Aaron Dingle

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Robert didn’t really understand Aaron’s question, sure, he knew what he was being asked, but what did he mean? Was there a time period that revelations like this are supposed to come out? Was he supposed to get married to Chrissie and then divorce her and announce his love for Aaron at the top of his lungs? “I- Aaron, I didn’t plan any of this, I just- we were at Wylie’s, you were begging me not to marry her, and- and knowing I was making you so upset killed me…. I’ve known I loved you for a long time, and seeing you the way you were broke me. You’re this understanding and compassionate bloke and I just- something inside me told me all of this was supposed to come out now. The timing was perfectly imperfect, just like us.”

That answer, in its vast chaos, satisfied Aaron. He felt that way too. He hated seeing Robert upset; especially with him. He ached to fix him when he could and hated when he was powerless to do so. He felt his head nodding passively, his mouth smoothing into a calm, soft smile. Just like that... That’s what Robert’s answer boiled down to: he just...made the choice. “But...until then...you were marrying Chrissie and...you knew how I felt about that. Wh-what changed?” The question tumbled out before he could choke it back, his mind needing something solid. Why did Robert suddenly care for him more than Chrissie when it had been the other way around the whole time?

At first Aaron could take that. But recently...he wanted Robert for himself. In a way he’d never wanted anyone. With Jackson and Ed there hadn’t been this hunger to have a person all to himself like this. Never this fierce.

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“I don’t really know…. Take every day as it comes? Only instead of having you as A in my phone, do you think I can upgrade it to Boyfriend?” Robert asked smoothly, grinning at him as he bit his bottom lip and continued to hold Aaron’s hand. “I really don’t know what happens now and I would love to say it’s nothing to worry about because we can work it out later, but I don’t know. Once I’m out of here I still have to face everyone else, I can’t promise that I’ll be my usual confident self, but what I can promise is that all I’ll ever want to do is come home to you…. Unfortunately, I can also say that for the foreseeable future we won’t be able to have our sensual time, that is, unless you’re good with taking the reigns and doing the work.” The blond explained with a smirk, winking over at the brunette and laughing over the reaction he received; it wouldn’t be true Robert Sugden fashion if he didn’t throw in their kinky love in somewhere.

Aaron snorted, his eyes rolling. That Robert could bring it back to sex meant he was feeling much better. He felt relief flood through him and bit his own lip, captivated by Robert doing the exact same. “Well...course. Y-...you know that’s what I’ve wanted for a while now.” Robert just had wanted to have Chrissie too. And now... Aaron felt the question bubble in his throat, felt his want to voice it battle his control and want to not burden Robert. He stroked Robert’s hand as his smile slowly faded under the weight of his thought.

Even now he was beautiful and cocky. Just how he liked him. The days to come would prove to be their crucible; make or break them. Aaron was ready but Robert...of course he wasn’t. This was all new, and after his revelation about Jack Sugden... “...Why now? I mean...what changed?” He whispered, dragging his eyes up to Roberts.

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“You probably think I’ve gone mad, I’m rarely ever like this,” Robert joked, quietly thanking Aaron for helping him as he got comfortable, smiling softly over Aaron’s response, shaking his head lightly and grinning, “I would do it again in a heartbeat, you’re really special, Aaron.” The older man complimented, frowning when he noticed the awkwardness kick in on Aaron. “You alright?” He asked, not quite sure what else to say or do at the moment.

“Yeah...yeah.” Aaron hadn’t truly let himself believe that Robert would choose him. When it came down to the wire there was always something Chrissie could give that he just couldn’t: money, the big house, a family, status, stability. Things Aaron had no hope of providing. He still didn’t fully believe that he was worth it but couldn’t stop his smile from becoming watery with emotion. He believed Robert but the sting from being passed over for Chrissie lingered in his memory. At war with the present. “...So what happens now?”

This Robert was new and Aaron felt hope. But he was scared to hope - it never lasted for him.

