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Aaron doesn’t have a chance to ask his mum who’s at the door before she’s waltzing into the sitting room, Andy Sugden trailing behind her. He’s got his hands stuffed in his pockets and the same permanent scowl plastered on his face as always. If he’s being honest, Aaron doesn’t think he’s ever seen Andy without anything even resembling a smile. This time however, there seems to be more fury etched into the lines of his face which amplifies the scowl tenfold.
“Andy’s just popped by for a chat, love,” his mum announces, a skeptical look on her face. “Shall I make some tea?”
“I won’t be staying for long,” Andy says quickly while flashing Chas a respectful smile.
Chas takes her leave, disappearing into the kitchen and letting the door swing shut behind her.
“What do you want?”
Andy leans his shoulder against the doorframe and sighs, “I wanted to talk with ya about Robert.”
A lump forms in Aaron’s throat and his jaw tenses as he drops his gaze to the workbooks spread out in front of him. He’d been trying really hard to not think about anything having to do with Robert and he’d honestly been doing a pretty good job at it. Until now that is.
Aaron shakes his head. “There’s nothin’ to talk about. He’s made it pretty clear where we stand with each other and I’m really not looking at getting punched again.”
“Aaron,” Andy sighs heavily and moves further into the room. He takes a seat on the sectional across from Aaron and leans forward with his elbows on his knees. “Did Robert ever tell you why he left his last school?”
He looks up then, his brows knitting together, and frowns.
“What’s that gotta do with anything?”
“Just hear me out, alright?” Andy huffs and Aaron sits back in his seat, nodding. “He’s spent the last few years at a private school in London. It was one of the better ones, more prestigious I guess, and our Mum knew someone on the board so Rob was able to go on full scholarship. Dad didn’t think it was best but they’ve got a great curriculum so he relented in the end. So Robert’s spent the last six years living with our Mum in London.”
“Vic mentioned something about it,” Aaron admits. “Said that they couldn’t afford to send him after the scholarship fell through for this year so he moved back here instead.”
Andy nods, scratching at his stubble. “That’s what we told her, yeah. Didn’t want her knowing all of the shit that went down.”
Aaron stays quiet as Andy continues on.
“Robert’s never been the most outgoing kid which I’m sure you already know,” Andy chuckles under his breath, “but he’s a good kid. Smart, funny, kind, loves with his whole heart and makes sure you know it too. He had trouble making friends at first but after a few weeks, he met a group of other boys and they welcomed him with open arms. For a while, things were alright. He had friends, he was passing all of his classes, and he was happier than we’d seen him in a long time.”
“So then why’d he leave?” Aaron asks.
Something flashes across Andy’s face, a look that Aaron isn’t even sure he knows the name of, and his lips press into a thin line.
“A new boy joined their class at the start of the year,” he explains, his voice taking on a more clipped tone. “A bit of a punk really. Name was Kev or Kevin or something. But, the other boys made friends with him so Robert did as well. He felt like he had to I guess, I’m not really sure about the whole thing and Robert’s only actually told me so much of the before stuff. What I do know for sure though, is that he had it out for Robert. He tormented him but in a way that had Robert still begging for his attention. Eventually, Kev confessed to Robert that he had uh, feelings for him. But he’d never kissed another lad before. So Robert offered cause he’s just a kind soul and then well—“
Andy cuts himself off, pushing up from the sectional and pacing across the floor in front of the table. He wipes angrily at the tears that Aaron hadn’t even noticed had started flowing down his face. He scrubs at his face with both hands and lets out a frustrated groan while something bitter and angry begins to swirl in the pit of Aarons stomach. He has a feeling he knows where this is going and he’s not sure he wants to hear it.
“Rob kissed him,” Andy says quietly, his voice still strained. “He kissed him and that little prick shoved him into the dirt and started wailing on him. Shouting at him and beatin’ him—called him all sorts of names—and told Robert that he’d never actually liked him. Said that he’d been telling the other boys for weeks about Robert being queer and only wanted to prove it. To settle a bet.”
Aaron feels like he’s gonna be sick but manages to croak out, “what happened after?”
A bitter laugh leaves Andy’s mouth and he drops back down onto the sofa.
“Robert was in hysterics.” Andy rubs his palms across his jeans. “I was visiting for the week and he begged Mum to let him come back to Emmerdale with me. Mum called the school to get more information and after that, we were on the road. He told me everything on the ride back and begged me not to tell anyone else. Especially Victoria.”
Aaron swallows past the lump in his throat. “So then why’re ya tellin’ me?”
“I’m tellin’ ya so you’ll maybe understand why Robert reacted the way he did when you tried to kiss him,” Andy says with a frown. “He was absolutely petrified, Aaron. He was so scared that it was gonna be the same as before that he just sort of reacted.”
Aaron shakes his head and frowns. “But I’m not like Kev. I wouldn’t do that to him.”
“I think he knows that,” Andy says, leaning back, “or at least he really, really wants to believe it. But things haven’t exactly been very easy for him lately. He was in a bad way when he came home the first time and yesterday as well. He feels so guilty for hittin’ ya but he didn’t know what else to do. He really is beside himself Aaron.”
