âSander...â Robbe whispers, pulling Sander closer like he always does. Â
Sander hums, letting this boy do whatever heâs pleased with him. He pulls and pushes Sander wherever he wants, but Sander tries hard not to engage. Because you are perfect and Iâm a fuck up and I donât want to mess you up. Â
People say teenagers have a lot of hormones, and Sander is no better. Of course, he wants to engage, to hold Robbe tighter, let his hands wander up and down his lean figure, and explore everything his brain has already painted in his imagination. But, at the same time, he thinks Robbe is too good for him, so itâs better to keep some boundaries in the imminent case he breaks Robbeâs heart and traumatizes some experiences for him. Â
Robbe grunts in between kisses, letting Sander know he is frustrated with Sander basically pretending to be dead while they kiss, holding back from starting a make-out session he is not sure he will be able to resist taking further. Â
âYouâre annoying,â Robbe complains, pushing Sander away from his arms and legs, a second from pouting. Â
âHey!â Sander smiles, feeling his whole chest warm, trying to grab Robbeâs wrists or shins to pull him closer. After a little bit of a fight, Robbe is close again and willing. Sander holds the back of his head, kissing him slow and deep, holding the hair that reaches Robbeâs nape a little too tight to be innocent. Â
They spent yet another whole afternoon in this pull-and-push game. Robbe climbs his lap and wraps his long, lazy limbs around Sander and it gets harder and harder to put a stop to it after every round. Â
âYouâre a baby...my baby.â Sander hears himself voicing his thoughts out loud. He thinks about taking a picture of Robbe like this, messy, spent, with his hair pointing in a million different directions, with his lips puffy and dry, but he knows his gallery is filled with pictures of Robbe already. Â
They stopped kissing because Robbeâs phone wouldnât stop beeping with a row of new messages. Sander could tell it was from his mom because Robbeâs whole body language changes when he talks to his mom or dad. He adjusts his posture like his parents are there, seeing and correcting him, the easy smile thatâs always resting on his cheeks is gone, and he tries to fix his hair. Robbe looks completely different. And he is very evasive when explaining what the messages were about. Something about religion, something about Robbe being his momâs miracle baby. Â
For someone so soft, easy, kind, and open-hearted about human goodness, Robbe believes in very little things that are not proven scientifically. And itâs written all over his face that his deeply cynical beliefs stem from whatever happened within his family.Â
To change Sanderâs attention and avoid another attempt at a conversation about Robbeâs family, his demeanor changes back to how it was before the text. Soft, compliant, trying to make Sander lay down on his bed. Â
âI want to be yours,â Robbe whispers like a secret against his lips. Â
Sander sighs, running a hand through Robbeâs soft hair. âYouâre way too young for me.â He teases, turning his face away, looking out of the window across the room, trying not to smile.Â
Robbe grunts, âFuck you,â and pushes him away again, pulling him back just as quickly, pressing their lips together. Â
After hours of making out with his dream human, Sanderâs self-control is struggling. Robbeâs tongue is warm, the right amount of slow and curious, and before he notices, Robbe is straddling him and Sander is squeezing the sides of Robbeâs small waist, a second away from pushing his hips up-Â
Thankfully, Robbe stops their kiss, sitting up on top of Sander, snaking his hands inside Sanderâs shirt, pushing it up until Sanderâs shoulder blades stop him from going further. Â
He seems to inspect Sanderâs exposed torso â they havenât seen each other shirtless before. Â
Sander smiles lazily, pressing his lips together so as not to engage, and ends up asking if Robbe likes what he sees. Â
One of Robbeâs cold, ridiculously soft hands goes up right in the middle, stopping to feel Sanderâs heartbeat, smiling when he notices how fast it is beating. He goes back down, smiling mischievously as he pays special attention to the line of hair that goes inside Sander's black jeans, he holds a few hairs and pulls. Â
âOuch!â Sander writhes, putting his hand where it stings. Â
They stay there for a moment, looking at each other, Sander feeling goosebumps because of his exposed torso and because Robbe is right there, on top of him, only a few pieces of clothes in between. Â
âOne day I will win this fight. And youâll regret having waited this long...â Â
Sander sighs, defeated and in love, nodding his head. âIâm sure I will. But then weâll make up for all this lost time.â Â
âPromise?â Robbe asks.Â
Sander nods his head again. âPromise. Iâll get us a nice hotel room and all.â Â
Robbe smiles at him, finally coming close again for another kiss. Sander doubts he will be able to resist this boy for long if he keeps asking like that. Â
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Robbe and Sanderâs final year at conservatory, and a skamverse cameo.
