Chapter Text
“I received a phone call from my supervisor he’d like to apologise for the inconvenience Mr Sugden but we received an anonymous tip that you paid someone on the inside to murder Mr Livesy, we’d like to thank you for your cooperation and letting us have access to your bank records” DS Wise tells him smiling a sorry smile Robert can’t help but wan to roll his eyes.
“Whatever can I go?” Robert asks him looking to DS Wise then his lawyer.
“Yes you’re free to go” He’s told.
He’s led out of the station he half expected Aaron to be waiting for him he’s sure Vic told him he’s been arrested they turned up at his doorstep and handcuffed him he’s pretty sure the whole village knows by now.
The only people there are Vic and Adam.
Adam holds out the keys to Robert’s car they must have driven his here.
“Did you get charged?” Vic asks her voice smaller than he’s ever heard it.
“No he’s been exonerated Robert gave the police access to his bank accounts as well as his stock portfolio to show no abnormal withdrawals have been made, they’ve got nothing and if they arrest him again, they’re opening themselves up for a harassment lawsuit” James tells his sister smirking as he messages someone on his phone.
“Thanks for coming I know you’re supposed to be on holiday with your family right now” Robert tells him.
“I’ve known you for almost ten years Robert I can go on Holiday whenever had to stop you going away for something you didn’t do, besides the wife has gone on ahead so I’m still meeting them their but I’m just a few hours away if you need me my phones always on and I’ll book the first flight back” He’s told before he’s given a handshake and his lawyer makes his way out of the building like it’s on fire.
He grabs his phone off the man at the desk along with his wallet and jacket and walks out without saying anything to Vic or Adam.
‘They arrested you for his murder?’ ‘How could you?’ flashes up on his phone once it’s turned back on the messages from Aaron sting more than their argument before.
‘I’m glad I told them it was you, you’re vile I hope you die in prison like my dad did’ flashes up as well it’s Liv.
“Liv told them it was me” Robert laughs cold he wants to fucking scream wants to punch her to be honest.
“She did what?” Vic asks him stopping when he spins round to face her and Adam.
“She called the police and said I got him killed” Robert laughs he throws the keys to Adam who just about catches them.
“Take Vic home I’m can’t go back to that Village not yet” Robert tells them walking away towards town ignoring Vic’s protests.
He heads to the nearest bar and proceeds with getting hammered.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It’s 4 in the morning when the taxi drops him off at Vic’s he can just about stand and he’s glad for once he can’t feel the ache in his chest.
He’s not quiet when he gets in Vic and Adam are heavy sleepers and he can’t help but bump into everything as he makes his way to the living room.
He nearly jumps out of his skin when he sees Aaron asleep on the chair his head resting on his shoulder.
He looks uncomfortable and Robert tries to back up without making a noise but he walks right into the door his head bouncing off it and making a bang that makes the sleeping man jump awake eyes wide and startled.
“Fuck” Robert hisses out rubbing his head, he stumbles blindly to the kitchen to get a bottle of water to the fridge and when he gets back to the living room Aaron’s still sat their looking at him.
“Did you do it?” It’s a simple question but it hurts so fucking much.
“They let me go, they checked everything my bank accounts my stock portfolio so you can tell your sister she snitched on the wrong person” Robert spits out.
“Liv? What’s she got to do with this?” Aaron asks him confused.
“Oh so she didn’t consult you before she made a call to the police shocker” Robert laughs.
“She wouldn’t do that” Aaron mutters.
“No? Because she messaged my phone made sure I knew it was her that got me arrested wanted me to die in prison like him” Robert laughs getting up the text and throwing his phone to Aaron he manages to catch it.
As he reads it Robert can see his face falling.
“Get out” Robert tells him.
“What?” Aaron asks looking up at him.
“I can’t do this anymore Aaron” Robert huffs out.
“Can’t do what?” Aaron asks confused.
“This, us” Robert tells him motioning between them “I can’t prove it anymore Aaron I don’t know what else I can do to prove I love you, I hate feeling like you’d put everyone else before me, got we haven’t kissed since that first time, every time we get close its always Liv being there and she hates me so much I don’t know why but she does she hates me enough to think I could actually get him killed” Robert tells him his stupid eyes tearing up betraying his emotions.
“Wouldn’t you do something like that?” Aaron asks his own voice strained.
“Honestly?” Robert asks him.
“No Robert lie to me” Aaron scoffs.
“Yeah I wanted him dead, fuck yeah I wish it was me that got him killed but I wish more than anything that I was the one to kill him for doing what he did to you, but as much as I hated him and wanted him dead I was happy he got sent down for eighteen years, I got some sick form of fucking joy to know he’s going to rot in bars I knew what people do to molesters behind bars Aaron and me getting someone to kill the bastard would have been the easy way out for him, I’d wanted him to suffer for eighteen years like you did all this time, I wanted him to live with knowing that everyone knows what he did and yeah I sorta hoped he got the same thing done to him in their but does that mean I GOT HIM KILLED NO AARON I DIDN’T” Robert tells him anger getting the best of him he doesn’t mean to shout but he’s so fucking tired of being the bad person here.
“I love you so fucking much but I can’t be the villain anymore Aaron, there comes a time when we have to call time and I think now is the perfect time, you will always blame me for everything that goes wrong and to be fair I cause most of it and I try and make up for it but I just make things worse just like that fucking letter” Robert huffs sitting heavily on the couch, he moves away when Aaron sits next to him.
“Please don’t I can’t do this Aaron I want to make you happy and I can’t do that I just make you miserable and when we’re together I just pull you away from Liv, I thought him killing himself was him admitting to the world he was guilty but it wasn’t it was him getting one last thing over you, he knows how much of a sucker for punishment you are you’d blame yourself or those around you, he knew he’d be getting the last fucking laugh” Robert tells him sighing standing up rubbing his head it’s pounding in his ears.
“He hasn’t won” Aaron tells him his voice uncertain.
“That’s the thing Aaron he has or at least he’s won when it comes to me, he’s ruined my relationship he made you doubt me god that letter wrecked us before we knew the bastard died I’m sick of fighting sick of not being enough I got that enough with Chrissy I thought accepting who I was and being with you would mean we’d be happy I never wanted to stop making up for what I did but no matter how hard I try I can never erase the past and I can’t come close to making up for it” He tells him slurring his words a little before moving away up the stairs.
He makes it to the bathroom in time to throw up in the toilet his eyes sting with tears as he lets his body convulse and release the hours’ worth of alcohol he’s consumed leave his body.
He wants to scream and cry and smash anything and everything he can get his hands on he just ended things so easily after fighting so hard to get Aaron back. He talked so much didn’t even let Aaron get a word in and just finished things he can’t help but want to run downstairs and see if Aaron is still there and if he will forgive him.
But he’s not good enough to Aaron Dingle never was and never will be he’s just surprised he got to have him for as long as he did.