#twinyards appreciation week

[aftgficrec]

I would loveee fics where Andrew defends Neil to aaron and the other foxes (but definitely Aaron), i’ve seen so many of Neil defending Andrew but not a lot of the other way around and Neil deserves to have his man defend his honorrr

In canon, post-medication Andrew does not talk much to anyone besides Neil. Still there are definitely fics with this. Just know Andrew’s defense of Neil can be one sentence in a story, and physical violence is often his preferred method of communication. -A

previous recs  

‘The Ash is in Our Clothes’ here

‘Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder’ here

‘in the common tongue’ here 

‘I hate him,’ ‘One day we'll reveal the truth,’ ‘i'm getting static from my better sense’ and ‘My brother under the sun’ here

‘some1 saying something…’ here

‘Ember’ here

‘Can he play?’ here

‘Surreal But Nice’ here

‘Least Favorite Only Child’ here

‘Fighting Words’ here

‘Trust Fall (And Welcoming Arms)’ here

‘(Don't) Stand So Close’ here

‘In the Eye of the Beholder’ here

‘Beach Bois’ here

‘I'm Not Okay (I Promise).’ and ‘It’s not living (If it’s not with you)’ here

‘soft spots make easy targets’ here

‘Even the Darkest Night Will End’ and ‘The Andreil escapades’ here

in Masterlist for Nicky Kissing Neil: ‘The Kiss,’ ‘History Repeating,’ ‘Andrew Finds Out,’ ‘Something, Nothing & Everything’ (also big twinyards confrontation), ‘A Crack in the Mask,’ ‘Truth Time, ‘Truths Come Out,’ ‘The Unkindness of Ravens’ ch 16, ‘Delayed Reaction,’ ‘Delayed reaction (the fear of falling remix),’ ‘All For The Game Musings,’ ‘andrew finds out about what happened…,’ ‘Hold Each Other’ ch 6 and ch 15, and ‘Slip’. Finally, ‘Lessons in Cartography’ has Andrew defending Neil to both Aaron and Jack throughout

Andrew defends Neil to non-foxes

‘Something About The Sunshine’ here

‘Warmth’ here

Foxhole Tidbits ‘Ch. 22: Silent, but Snarky’ here

‘Through A Glass Darkly’ and ‘Some Things You Just Can't Bury’ here

‘Martyr’ here

‘The Bones of You’ here

‘monsters at night’ here

‘Killer Bunny’ here 

‘you're not next before forever’ here (completed)

‘looking for you’ here

‘Give Me Another Minute (to Lay Here in Your Echo)’ here 

‘Ficlet Collection…’ ch 35-37 here

you may also like

feral protective Andrew here

protective/possessive Andrew here

overprotective Andrew here 

protective Andrew here

protective Andrew gets hurt here

protective Neil/Andrew here

jealous Andrew here

previous recs where Andrew kills Nathan here

our latest Neil & Aaron ask here

Unconventional Therapy by JostenlovesMinyard [Rated M, Twinyards Appreciation Week 2021]

Twinyard Appreciation Week - Day 2 | “bottle episode” Andrew and Aaron attend their weekly therapy session but things don’t quite go to plan when the door handle falls off and they’re stuck in there together.

tw: implied/referenced rape/nocon, tw: implied/referenced child abuse

Nothing is Safe series by hismiley16 [Rated T/M/E, Collection, 7 complete works, Updated July 2023]

Part 4: Written On His Skin [Not Rated, 11344 Words] The Foxes face the Ravens for the first time since Riko's death and things go as well as expected. Andrew is mildly injured on the court and isn't there to protect Neil when the new Evermore captain comes for him after the game. The team sees more than Neil ever wanted them to, including the ghost of Nathaniel he thought he'd buried in Baltimore.

tw: vomit, tw: bullying, tw: nonconsensual touch/assault  tw: dissociation, tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: blood, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: implied/referenced animal death, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon

this is me trying by crownowl [Not Rated, 2142 Words, Complete, 2023]

After Neil has a panic attack Andrew finds out exactly what happened when Nicky drugged Neil and he is not happy.

tw: violence, tw: implied/referenced nonconsensual kissing, tw: implied/referenced nonconsensual drug use, tw: ptsd

Don't let me be by Cutie_Wan [Not Rated, 1983 Words, Complete, 2023]

Neil suffers a major dissociation episode in front of the Foxes.

tw: dissociation, tw: violence

One Step Forward by thecompletebookworm [Rated T, 1665 Words, Complete, AFTG Exchange Winter 2020]

Based on the prompt: “Andrew and Aaron talking and solving their problems” "If you really don't care about Andrew, why does Neil bother you so much?"   Dobson asked during their Wednesday session. Aaron dug his fingers into the couch.  He hated this.  Hated that the only time he could get answers out of Andrew was when he was sitting in front of a shrink.   A shrink who was undoubtedly on his brother's side. And that in order to get answers he had to rip himself raw first.  

tw: implied/referenced rape/nocon, tw: implied/referenced child abuse

Angry Alone by obsessivereader156 [Not Rated, 1799 Words, Complete, 2023]

“Of course I’m not homophobic, you asshole. What are you even talking about?” “Aaron, please don’t use that type of language here,” Betsy softly interjects. “You’ve been very hostile towards Neil,” Andrew says plainly, as if that’s enough of an answer. ______________________________ Aaron has been feeling angry and alone lately. Maybe he doesn't have to be alone about it.

Everything's Alright by DarkD [Rated E, 182901 Words, Incomplete, Updated June 2023]

Souls weren't meant to be left alone, so they split, always looking for their other half. No matter how long it took, the moment a soul existed, it sought the one that would complete it. The main indication is, when one of the halves of the soul turns seven years old, an identical mark appears on both parts. Along with that comes a set of unique abilities that soulmates can only use with each other—for protection, for finding each other. Soulmates would never be alone.