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“No problem, I’ll be back,” Chas said sweetly, savouring the moment of her son hugging her and being so appreciative of her standing up for him and Robert. “I love you too, son, I’d do anything for you, you’re worth every fight.” As soon as Aaron had released his hold on her, Chas happily left the room and went to the nurses’ station to ask for a bed for her son.

Robert looked over at Aaron and smiled at him, using the majority of his strength to sit up and finally be at more of a level with the other, “thank you for today, for everyday…. Thank you for staying with me, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. You deserve to get some rest too, you’ve been through a lot.”

This time the tears in Aaron’s eyes were happy tears. He watched the door swing closed behind his mum and turned back to Robert. For the first time in a long time his face was, for just a moment, devoid of stress. Robert’s answering smile just made his own widen as he stepped closer again.

“Hey hey...easy,” Aaron murmured, helping Robert sit and shift his pillow - anything to help. This Robert was...nice. Aaron loved it but was confused at the sudden change. “Well...thank you for choosing me,” He murmured, glancing down at the bedsheets in awkwardness.

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The Whites simply just looked at the duo in disbelief, Chrissie simply just giving Chas a dirty look before storming out, Lawrence storming out after her. With Chas doing all of the talking, nobody had even noticed that Robert had actually been knocked unconscious and had woken up again, but he came round at just the perfect time. “Thanks, Chas…” Robert spoke up in a whisper, the older woman simply just turning to look at the man and giving him a wink. They could speak properly once everything had settled down, but for now, everyone just needed to get a good night’s sleep. “Right, I’m going to go find Vic and Diane and bring them home, you both look wrecked.” The dark haired woman said sweetly, turning to face Aaron and smiling softly at him, “Love, do you want a lift home or shall I go find a nurse to get one of those beds for you?” She asked, her protective nature coming out completely as she cooed over her son and his boyfriend.

Who would’ve thought Robert Sugden and Chastity Dingle getting on? Aaron didn’t try to contain his smile nor did he not hug his mum tight. He chuckled at her sass and nodded with a soft shrug. “Think I’ll need it.” She knew him so well: of course he wasn’t going to leave Robert. Especially after that. Especially after...everything. They had a lot to talk about and even more to think about. Katie had made sure of that. “I love you mum,” He murmured, pulling her in for another hug and giving Robert a mock scowl at the cheeky look he gave them. “And thanks. Really. You didn’t have to do that.”

But she had. And that meant the world to Aaron. It counted for more than Chas could ever know. Glancing at Robert, his smile softened, his worry battling within to rise and take his good mood away.

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When Aaron had managed to get in between Robert and The Whites, Chas hopped up and stood by her son, a dark look in her eyes; she didn’t need to say anything for Lawrence to know that if he even attempted to touch his son, Robert wouldn’t be the only one in hospital for a long time. “I have had enough of you and your spoilt brat of a daughter walking around this village like you own the place- looking down on my son because he’s not what you would consider as one of those you associate with, but I will have you know that my son, I am so proud of my son, because yeah, sometimes he does get caught up in the wrong things, he has a heart of gold, something you will never have. I understand you hate Robert now, but for you to come in here and say all of those horrible things makes all of my sympathy for you fly out of that bloody window! While I personally don’t know what it’s like, going through something like this, I watched my son hate himself for having the want of being himself, I watched my son try to kill himself, hurt himself- he did everything bad just to hide that pain because he thought nobody would accept him.” Chas blurted out with tears in her eyes, sniffling as she looked from Aaron to Lawrence and continued to speak, “I watched my son fall in love, I watched my son love someone so much that he helped him take his own life, and then I watched him hate himself again, thinking he didn’t deserve love, thinking all of this horrible stuff happened because of him being gay. I love my son and you calling Robert a freak is like you saying it to Aaron and that’s not okay. You may want Robert dead, but my son- my son loves him, I know he loves him and if you kill him and take that love from him, I’ll kill you myself. You can get whatever you want, you could buy your daughter another bloke…. I can’t buy another son!”

