Chapter Text
“Robert?” Aaron’s voice bellowed as he banged on the front door of Keepers.
Robert stopped running the towel through his hair and frowned.
“Robert?!” Aaron called again.
He tossed the damp towel over the banister and moved quickly down the stairs to answer.
“Aaron? What’s wrong?”
Aaron’s eyes widened as Robert opened the door. He froze for a moment.
Robert stood in front of him with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
His hair draped across his forehead, eyes full of concern, mouth slightly parted as he panted from running downstairs.
Aaron shook his head and cleared his throat. “Er—my keys for the scrapyard. I lost my keys. I thought maybe I left them here yesterday when I helped Vic—”
“Yeah.” Robert interjected, stepping backwards as he pulled the door wider. “Come in.”
Aaron walked into the living room and began rummaging down the sides of the sofa.
Robert turned to do the same on the armchair. “Let’s hope Harry hasn’t had them, or they could be anywhere.”
“Hope not. Vinny’s already off today. I’ve got enough stress,” Aaron mumbled as he continued his search.
He stood up, letting out a long sigh. “No luck?”
“No.” Robert turned around.
Aaron’s eyes immediately dropped to the towel barely clinging to Robert’s hips.
Robert clocked Aaron’s gaze and bit his lip to stop a smirk from forming.
Aaron quickly turned his attention to the coffee table while Robert moved to the bookshelf. Neither found anything.
“I’ve not got time for this—” Aaron called out as he turned, just as Robert rounded the sofa. “Maybe it’s in Harry’s—”
They nearly crashed into each other. Aaron’s arm knocked against Robert’s, their chests stopping inches apart.
Aaron sucked in a breath as Robert reached down to grab his slipping towel.
“For God’s sake, Robert. Will you put some clothes on?”
Robert stilled. Neither of them moved.
“No.”
His voice was quiet but firm as he tightened the towel around his waist.
Aaron frowned, heat forming low in his stomach.
“No? What do you mean, no?”
Robert blinked at him.
“You came into my house,” he said simply. “Why should I?”
Aaron shook his head and barged past him, their shoulders grazing as he went.
He searched around the room for another minute before Robert suddenly called out.
“Ah-ha!”
Aaron turned to see Robert leaning over Harry’s toy box, the muscles in his back shifting as he reached inside.
“These them by any chance?” Robert asked, turning back towards him with a handful of keys raised.
“Yeah.” Aaron’s voice came out rougher than he intended.
He watched as Robert straightened up and walked over to him beside the sofa.
Aaron’s gaze drifted over Robert’s broad chest, his skin now dry and warm.
Robert held out the keys, glancing up slowly to meet Aaron’s eyes.
Aaron took them, their fingers brushing lightly as the keys passed between them.
“Thanks.” Aaron’s voice was low.
He looked down at the keys in his hands, but he didn’t move. He glanced at Robert out of the corner of his eye.
Robert was already watching him.
“I’d best go.” The words hung heavy in the air.
Neither of them moved. Their chests rose and fell hard.
Robert searched Aaron’s face for a moment.
“Vic’s at work all day.” His voice was thick.
Aaron sucked in a breath.
“The scrapyard…” he said, though the words lacked conviction. “I’m on my own—Vinny’s not—”
Robert took a slow step closer.
“Vinny’s not there,” he said quietly. “So no one’s gonna know if you’re late.”
Aaron’s breathing grew heavier, but he stayed rooted to the spot.
His eyes drifted to Robert’s lips, then down to his chest.
“John,” Aaron whispered.
Robert moved another inch closer.
“I meant what I said,” he murmured, his gaze dropping briefly to Aaron’s mouth. “About not pulling the pin.”
Aaron swallowed hard as he lifted his eyes back to Robert’s. The sound of his heartbeat pounded in his ears.
“Robert.” His voice was low, barely audible.
“Aaron?” Robert matched his tone, stepping closer until their chests were inches apart again.
Aaron let out a slow breath and turned his head slightly to the side.
After a moment, he looked back, searching Robert’s eyes.
“You swear? No blowing up?” he asked, his voice breathy.
Robert’s face softened at the edges as he held Aaron’s gaze.
“I swear.”
Aaron studied his face for a moment longer, searching for a sign to doubt him. He didn’t find one.
He surged forward, crashing his lips against Robert’s.
Robert’s hands immediately slid to Aaron’s waist, pulling him closer.
Robert let out a low moan against Aaron’s mouth as he heard the keys clatter to the floor and felt Aaron’s fingers slide into his hair.