***
A Sobbe story by Beulaugh | Explicit | 5/12
Fic Summary:
Rival French Horn players, Robbe and Sander, meet when they are in high school and immediately dislike one another; however, at a summer music camp they learn that they donât have to like one another to take advantage of the spark that ignites whenever theyâre alone. Cue a years-long clandestine, secretâŠsomething. Can they call themselves fuck buddies if theyâre not actually friends?
How do these two rival musicians weather their non-relationship as their lives interweave and change, as they make choices that take them far from one another? Is it only convenient, or is it something more?
Today we're featuring the story "and the elephant sings" by our own mod beulaugh aka @if-music-be-the-food-of-love with art by moments_au_crayon_22 for this zoo cute sobbe fic!
beulaugh: What inspired this story?
My mother recently passed away, and she was a great lover of animals and zoos. She watched a lot of veterinarian and zoo shows, and I wanted to combine those two loves into one story to honor her memory. I always love exploring parenting in fics. I liked the idea of Sander processing his feelings about fatherhood through childrenâs books as well as Robbe challenging his worldview and forcing him out of his comfort zone.
moments_au_crayon_22: What inspires you about this story?
I read the magic words "Sobbe zoo ficâ and was instantly sold on this story! I can relate so well to both author/artist Sander and veterinarian Robbe as those always were my dream jobs ( with the artist bit now coming true a little ;) ) Them meeting in the exotic zoo setting, with all my favorite animals to draw and an emotional journey about to start - whatâs not to love? The 2023 Skam Big Bang starts posting June 21st!
Told you I was thinking things,, so hereâs the teeniest drabble of Sander braiding Robbeâs hair
âHow do you even know how to do this?â Robbe asked, careful not to move too much.
âMiss Fridaâ Sander replied.
Robbe rolled his eyes, grateful that Sander couldnât see, âWhy did Miss Frida teach you how to plait?â
This time Sander tugged on the braid in warning and Robbe had to bite back the urge to moan.
âShe taught all of us, said something about how it helps fine motor skills or something. She probably just couldnât be bothered to braid her own wigs and made us do it and made up a reason why itâd be useful in an art classâ
Robbe hummed in response and settled back onto Sanderâs legs, letting the other boy continue braiding his hair. Each time Sander tugged at his hair to make sure the braid stayed tight he had to bite his lip to hold back any noise he might make.
Instead, Robbe thought about how he had even ended up in this situation. He knows it was because of the comment he made earlier, about how his hair was really starting to annoy him and how he wished he could just get rid of it. Sander had dropped to his knees and begged Robbe not to cut it, Robbe had just laughed at Sander, pressing a kiss to his bowed head and asked Sander what else he expected Robbe to do, which made Sander light up before dashing from Robbeâs room. When he had returned it was with a bunch of items pilfered from ZoĂ«âs room, which had led them both to this.
A poke to his shoulder made Robbe zone back in and register that Sander had finished plaiting his hair. He carefully moved his hand up to his hair and trailed his fingers over the pattern Sander had made.
He didnât know what it looked like but he knew he loved it.
Robbe moved so that he could turn and sit facing Sander, once he was comfortable he pressed a kiss to Sanderâs cheek and whispered a small thank you into his shoulder. He smiled when he felt Sanderâs arms wrap around his waist and pressed himself in closer.
So, woensdag 20:06. I always thought that with WtFock and especially robbe and sander love story, we had the most intense love tension between two characters. Looking back at this moment, itâs insane how we can feel sander desire. It feels like this moment, this one moment was what he wanted. The euphoria in his voice, the stares, even the excitement when he sees that Noor and Britt are not coming back. This moment will determine everything else.
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@franboos @to-enter-polaris @gucciboner and myself worked on a massive fic recommendation list with all our favourite sobbe fics classed by word count.. enjoy!
one-shots:
< 10k
- hold me close @sincerelysobbe (2,5k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23969836
Robbe is stressed because of a test and Sander comforts him.
- You make me feel like I am whole again @nbrook (2,7k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/26937070
Robbe is having an awful day. But it ends in the best way possible.
- A Beautiful Night @Lwritings (3,6k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23428594
Sander has been friends with the Broerrrs for half a year and Robbe has been desperately crushing on him. A game of Never Have I Ever changes everything.
- Love potion no.9 @thekardemomme (3,8k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/28923867
theyâre best friends. and potions partners. or: itâs amortentia day.
- Croissants @bruisingknees (3,8k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22186195
Robbe thinks that maybe the guy working at the bakery has been flirting with him.
- Paper rings @thekardemomme (4k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27953645
When Sanderâs nose twitches, causing him to make this soft little whimpering sound, Robbe canât help himself. He leans forward enough to kiss Sanderâs forehead again, and then he dots one on each cheek, and then finally on his nose. âI canât wait to marry you,â he whispers.