As Chas finished speaking, her tears were washing her face as she let out a shaky breath and held Aaron’s hand. “Now get out before I get you thrown out! If I were you, I would walk away and thank my lucky stars the universe granted you a get out of jail free card.”

Aaron knew his mum could talk for Britain but this time every word that came out of her made him feel one inch taller. She had been trying to figure Robert out right alongside Katie but now she was by his side, protecting him despite everything. All because he loved Robert. His smile felt blinding as he watched the Whites from behind his mum, his ability of speech redundant. His mum had said it all better than he ever could. They were all stunned and Aaron couldn’t help glancing his smile back at Robert, feeling just a little giddy that his mum had unleashed herself on Chrissie and Lawrence. The things they said warranted it!

When Chas took his hand Aaron held back, grinning and smirking at the stunned White’s and pointing kindly to the door. He reached back to touch Robert or take his hand - whichever came first - his sympathy for Chrissie frozen into dust.

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“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Robert agreed in a gentle tone, smiling up at Aaron and finally allowing himself to lie back on his pillows, but unfortunately for him, Chrissie and Lawrence looked in just as the two males kissed, and within seconds they were storming into the room; Chas and Victoria rushing in as Chrissie slapped her now ex-fiance across the face, whereas her father viciously grabbed him from under his chin and almost lifted the man out of the bed. “Oi, get off him!” Chas screamed, doing her best with victoria to try and make Lawrence release his grip.

“I warned you, I warned you if you hurt my daughter I would come for you! I don’t care how horrible your injuries are, I don’t care if this will make it all the worse- you should’ve done us all a favor and died when you fell through that floor, at least then my daughter would have some light to look forward to at the end of this tunnel you’ve put her in!” Lawrence screamed in Robert’s face, the younger man going pale as the older man’s grip went from his jaw to his neck; practically cutting off all of his oxygen. “Lawrence, let him go, you’re killing him!” Victoria cried, rushing out of the room to go and get hospital security. “He deserves everything he gets, my daughter doesn’t deserve to be treated the way you’ve treated her you pathetic waste of space- you’re a freak! A freak of nature who deserves death!” Lawrence screamed, his temper getting the better of him as he sent Chas flying backwards onto the ground, his grip on Robert’s neck tightening until the blond went limp, his eyes shut as all of the monitors started to ring out alarmingly.

While Chrissie seemed completely frightened by her father’s actions, it didn’t stop her from getting uncomfortably close to Robert’s ear and whispering him and painful ending. “You deserve all of this, you’re a disgusting freak of nature, he may not realise it now, but one day Aaron will open his eyes and realise what kind of parasite you really are.”

Aaron turned as the door opened, expecting Chrissie to lose reign on her anger after their kiss. She moved quickly, the slap ringing out before Aaron shifted to try and rebuff Lawrence, to grapple his hands off of Robert. He heard Vic and Chas come in behind, his mum defending Robert to his relief. Vic too. Two people fighting in Robert’s corner...he was filled with a flood of relief that was, sadly, buried under his determination: he had to get Lawrence off Robert. But he couldn’t stop his words.

Lawrence was vicious and knew just where to strike. Aaron had momentary victory with his hands before they darted to Robert’s neck. Aaron’s focus tripled and with ferocity he clawed at the man’s hands, doing whatever necessary to pry them off Robert. “Get off ‘im or I’ll break your wrists Lawrence,” He grunted, gripping hard and twisting, using pain to break his hold. For an old bastard he was strong! Seeing his mum be shoved off doubled his anger and he slapped the man hard, using shock to stop him. The man was so lucky it wasn’t a punch! Aaron wanted nothing more than to deck him stupid for what he was doing! “Back off or I’ll rearrange your face!” He shouted, shoving the man physically away and placing himself between Robert and the whites, the sounds of Robert’s struggle to breath making him glance back worriedly.

