Chapter Text
“Feel better do you?” Robert asked bluntly. They’d not spoken as Robert had almost marched Aaron back to the back room of the pub, where they’d only just come from.
“My knuckles are throbbing, but yeah, actually,” Aaron said. “I do feel better.” He couldn’t help his lips twitching. “I spent time in prison for that, Robert.”
“I know,” Robert said softly. “But, that was a while ago.”
“Come on!” Aaron said in disbelief. “You’ve spent weeks saying you can’t handle prison, and I’m meant to forget the fact that Andy’s stupid idea got me sent there? For months, Robert.” He almost growled the last, anger rising in him again. Robert didn’t argue.
“You should have let it go,” Robert said.
“I would have, but then I saw him standing there with Chrissie and… I saw red.”
“Apparently,” Robert said, sitting down at the kitchen table watching as Aaron flexed the fingers on his right hand, seemingly unaware he was doing it. Robert got up, went to the freezer and wrapped some ice in a tea towel before passing it to Aaron, who mumbled “thanks” before putting it on his hand.
“Can you let it go now?” Robert asked.
“Yeah,” Aaron said. “I don’t want the police involved any more than you do. I just…” Aaron bit his lip.
“Did you punch him for me or for you?” Robert asked, unable to resist asking. Wondering if he should be a little flattered that he mattered so much to Aaron, then thinking was that stupid.
“Probably both,” Aaron said with a shrug.
“One thing you said earlier…” Robert started, unsure as to whether to push it. “You thought about.. Killing yourself in prison.”
“Yeah, I did,” Aaron said shortly. “I didn’t want to spend twenty years locked up there, it seemed like a good option at the time.”
“I think you should talk to someone,” Robert said gently. “You’ve been through a lot lately, and I don’t think it’d hurt,” he added to Aaron’s sceptical look.
“I don’t want to see a therapist, or whatever,” Aaron said. “I’m not crazy, I’m fine, I’m coping.”
“I know you are,” Robert said. “But I think it could help you. Maybe get you to somewhere where “coping” isn’t the best you can hope for.”
“I’ll think about it,” Aaron said darkly. Pleased that that wasn’t an outright no, Robert dropped the subject for another day, watching as Aaron continued to flex his fingers.
“Must admit, I enjoyed that,” Robert said, wanting to lighten the subject. Aaron frowned at him. “You pushing Chrissie out of the way to punch Andy? Yeah, definitely enjoyed that.” Aaron couldn’t help the smile on his face.