- Youâre an angel in disguise (youâre an angel in my eyes) @thekardemomme (4,1k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27570142
Robbe is Sanderâs guardian angel.
- The sun came up and I was looking at you @allforyoumylove (4,2k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24647095
Robbe and Sander waking up on a quiet Sunday morning in June. Sander is a tease, Robbe is awestruck, and both are hopelessly in love.
- Iâve always wanted a (boy)friend @thekardemomme (4,2k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/28496322
before sander, robbe never liked christmas. christmas is sanderâs favorite holiday.
- Purple lips (underwater) @dottori (5,3k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22371688
itâs a sunny, warm friday at the beginning of march, and sander wants them to go for a swim.
- Day Fifty @beejohnlocked (5,7k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27987252
Robbe makes a plan to confess his feelings to Sander on Christmas.
- The blind date bomb @thekardemomme (5,8k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/29073711
âHe thinks of the gorgeous man in the picture, and he thinks of how Sander said his YouTube is cute, and how Brittâwho hardly even knows Robbeâthinks that he and Sander would be a good match.And he decides⊠Fuck it. One date canât hurt, right?â or: robbe and sander go on a blind date
- Let's dance @msleviss (6,2k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22092550Â
Robbe and his friends go to a club to check out Amberâs DJ cousin.
- 12 things I love about you @nbrook (6,3k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27636032
Sander can't spend the whole day with Robbe on their anniversary, but he still figures out a way to make him fall in love with him all over again.
- Love me while your wrists are bound @alsjeblieft (6,4k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27031636
the cabin trip but with a twist.
- Sun shining from pure desire @skamtrash (6,6k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27105727
Sander has been flirting with his student teacher, Robbe for months now who keeps reminding Sander that he's wasting his time but eventually the flirting and chasing wears Robbe down to where he cant deny his attraction to Sander. University TA/Student AU
-Â At ease with you @Skamtrash ( 7,7,k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/26423596
robbe tells his mom he and his best friend, sander are dating to get her off his back.
He doesn't expect his mom to congratulate them by getting them tickets to join her on a cruise vacation.
Cue a week of pretending to be a couple.
fake relationship to lovers au
- Besotted with your love @Skamtrash (7,7k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/25288000
sander has a photography project and decides to shoot at the skatepark where robbe is his subject. when he approaches robbe and needs him to fill out the release form, he's absolutely smitten from the start.
sander falling in love with robbe who's deaf.
- Taking pictures of you as the light came through @allforyoumylove (7,9k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27533866
Robbe photographs Sander in bed. Things take a steamy turn.
- My midsummer darling @robbesdriesen (8,2k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23702017
Robbe goes on a summer week-long retreat to his aunt's quaint, little villa in Genoa. He doesn't know he has a neighbor close by, one that would capture his entire soul.
OR
Robbe and Sander fall in love in a whirlwind summer romance. One that would change their lives forever.
- Afterglow @Skamtrash (9k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/28032300
On vacation in a small winter village during the holidays, Robbe meets one of the hotel's employees, Sander.
All it takes is two weeks. 14 days for them to fall for each other.
Robbe is stuck with his typical 9-5 job as an HR analyst until a conversation with Sander from IT on their company rooftop makes him reconsider his dreams. In the midst of it all, Adam from Accounting has a massive crush on Robbe and wants to ask him to the Christmas Party, so Sander offers to be his "date" to help him. Christmas fluff and flirting ensues.
> 10kÂ
- Sander Driesen versus a mistletoe @dottori (10,1k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27976461
itâs not a fair match.
(or, sobbe go on a christmas date, and sander really wants a kiss under the mistletoe.)
- This isn't our first time around @noobishere (10,7k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/25472953
One moment they are in the kitchen of their shared apartment, the next, they're in this strange but familiar room.
(a.k.a the au in which they accidentally go hopping through multiple universes)
- Our love story is my favorite @robbesdriesen (13k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/25459867
a wedding fic for robbe and sander
- Itâs an unrequited love @eggsntoast (14,1k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22854661
Sander works part-time at a museum every Sunday. Robbe is a frequent visitor.
- Agents Sliding Down The Chimney @berrevy (14,2k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/28428840
The smile that twitches at the corner of Sander's mouth is like the tiniest opening, and Robbe takes that as a challenge. Heâs always been good at slipping through small spaces.
âYou wanna see a trick?â
Sander sizes him up for a moment, then swivels on his heel to face him fully. âOk then, magic boy. Câmon.â
(aka a late Christmas fic)
- Come lie with me @allforyoumylove (14,6k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/29089530Â
âWhen Robbe lifts the blanket and gently tugs on the leg of Sanderâs sweatpants, silently inviting him in, Sander doesnât ask questions, doesnât hesitate, he just drowsily slips into Robbeâs embrace.â
(or the one where they both have a terrible relationship with sleep but find out that it gets a little better when nestled up against each other)
- Man on a mission @littleliefe (17k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27820564
The agency is under attack but Sander is just thirsty for Robbe. On the other hand, the rest of the agency is more concerned about helping Sander ask Robbe out for dinner.