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: child abuse, tw: torture, tw: blood, tw: gun violence, tw: homophobia, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced csa, tw: murder, tw: canonical character death

A flash of anger. prompt fill by @nickyhenmick [Tumblr, 2016]

All reporters got on Andrew’s nerves. They were invasive and never asked interesting questions, and there was probably a reason he was rarely allowed to be on press duty.

a stupid ass decision prompt fill by @find-yourself-in-passion [Tumblr, 2017]

“I recognize that you have reached a decision,” Andrew replied over the top of Neil’s protests, unwrapping his right hand in such a rush that Neil knew he was going to have red marks where the tap ripped at his flesh. “Andrew-” “But given that it is a stupid ass decision,” He continued on, refusing to acknowledge the other man’s piercing gaze on him as he threw his bag and shoes in the closet, knowing what faced him when he turned around. “I have elected to ignore it.”

Art

3 & 10 art by @thematicallycoherent

im thinkin bout these two art by @wiltkingart

Safe. art by @eislekaj on instagram

exy banquet smoke break art by @twohiddenhalves

Vkook as reference art by @reyko__ on instagram

roof. andrew. tattoos. and two cigarettes. and neil. art by @puhnatsson

Someone strong to lean on art by @fornavn

[youaremysunshine-court]

When you're shit at baking, but you want to bake a passive aggressive cake for your boyfriend-not-boyfriend. So you enlist your brother to help you, forgetting that you're brothers from the same mother, and thus share the same weaknesses. At the end of the day, can anyone really blame you?

Written for @twinyardsappreciationweek day 2 - Disaster.

[emry-stars-art]

Hi!! Do you have any tips of how to write Andrew's and Aaron's relationships while they are still on college?

Okay this has been in my inbox for like a week and honestly?? I don't 😅 but I'll try to assemble some thoughts here 💕

I haven't read the books in like five years (I know crucify me for not doing a reread) so my best bet at writing them has been in universes that are just slightly diverged from canon, like the modern college au and the royal au, both where the twins have had more time to figure each other out and learn how to be brothers.

Mostly what I keep in mind is that as much as they don't act like it, those boys really care about each other. They insult each other and don't talk unless they have to (half the time that's just regular sibling behavior) and most if not all of their disagreements come from miscommunication or not communicating at all. They're both very stubborn and see the other as unreasonable, so why try? (Even though in my head they would both be receptive if the other would just take a second to be vulnerable enough to communicate in the way that works for them.) Even when they do help each other, do favors, etc I always accompany it with jabs and name-calling and then never mentioning it again unless they have to. They have a façade to keep up dang it! But they still do those favors and help each other out.

One bit of ec/random stuff from Sakavic that I love was the bit about the twins leaving for different places after college; where Aaron hugs Andrew and Andrew is the last to let go. So all of my thoughts on writing them canonically in college would be getting them to that point 💕

Thank you for the ask, I assume it was swicr that brought you here with it, and I'm so honored people are liking my depictions of the twinyards! I have a lot of siblings myself and as i get older i appreciate them more and more, so anytime I get to write/draw siblings or sibling-like relationships they're so special to me 🥰

[double-aa-batteries]

i love that the aftg fandom has collectively decided that there is a twinyards appreciation week. i love that my dash is filled with new content about them because it's their birthday so a lot of people have made something to share. i love that we all get together to appreciate them and the feelings, memories, and connections their existence has brought to us

happy birthday to my favorite twins ❤️

[kweenkday]

A little Aaron appreciation fic. 🌞

Light angst + Aaron healing, peppered with hints of kevaaron.

Least Favorite Only Child

[jemej3m]

radio silence (chapter 2: andrew and aaron)

andrew starts taking his medication and aaron hates it just as much as his brother does, especially seeing as the pills wont even let him say it 

(heavy tw for mentions of matricide, canon-typical violence, sexual assault (thanks giving, andrew’s perspective), medication and drake’s murder) 

*

Andrew supposed he’d deserved it when Aaron went silent on him after Tilda died and Andrew forcefully shut Aaron into the bathroom of their new place to get clean, but it was still never silent.

There was always someone there at the other end of the line. Someone breathing down the phone, waiting to hear whatever you said. It was comforting only because it was all Andrew had ever known, unable to fathom what it was like to be completely alone.

When Andrew had been forced onto his medication after his perhaps over-enthusiastic response to Nicky being pushed around by a bunch of assholes outside Eden’s, a new kind of buzzing filled his head. 

Static. Grainy, grainy static. An external pressure, squeezing around his temples like his head was stuck in the clouds, thousands of miles above normal altitude. He hated the way it felt but there was nothing he could do about it, the grin curling on his lips without consent.

The first time Aaron had spoken to him in months was in the quiet of a dark kitchen. Nicky was asleep in his room. Andrew was making hot cocoa and unable to sleep because he’d taken his dosage too late. He’d noticed Aaron lingering by the kitchen’s entrance and refused to say anything, letting the false cheer dangle off the tip of his spoon as he watched droplets of hot cocoa slip off the aluminium surface, back into his mug. It’d long gone cold.

“I can’t hear you,” Aaron said, finally finding his spine to talk to his loony twin. “I can’t—reach out to you. It’s silent.”

“Well,” Andrew drawled, tempted to laugh. “Isn’t that a shame?”

“I hate it,” Aaron hissed, contradictory in every way. “We’ve never—we’ve never been apart before. I hate it. Can’t we—can’t you appeal?”

“Oh, Aaron,” Andrew lamented, hand over his heart. His brother’s vulnerabilities were cute, but there was no way Andrew would share his own. Not out loud. “You should go cry to someone who’s capable of caring. Because that person is definitely not me.” He grinned, arching an eyebrow.

“This isn’t you,” Aaron said, resolutely. As he paced back into the hallway, he repeated himself. “This isn’t you.”

Andrew simply laughed.

*

“On one condition,” Andrew said, pointing at Wymack and almost poking the old man in the chest. “My brother and cousin come on the team, too. And I get to come off my meds for games.”

Aaron startled. It was the first time Andrew had ever hinted that he, too, hated the loneliness.

*

When Kevin stumbled into Wymack’s apartment with a shattered hand, Andrew had laughed, pointing at him with a bottle of booze in his hand.

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen!” He crowed. Kevin glared and did not laugh.

Pity. Aaron probably would’ve appreciated that.

*

Andrew, Aaron had whispered, sickeningly relieved as the curtain between them parted, their minds severed no more.