They stumbled backwards together into the hallway, nearly hitting the doorframe as they went.
Their kisses too desperate to break apart.
Robert pushed Aaron’s jacket from his shoulders, and Aaron shrugged it off, falling somewhere behind them.
They hurried up the stairs, their lips finding each other again as they reached the landing.
Aaron tugged at the hem of his own shirt, and Robert’s hands moved instinctively to help pull it over his head.
They burst into the bedroom, Aaron pulling at Robert’s towel.
His voice was rough and breathless. “On the bed. Now.”
Robert didn’t hesitate. He sat down quickly, naked and willing.
Aaron worked at his belt and zip, kicking off his shoes as he did.
“Lie back,” he ordered.
Robert leaned back against the pillows, his eyes following Aaron as he climbed onto the bed and leaned over him.
Aaron’s hand found him, already hard and leaking for him.
He smeared the precum over the tip before leaning forward and taking him completely into his mouth.
Robert’s hands moved into Aaron’s hair, tugging lightly as his breath hitched.
“God,” he murmured, a breathless laugh escaping him. “I’m so glad you forgot your keys.”
Aaron’s other hand moved lower, cupping and caressing his balls.
Robert whimpered. “Aaron.”
Aaron’s hand drifted further down, his fingers teetering around his opening.
His tongue licked up and down and swirled around Robert’s cock before sucking on it.
They stayed like that for a moment, Robert’s chest rising and falling hard, Aaron’s cheeks flushed from the moans he drew from him.
“Fuck, Aaron. Please. Inside,” Robert begged.
Aaron slowly slipped his mouth off of Robert and moved up over him, tugging on Robert’s legs so he could wrap them around his waist.
Robert’s eyes suddenly widened.
“Wait.”
Aaron paused, watching as Robert reached for the bedside drawer. He pulled something out and handed it to him.
“Here.”
Aaron took it, his gaze lingering for a moment on the already opened bottle of lube.
Then he squeezed some onto his fingers and moved to open Robert up.
“God, Aaron,” Robert gasped as Aaron’s fingers entered him.
“You feel—” He sucked in a breath as Aaron moved them deeper. “You feel so good.”
Aaron smirked wide. “It’s just my fingers.”
Robert’s eyes fell shut. “I don’t care. It’s you.”
Aaron swallowed hard before reaching down to stroke Robert.
“Oh.” Robert’s head tipped back into the pillow, his hips lifting involuntarily.
“Aaron, please.”
Aaron slipped his fingers out and filled Robert up with his cock instead, his hand still stroking Robert’s.
Robert’s hands gripped Aaron’s arms as he opened his eyes to look at him.
They didn’t speak. They just held each other’s gaze as they moved together.
Aaron pulled out completely before thrusting back inside him again.
Robert’s eyes rolled back as the movement knocked the breath out of him.
“Robert,” Aaron’s voice was raspy. “Look at me.”
“Aaron.” Robert’s voice held a warning as he looked up. “It’s not gonna take me long.”
“It’s okay.” Aaron’s hand quickened. “I’m here, Robert. You can let go.”
Robert closed his eyes as he clenched around him, his nails digging into Aaron’s skin.
“Oh, God.”
Aaron felt Robert’s legs tremble before he came beneath him, Aaron following seconds later.
They stayed like that for a moment before Aaron slowly pulled out and rolled onto the bed beside him.
The two of them lay next to each other in silence for a few minutes, their breathing slowly evening out.
“Wow.” Robert smirked.
His expression faltered as he turned to look at Aaron.
Aaron’s eyes were fixed on the ceiling, his jaw tight.
“You alright?” Robert asked.
Aaron moved to sit on the edge of the bed, his back to Robert as he pulled his boxers back on.
The air felt thick and heavy.
“Aaron?”
Robert shifted up against the pillows, moving to pull the sheet up to his waist.
“The lube.” Aaron said quietly.
Robert frowned. “What?”
Aaron shrugged, still turned away. “You bought some.”
“Yeah.” Robert said lightly.
Aaron turned his head to look at him. “You’ve been with someone else.”
Robert froze for a second. Then his lips twitched upwards, a huff of a laugh leaving them.
“What?! No, Aaron–” He shook his head.
“I got it for myself.”
Aaron’s jaw tightened.
“And for…” His voice quietened, “If anything happened with us again.”
Aaron stood up and crossed the room, reaching to pick his clothes up off the floor.
“Don’t lie to me, Robert.”
Robert sat up now. He pulled his knees up, his arms resting across them.
“Aaron, I’m not lying.”
Aaron began pulling on his jeans.