- life was a willow and it bent right to your wind @nbrook (18k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/28349892
Sander and Robbe became best friends before Sander made a move and then Robbe went and got himself another boyfriend, leaving him pining. And itâs fine, really, it is. Sander promised himself that he wouldnât do anything about it for as long as Robbe was happy. But when Robbeâs boyfriend ridicules his love for everything Christmas, he decides to step in to give him the Christmas traditions he deserves himself.
- You're my stars...and everything in between @aurorawinds (19,7k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27862950
A Star-Crossed Lovers, Romeo & Juliet inspired, AU where Robbe and Sander are the sons of Antwerpâs two most rivaling families of tech companies, head over heels in love with one another as they find it more and more difficult each day to hide their relationship from their families. To hide their love.
- Lovers never lose @dottori (24k)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/27532636
twelve-ish kisses robbe and sander share at the trip to ardennes (and afterwards).
multi-chaptered:
5k - 20k
- In the middle of the night @Lwritings (complete | 9,3k)
The Broerrrs go on holiday for a week to London. Robbe is very excited for it until there is something wrong in the hotel and he has to share a room with Sander. And not just Sander, no the guy he has been crushing on for 3 months ever since he joined their group. And not just a room, no there is only one bed as well. When it's just the two of them in the night, anything can happen..
- If a June night could talk it would probably boast it invented romance @allforyoumylove (complete | 14,7k)
Robbe and Sander are childhood best friends. Theyâre also secretly in love with each other. Confessions are made under a beech tree on a warm summer evening at the end of June.
Robbe stands up and finds the voice calling the name and fucking hell, the guy's well fit. He's only dressed in a black t shirt, black jeans and boots but the tattoos that layer his arms immediately entice him. And that platinum hair, his actual face, who looks that good. He gets himself together quickly, "I think Bowie's here."
The au in which Robbe finds a toddler hiding in a clothing rack at a store and ends up falling for his dad
- The way we feel @toskyandbeyond (in the works | currently 17,8k)
Itâs always been like that. Robbe and Sander, through thick and thin. There was not a thing they didnât go through together. Moreover, they couldnât even imagine living without each otherâs presence.
The day they met it was almost like two old souls encountered once again. Like they were meant to find each other.
- The finest of the meadow @allforyoumylove (complete | 18,8k)
The universe brings two lonely boys together in a flowering meadow. They fall for each other fast and hard among delicate daisies, warm summer breezes, and shooting stars.
20k - 40k
- Come closer Iâll give you all my love @sonderthroughthestreets (in the works | 22,6k)
Robbeâs ex is a pain and Sander helps get rid of him. The problem? Theyâve been friends for as long as they can remember and some point between the blurred lines, they fall in love.
- Â Put your head on my shoulder @Aniloracat (in the works | currently 24,9k)
Because of some past mistakes and communication issues, Robbe and Sander can't stand each other anymore, until they are "forced" to stay in quarantine alone and face their feelings.
đ Or the enemies to lovers, roommates, quarantine fanfic nobody asked for đ
đ Title based on Paul Anka's song 'Put your head in my shoulder'
- Waiting down at the station @ivy_seas (in the works | currently 25,5k)
The world is winter, itâs the inconvenient snowfall on the walk to the six-thirty train, itâs falling for the stranger who happens to take the same train. When to take a risk becomes the same question of when to let go of something youâre not really sure you had in the first place. But maybe the world isnât so cruel.
âstrangers to lovers au
- Wings to Earn @to-enter-polaris (complete | 26,6k)
After playing volleyball abroad for two years, Sander comes back home to fix his mistake of leaving in the first place, but Robbe isn't ready to forgive him.
- time may change me, but i can't trace time @abittersweetsong (in the works | currently 30,8k)
Robbe is having a terrible day and a hot, but annoying white-haired photographer that won't stop appearing everywhere is not making it any better. That's it, until sparks fly, and Robbe decides he's found the perfect distraction from his terrible day.
 One-night stand AU that's not meant to be a one-night stand.
The same party one Friday night in February, told from different perspectives.
- You know i'm always at your shoulder (take your heart out of its holster) @wafflesofdoom (in the works (but can be read separate from each other) | currently 35,2k)
âI must have been really good, in another universe, to deserve you,â Sander whispered, thumb brushing the line of Robbeâs cheekbone, the pad of his thumb soft against Robbeâs skin.