It would only be for another half hour or so, before Andrew had to take his dose at half time. He looked at his brother, watching the way relief wormed down Aaron’s spine and had him grip his racket harder.

It was their first game on the line. Most of the team hated Andrew and his merry band of monsters, of which had grown from three to four when Kevin promised Andrew that he would find him something to live for after his medicated euphoria eventually wore off. It was a lousy promise at best: Andrew had no disillusions about finding satisfaction in his life, and no desire to lie to himself either. Kevin’s miserable obsession with Exy couldn’t fill the gaping wound that’d been carved into Andrew’s chest the minute that Tilda left him in the plastic bucket of baby rejects.

The connection with Aaron strengthened as the withdrawal kicked up, sped up by the gruelling game. The Foxes lost, because of course they did, and Andrew faked a laugh to convince everyone in the arena that he wasn’t deviating from his parole.

Until next game, Aaron said, as Andrew swallowed the pills. He was too physically wretched to stifle the weak nod. Kevin looked between them, eyes narrowed. He’d probably figure it out, just like Nicky had a long while ago, but neither of them would say anything. It was best to just pretend that the twins hated each other, just like everyone else assumed.

Andrew was comfortable in the shadows of those assumptions. The four of them settled into the strange routine, dodging Riko and his Ravens and spending nights under the haze of cracker dust and alcohol.

Though he wouldn’t admit it to anyone else, he knew Aaron was counting down the days till Andrew could come off the medications.

He, admittedly, was too.

*

Andrew was suddenly glad that Aaron could not hear his loudest thoughts most of the time, when Neil Josten rocked up, a bundle of lies and a bigger bundle of threats.

He was brown haired and brown eyed and barely tall enough to fit all his too-intricate stories within, and yet there he was, able to tell the difference between him and Aaron immediately, running away from Columbia in a feverish demand for freedom, stood in Wymack’s living room with half-truths tolerable enough for Andrew to swallow.

If Aaron could hear the way Andrew’s mind twisted and turned over Neil Fucking Josten, he’d be mighty suspicious.

Worse was when Neil began asking. And Andrew let himself answer. Worse was the way Neil practised honesty enough to keep Andrew intrigued but continually lied like an animal licking a wound it should just leave alone.

Thanksgiving came and went.

The real nightmare was the weekend after.

Andrew had never grown used to the static, not in the four years he’d been medicated, especially not when he let his shield against the world drop occasionally, for games or for nights at Eden’s. It was enough that neither him, nor Aaron, really got used to the absence. The absess.

He walked up the stairs to where Luther had promised him liquor, opening the door to Nicky’s old bedroom. It was dark, curtains drawn and the rust on the lock suspiciously etched, like it’d been tested recently. If Andrew was capable of conjuring warning bells through the cloud that surrounded him, he’d be hearing them ringing like they did in a bad man’s chapel on a Sunday morning.

One moment, he was staring a fully-fledged nightmare, dead between the eyes. The next his bottle of Blue came careening through the air, and the trickle of liquid down Andrew’s scalp was a strange concoction of hot blood and iced spirits, glass shards just to make it interesting.

It was like a waltz. One, two, three. One, two, three. One: Hand around Andrew’s neck. Two: Whispered words in his ear. Three: Seconds Andrew had to contemplate why him, like he was thirteen again. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two—

“Andrew,” Aaron snarled, more terrified for Andrew than he was of himself. He’d always known exactly who Drake was, who the Spears were: He’d almost been there. He’d certainly heard every one of Andrew’s broken cadences, desperately searching for an out.

And yet there he stood, bloodied, with Neil’s racket in his hands and blood across his face. Andrew couldn't hear himself, not when he laughed, not when he demanded if the blood was Aaron’s, not when Luther appeared in the doorway clutching the silver cross that dangled across his throat.

Remember? Andrew laughed. Cackled. Remember when you insisted it was just a misunderstanding?

“He told you, and you still brought him here?” Aaron said, cold, furious. They were closer and more intricately woven than anyone knew, Andrew clutching onto Aaron’s bloodied shirt as Neil covered him up with a sheet, laughter still wracking his body like a bloody cough. “Get out. Get out!”

Wasn’t it just niche, the way everything worked out. Aaron was lugged off in police custody whilst Andrew was strapped to a stretcher, paramedics shining light into his eyes. He was still buzzing too high off the ground to reach out to Aaron and see if he was alright, because even if Andrew cared about nothing, Aaron’s survival was still imperative. He’d fought so long for it, after all.

Neil offered himself up as Kevin’s leash, like he wasn’t fulfilling that role already. He shoved Andrew’s hand under his shirt and gave him his true name and Andrew was spinning. He was dancing so close to the edge. He’d laugh if he wasn’t so fucking terrified of losing control all over again.

“You’re not going to say goodbye to Aaron?” Abby asked, when Betsy had filched him from the comfort of his room to take him to Easthaven.

“Can’t say goodbye if you never said hello in the first place,” Andrew said, cheerfully as he skipped his way to the front door. None of them would truly understand the significance of that statement, that Andrew and Aaron had never said hello, nor goodbye. There was no need if they never left you alone.

He ignored the way Neil watched him as he left, ignored the idle chatter Betsy filled the car with, ignored the introduction of his psychiatric team.

In hindsight, perhaps he should have taken more care. It was too late now.

*

Andrew, Aaron breathed, when the fogginess lifted perhaps two weeks later. He had no way of telling, really. Andrew had his head in a bucket, the smooth plastic his constant view. Aaron’s voice was—admittedly—a comfort. Andrew, are you alright?  

You still behind bars? Andrew asked, craning his neck as he settled back into his stiff, unforgiving bed and its cold, unyielding sheets.

Matt’s mom paid my bail. We’re heading up to New York for Christmas as thanks.

You’re not telling me something.

Aaron made a derisive noise. Andrew was always the more perceptive one. Neil knows.

How.

He figured it out. I don’t know how. He told me to tell you not to let Proust near you before he left yesterday.

Left where?

Uncle was in town apparently. Wouldn’t look anyone in the eye.

Liar, through and through.

