Chapter Text
It was a busy night at the Woolpack. It seemed most people in the village wanted to make the most of Diane’s last few days behind the bar. No one was quite sure what chaos lay ahead when Charity officially took over; the only saving grace was Chas would still be there and she could more than hold her own.
There were several groups of villagers at the tables. Moira and Cain were having a particularly heated conversation about Charity that Jimmy, who was playing darts with Rakesh and Jai, was trying to ear-wig.
At one end of the bar, Ashley, Laurel, Nicola, Kerry, Dan were chatting over to Diane and Marlon. Conversation breezing easily from one topic to the next as they enjoyed each other’s company.
The newest couple of the village, Andy and Chrissie, could be found at the other end of the bar. Although, they weren’t quite properly public yet so to most in the pub, they just appeared as two friends having a drink.
One pairing who knew Andy and Chrissie were more but could not care less were Robert and Aaron. They were tucked away in the booth nearest to the backrooms going completely unnoticed by most. Robert had been bothered by Andy and Chrissie at first; the way Chrissie talked about him like he was a saint. Robert had wanted to tell her just what Andy was capable of but then he decided there was no point. Besides, if he was honest with himself, he had not got a leg to stand on giving his misdeeds the previous year. Plus, none of it mattered now. What mattered most to Robert was the man sitting across from him. Aaron needed to get the justice he deserved.
Seeking justice had been a hellish road but since things had calmed with Liv, Aaron had himself seemed more calm. Liv’s reappearance and doubts had set Aaron back and they’d all been worried but now he seemed ready to fight again. The fact that he had accepted Robert’s offer of a drink was positive. Lately, he’d been either hiding out in the backrooms or working overtime at the scrapyard.
“I’ll get the next round,” Aaron said as he downed the last of his own pint and nodded towards Robert as he was about to do the same.
“Cheers,” Robert said smiling back as he watched the younger man stand to head to the bar. Truth be told, Robert had been hurt when Aaron had announced that they could only ever be ‘just mates’ a few weeks ago but then he figured that being mates with Aaron was more than he ever deserved after everything. They had regained some ground during the reappearance of Sandra and Liv so Robert was tentatively hopeful that perhaps they were now back in the waiting period they had discussed at the lake. Either way, now was definitely not their time. The trial was only days away.
Aaron took a place next to Dan and waited to be served. He wasn’t in any particular rush so instead of calling anyone over, he figured he would listen and wait until the conversation Marlon and Diane were having with the others had come to a natural end. This would turn out to be a mistake.
“So, yeah he wanted a mobile phone but we told him ten was a bit young so…” Ashley chuckled.
“I don’t remember what I got when I was ten?” Marlon said.
“I remember wearing the biggest party dress for my tenth birthday” Laurel chuckled, “It was bright pink with yellow flowers.”
“I wish we had money for dresses when I was ten,” Kerry snorted.
“Why what were you wearing?” Dan asked.
“Hand me downs and knock off stuff from the market,” Kerry moaned but then her eyes lit up, “I did have a pair of red shoes when I was ten though…or maybe I was nine…Proper shiny. Loved them.”
“I wish I was ten again,” Nicola sighed, “Life was much simpler then.”
“Yeah, not a care in the world,” Dan stated and the others nodded in agreement.
“Shame we have to grow up,” Diane agreed and then started as she noticed Aaron at the bar. She walked over, “Sorry, Aaron, what can I get you?”
Aaron didn’t hear her. Aaron wasn’t in the Woolpack anymore.
“Aaron?” Diane questioned again, brow furrowing as she began to realise he was looking rather spaced out. Dan had also noticed.
He put a hand on Aaron’s shoulder. The reaction was instant.
“Don’t touch me!” Aaron flinched away from the touch so violently that he collided with Rakesh who was about to throw a dart, “Don’t touch me!” He shouted a little louder and more desperately as they made contact.
Rakesh spun round, “What the-?”
Aaron wasn’t aware though. He needed to get out. Something in his head told him where the door was so he tried to make it but once again there was someone there. Another touch, a shout and then a clatter. It was all too much; he folded his arms tightly around himself and attempted to shut out the world.
It was David who had ‘touched’ Aaron as he tried to exit. He had walked through the door with Leyla following, only to be bumped straight into. “Hey watch it,” he’d cried out in surprise. In his dismayed state Aaron had also lashed out causing Leyla to drop her handbag on the floor, the contents spilling out causing the clatter.
“What is going on?” Cain asked forcefully as he and Moira rushed across. Robert was also there; shifting immediately after hearing Aaron’s desperate voice across the pub.
“Aaron’s a clumsy idiot,” Leyla piped up from her position on the floor as she tried to collect her things. Jai had immediately jumped into help and he uttered an arrogant ‘yeah, he needs to watch where he is going.’
David ignored Jai but stage whispered a “Leyla, shut up!” causing her to stand again indignantly but she kept her tongue when the man gestured over to Aaron and she saw what a state he was in; he appeared to be a lost, very scared, little boy.