“You’re single,” Aaron said. “You can do what you want.”
Robert blinked as he frowned. “So, what are you saying?”
“Don’t lie to me.” Aaron repeated bluntly.
“Aaron.”
Robert ran a hand through his hair, frustration creeping into his voice.
“I’m not fucking lying!”
Aaron moved to pick up his belt, his tongue running along his teeth.
Robert shook his head. “I’ve had sex twice since I left prison.”
Aaron’s gaze flickered up, meeting Robert’s.
“Both times were with you.”
Aaron stared at him for a moment.
Robert spoke again, his voice lower now.
“I only want you. When are you gonna understand that?”
Aaron dragged in a slow breath.
“I’m with John,” he said finally. “I told you it wouldn’t happen again.”
Robert didn’t respond straight away.
Aaron shook his head as he sat down on the ottoman, reaching for his boots.
“You expect me to believe you’ve just… what?” He gestured vaguely with one hand. “Been sat around waiting for me?”
Robert rolled his eyes and looked away for a moment before glancing back at him.
“Aaron.” His voice was softer this time. “Yes. That is exactly what I’ve been doing.”
Aaron frowned slightly.
“And yeah… you did say it wouldn’t happen again.”
Robert gave a faint shrug.
“But it did, didn’t it?”
Aaron pulled on one boot. “It was open.”
“Yeah.” Robert nodded. “I used it on myself.”
“Robert, please.”
“What?”
Aaron shook his head as he reached for his other shoe.
Robert pursed his lips, irritated.
“What flavour is it?” He asked.
Aaron’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“The lube,” Robert said firmly. “What flavour is it?”
Aaron glanced down as he pulled his second boot on.
“It’s cherry.” Robert answered his own question. “The one you like. Or… did like.”
His eyes darted away for a moment.
“I used it, ‘cause the smell reminded me of…” Robert’s voice softened as he trailed off.
Aaron looked back up to him, meeting his gaze.
“Being with you.”
Aaron’s shoulders dropped slightly.
“Robert.” His voice was gentle.
“I’m not interested in anyone else, Aaron.” Robert held his eyes.
“What about Owen?” Aaron looked down as he asked.
Robert moved to sit on the side of the bed, opposite Aaron.
“That was to make you jealous. Stupid I know, but…”
“How did you know I was gonna be there?” Aaron's eyes narrowed.
“I hoped. And, even if you didn’t see me, I knew being with Vic meant it would get back to you.” Robert looked away. “Pathetic, really…”
“No.” Aaron let out a breath. “What’s pathetic is me telling you this wasn’t gonna happen again and it happening— what? Two weeks later?”
Robert bit the side of his lip. He looked at Aaron for a few moments.
“I’m not gonna say anything.” He raised his eyebrows. “To John. Or Vic. Or Mack. Anyone.”
Aaron nodded slowly. “Good. But you already said that earlier.”
Robert shook his head slightly. “I mean… today and…” He hesitated. “If it happens again.”
Aaron’s head pulled back, his eyebrows furrowing. “Are you being serious? My god, you are still the same old cocky little—“
Robert dropped his head, fighting a laugh. “I meant—“ He interjected.
“I meant if you want it to happen again.” Robert shrugged. “Whenever.”
“What?”
Robert rolled his eyes at Aaron’s confusion.
“What I’m saying is. I’m not gonna blow your life up with John. And I’m also not gonna expect anything if you come wanting me.”
Aaron looked away and back at Robert, still puzzled.
“Look, I want you to be happy. If that means working on your life with John and then… occasionally coming to me to get rid of some tension? That’s what you can have.”
Aaron just stared at Robert, finally understanding what he was trying to say.
Robert held his hands up in surrender.
“I’m not gonna ask for anything. You can come and you can go. I can just be here when you want me.”
Aaron blinked. “Robert. That’s— that’s not what I want.”
He sighed. “I don’t want you being some dirty little secret.”
Robert shrugged, “You were mine. I probably deserve it.”
Aaron shook his head. “That was different. And no, you don’t deserve it.”
He looked away.
“I’m just saying.” Robert’s voice was small. “I’m here if you want me.”
Aaron bit his lip, the heat of tears starting to sting his eyes.
“Robert.” His voice was soft and gentle.
“I do want you.”
Robert let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. A small smile tugged at his mouth.
“I know.”
“I just… I’m so confused right now.”
“Yeah.” Robert nodded. “And that’s why I’m saying you don’t have to make any decisions right now. You can have John... and you can have me.”
Aaron took in a sharp intake of breath.
“And I won’t say a word.”