Be careful, Andrew. I have a hunch that Neil’s got privy information. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, but it seemed valid.

Thanks for the input, Andrew thought, sourly. Aaron snorted. Now, fuck off.

I hated the silence, Aaron offered.

Andrew stared silently out of the metal grate that covered his window, the bleak clouds and wind-swept trees.

As a form of peace offering with the only person who’d always been there for him, he said: Me too.

*

I’ve met a girl. Promise me you won’t hurt her.

I won’t if she gives me no reason to.

Her name is Katelyn. She makes me happy. Scare her off when you get back and I will tell everyone that you waited for months after our 11th birthday for your letter to Hogwarts.

Bold of you to assume I wouldn’t kill you first.

*

Andrew walked out of his room and down the familiar corridors of his ward, beady eyes peering out at someone who was walking free. He was directed by Dr. Whoeverthefuck, clipboard under his arm and a haughty expression scrawled across his narrow features.

There was a bit of talking. Nicky called out his name, concern obvious and sickening and too much. Kevin was evaluating, Neil was curious and Aaron just looked at him blankly, like he always did. They didn’t need expressions or emotions or even spoken words to communicate. It was just enough to be. So when Andrew marched straight for the exit and threw his ward-stay clothes in the bin, Aaron wasn’t phased, following along closely behind.

Andrew held out the keys for Neil, who passed them over without a qualm. Good. He didn’t feel like arguing with Neil now, when he felt scraped out and broken down into tiny little fragments. Neil said nothing, his garishly blue eyes darting between Aaron and Andrew, perhaps a little too obviously for Neil’s liking. He had a bandage under his eye and bruises littering what little exposed skin Andrew could see, the red curls falling in tresses over his ears.

Why are you looking at him like that? Aaron muttered, climbing into the car. Andrew turned away from Neil sharply, clambering into the driver’s seat and slamming it behind him.

He kept the music loud enough to drown out Aaron’s curious prodding, refusing to look in the rear-view where Neil was sat, looking wistfully out of the window. Even Nicky was quiet, unsure of how to approach Andrew when he hadn’t really spoken to the man sober in four and a half years.

The drive was too fast. Aaron shuffled Nicky and Kevin inside the tower with little more than a brief you should take a nap, or at least have some coffee, before you face the others, like Andrew was still a prickly toddler.

Neil wasn’t as easily swayed. He reached under the driver’s seat to grab his stalker binder, bound in a plastic bag, before Andrew even had the chance to move out of the way. He couldn’t say he minded the proximity, even when the way Neil looked at him when Andrew accused him of breaking his promise made his heart skip.

“I hope Aaron warned you off Proust,” Neil murmured. “Riko said if I didn’t go, he would—“

His hand covered Neil’s mouth before he could let another treacherous word past his lips. Andrew fucking hated him. He fucking hated him.

Proust had entered his room in the early hours of an average morning, smiling beseechingly. Andrew refused to talk to him, instead threatening the nurse that came in after Proust’s session that if he ever caught Proust in his vicinity again, he would break the man’s neck.

The doctor was kept well away from Andrew after that.

“I don’t need your protection, or your condolences.” He snapped.

“No, I suppose not.” He echoed. “Have you and Aaron always been able to hear one another? I thought it was an urban myth.”

“Shut up.” Andrew said, voice more of a snarl than he intended it to be. Neil was making his control slip and he hadn’t even been back for a half hour yet. “I hate you.”

“I know.” Neil said, easily.

*

i know theres a lot of lacking scenes from canon but its not about andrew and neil srry lmao its twinyards week for a reason (andreil worms its way in anyway, but i tried my best)

stay tuned for tomorroww!! 

[filteredred]

“I don't know why Higgins is calling. Call him back or take it up with Andrew if you want answers. He was Andrew’s mentor, not mine. I only met the guy once.”

“Oh,” Nicky said in startled realization. “Is he—?”

He didn't finish, but Aaron understood what he was asking.

“Yeah,” Aaron said. “He’s the one who told me I had a brother.”

The Raven King, Nora Sakavic

Original photo credit: @greystorm on unsplash.com

[willowbird]

i think it's really neat that 2 of my top 5 most popular fics by kudos on ao3 are Aaron Minyard POV - i feel like my readers recognized my appreciation for Aaron before I did 😆

[nightphans]

[foxhole-pipe-dream]

I'm just really wishing I did not just see that aaron and andrew incest fic

I'm gonna.... go die now...

[aftgficrec]

Any neil& aaron recs? Not with a relationship with them necessarily as endgame but something like triptych or the one where they're on the hunt for andrew (cant remember the name rip, but i love that one)

There are a good amount of fics for Neil and Aaron — their relationship is fertile ground to explore angst or growth! The stories run the gamut from mutual disdain to familial warmth, from bad or awkward situations to quests (like hunting for Andrew together in ‘I'm leaving this town…’), from friendship to lovers and even plain ol’ sexual experimentation (see ‘triptych’). 

Though you weren’t keen on Neil/Aaron as a couple, you might enjoy ‘Every Sinner Has A Future.’ It’s friends to lovers and spends significant time developing their relationship. Find it and the fics you referenced among those featured below. -A

Neil & Aaron in situations/working together 

Aaron & Neil stranded together here

Aaron & Neil stuck in a bad situation here

‘Calm down. I look a lot worse than I am.’ and ‘climb a mountain (hold his hand)’ here

‘they who made you/they made me too’ here

‘Identity Theft’ here

‘Apart from Your World (A Part of Mine)’ (selkies) here

‘The World Beneath Our Feet’ series here

‘Crossfire’ here 

‘For You I'd Bleed Myself Dry’ here (updated)

‘If Neil, Then Fox’ here

Neil & Aaron relationship because of Andrew

Aaron & Neil rapprochement here

Aaron accepting andreil here

Aaron & Neil's talk at the cabin here

Neil meets the in-laws or foxes here

‘Did You Get What You Deserve?,’ ‘The Ash is in Our Clothes,’ and ‘common ground??’ here 

‘Married To Annoy,’ ‘head case (what to do with you),’ and ‘AJMICKEY56's Fanfiction Palooza!’ chapters 2 and 82 here 