He’s not really sure what to do next. Andy is watching him with hopeful eyes and a twitching jaw and it’s all Aaron can do to not bolt out of his seat and up the stairs. This really is not how he saw today going. He had resigned himself to being perfectly content with never seeing or speaking to Robert for the rest of school but apparently, life has other plans.
“I wanted to kiss him,” Aaron admits suddenly, the confession surprising both of them. “I didn’t do it for a joke or anything.”
Andy smiles. “I know that. I believe you.”
“Can I see him?” He asks quickly before he loses his nerve. “Do you think—I mean—I don’t—“
“I think that’d be really nice,” Andy offers, nodding once. “Dad and Diane are out until late and Vic is staying with Holly for the night. There’s a spare key in the crook above the door, just remember to put it back when you leave, yeah?”
Aaron doesn’t think he’s moved faster than he does in that moment, snatching his jacket off the hook by the door and shoving his feet into his trainers as he barrels out of the flat, the door slamming shut behind him.
Aaron isn’t quite sure what he expected to find when he entered Home Farm but it definitely wasn’t Robert curled up in a ball on the sofa, a blanket thrown over his shoulders, and dumpy tears streaming down his face. His fringe is plastered to his forehead and he’s white knuckling the edges of the blanket to pull it taut around him. The rest of the house seems to be empty which Aaron is inherently grateful for because he really doesn’t need this whole thing witnessed by anyone else.
“Robert?”
Blue eyes snap up to meet his, wide and glossy, and within seconds, Robert’s lip is quivering and he’s attempting to sink further into the cushions. He’s shaking his head and sobbing, mumbling apologies, and Aaron’s resolves snaps like a rubber band. He rushes forward and drops to his knees on the carpet in front of Robert, reaching up to cover Robert’s hands with his own.
“Hey, it’s alright,” Aaron whispers, “it’s alright, Robert. It’s just me, yeah?”
“Aaron,” Robert whines, “I’m sorry.”
Aarons shakes his head and tries for a smile that he’s sure doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Nothing to apologize for, mate.” He squeezes Robert’s hands. “It was an accident. We’re all good, yeah? Don’t worry about it.”
A fresh stream of tears flows down Robert’s flushed cheeks and when he twists one hand around to hook their fingers together, Aaron holds on as tightly as he can. He knew from the second he saw Robert that he was going to be important to him, he just never imagined how much. Seeing him in such a state breaks Aaron’s heart and has him wanting to pull the other boy into his arms and never let go again. All he wants to do is protect Robert. He just wants to hold him and love him and keep him out of harms way. He’s never felt something so strongly before either. It’s a bit overwhelming if he’s being honest. He’s not quite sure what to do about it.
Aaron fights back his own tears when he says, “Andy told me what happened.”
Another whine escapes Robert’s lips and he drops his gaze.
“I thought he cared about me,” Robert cries, his voice cracking. “I was so stupid…to think he cared.”
“Oi,” Aaron scolds lightly, “watch it. You are not stupid, Robert. What he did—none of that was your fault. That’s all on him. He’s nasty and vile and he better hope he doesn’t show his face around here or I’ll knock his teeth out.”
Robert scoffs through his tears. “No you won’t. He’s not even worth it.”
“But you are,” Aaron admits and Robert’s eyes shine when they drift up to meet his. “You are worth it, Robert.”
“Aaron?”
“Yeah?”
Robert swallows audibly, his eyes darting down to Aarons lips and then back up to his eyes. He licks his lips once…twice…
Within a second, Robert’s lips are pressed against Aaron’s and Aaron doesn’t even hesitate to squeeze Robert’s hand while he kisses him back. Robert pulls away after a second, flushed, breathless, and eyes as wide as saucers.
“You kissed me back,” he says on an exhale.
Aaron can’t help but laugh, “course I did you idiot. Why’d ya think I tried to kiss ya earlier an all?”
“I’ve never—I mean—I don’t,” Robert stumbles over his words, shaking his head a little. “I want to believe you, Aaron…I really, really do but I—“
“Hey,” Aaron cuts him off with a shake of his head, “you don’t need to explain, alright? Course I want you to believe me but I know that’s hard for you right now. And that’s fine, Robert. It’s really, really fine. We can go as slow as you want with all of this and if I have to spend the rest of my life proving to you that you can believe me, then that is exactly what I am going to do.”
Roberts eyes snap to meet Aaron’s.
“The rest of your life?”
Aaron lets a smile stretch across his lips
“If you think that one little black eye is gonna scare me away, then you’ve got another thing coming for ya.”
As if he’s gotten the permission and proof he needs, Robert surges forward, throws his arms around Aaron’s neck and buries his face in the crook of Aaron’s shoulder. Aaron lets himself drop down onto his bottom, pulling Robert off the couch and practically into his lap. He holds Robert in his arms and presses kisses to the sides of his face and the top of his head.
“You ain’t gettin’ rid of me that easily you soft lad,” Aaron whispers while smiling into Robert’s hair. “I’m in this till the end.”