Hello!

Robby who is aromantic. Of course, he doesn’t really know that that's an option. (Maybe he has a late awakening when one of the pittlings talks about it) He just knows he feels like he needs to run everytime a partner starts being too serious, too romantic. Starts having too many expectations. He needs the physical touch and he enjoys having sex and so he tries and tries again.

The seven-week-itch is born. He doesn’t really think it's his fault that there seems to be such a constant pattern to when the people he is with start expecting romantic feelings. Feelings that Robby never has. Sometimes it holds a little longer. He does have partners he truly loves, Janey is one of them, but eventually they all notice that Robby doesn’t love them the way they need him to. Robby is never enough.

Sometimes Robby wishes, dating people was as easy as being friends with Jack. What an odd thought to have, he thinks immediately after.

Jack who isn’t interested in dating after his wife dies. It doesn’t really cross his mind anymore. He's too old to want to start anything new. He simply can’t see himself doing it all over with someone new. But still Jack doesn’t like being alone. He's so touch-starved.

They have been friends a long time. Jack is aware he has always had some funny feelings for Robby. It might be all the therapy, but he's pretty in tune with that part of himself. It's not quite romantic but it sure as hell is nothing like any of his other buddies.

One day it just spills out of Jack. They're watching a game, sitting thigh to thigh like always, but it's not enough. Jack goes for Robby's hand. He intertwines their fingers, pulls both their hands into his lap, resting against his thigh. He lets his head fall against Robby's shoulder.

"Sorry brother," Jack tells him, he can’t look at him but Robby isn’t pulling his hand away so it can’t be that bad. He tries to put a little humor in his voice. "I guess just need a fucking cuddle today. So you gotta help me out here. I'll be out of your way in a few minutes."

It's suspiciously quiet for a moment and then he feels Robby lean his head against the top of his. His hand is squeezed once.

I reached out to @alethialia a short while back about creating a fanfic/fanart collab piece, just for fun, and she was SO KIND and said yes, and finally we reached the day for posting it.

Everyone please go read Fresh Perspective by Alethia: "In 2.07, when Abbot is being treated by Mohan, Robby walks by and does a double-take, which was scripted. Santos walks by and does a triple-take, which was not scripted. Given her history, I can't imagine that Santos just leaves that alone, especially since "our little secret" was the exact phrase she used in S1 when relating her own abuse. So. A take on it."

Amazing story, excellent character nuance, describes this episode in a light I didn't even consider before.

Tender loving 💕