‘Hold each other...ch 8: Time Does Things’ here

‘Muscle memory’ (completed) and ‘The Memories I Never Can Escape’ here

‘No More Fucks To Give’ here (updated)

‘Neil Fights the Foxes’ here

‘on the tip of my tongue (say something)’ parts 7 & 8 here

‘No straighter path than to struggle,’ ‘The Road Trip,’ and ‘An Olive Branch’ here

‘what even is baseball anyway’ and ‘Holding On and Letting Go’ here

‘Hold me close (in fact, bury me)’ here

‘a girl so bright she'll blind you’ here

Neil & Aaron friendship

Aaron & Neil = Andrew/Neil here

Neil & Aaron friendship 2 here

domestic fluff w/twinyards bonding + Neil & Aaron friendship here

the tumblr posts in Neil/Aaron or Neil & Aaron ask here

‘Make This Leap (Geronimo)’ here

‘Math, Exy and Middle Ground’ here 

‘every piece of you, it just fits perfectly’ here

‘i just wanted you to know (this is me trying)’ here

‘togetherness’ here

‘More Than Words’ here (updated) 

‘Ten Percent’ here

‘Tachycardia’ here; ‘Tachycardia (the My Own Soul's Warning Remix),’ ‘It's going tibia okay,’ and ‘What the fuck happened to you?’ here

‘Aaron is Neil’s doctor in the pros’ here

‘Shards of Glass’ here

‘Et tu, Doctor?’ here

‘Art Hoe’ here

‘Beach Bois’ here

‘just a footnote’ here

‘I'll Follow You’ here

‘Call the doctor ( I may need help)’ and ‘we're inside out’ here

‘Andrew Goes to Hogwarts’ series here

‘Minyards' Magical Mischief’ here

Neil/Aaron rarepair

Neil/Aaron or Neil & Aaron here

‘In The Forest (Burning Bright)’ here 

‘Winter Banquet’ here

you may also like

new Katelyn/Aaron here

Katelyn & Neil friendship here

Katelyn & Neil as siblings/lookalikes here

Katelyn-centric hurt/comfort here

Aaron protective of Neil here

Neil mistakes Aaron for Andrew here

Andrew & Katelyn rapprochement here

‘the prettiest blue’ and ‘The Photo Strip Predicament’ here

‘Nor are we forgiven’ here

‘Give Me Another Minute (to Lay Here in Your Echo)’ here 

‘coming loose’ here

‘the roads I traveled with you’ here

‘One day we'll reveal the truth’ and ‘i'm getting static from my better sense’ here

‘you're not next before forever’ here (completed)

‘Before You Drown’ here

‘Five Years to the Day’ here

‘Twilight and Daytime’ here

‘Whispers in the leaves, shadows in the moonlit night’ here

quests and situations

halloween series by zweimam [Collection, Rated T, 44426 Words, Incomplete, Updated Sept 2023]

NB: Part 1 reviously recommended in new twinyards bonding ask

Part 1: I'm leaving this town (and I'm changing my address) [40309 Words, Updated Sept 2023] Aaron tries to assimilate everything, nodding, "How do you know he didn't mean it?" "It wasn't a thought, or anything," Neil says, looking everywhere but at him. "He told me to go away, to leave and run, and I did. I'm very good at running, you see." Or: Aaron has been looking for his brother for six years. Right when he's beginning to lose all hope, he meets Neil Josten.

tw: child abuse, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: heavy suicide themes, tw: implied/referenced suicide attempt, tw: implied/referenced drug addiction, tw: detailed discussion of drug use, tw: implied/referenced overdose, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: panic attacks, tw: dissociation

Part 2: I know that you'll come if you want [6170 Words, Updated Aug 2023] If Aaron has been looking for his brother for six years, Andrew has been waiting for him for longer.

The Most Unorthodox Way of Fighting Back by orphan_account [Rated T, 1683 Words, Complete, 2021]

Neil Josten is forced to pick up his shoes and run. If not for him, than for the ones who can’t.

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

Tumblr Bits by gluupor [Rated T, Collection, Complete, 2019]

Chapter 8: Neil Josten: Accountant Spy [2316 Words] Whenever anyone asked Neil what he did for a living, he responded by saying he was a spy. This always was met with impressed faces and probing questions about his job.

till the bitter end on a flat tire by thewintersolstice [Rated M, 10000 Words, Complete, 2022]

neil & aaron end up stranded on the side of the road in the desert. neil wants to talk homophobia. aaron wants neil to shut up for once in his life. aka: my attempt to turn aaron minyard into someone i want to like

tw: homophobia, tw: implied/referenced child abuse

Growing Sharp Edges by Leocante [Rated G, 10218 Words, Complete, 2022]

Aaron just needed some wiggling room. He didn't think he was asking for that much - a few inches of freedom, a miniscule amount of life outside of school and exy, an ounce of control over his day. Well, thruth be told, he wasn't exactly asking asking. Questions like that resulted in a knife under his neck and an unyielding 'no'. But Aaron needed some goddamn wiggling room, and he was desperate enough to ask Josten for help.

tw: attempted sexual assault, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced drug addiction, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: recreational drug use, tw: alcohol

Who is the man in the relationship? by sugaroto [Rated T, 6986 Words, Complete, 2022]

"I'm your type." Neil went on. "Then I'm yours." Aaron shot back, "You're literally fucking my twin, asshole!" "High five!" Neil said, his eyes lightening up, "We're type buddies!" Neil started laughing. "What? What's so funny?" Aaron asked. "We should get married!" Or The time Neil and Aaron got drunk and thought it'd be funny if they got married.

tw: alcohol

NB: fic meme by @sugaroto here

Momentary Disaster by JostenlovesMinyard [Rated T, 1305 Words, Complete, Twinyards Appreciation Week 2022]

Day 2: Disaster Aaron and Neil are sent to do a grocery run but Neil loses something along the way. Aaron is there to help him.

