The Adventures of Neil and Todd

Chapter Seven: Making Up

Oneshot Series

Disclaimer: I do not own the Dead Poets Society. If I did, would I be writing this? I'm starting to think this is getting kind of pointless to type.

A/N: I feel bad for not updating on here so I'm just writing really whatever comes to mind. I wasn't in the mood for angst but I have one more week of my college classes and then I have a short summer. The update for "Seven Days" should be done sometime around there. I haven't forgotten about it! Don't worry.

Todd always forgot just how stubborn Neil could be during and after one of their fights. He couldn't even remember what exactly started this one. The last thing he could recall had been Neil slamming down his notebook on the desk and storming out of their dorm. The dreaded sound of the door slam still reverberated through his mind and he knew this needed to be fixed. He was usually the one who tried to fix things first. Todd tended to take the blame just to get the fight over with. In the end, that usually got Neil even more frustrated and caused other fights. For a while the actor hadn't even noticed this little scheme of his but now that he had, he had to tread across the battlefield carefully.

After the first hour, Todd was beginning to get impatient. He always felt sick to his stomach from nerves. What if this is it? What if this is the fight that finally splits us apart? He shook his head at the thoughts and got up from the bed. Todd grabbed his green sweater and pulled it on before leaving to search for Neil. He knew his best friend and lover better than anyone else so he figured it wouldn't take long for him to be found. After checking Keating's room, the library and the small auditorium, that left one large place to be searched. The grounds of the school tended to be where Neil went when he wanted to clear his mind and walk. Sighing, he wandered down the large stone steps and into the lush green grass. Blue eyes roamed over the fields and the lake. Neil was nowhere in sight so far.

It took all of ten minutes to do a quick sweep of Neil's favorite places before it hit him. Neil had wandered off in the late afternoon to the cave. Mentally cursing himself for not thinking of that place first, he hurried towards the edge of the woods. With one last glance over his shoulder to make sure no one had spotted him, he disappeared into the thick foliage and began the journey to the meeting place. As he wandered the fight came back to him.

"What do you think, Todd?" Neil asked as he lounged on his school bed.

"Hm?" the younger boy hummed in response. He had been busy working on a new poem and hadn't been paying much attention.

Neil sighed and ran a hand through his short hair. "Were you even listening to me?" he demanded. Sure, Todd listened a lot of times and still didn't understand completely. Neil didn't think he was that difficult to make sense of but maybe he was. He could be rather complicated at times. However, there were occasions Todd just zoned out because apparently he rambled just a bit too much. Neil was pretty certain this was one of them.

Todd hesitated. To give himself some time, he turned the page of his notebook and tapped his pen rhythmically against it. "Kind of…"

The boy across the room sat up in the bed from him. "What do you mean?"

"I just…got a little distracted, I guess." Todd's cheeks began to heat up to an embarrassing shade of pink.

Neil narrowed his eyes at him. "I never get distracted when you talk or need something." His arms crossed over his chest in defiance.

The boy under scrutiny began to fidget uncomfortably against his pillow. "I-I know," he stuttered out. "I just had this really good idea and I guess it kind of…took over."

Annoyed, Neil continued to just stare at him. "You couldn't have taken just five minutes to talk to me?" He knew that this conversation was turning into a ridiculous fight but he couldn't help it. Some of the smallest things they both did lately were getting to each other.

Todd sighed and set his supplies to the side. "I can listen now."

Neil shook his head and stood up from the bed. "No, I don't feel like repeating myself and having to put you through that."

"Neil!"

"Todd!"

"…Don't do that."

Neil snorted. "Oh, so now you're telling me what to do?"

Groaning, Todd rubbed at his eyes. "No, of course not!"

"Before you tell me to, I'm leaving!" Neil slammed his notebook down onto the desk and fled from the room, slamming the door behind him.

Todd stared at it in shock before mumbling to himself, "Damn actors are always so dramatic."

Upon nearing the cave, Todd noticed the thin smoke leaving the top hole of the rock formation. At least all of the distance he traveled out here hadn't been for nothing. Bracing himself for what he might have to deal with inside, he drew in a deep breath and went in. He took in the form of Neil sitting by the fire he had created, shoveling the contents of it around with a small stick. Todd stopped on the opposite side of the fire to look down at Neil. "Hey," he greeted quietly and took a seat.

Neil briefly glanced up at him before focusing back on his task. "Hi," he mumbled in response.

Trying to figure out what to say, Todd held his hands out over the fire to try and warm them up. It wasn't too cold out but it was pretty chilly and he hated being cold. He should've brought along his long coat like Neil had but he had been in too much of a rush to think of it. "I figured you'd be out here."

Still playing with the fire, Neil shrugged and didn't bring his eyes up from it. "Mhm."

Todd inwardly groaned. He had been hoping the time away from each other would've helped to soften Neil up but he was even more stubborn instead. "I'm uh, sorry I hadn't been listening. I should've and I won't do it again."

Neil just nodded to show that he was paying attention so Todd went on. "So…yeah, it was my fault."

And there it was. Those fatal words that always slipped out and caused more trouble. Neil looked up and him and let go of the stick. "Must you always do that?"

It was Todd's turn to be staring down at the fire as a blush lit up his cheeks for the second time that day. "I…just think it's easier to do it that way. This time really was kind of my fault, though." Even if he hadn't meant to do it on purpose.

Neil sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It really was Todd's fault this time so he couldn't get mad for once over his crumbling. Before he could have some kind of retort he noticed Todd begin to shiver. "You're an idiot."

"What?" Todd questioned as he looked up from the fire with wide eyes of surprise.

"You're an idiot. You didn't bring your coat."

Todd's blush deepened. "I know. I was just…worried."

Neil softened at that and patted the spot next to him. "Come here," he stated. Todd did as he was told and sat down beside Neil on the other side of the fire. Neil unbuttoned his coat and had Todd change his seating position again. After Todd was comfortably leaning into his chest and sitting back against him, Neil wrapped the coat around both of them and buttoned it back up. Todd raised an eyebrow. "Why is this one big enough for both of us?" he asked.

"The laundry got mixed up again and I ended up with Pitts'."

Todd snorted. "I don't think Pittsy will be very happy when he tries to pull on his coat and it doesn't fit because it's yours."

Neil grinned at the mental image. "Well, at least his came in handy."

Todd nodded and relaxed into him as Neil wrapped his arms around his torso. Next, his chin went to rest on Todd's shoulder and he pressed a light kiss to the other boy's neck.

"I really am sorry," Todd assured him.

Neil groaned. "Be quiet." They had been getting better and he had brought it back up.

"But I am!"

"Shut up!"

"What?"

"I said…I want you to shut up."

So Todd would actually do what he was told for once, Neil leaned in and kissed him.

As the poet returned the kiss, he couldn't help but think this was the best way to make up. He was going to have to remember this for in the future.