Robbe simply kissed the inside of Sanderâs wrist, shaking his head. âYou are good in this universe, too,â he said. âYou found me, when I needed you the most.â
learning how to be in a real, actual relationship isn't the easiest thing in the world, and robbe is very new to it all, and he's got a lot to figure out when it comes to being in actual, everyday love with sander. the first six months of a relationship are the best - and they're some of the hardest, too. these are the first six months of robbe and sander's relationship.
- this rough magic @aholynight (complete | 36,4k)Â
Though heâs a sixth-prefect and the newest member of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, Muggleborn Robbe can still hardly believe that heâs made of magic.
Sander is the seventh-year Gryffindor beater whose wild behavior and delinquent reputation precedes him.
Though Robbe desperately wants to believe in the angel-faced boy he sees in front of himâand ignore the rumors of Sanderâs devilish behaviorâheâs not sure his heart can afford the risk.
But when Sander and Robbe are left in a nearly-empty Hogwarts over the Christmas holiday, avoiding Sander might no longer be an option.
40k - 60k
- The night we met @themoongirl (complete | 42,8k)
Does Robbe and Sander's relationship survive into adulthood.
This fic takes place in two simultaneously timelines: the past and the present.
The present occurs in one entire day. Both timelines are completely out of chronological order. Everything is in clips.You can be dropped in at anytime of the day in any timeline. So clip by clip you will need to piece together what happen to Sander & Robbe and why the present looks the way it does and what happened in the past that got them there.
This love story is a journey. So be prepared.
In the words of one of our Even's. Itâs a complicated love story between complicated people.
- look into my eyes, ignore the rest @robbesdriesen (complete | 47,4k)
Robbe is a college freshman whose reckless habits and excessive drinking are starting to look an awful lot like calculated self-destructionâthough his loneliness might be the thing that kills him first.
Sander is a visual arts major a few years above Robbe, with a face nobody can forget and a fuck boy reputation he can't seem to shake.
Everybody warns Robbe to stay away from the Sander, unless he wants to get burned. But Robbe's the kind of boy who likes playing with fire.
Months ago, after a one-night stand that couldn't stay that way, Robbe and Sander made an agreementâthe two of them, no strings attached. But, Sander's feelings for Robbe were strong, to begin with, and they're growing stronger with each passing dayâand he knows that he is more in love with Robbe than he should be.
Robbe Ijzermans is the star goalie of Antwerp Uâs football team, naturally blocking shots as if it were his sixth sense. Sander Driesen is their star striker, having an eagle eye for the goal at all times.
Robbe always had a distaste for his bleached-blonde teammate and the annoying way he carried himself, but Robbe can never mask how much he admires him from a distance.
When they finally begin to learn more about each other, there is no going back for either.
With the looming playoffs in jeopardy for their entire team, will Robbe & Sander be able to manage it together? All while falling in love with each other at the same time?
> 60k
- Eastwood liberty @fockinglevendcliche (in the works | currently 69,7k)
Eastwood Liberty students had only one mission: to always be on top, at everything, no matter the cost.
It took Robbe just a day to realize that people there only cared about two things: money and power. But that was no surprise to him. What he didn't expect was to be confronted by this group of rich and spoiled boys, who used to always get what they wanted, especially their leader, Sander Driesen.
Sander made the rules, but unfortunately for him, Robbe had never been really good at sticking to them.
- Do i know you? @SrtaPepa (in the works | currently 88k)
Robbe has lost his memory from the last three years. He doesnât remember finishing school and start college with Yasmina; he doesnât remember going to live to the flatshare, or move out to a new place, or being friends with Milan, neither coming out as gay. And the worst of all of this is that Robbe doesnât remember meeting Sander or that he is, in fact, truly, madly, deeply in love with him.
Hopefully, sometimes feelings are stronger than memories.
For the past three months, Robbeâs lifeâand what it once wasâhad been stripped away and rearranged. Now, if anything, his life had become a bit repetitive: homework, stream, ignore Thomasâs Instagram, repeat. But one Friday evening, Robbe meets a hurricane in the form of a platinum-haired tattoo artist who just might show him everything that heâs been missing.
âWhat are you looking for, Robbe?â Sander tilted his head, moving closer.
âA rush.â Robbe whispered, his lips brushing Sanderâs.
Robbe Ijzermans has spent the better part of two years chasing the need to feel real again. Though being an adrenaline junkie is hardly a healthy coping mechanism, itâs one of the only things he has left.
Sander Driesen is a vampire with an unspeakable, dreadful past that won't seem to leave him.
When Robbe gets roped into Sanderâs life he finds the feeling he has been chasing all along. But Sander's world has a different kind of risk, and it forces them to come face to face with the greatest danger of all. Fear of a life without the other.
