#robron drabble

Robert woke with a bolt of pain and a whimper, his wrist throbbing. For a few seconds, he couldn't even work out where he was before reality sunk in, his bedroom coming back to him, Aaron next to him.

"...sorry," Aaron murmured, hand reaching out for him blindly and finding Robert's bare back, stroking. He'd been sleeping on his stomach, which meant his arm had been right in the line of fire when Aaron tried to curl up to him.

"'s all right," Robert said. He twisted over to his bedside table to quickly neck some painkillers before turning back to Aaron, this time his wrist safely out of harms way.

"Sure?" Aaron said, a little hesitant about touching him. Robert grabbed him with his good arm, wrapping them close together.

It was the new leather jacket.

Aaron knew where the old worn one was.  He had told Robert he had thrown it out among his other clothes, not that Robert cared. At least he didn’t seem to care when Aaron told him, as he put some old photos back out of the two of them from years ago. Their past proudly on display once more.

9.02pm.

Chas looks up from her watch at the peaceful face of her son. Well, what she can make out of him, underneath all of the tubes and wires covering him.

Just that sight alone is enough to put a lump in her throat, tears pricking at her eyes.

The doctor had not long left after explaining to her that they still weren’t entirely sure how long he would be like this, and whether they may eventually have to intervene.

But for now, all they can do is wait.

(i’m just winging the dialogue because i didn’t pay much attention and i’m *not* rewatching it)

---

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Aaron sat down in the grass next to Ben who gave him a shrug.

“It’s not your problem. You’ve got enough on your plate.”

“You mean with Liv?”

Ben shrugged again.

“I know things aren’t easy with her. You don’t need to deal with him too.”

Aaron frowned.

“Liv’s nowhere near his level” the ‘yet’ unspoken but they both knew it was there.

They sat in silence for a few minutes until Aaron spoke again.

“How long has it been going on?”

“I don’t know. Always. it’s just gotten worse the last few years... and then when I got the job at the Hop and brought more money in... it got even worse.” Ben sighed. “But just... forget about it. You don’t have to feel sorry for me. I’m fine. I’m used to it.”

“You shouldn’t have to be. You don’t have to take the abuse just because he’s your dad.”

“It’s not that simple... he won’t survive without me.”

“You won’t survive with him.” Aaron said bluntly. “He said you moved out. Where have you been staying?”

“Just... sofa surfing.”

“Sofa surfing. Sure. Now tell me where you’ve really been staying.”

Ben took a deep breath and looked at his shoes.

“The kayak shed at the Hop.” he admitted. “I’ve got some stuff there and an air mattress... it’s fine. The commute to work is great.” he said, trying to lift the mood with a joke.

Aaron rolled his eyes and got up. He brushed the grass from his jeans and held out his hand to pull Ben to his feet.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“What? Go where?” Ben gave him a confused look.

“You’re staying at ours tonight.” Aaron decided.

“No, no, that’s ok. I’m fine. Really.”

“You’re clearly not. Come on. Don’t make me stuff you in the boot.”

Ben gave him a strange look but let him pull him up.

“Family tradition. Just ask Robert.” Aaron said with a grin.

“Won’t he mind? I heard you talking about date night... I don’t want to impose on your night with your husband...”

“it’s fine. Rob will understand if I tell him we’re helping out a mate.”

“Ok... if you’re sure...”

“I am.” Aaron said and got into his car. “And I promise I won’t tell him about your dad if you don’t want me to...”

Ben got in too.

“It’s ok. Everyone knows by now anyway.”

Aaron typed a quick text to Robert to tell him he was bringing Ben with him and laughed a little at his reply.

“I hope you’re hungry. He’s making some recipe he found online and he only  just realised it’s supposed to feed 8.”

“It’s fine. I’ll eat anything. I appreciate you letting me stay in the first place.”

“Of course. That’s what friends are for, right? Helping each other in times of need and all that.”

The drive to the mill was quiet and Aaron turned on the radio to fill the silence. When he pulled into the driveway, Ben gave the house a weary look.

“Come on. It’s fine. Liv’s out so there’s no drama, and Seb is at his mum’s for the weekend, so you get the racecar bed tonight.”

kicking off 2018 with a bit of a fluffy drabble

————————————————————————

“Dance with me”. Robert said, towel slung carelessly over his shoulder.

“You’re cooking dinner” Aaron eventually said too shocked at first to reply after what Robert had suggested.

A smug smile tugged at Roberts lips “I can multitask”.

“I don’t dance” Aaron said. He’d been perfectly ok with sitting at the table watching Robert make dinner and texting Adam.

