Chapter Text
Robert looked around his small poky office, feeling happy that he’d finally made it. He’d got the promotion and was now in charge of a small group of soldiers, while they were on exercise in the UK. Robert turned to see the Major coming through the open office door and Robert gave a salute and he nodded.
“Congratulations Captain,” he said, looking tired but happy. “You should fit in wonderfully here.”
“Thank you sir,” Robert said, trying to not outwardly react to the praise.
“You’re young, but your reports have all been impeccable so far,” Major Hunter said. “Welcome to the team. The lads are a good lot,” he said. “You shouldn’t have too much trouble.”
“Any criminal records?” Robert said, earning a sharp look. “I only ask because I’d prefer to know who the troublemakers are in the group, that’s all.”
“Er… two,” the Major said. “Private Livesy, but that seems to have been a bit of teenage angst, rather than anything more. And Private McFadden. GBH a couple of times. He doesn’t cause any issues. Or he didn’t under your predecessor.”
“Right. Thanks,” Robert said, shaking his hand.
"All the information is in the files," Major Hunter said, nodding at the pile of paperwork. "Along with each soldiers military record."
"Perfect." Robert did the army salute as Major Hunter left his tiny office and Robert could breathe again. He was young to be promoted to this position, and he was desperate to prove himself. As long as the lads stayed in line, he’d be just fine. And the reputation of the regiment was exemplary. Robert didn’t anticipate any problems. In retrospect, that was probably his first mistake.
Aaron stared up at the bunk above him, murmurings from the lads coming through to him as he tried to drift off to sleep. Usually he had no problem sleeping with the noise of five other guys, it was almost like a comforting rhythm these days. This was his second home, he’d found a place he belonged within the army, which was something he never expected. Funny how life changes.
“Oh, you’re awake.” Aaron turned onto his side to see James, his friend crouching down to talk to him.
“Not for lack of trying,” Aaron said heavily. ”What’s up?”
“New guys arrived.”
“What’s he like?” Aaron said eagerly. They’d known they were getting a new commander, but that didn’t mean all of the men were going to like it.
“Young,” James said. “I’ve not met him yet, but I was watching as Major Hunter showed him to his office. He looks barely out of Uni.”
“You’re being harsh,” Aaron noted. “He might not be as young as he looks.”
“I think he’s going to have trouble with us.”
“You think, or you’re going to give him trouble?” Aaron asked with a smile.
“I don’t want a fast tracked jobsworth telling us what to do.”
“If you don’t like authority, you’re in the wrong job,” Aaron said. But he knew James was all talk and didn’t mean it. “I need sleep mate.” James clapped him on the shoulder and Aaron closed his eyes, though now with something new to think about.
Early starts were the norm in the army, but Robert woke up even earlier than required, laying in bed wondering how today would go. He was in charge of a team of twelve. Which wasn’t many, but Robert understood this to be a test, and then he’d be given more responsibilities if it went well, which he hoped against hope it would. He needed to prove to his father that he wasn’t a waste of space, he could achieve when he put his mind to it.
He gave up on sleep, it wasn’t going to happen, so he got up and started to get dressed. He had the names of his team memorised, he just needed to put faces to names. It felt a chilly morning as the lads assembled, and Robert started the mornings roll call. Robert got to Private Livesy and felt a nagging feeling that he recognised him. Like he’d seen his face somewhere else, but he couldn’t place it. As the lads started going through their drills, Robert kept looking at Livesy. He recognised him, he knew it, but he couldn’t think where. And then he got distracted by a team who weren’t doing their job. Basically taking the mick, trying to see if he was a soft touch. He wasn’t but he’d have preferred to spend his first day doing something other than shouting at a reluctant unit. They were testing him, he was the new boy, it was to be expected. It didn’t make it any easier.
As the team were dismissed for lunch, Robert called to the almost familiar face.
“Private Livesy, a word?”
“Sir?” Aaron asked, approaching him.
“I think I recognise you,” Robert said.
“I think that’s unlikely,” Aaron said. Tagging on a “sir” at the end, though it did come across like he’d forgotten it. Which he had, but he didn’t want Robert to know that. Which from the raised eyebrow, he knew perfectly well. Aaron didn’t recognise Robert at all, there was no familiarity.
“Where are you from?” Robert asked, pushing.
“Yorkshire,” Aaron replied.
“Emmerdale by any chance?” Robert asked.
“Yes,” Aaron said after a pause, looking at him steadily. “Why?”
“I’m from around there,” Robert said, feeling far more at ease now he could place Aaron’s face. “It’ll stop bothering me where I know you from. Didn’t you recognise my name?”
“I’m hardly ever in the village,” Aaron said. “I don’t like being there.”
“Running away?” Robert pressed.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business, sir,” Aaron said, eyes flashing dangerously.
“You’re right,” Robert said. “My apologies. Do you remember Jack Sugden? Up at the farm?”
Aaron looked at him levelly, then nodded. “Yes, I do. That’s…”
“My dad, yes,” Robert said.
“Oh,” Aaron said, it slotting into place in his mind. “You’re the son who…”
“Ran off at the first opportunity, that sounds about right,” Robert said, hearing Jack‘s voice in his mind. Robert let his shoulders drop and Aaron looked at him, sensing weakness.
“Tough first day?” Aaron shouldn’t have said that, there was no speaking out of turn in this life. But Aaron had a sarcastic side to him that he couldn’t always hold his tongue on. It had got him in trouble far too often before.
“Something like that, Private,” Robert said. He flicked his eyes in a sign of dismissal and Aaron gave him a salute before retreating.
Aaron looked up at the bunk above him that night, thinking. He hadn’t recognised Robert. Even with the name recognition. He should have recognised “Sugden” as being from around Emmerdale, but he didn’t. Truth be told, he liked to forget as much as he could from life at home. He didn’t like life in Yorkshire. Or more specifically, he hadn’t liked the small town atmosphere, where if you were the slightest bit out of the norm you’d be stared at for weeks on end. Now he knew it wouldn’t have been through malicious intent, but at 16? He hadn’t realised that. And he had been beginning to understand that he was different. It had been more to do with his own issues, his own fear of what being gay in a small English village would mean, and the fact he didn’t want to be gay. He hated the idea of it, and he’d been trying to fight it.
Adam had flippantly mentioned the army one day, and for some reason the idea had stuck. He hadn’t intended it to be a lifelong commitment, but he’d enjoyed it far more than he expected. The routine, the discipline, the entire atmosphere in barracks, so he’d stuck at it. Sometimes it was desperately lonely, but he wouldn’t change it. He was good at this life, and if a few minor… inconveniences sprung up, he just dealt with them.
Which brought his thoughts back to Robert Sugden. His superior. In the quiet of the night, Aaron allowed himself to think of him, remember the shape of his face, the look in his blue green eyes. He felt shockingly and suddenly attracted to him. But that wouldn’t do. A brief flash of desire, no more. It would burn out in a day or two, it would have to. Aaron never mixed work with his private life. Actually, maybe scratching the itch would be good. Aaron got out of bed and dressed in jeans and a hoodie, grabbing his wallet to go out. He gave James a nudge and James nodded at him, covering for him without a word. They both did it for each other. And while it wasn’t exactly forbidden to leave the barracks, they did have a curfew which Aaron was currently breaking. But he needed a distraction, some cheap and easy sex and all the other lads did it now and again. He just hoped the new boss wasn’t a stickler for the rules. Even if Sugden was, Aaron was still going out.