I got an idea in my mind since forever for a sobbe fic (I even wrote the first chapter a while ago) and today i went on ao3 (I haven't checked it in a while) to read a fic and I saw someone else wrote the same trope or at least a very similar one (I haven't read it). How is it possible that we had the same ideađ± now I don't know if I should continue mine...heeellppp
this is just a little scene to test out this idea I had a while back and see if Iâd actually like to write it and if anyone would like to read it, so please let me know what you think!!
~^~
Robbe stuffs his phone back in the pocket of his slacks and scrubs a hand over his face. Heâs only been playing this game for a little over a week and heâs losing. He hadnât expected this outcome; Noor was only supposed to be playing along. Instead, she seeks Robbe out even in private, she texts him at any hour of the day, and while itâs sweet and he likes Noor, it isnât what he prepared himself for. Itâs a bit overwhelming.
Everything is a bit overwhelming.
He almost wants to change, or at least ditch the blazer, but before he can make up his mind the door opens behind him. He turns around just in time for Noor to pop her head in, and she smiles wide when their gazes catch. She takes a moment to take him in, and Robbe just stands and watches back and does his best not to twitch in discomfort. Heâs not a child anymore, and heâs done this plenty of times. Always with perfect composure.
Now would be a terrible time to break.
He fits on a smile as Noor makes her way over to him and runs a hand down the front of his blazer. âGood, youâre already dressed,â she praises, smoothing out a crease. âVery handsome.â
âThank you,â Robbe says, swaying forward and accepting her quick kiss. âNot as stunning as you, though.â
Noor grins, and Robbe thinks to check what sheâs actually wearing. She does look stunning, he assumes. Theoretically, he knows the way the deep-red dress hugs her frame makes a nice picture. Noor always looks beautiful. Robbe isnât lying when he compliments her.
He isnât supposed to be lying to Noor about anything. Theyâre supposed to be on the same page.
He might have been mistaken, somewhere amidst their agreement. Somewhere along the line, at the very least, he must have missed some kind of memo.
âNoor, uh.â He averts his gaze, then allows it to flit back, softening and warming his expression to turn his words into a gentle suggestion. âWe donât have to worry about publicity tonight, okay? I want you to be able to have fun.â
Noorâs brow furrows. âIsnât this weekend all about the publicity?â
Robbe hesitates, because sheâs right and he wishes she wasnât. He knows exactly what is expected of him tonight, but they have their own say in the matter. If Noor doesnât want to be glued to his side, she has no real obligation to be. As long as theyâre seen once, twice, together in the bar and together by the bedrooms, everyone would eat it up. Playing everything up isnât a necessity at the moment. Robbe has been hoping for such a break.
âYeah, but, itâs also for us to enjoy,â he tries.
âAnd Iâll enjoy it with you.â Noor adjusts his collar again, raising her brows. She laughs then at his hesitant look and links their hands together to begin tugging him towards the door. âCome on, stop fretting. I wonât do anything I donât want to.â
Robbe wishes he could say the same so easily.
Instead he mostly keeps his mouth shut as he traipses down through the hotel after Noor, letting her lead him to the bar on the main floor. Itâs easy to spot his parents, once theyâre there, standing at one of the tables surrounded by stares and whispers. The attention of the room shifts to him and Noor as they enter, and Robbe forces himself not to duck away from it. In truth, itâs not the attention or his parents that he notices first.
Itâs Sander.
Heâs standing at the table next to Robbeâs mother, talking animatedly as he leans his arms on the wood, dressed in a jacket and shirt of his own. A jacket, shirt and jeans. His shirt isnât even a shirt, but some kind of silky patterned blouse, his jacket is beige and too baggy, and his jeans are plain black and too tight, and he looks stunning.
So annoying.
Robbe lets the frustrated breath out through his nose, ignoring the heat under his collar as Noor leads them right over. It doesnât help that Sander is the first to notice them, turning his head at the right moment and stopping mid-speech to smile. He doesnât look at Noor at all, but he moves his gaze over Robbe in one long sweep, flitting slowly back up to his eyes.
Robbe raises a brow, unimpressed. Sander merely lifts his drink in greeting and lets his smile slip into a smirk.
Noor greets his parents enthusiastically, squeezing his dadâs hand and giving his mother a hug. She even grants Sander a kiss on the cheek, which he reciprocates with his eyes still settled on Robbe. He doesnât take them away until Noor is tucking herself back into Robbeâs side, and then he glances at the space between themâor rather the lack ofâbefore dropping his gaze entirely. He focuses instead on his drink, which he lifts and takes a long slug of. Robbe finds himself watching the parting of his lips, the tilt of his head, the slope of his throat. Then Sander looks at him looking and he snaps his gaze away.
âDonât you two look lovely,â his mother teases, smiling at him and Noor.