You Are So Much More Than Your Father's Son by phan_taloon [Rated T, 3143 Words, Complete, 2021, Locked]

In which Nathan Wesninski has fanboys and Neil Josten doesn't want to deal with them, but Aaron is there to save the day.

tw: panic attacks, tw: flashbacks

A Pain Never Meant to be Felt (I really suck a titles, just pretend its good.) by transandsad [Rated M, 14187 Words, Incomplete, Updated Aug 2023]

Aaron is mistaken for someone he is not and has to figure out how to pick up the pieces in the aftermath.

tw: gang rape, tw: nonconsensual touching, tw: assault, tw: graphic descriptions of csa, tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: blood, tw: flashbacks, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: ptsd, tw: panic attacks, tw: suicidal thoughts, tw: murder, tw: drug addiction

Neil and Aaron swap body’s AU bullet fic by @sadboyayeron [Tumblr, 2020]

AFTG Neil & Aaron Gender Swap hc by @sadboyayeron [Tumblr, 2020]

friendship

Oblivious series by greencherrybomb [Rated T, Collection with 2 complete works, Updated July 2022]

Part 1: Oblivious in love (3152 Words) Andrew has been pining after Neil Josten for months, but knows it wont happen. Neil doesnt even swing, so he does the only thing to protect his feelings. Ignoring Neil and eating ice cream. Part 2: Best Friends Brother (3930 Words) Neil has been harboring a long time crush on his best friend, Aaron Minyards, brother Andrew. Too bad Andrew has been avoiding him at all costs and is dating the hottest guy in school, Kevin day. Or at least thats what Neil thinks.

Dear Little Ghost by choisunsanie [Rated G, 4650 Words, Complete, 2022]

Neil Josten starts to be haunted by a naughty blond ghost.

tw: previous major character death, tw: car accidents

And I Swear And I Swear, I Was Burning Alive by Miss_Fun_Fun_and_Fun [Rated T, 1477 Words, Complete, 2022]

Neil is confronted by his ex-best friend's twin brother while still reeling from his mother abandoning him. - A one-shot, alternate universe for Fortheloveofexy's fic, "More Than Words".

tw: implied/referenced drug addiction

NB: ‘More than Words’ was previously recced here (updated)

sexual experimentation

triptych by likearecord [Rated E, 12805 Words, Complete, 2023]

Three parts, three POVS. Aaron, wondering, picks up a guy in a bar. Neil, having learned something, wants to try again. Andrew, knowing nothing, sees something he likes.

tw: explicit sexual content, tw: nonconsensual touching

friends to lovers

Every Sinner Has A Future by OfficialStarsandGutters [Rated E, 29864 Words, Complete, 2021]

Canon divergent Neil x Aaron. - Neil Josten. A shock of red hair and ocean blue eyes. Pretty faced, but nothing special. Except he makes a throwaway comment about Andrew being off his meds and it’s like everyone in the room forgets to breathe. Even Aaron, his body still and tense with surprise that he can tell them apart. Without even having met Aaron, he knew Andrew wasn’t him. That shouldn’t mean anything. Aaron rubs his sweaty palms on his skinny jeans and tells himself it doesn’t, it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

tw: recreational drug use, tw: implied/referenced drug addiction, tw: nonconsensual drug use, tw: graphic description of overdose, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced murder

Art

monsters cuddle pile art by @emry-stars-art

au where aaron and neil are best friends first comic by @02511213942 also on twitter

when Neil tells Dr Aaron he’s fine art by @srslyarts

get in loser we’re going shopping art by @ouijacine

Josten and Aaron on press duty comic by @paradoxolotl

Aaron is a godfather comic by @paradoxolotl

[that-one-smartass]

The Creation of the Andrew Minyard Defense Squad

An idea that started with @apprenticedmagician listening to my ramblings.  And turned into my contribution to Twinyard Appreciation Week.

Aaron is irritated. It’s not like this is a rare state for him to be in.  He’d spent much of his life irritated.  And the source isn’t new either.  But spending an extended amount of time with his brother’s fuck buddy is a new kind of torture.  Baring the one short conversation at the cabin last spring, Aaron and Josten had made a point of avoiding each other.  Until now.  Because of course Josten just had to mouth off to the press about the Ravens.  AGAIN.  And of course the cult that makes up Ravens fans had to start sending death threats. So of course the Foxes must protect sweet, baby, gonna-get-all-of-them-killed Neil.

Aaron had been content to leave the matter alone.  Either Josten’s smart mouth finally got him killed, or he would come back from the dead again with more scars.  But Andrew had asked Aaron to escort Josten around campus when Andrew couldn’t.  And Andrew—he had never asked for anything.  It irked Aaron that of course when he did, it was about precious Neil.  But Aaron found he couldn’t turn his brother away when faced with a genuine request—even if it had been in the usual monotone.

So here he is. Escorting the idiot to his Spanish class across campus.  To an outsider, it would look like two strangers just happened to walk side-by-side on the thin sidewalk.  Content to ignore Josten and be ignored in return, Aaron starts to pull out his phone to see if Katelyn’s out of class yet.  

A shout of “WESNINSKI” stops him.  His head snaps to the right where a group of football players stand in a huddle.  The ring-leader in the middle of the group grins over at Josten.  It is not friendly.  Aaron looks to Josten as well and notices that he hasn’t stopped.  Quickening his pace just a bit to catch up, Aaron keeps the football players in his peripherals just in case.

“HEY WESNINSKI I’M TALKING TO YOU,” rings across the grass as the group starts towards them.  Aaron can see Josten’s knuckles clench around his book bag strap and his jaw clench, but otherwise he gives no reaction.  “Hey Butcher, I was just wondering if you know that Serial Killer 101 is that way,” the asshole says when he gets closer, his friends snickering behind him.  Josten just keeps walking so Aaron follows suit.  When a hand reaches out to Josten, Aaron expects a reaction similar to Andrew’s. Maybe a pulled knife or a punch. What he doesn’t expect is for Josten to neatly side step the grab causing the football player to trip.  He also expects that fucking mouth to get them is more trouble.  What he doesn’t expect is Josten to continue walking to the course of disgruntled shouts behind him.  

“Since when do you ignore that kind of shit?”  Aaron feels compelled to ask as they leave the group behind.

