Chapter Text
Robert awoke with a jerk, feeling like he was suffocating. He couldn’t breathe. No, he actually couldn’t breathe. He hit Aaron next to him, trying to wake him up as he gasped to try and get air into his burning lungs, feeling as if a pillow was clamped over his mouth.
“What?” Aaron asked grumpily, annoyed at being woken. Then he heard Robert’s gasping and crying out as he literally couldn’t get any air. “Robert, what’s wrong?” Aaron asked, concerned as he switched the bedside lamp on. They both winced at the light, but Robert had more important things to concentrate on, his head feeling dangerously light from lack of air. “Oh, my God, your lips are blue,” Aaron said under his breath, watching his boyfriend thrash on the bed. “I’m calling an ambulance.”
Robert gripped his arm to stop him, the panic fading a little as his lungs slowly filled with sweet air. Almost gulping it in, needing to feel his chest rising and falling, it took a great effort to breathe, but he was now able to do it. “I’m okay…” he said, little more than a whisper. But it was air he’d managed to pull into his chest. It hurt to breath, but he could do it.
“Robert, what’s happening?” Aaron asked, clearly worried to his left. Robert had his eyes closed, jaw hanging open as he kept inhaling the oxygen he’d struggled to get just a few minutes before. It felt beautiful to inhale easily again.
“I couldn’t breathe.”
“I guessed that,” Aaron said sarcastically. “What…. I think we should take you to hospital,” he carried on. ”Not breathing isn’t normal.”
“I’ll go to the doctors in the morning,” Robert said, knowing he needed to. That panic had been real, the edges of complete fear almost pulling him under when he hadn’t been able to breathe.
“Robert…”
“I’m guessing it has something to do with the bullet still in my chest,” Robert said, still taking the time to breathe properly.
“Still in your chest?” Aaron questioned, voice dangerously low.
“They couldn’t get all of it,” Robert said, speaking slowly and heavily, wanting to enjoy the free air in his body. “The bullet fractured off of a rib, and they said it was safer to live with it inside me than try to remove it. Too close to my heart. Apparently taking it out would have killed me.”
“How long have you known that?” Aaron asked quietly.
“Since I woke up in hospital,” Robert said with a shrug. “It didn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters!” Aaron snapped. “Or do you often wake up unable to breathe?”
“No, that’s the first time,” Robert said, staring at the ceiling. He took in several deep breaths, the burning in his right lung fading a little bit. “I do…” Robert took in yet another breath, wondering if he could admit it. “Sometimes when I’ve done some exercise, I can feel my chest pulling. On the right side.”
“I don’t even think I need to ask, but I’m going to,” Aaron said. “Have you seen a doctor about it?”
The silence was answer enough. “Right, I see,” Aaron said, truly annoyed as he got out of bed.
“It’s not my fault, Aaron,” Robert said quietly. “I didn’t ask to get shot.”
“No, but you could have seen someone,” Aaron said, pacing around the room, though Robert didn’t think he was entirely aware he was doing it.
“When did people badgering you ever help?” Robert asked, his fear making his temper short. “I will go in the morning.”
“Robert…”
“I promise. Now get back in bed,” Robert said.
“Are either of us going to be able to sleep?” Aaron asked. “Knowing you might stop breathing at any given moment?”
“Don’t be dramatic,” Robert said. “I’m fine.” He was, the pain in his chest had faded and now he could breathe easily. Though he wouldn’t soon forget how frightened he had been. Aaron did get back into bed, curling up against Robert after only a moment of hesitation.
“Promise me you’ll go.”
“I will,” Robert said. He meant it too. Those few moments had been terrifying.