectly.
As they finally stop, right before Jeff had pulled over to the corner of the street, Todd smiles and discretely squeezes Neil’s hand. “I’ll see you when I get back on Sunday. Thank you for today.”
Needless to say, Neil’s walk back to Welton was filled with butterflies his his stomach and they where carrying him all the way there.
Ok new Anderperry HC based on @nocturnalnewsiestrash and my convo
Neil isn’t exactly the strongest of the poets, that goes to Charlie of course, but he prides himself of being able to carry Todd on his back A LOT.
He likes the weight that Todd presses down on him, it’s a warm, engulfing feeling because Todd is a smidge bigger built than Neil (more muscle).
Todd’s arms and legs like to wrap around Neil like a koala, nuzzling him from behind almost desperately. Neil likes this feeling. The warm embraces and weighty piggybacks are all worth it because Todd trusts Neil so much.
When they cuddle on Neil’s bed, Todd still likes hugging Neil from behind, effectively making him the little spoon. Neil, just like Todd, feels safe with him.
Todd was clingy and possessive of Neil, but in a more innocent way. He was captivated by Neil, almost like a child having a favorite toy that calms them down. Except Todd’s never had a favorite toy until now. He was shallow about clinging onto Neil, but he wasn’t overtly rude. Todd just had a security blanket in a form of Neil Perry, an emotional support human.
The others found it both hilarious and concerning but it was over all adorable. Cameron, who wasn’t used to seeing physical affection was seemingly irked, but was just visibly jealous of the kinship. Charlie was just jealous he couldn’t hug Neil was often as he used to. Knox was jealous in general. Meeks and Pitts were also hugging anyway.
Neil liked the attention because Todd didn’t ask him of anything other than piggy back rides or intimate hugs. Todd was happy with just his presence and Neil didn’t need to put up a front to keep him happy. Sure they got along on many different accords, like interests or their personalities.
The hugs were the best part.
Taglist:
@yellowwood-roads@iori-utahime@poetrusicperry,@poetofthedyingstars,@time-plus-night@auxctor@tuskofthyme@sapphicnoel@theluminoussunflower@she-nuwanda@cupiiid@nik-knacks@justarandompjofan@emilythefern@inahallucination@iguanamuppet@nocturnalnewsiestrash@matthewmurdockgf@palinoic-poet@toddtakefive@gerardpitts@chloe-octavia@feathers-arts-52@pelicanchaos@spaced-out-state@nothing-gonna-wake-me-now@finding-an-angle@flustered-flux@anderperryshit@noelliza@babo0shka@sweatytootheddeadpoet@quartz-forest@poets-achilles@moose-blogs@srj901@samnyangie@boy-wonder-oncologist-fan@plagg-wants-cheese@fandomfiish@fumbleface@meorta@spenceraliah
charlie: where did neil go?
charlie:hmm
charlie: HOW IS TODD EVEN COOL?
neil, burrowing up through the floor like a ground hog: TODD IS A GLORIUS, ENTRANCING, BEAUTIFUL, SENSUAL FLOWER POET, YOU INSOLENT BAG OF WEEDS
charlie: found him
todd: neil you can’t do this every time I come home
neil, laying in the rose petals he scattered on the bed, illuminated by the candles that are todd’s favourite scent, while the bathwater runs: but I love you