“Liv and Gerry aren’t home, there’s nobody here other then me to witness your terrible dancing and I promise I won’t hold your two left feet over your head”. As he talked Robert slowly approached Aaron and gently reached out his hand.

Robert took Aarons hand replacing the phone that had previously been held there and he pulled the grouchy man to his feet.

Aaron was fighting to keep his face looking like he thought this was all ridiculous and he did think this was all ridiculous but he also tho8ght it was pretty sweet and he was struggling to not let his lips twitch even slightly into a smile.

“There’s no music” Aaron pointed out. For somebody who didn’t want to do this he was enjoying tangling his and Roberts fingers together softly.

“There’s this great and amazing invention known as phones and the internet” Robert replied phone already hand. A few seconds later and the soft sound of a song Aaron didn’t know the name of was playing.

“See. Now you’ve got no more excuses” Robert said resting his phone down and taking Aarons other hand and pulling him close.

Aaron rolled his eyes but smiled. One benefit of Robert being a few inches taller was that Aarons head fit perfectly on Roberts shoulder. Especially like this, chest to chest, hands holding, fingers entwined.

Robron fluff inspired by this post

Robert had been saying for weeks that his teeth were hurting him, and after a lot of convincing from Aaron, he finally agreed to go to the dentist. Not before he made Aaron promise to come in with him though. He wasn’t afraid of the dentist, that wasn’t it. He just didn’t like going, that’s all… not scared, of course not.

“Mr. Sugden’s husband?” Aaron looked up from the issue of Vogue that he’d been uninterestedly flipping through.

“Yeah that’s me.”

“We’re all finished, you can come in and see him now, Aaron stood, “But his anesthesia still hasn’t completely worn off, so he’s a bit out of it.”

“Right, thanks,” Aaron said with a small smile. He stepped past her and made his way into the room where they were previously removing his husbands wisdom teeth.

Aaron had to admit he’d found it rather odd when they said it was Robert’s wisdom teeth, considering Aaron got his taken out when he was only fifteen. He thought that was how it was with everyone, but  then again, his husband was never one to play by the rules. He guessed that applied to dental work as well.

He heard a small gasp from Robert’s room, and turned towards the noise, “well aren’t you a strapping lad?” Robert said with a smirk.

Aaron chuckled, and looked behind him “Who are you talking to? Should I be jealous?”

Robert ignored the question and instead gave Aaron a once over, noticing the ring on Aaron’s finger, “Aw, you’re taken?..” he frowned at his lap, “She’s a lucky woman.”

Aaron laughed, “Oh, you’re a woman? How did I miss that?”

Robert looked up confused, “What? I’m notta wom’n.”

Aaron took Robert’s hand and Robert flinched away, “hey, as temptin’ as that is, you’re married.”

“Yea, to you, ya weirdo,” he grabbed Robert’s hand again and pointed to his ring

“What?” Robert looked genuinely shocked, which surprised Aaron cause he’d thought that this had  just been a flirty joke. He looked Aaron up and down and brought his right hand up to cover his mouth, his left still in Aaron’s grasp. He began to tear up.

“Rob? What’s wrong?” Aaron asked, reaching up to touch Robert’s cheek.

“It’s just…” he sniffed, “I’m married to you?” Robert dropped his hand.

“Yeah Robert, you’re married to me.”

“But…”

Robert once again, checked Aaron out from head to toe.

Aaron laughed and guided Robert face back to his own, “But what Rob, what is it?”

“You’re just so… beautiful,” a tear ran down his face, and he sniffed.

It’s hot. 

It’s a little passed seven in the evening and it’s still bloody hot. He’s sitting down on one of the cheap beach chairs by the pool, watching the sun’s reflection on the water as it goes down behind the low rising buildings. 

"How're you?"

"Hot," Robert said, the recent heat wave having started to bite.

"I'm not spying on you..." Aaron said. "I was visiting my mum and I saw you... hugging a woman?"

"Ah," Robert said, a mixture of amusement and fear that Aaron would go down the jealousy route of years before. "That'd be Serena." Aaron looked at him blankly. "Don't be worried."

"I'm not," Aaron said honestly, their eyes hooking for a moment. "I'm curious though."

Robert couldn't look away from him. "You're really not worried, are you?"

"No," Aaron said. "I know I've got you. I do want to know who she is though."

"Her last name's Sugden," Robert said. "She's a distant cousin, I haven't seen her in years. It was good to see her. I think she wants to meet you by the way."

Aaron's eyebrows flicked up in surprise when he'd said "cousin" for a moment before taking a drink of his beer. "I've got so much family around here," Aaron said. "It's good for you to have someone."