The whole pub could see something was very wrong. It had gone silent.
Cain had tried to put a hand on Aaron’s shoulder but again he had flinched, this time his voice breaking with a small, “Please stop.”
Robert’s heart broke. Aaron looked so completely vulnerable. It was like the night he first learnt of Aaron’s darkest secret only this was worse. He did not know the reason for this; Aaron had been fine not five minutes ago but here he was having some kind of panic attack in public. Robert didn’t care that everyone was watching and instead he moved almost instinctively to stand what he judged would be comfortable distance in front of Aaron. He didn’t reach out but spoke softly, “Aaron? Aaron, it’s Robert, ok? Look at me. Come on.”
Beside Robert, Cain was still asking, ‘What happened?’
“He was spaced out at the bar,” Diane answered, sadly.
“I only put my hand on his shoulder-“ Dan started to explain but Robert cut him off;
“Leave that now,” he stated firmly briefly taking his attention from Aaron but never taking his eyes off him. Aaron’s own eyes were cast down to the floor. Thankfully his breathing seemed steady but his arms were still wrapped protectively around his shaking body, “Aaron, come on, look at me,” he tried again and to his immense relief those pale blue eyes flicked towards him. They were brimmed with tears and fear. Robert’s heart broke again. “No one is going to hurt you, ok? You’re safe.”
Aaron’s gaze was held on some unfixed point, “My dad did this.”
“I know,” Robert sighed. That much he did know. He was much more in the know then when he first heard those words but then looking at Aaron now, he wasn’t sure he knew any of it. He decided to try and repeat some words of his own from that day, “But remember what I said? You’re not on your own now-“
“Not anymore,” Aaron finished with him. Robert was pleased to note that not only did Aaron remember his words of comfort but that he made proper eye contact. It was short lived.
Aaron’s head dropped and he mumbled something that Robert didn’t catch, “I’m sorry, I-“
“I don’t want to be ten,” Aaron spat out, eyes making contact again. This time like piercing lasers.
Robert’s eyes widened as he felt momentarily taken off guard by Aaron’s words. His stomach turned as he realised the significance of ‘ten’ almost immediately but before he could react, he heard Cain try to step in again, “Aaron, why don’t-“
But Robert could see the moment Aaron snapped, “They were talking about being ten,” he gestured wildly to the group at the bar, voice raised with a dangerous edge, “Life is simple when you’re ten, apparently. Not a care in the world. Yeah, well, not for me, eh? In a few days, I have to tell people what my…what he…Life wasn’t simple when I was ten!” Robert stayed silent as he watched the anger burn quickly out of Aaron and then stepped slightly closer as the man sobbed out a devastating, “I don’t want to be ten again.”
As the tears ran freely and Aaron leant towards him, Robert finally managed to embrace him in a hug, “Come on. Its ok. You’re safe.” He whispered reassurances into the younger man’s hair and slid his hand up and down his back. There was also a part of Robert’s brain that was kicking himself for ever thinking that Aaron was going to remain calm before the trial. They should have been more aware, better prepared, for an outburst. The man in his arms had been through more than they could ever imagine. Perhaps more than they knew how to properly help with.
Cain was thinking the same as Robert. He thought back to the conversation at the scrapyard where he told Aaron that Gordon had hurt him long enough but now he was hit with the terrible realisation that no matter the outcome of the trail, that hurt would never disappear completely. Aaron couldn’t ‘just stop’ the hurt. This was something he would have to learn to deal with. They would all have to learn to deal with. They would get through it together. Cain had resolved never to let Aaron deal with any problem alone again. He puffed out a relieved breath that the current situation was getting under control and started to be practical, “Right, let’s get him in the back.” He received a nod of agreement from Robert over his nephew’s head.
“I’ll go and put the kettle on,” Moira stated, wiping her wet eyes on the back her hand.
“Ok,” Cain acknowledged gratefully, knowing that his wife was probably wanting to do anything that might help. He briefly watched her leave before stepping to the side to let Robert guide a pliant Aaron to the backrooms. The next thing to do was obvious so he raised his voice clearly, “Diane, will you phone our Chas, I think she at Lisa’s.”
“Of course,” Diane replied immediately pulling out her phone.
Cain thanked her, watching as Robert got Aaron halfway around the bar when the younger man stopped. Before he could question why, Aaron had turned to address those he had been near, “I’m sorry..."
“No worries, mate,” David interrupted with a small smile.
“Yeah, no problem,” Leyla agreed readily. Her handbag had been forgotten.
Cain internally smiled as Aaron nodded. Even after what had occurred, the fact that his nephew still cared about small things was amazing to him. He also had to admit as he saw Robert lead Aaron onwards that Sudgen had more to him than he thought. Of course, he knew he had been there for Aaron, even thanked him for it, but witnessing what he just had seen; perhaps it was love.
They all watched as Cain followed Robert and Aaron through the back but no one said a word. Nobody left behind in the pub knew quite what to do. Each lost in their own thoughts.
…