Josten rolls his eyes, “That’s hardly the worst I’ve heard in the last year.  If I stopped for every person that said shit like that to me, I’d never make it to class.  Or practice. Or a game.”

Aaron studies his face intently, wondering if Andrew knew what his fuck buddy apparently deals with. He almost asks, but at that moment they reach the Language Arts building and Josten disappears inside with a small nod back.

So he can control his mouth.  Why the fuck can’t he keep it shut any other time.

Now that Aaron is tuned to it, he hears the jeers directed Josten’s way constantly.  Josten doesn’t seem to care.  Why Aaron cares is because Andrew does.  Any time his brother is in the vicinity when the calls of ‘Wesninski’ and ‘Butcher’ follow Josten, Andrew steps up to whoever just took their life into their hands. Andrew who doesn’t care about anything puts himself in danger for some broken, impulsive, lying thing.  Aaron hates it.

Aaron gets it—gets Josten—months after that first incident.  They’re playing Breckenridge in the death matches. The game started ugly and it’s only continued to escalate.  It’s the fourth quarter, Aaron is dripping sweat under his armor, his brother is at his back, and Breckenridge is making one final try for the goal before they’re out of the championships.  Aaron steps up to the brute barreling towards him but is met with a wall of six-five muscle that he can’t break.  He watches from the ground in horror as that same wall crashes into his brother.

Aaron sees red as soon as Andrew crumples to the ground in his goal.  The buzz of the goal barely registers as he staggers to his feet, intent on making the offending striker pay.  Before he can get more than two steps, a blur of orange passes in front of him. The Breckenridge striker hunches over before Aaron can register that Josten just dealt the stricker a fierce blow to the abdomen.  He rears back for another punch when a small “Neil” comes from the goal.  Josten immediately drops his fist, pushes the striker to the ground to get him out of the way, and hurries over the Andrew’s slowly moving form.

Aaron breaks from his stupor to continue towards the two.  Josten barely spares him a glance as he hovers over Andrew.  Aaron locks eyes with his brother as he gets to his feet. “Alright?” comes the breathless rasp.

“Yeah,” Aaron answers automatically.  Whistles are blowing as red cards are handed out to the striker and Josten.  Not that Josten is paying attention.  His eyes are scouring over Andrew in search of injury.

“Idiot, go away,” Andrew scoffs, shoving at Josten.

He stays for another minute as if making absolutely sure that Andrew is fine before he shrugs. “Worth it,” he says as he begins to walk off the court.  To Aaron he says, “Don’t let them do that again,” as he passes.

“Obviously.”

They win the game.

Later, at Eden’s, the whole team is drinking to celebrate the advancement to championships.  Aaron and Neil drew short straws to get the next round.  They’re waiting for Roland to fill up two trays when the loud ramblings of some drunk reaches them.  “…and he’s a psychotic little shit.  That one. The blond over there.  Offered to buy him a drink once and the psycho pulled a fucking knife.  Still think he just needs-”

Aaron turns and plants a fist in the asshole’s stomach.  The dick crumples with the hit as Aaron straightens, “That’s my brother you shit for brains,” he says with a snarl.

“And someone like you doesn’t deserve to be in the same club as him, much less buy him a drink,” Josten drawls from Aaron’s left.  His eyes blaze with the same fury that often gets him death threats.  They turn back to the bar as one to grab the trays and make their way back to the table.  They throw back a shot simultaneously and take a seat.

“The fuck was that?” Andrew asks watching them both closely.  “Hate spending time with each other that much?”

Josten rolls his eyes and settles back in his seat.  Aaron stands to head to the dance floor, but as he does Josten looks over.  They share a single nod.

Aaron and Josten talk now, but it is only ever about Andrew and only ever in passing.  It’s a relay of information.  

“Heard that striker say to aim for Andrew’s ankles.”  A stretcher is called onto the court soon after for Belmont’s striker.

“That asshole two tables over was talking shit about the trial.”  A deliberate hip to a table later and the asshole no longer has a working laptop.

Small exchanges back and forth with increasing frequency.

”The fuck is going on with you and Neil?” Andrew asks as soon as Aaron stumbles into the kitchen in search for coffee after a night at Eden’s.

“Fuck are you talking about?” he mumbles while rummaging through the cabinet for a mug.

“The two of you were whispering like a bunch of school girls last night,” comes the bland response.

Coffee finally in hand, Aaron turns to face his brother.  The memory of some dicks talking shit about Andrew comes with the first sip of coffee.  The memory of orchestrating their very full drink tray tipping to the floor with Neil comes with the second sip.  A shrug is all he gives in response.  The usual bland look sharpening into a glare tells him that Andrew knows exactly what happened.

“Thinking to protect or defend me is a useless delusion.  I’m not sure which of you infected the other, but the stupidity ends now,” he states in that way that says he expects to be obeyed.

“We disagree.”

An eyebrow quirks up, “Oh, it’s we now, is it?”

“We.”

A stare down.  Then, unbelievably, a scoff.  A concession.  “You’re both idiots.”  A small quirk of lips.  It takes Aaron a moment to recognize it as a small smile.  The first he’s gotten from his brother since the drugs.  Since Drake.  Since he finally became the protector.

Worth it.

[fortheloveofexy]

WIP for Twinyard Appreciation Week! Flats are done, just need to finish coloring.

[teomoy]

End of twinyards appreciation week and it's Andrew's day so here's some andeil 😌

[jemej3m]

radio silence (chapter 4: aaron and andrew’s people)

of course i had to do neil 

here’s ch.3 

warning for canon typical violence (baltimore, aaron’s perspective) and minor acephobia (if you squint)

*

Aaron did not like Neil Josten. He hadn’t from the start. He was quiet until he was loud-mouthed,  he was pathetic until he berated a psychopath on national television, and he was flighty until he socked said psychopath in the mouth. To sum it up: He was a walking contradiction.

It made sense that Andrew would be enamoured with him.

Andrew had told him that Easthaven had been uneventful, and that he hadn’t let Proust near him. Aaron supposed he had Josten to thank for that. It didn’t mean Josten had the right to fuck his brother, especially when it seemed that he was jumping off his ‘I don’t swing’ high horse right into his brother’s bed.