Robbe rolls his eyes good-naturedly and lays his arm over Noorâs shoulders as she laughs and wraps her arm around his waist. âDonât we always,â he retorts, in the same wistful tone.
Sander hums and draws Robbeâs attention back to him. âActors,â he says lightly. His smile is teasing, but it doesnât reach his eyes, which bore into Robbe. âAlways camera-ready.â
âThis one even more so than me,â Noor agrees, pinching Robbeâs cheek as she grins at him. Robbe huffs a laugh and carefully moves his head away. Noor pays no attention, already roped back into conversation with his father.
âI was telling a few people about you earlier,â the man tells Noor. âThereâs a friend or two of mine interested in meeting you to talk about upcoming projects. Why donât you do a round with me so we can greet some people?â
Itâs an act of kindness, Robbeâs sure, but also one of convenience. Heâs sure his father would genuinely like to help Noor, but having her involved in some fancy new project, thanks to his guidance, would certainly be a bonus. Robbeâs grip tightens minutely on Noor with the sudden, irrational urge to keep and protect. Just because he isnât quite as honestly invested doesnât mean he doesnât like her. He doesnât want her to be used.
But Noor has already lit up, and she nods excitedly, giving Robbeâs hand a squeeze. âOf course.â
âWhile you do that, Iâm going to say hi to the Stoffels,â his mother says.
Robbe perks up. âJens is here?â
âNo, just his mother and Lies.â When she sees Robbe deflate, she tuts. âYouâll be alright, Sander already bought you a drink. Youâre big boys, you can keep each other company.â
His gaze flits back to Sander, mostly out of surprise, just in time for Sander to slide a tall glass across the table towards him. Robbe eyes it dubiously, wrapping his hand around it but not bothering to take a taste. Heâs preoccupied with Noor squeezing his arm and twisting to press a kiss to his cheek before sliding entirely out of his grip.
âIâll come back to save you soon,â she promises. Robbe thinks if she meant that, she wouldnât be leaving him with Sander in the first place. But sheâs already turning her back, following his father away, and his mother had disappeared instantly, and now itâs just Sander and him and an array of half-empty drinks.
Robbe finally lifts his own glass and takes a sniff.
Sander snorts, and Robbe looks to find him shaking his head. âSerious?â He raises a brow.
Robbe simply shrugs.
âYou know, out of the two of us, youâre probably the one more likely to have drugs.â
Robbe flushes. âI didnât think you drugged it,â he mumbles. âIâm just trying to figure out what it is. Besides, just because you didnât spike it doesnât mean no one else did.â
Sander shakes his head again, lips quirked in amusement. âI kept my eyes on it the whole time.â
âWhyâd you get me a cocktail?â
âBecause,â Sander shrugs. He doesnât say anything else, and Robbe simply keeps staring at him. Eventually Sander wiggles his brows and nods at the drink. âItâs about time you try something new, Ijzermans.â
Something crawls up into Robbeâs throat and lodges there. He doesnât have any retort. It sounds too much like a challenge, like it comes with a hidden meaning, and the knowing glint in Sanderâs eye as he stares Robbe down only seems to confirm it. Thereâs suddenly a comfort to be found in the eyes on them, in the fact that even though theyâre alone at the table, they arenât alone. The surroundings, rather than making him itch, suddenly seem safe. Itâs only private enough that they can speak without being overheard, but there are other tables all around them, a few feet away in each direction. Robbe can see Noor if he turns his head. He hears Mrs Stoffelsâ distinctive laughter in the background as he eyes his drink, swirling the liquid around. Itâs a deep, jewel-like blue, that fizzes slightly as he shakes it.
He glances back up at Sander. The other boy is simply staring at him, still with that faint amusement, brows raised expectantly. He nods at the drink once more.
Robbe brings it to his lips and takes a tentative sip. Heâs aware of Sanderâs eyes on him as a sharp, fruity taste explodes on his tongue, but he canât quite keep his face under control. It screws up in displeasure, and Sander laughs abruptly, raising a hand to cover his mouth as his shoulders shake.
Robbe swallows the liquid and scowls at him. âWhat the fuck is this?â
âNo idea,â Sander says idly. âHad something with âsea breezeâ in the name. Enjoy.â He raises his own beer in a toast, and Robbeâs scowl deepens as he leaves his glass back down on the table.
He drags one of the stools towards himself and climbs up, resting his elbows on the table. Heâs still directly across from Sander, but heâs not looking at him. He focuses on his glass instead, tapping his fingers against it in a quick, tinkling rhythm until Sander huffs.
âWhat,â Robbe says flatly.
âNothing.â Thereâs a pause, and then Sander huffs again. âI just find it funny.â
âWhat?â Robbe repeats, slightly more curious. He even raises his head to look at the younger boy again.
