don't freak out

Aaron has the gene, Cain gets the cancer

Robert can't even mention Seb, Kev gets the father son bonding

Aaron was ready to adopt Seb in 2018, but now Moira is adopting Kyle instead

Robert spends 6 years inside and comes out with a huge amount of trauma, but Bear (fine) and Dylan (okay) and Paddy (seriously?) get the mh aspect stories

Aaron has come out of an abusive relationship, but Serena is the one who gets to talk and cry about John

Robert is the one with historic on screen fire trauma, but they give the trigger and fall out to Graham

Robert and Aaron are the ones who should be wary about Kev and warn people off, but instead it's Vinny talking about his sword slinging and hostage holding

put another x on the calendar and leave fast, or stay forever in particular are MUST READS

ahhh what a wonderful ask to receive!!! and highly deserved praise, too!

you can read all eighteen of jackiemerrick’s robron fics here!

with special mentions to: put another x on the calendar and leave fast, or stay forever

tw: implied discussion of past dubcon/non-con. please be mindful if this could be triggering for you.

thank you for the tags @thatnervouswreck @stuckinanothertimezone and @robertbugden <3

"Oh come on, Aaron! It's what I'm good at! You know that as well as anyone," he adds that last part a little nastily, but Aaron knows it's just a defence mechanism. He can see Robert spiralling in real time and just like an injured fox being cornered on a hunt; he bares his fangs.

"It's one of the only things I'm good at," Robert says sadly, quietly, before adding, even quieter still; "it was the only thing in there I could use to stay alive—"

There's a gasp from behind, and Robert whirls around at the sound of his sister's hushed horror. She's standing there in the doorway—he hadn't even heard her come in—and she's holding her hand over her mouth with tears in her eyes. Robert's resolve all but cracks in two. He hadn't meant for her to hear that. He hadn't wanted any of this. What happened to him is nothing—nothing—compared to what happened to Aaron and Vic. It's not even in the same league.

But Robert can't shake the feelings of guilt and shame surrounding him now like a shroud. They feel heavy and course, more like a tangled braid wrapping itself around his neck; an albatross hanging there, like a noose—a constant reminder—a never ending punishment—everything he deserves—dragging him down down down—

"Robert," Aaron whispers, like his heart is breaking, interrupting his boyfriend's painful reverie. He reaches out carefully, but all Robert can do is flinch, jerking backwards before either of them can come any closer.

"It's not—it's not like that. It wasn't like that, okay? You've got this wrong—Christ, Vic, stop looking at me like that! Both of you, just, just—just stop!"

And Robert runs away before Aaron and Victoria even get the chance to utter another word.