Aaron wasn’t an idiot: He’d suspected Andrew was gay for a long while. He’d known there was something different about Josten, even before Thanksgiving.

So when the idiot had gotten himself kidnapped, it wasn’t surprising that Andrew lost his shit.

Andrew’s version of ‘losing his shit’ was distinctly more conservative than one might suspect: He came back with Josten’s duffel and racket with corpselight in his eyes. He’d sat in the corner of the bus with Neil’s phone and gone over his call history, the texts in his deleted folder. Aaron watched the way Andrew’s shoulders curled, a spring wound tighter and tighter and tighter.

I’ll look up that area code, Aaron offered, when the number 443 kept circling in Andrew’s mind, loud enough for Aaron to hear without prompting. A quick search yielded an unexpected result.

Baltimore.

Andrew’s gaze snapped up to Kevin. “What’s in Baltimore?”

Kevin went white.

Matt, Aaron and Renee had to wrench Andrew back from genuinely snapping Kevin’s neck. We won’t find him if you kill Kevin, Andrew. Andrew, listen to me. Do you want to find Neil? Renee was sat across his lap, Aaron holding down his elbows. Andrew. Stop.

“Get off me,” He snarled. Aaron did as he was told, staying close and holding Andrew’s gaze as he breathed heavily, cheeks flushed with anger he hadn’t seen Andrew express in years.

The story tumbled out of Kevin’s mouth haphazardly, voice hoarse with the damage Andrew had done to his throat. When he was finished, Aaron watched him retreat into his corner again, staring listlessly out the window as Wymack nosed the bus further north instead.

Hurting Kevin was one thing, but watching Andrew reunite with Neil was a different monster entirely. Aaron watched from a distance as Andrew fell to his knees and battled with the way anger and relief. When Neil switched to German and told Andrew what’d happened, Aaron ignored his words, instead watching the way his brother’s eyes flickered over every burn and cut and bruise, fingers harsh as they wound themselves in the thread-bare, bloodied hoodie Neil wore but infinitely gentle over his injuries.

Aaron wondered if he looked at Katelyn like that.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Andrew said, bowing his head closer to Neil’s with his fingers fisted in his obnoxious red curls.

Aaron almost told Andrew that he was fucking whipped to all hell, but Andrew had been through enough. Instead, he watched Andrew as he stood and followed Neil out with the other federal agents, and said don’t do anything stupid. Including Neil.

Andrew only responded with a scathing fuck you.

*

Aaron walked into the cabin and let the familiarity wash over him. It was six years since the Foxes had stayed here for a week on Allison’s forgiving dime, six years since the nightmarish weekend in Baltimore. He looked much the same, Aaron noted (but with old scars instead of bandages and a new brand of confidence holding up his chin), still with the haunted blue eyes and scowl of his lips.

His brother still stood, tucked into Neil’s hip. And Aaron—well, Aaron couldn’t fault Neil for it any longer. He’d stayed by Andrew’s side all through college, and now, through two years of Andrew’s professional career, one of his own. He was trading in the off-season to Andrew’s team, which meant Aaron would get more peace and quiet now that Andrew wouldn’t be so lonely.

The cabin was just the same, too. New countertops in the kitchen and covers for the pillows didn’t dissuade the character of the place. Aaron had never found affection and friendship in his Fox family, but it was familiar and safe being with the nine of them. He wouldn’t trade that for anything.

They talked about old memories. They asked about their respective careers. Renee had been off hiking last Spring, so it was nice to see the way Andrew leaned towards her, talking quietly under the din of music and an Exy game playing in the background.

Aaron wandered off when the sun was just about setting with his beer, enjoying the cool breeze where he leaned against the railing. He took a photo for Katelyn and sent it: She didn’t respond, only because she was also away with her Vixens. It worked out well: They always took this week off in Spring and took an extended moment away from one another. Living together, med-school, residency planning and mentorships were a lot.

He’d propose to her soon. Maybe in the summer. It wasn’t like they hadn’t talked about it: They’d both agreed that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Marriage was just, undoubtedly, a big-ass deal. He’d gone to Nicky’s wedding, and helped with probably 95% of the planning procedures. He wasn’t sure he was ready for that chaos.

The door behind him slip open. Aaron didn’t look back, expecting his brother: He startled when Neil stood next to him instead, sipping on what was probably his brother’s glass of whiskey.

What is your menace doing out here? Aaron inquired, sending Neil the appropriate scathing look.

I don’t own him, Andrew answered, an amused drawl in his tone. Aaron huffed.

“Remember when you tried to punch me with mummified hands?” Aaron remarked, resting his beer against his ankle and straightening up again. “Pathetic.”

“Remember when you accused me of using your brother?” Neil arched an eyebrow. “That was the shittiest shovel talk I’ve ever heard.”

“You’ve only heard one.” Aaron grunted. “Monogamous fuck.”

He was really just talking about him and Andrew: They were settlers at heart. Neil knew this and snorted at the irony.

“Speaking of,” Neil murmured. “Andrew wanted me to invite you to something.”

Aaron narrowed his eyes suspiciously at his brother’s boyfriend, who backtracked slowly with a small smile playing across his lips. His hand subconsciously drifted to the hollow of his throat, playing at the collar of his t-shirt. Aaron noticed the new silver chain around his neck and felt a strange tightness in his chest.

“Text me the details,” Aaron said, looking back out to the sun which had just managed to disappear beyond the horizon.

Neil disappeared inside, quiet.

Are you messing with me? Aaron asked.

No clue what you’re talking about, Andrew responded, cooly.

I can’t believe you’re getting married before me.

Everyone’s invited to ours for 4th of July, Andrew said, ignoring Aaron entirely. That’ll be the reception, but you and Matt will get there the day before to be witnesses at the courthouse. Katelyn can come, unless you open your mouth.

Aaron snorted. Nicky is going to fucking shit himself.

Andrew simply hummed.

*

the fluff finally comin’ along now

also i nearly gave up lmao i was sold on scrapping the whole idea, good thing im a sucker for the social construct that is marriage 

[filteredred]

Mad respect to the content creators who consistently write or draw or add to the fandom experience.