Sander puckers his lips, then shrugs. âHow hard you try to pretend you donât like me. How hard you try to pretend you do like her.â He nods at something behind Robbe.
Robbe doesnât have to look to know heâs talking about Noor. âIâm not pretending anything.â
âOkay,â Sander rolls his eyes. When Robbe doesnât respond, Sander gives him a dry look. âCome on, Robbe. Iâm giving you a freebie.â
Thereâs no freedom in what Sander is implying, but Robbe doesnât bother pointing that out, because it would be too close to admitting Sander is right. Instead he simply stays silent, which is almost as bad.
âYou need to stop living your whole life like youâre in front of a camera,â Sander tells him. His tone seems to have softened slightly, and Robbe allows a glance through his lashes to see if his expression matches. It does. Sanderâs gently frowning as he takes a sip of his drink. âIt sounds fucking exhausting.â
Robbe blinks. It is exhausting, but he hadnât thought Sander would be the one to point such a thing out. He hadnât thought Sander would make such a genuine observation in the first place. Even with all those looks, Robbe hadnât realised how much Sander has actually been watching.
He takes a little sip of his own drink to delay responding and finds it isnât as bad the second time, so he takes another. Then he makes a quiet admission. âI prefer being behind the camera.â
It doesnât seem to be the response Sander was expecting, but he also doesnât look too surprised. âYou want to produce like your dad?â
âNot really. I mean actually being behind the camera. Filming itself. Maybe directing. Editing. I donât know.â He takes another drink and then licks his lips, ignoring how Sander tracks each movement. âI like making things look good and I like creating and watching, but not when itâs myself. Itâs never my decision to act.â
This does draw out Sanderâs surprise. âYour dad makes you?â
âNo,â Robbe quickly denies, shaking his head. âHe just asks, and I never know how to say no. Or he asked the first time, and now itâs just how it goes. Itâs not like I hate it, it justâsorry, it doesnât matter.â He remembers who heâs talking to and cuts himself off. Itâs not that heâs admitting anything bad, or even that Sander isnât someone he should be admitting it tooâhe doesnât think Sander would betray him to his father, even though thatâs who Sanderâs working for and the only reason heâs even here. Itâs not that heâs being too honest and Sander is untrustworthy; heâs being just honest enough that he might keep going. Thatâs where the danger creeps in.
This becomes clear when Sander shakes his head and places his hand over Robbeâs, mindless or reckless or both. Sander doesnât seem to notice the fire that sparks from the touch, setting every inch of Robbeâs skin alight.
âIt does matter,â Sander argues, and now he appears unbearably soft. Itâs a far cry from his usual aloof, confident persona, but somehow Robbe feels no surprise at the glimpse of tenderness. âIâm sure if you talked to your dad, heâd understand. Heâd probably even help you get wherever you actually want to go. He didnât need to take me on, but heâs understanding.â
Robbe bites back a scoff, but he canât quite contain the little burst of anger that makes him snatch his hand away. It startles Sander so much, he feels slightly apologetic. âYou donât know anything, Sander.â
Sander purses his lips. The gentle expression has mostly dissipated, but thereâs still some lingering determination. Robbe feels a faint thrum of heat in his stomach under Sanderâs heavy stare. âMaybe not,â he acquiesces. âBut I know itâs not enough to not hate something. You should be allowed to want something. And you deserve whatever that is.â
Thereâs that lump in his throat again. Sander seems so sincere that Robbe feels shy. Itâs ridiculous how much sway Sander has over him when they barely know each other. Robbe canât figure out what it is, only that thereâs an undeniable tug in his gut when heâs in Sanderâs orbit, urging him to get closer. Alongside it, there are the warning signals that blare in his head, alarms that tell him heâs in front of a fire or at the edge of a cliff. Pushed too far, heâll burn and tumble.
âRobbe,â Sander urges, drawing his attention back. Even darkened, his eyes are so green. âYou deserve whatever you want out of your life. Direct it on your own.â
That might be the problemâhaving Robbe in control. Heâd always thought his life was for the universe to play with, guided by various twisted strings of fate, split into infinite versions. Heâs beginning to dislike the thought. All the happenings that are out of his control are the ones that scare him, that cause real harm. His motherâs illness, his parentsâ split, his own fame. Sander Driesen.
Heâs beginning to think Sander might be the scariest thing.
Itâs terrifying, the intent with which heâs watching Robbe now, scarier than being in front of a camera has ever been. At least there, he can act. Itâs Sander who strips him bare. Itâs terrifying and liberating.
Robbe takes another sip of the drink Sander had bought him, and finds the fifth time is easier again. It loosens the lump in his throat enough for him to meet Sanderâs eye and say, âMaybe I will.â