Chrissie used that to shift past him and hiss into Robert’s ear. Aaron only caught a few choice, disgusting words as he shoved her back. His face was set in a dark determination; Chrissie’s words had darkened any sympathy he could have had for her. “Leave now before we arrest you.”

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“You’ve got a point there, but you might do, depends on how much shock you want to send me into.” Robert joked with a cheeky wink, so appreciative about how much effort Aaron was going to to try and turn their current darkness into light. “That’s good to know, maybe when this is all behind us, we could all sit down together and clear the air.” The blond suggested with a gentle smile, wanting to do what was right by the man he loved.

At first, Robert had barely even noticed Aaron was holding his hand- he could hardly feel it, but out of nowhere, he suddenly had the power to close the grip between the two and he could feel it; he could feel his boyfriend’s hand supportively holding his, and it was incredible. As the younger man spoke, Robert’s tears of sadness suddenly turned into happiness as he looked up at Aaron and looked at him lovingly. “C’mere,” The older man said in a playful tone, chuckling as he used what power he had in his hand to pull his boyfriend a little closer so they could lovingly press their lips together.

Hours ago Robert had been on death’s door and now he was using that disarming smile on him all over again. It calmed Aaron despite making him have to bite his lip to repress a grin. Robert could play his body like a piano when he chose - it was the first way he had broken through his walls. “I think we’ve had enough shock for one day yeah?” He sighed, letting his weariness and tiredness surface as he continued to hold and stroke Robert’s hand passively.

Kissing Robert was nothing Aaron didn’t want to do, and loathe as he was to resist being pulled down into one Aaron couldn’t help glance back over his shoulder at the window. His mum, Vic...Chrissie and Lawrence...they could look in and knowing was one. Seeing was another. Chrissie was already furious...but...Aaron wasn’t known for his selflessness. Not when it came to Robert. He let himself be pulled down into a kiss that drained some of the grey miasma holding his mood down.

Pulling back, Aaron smiled a soft, calm smile. “D’you wanna see Vic?” He left out Chrissie and Lawrence purposefully. Chas...he needed to talk to her too. After the hospital Robert would need friends. Everything was about to change for him.

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“Really? Is she feeling alright?” Robert joked, the first genuine grin he had shown since waking up in the hospital; the thought of Chastity Dingle being here for him as well as being here for her son was an overwhelming wave of emotion, he was the last person that deserved to be worried about. It was a weird feeling, a feeling that he probably wouldn’t open up about for a long time.

Talking about his dad, Robert just looked down and shook his head, “that’s the thing, though, everyone loved him- he was the bloke you wanted to be mates with, but at home…. At home, he was completely different- or at least he was with me. I always knew he hated me, but after he caught me with that bloke… I knew straight away that he was so disappointed in me…. He had that kind for a son and- he sent the bloke home- fired him, actually, then he- he beat me… but even that wasn’t as bad as knowing I was officially the black sheep of the family. Ever since then, I’ve always fought so hard to not have those feelings for blokes, I thought if I ended up with a woman and had a family of my own, I would redeem myself with him… Then I met Chrissie, and I’ll admit I was never fully attracted to her, but it was the most attraction I had ever felt for a woman, so I fought myself and made sure I didn’t screw it up… Then I met you, I met you and you changed everything…. I- you’re the best mistake I’ve ever made; I love you so much, I’ve never been this happy before… I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”

Robert had completely poured his heart out for Aaron, he trusted Aaron more than he had ever trusted anyone else before and it was a strange feeling opening up so much to someone; to be so vulnerable in front of someone was such a foreign feeling to him, but with Aaron, he knew there was nothing to be afraid or ashamed of.

“You think out of everything I’d make up my mum?” Aaron teased, happy to finally be able to. To be able to make Robert smile after how dark a turn the day took. “I think... I think she’s seeing things different now.” He said, voice softening and trailing off. He didn’t want to talk about Katie and she almost bled into the room. Almost. Chrissie and Lawrence were outside and they...they were enough to deal with for now. A near death experience behind him...Robert deserved a minute to rest and just be.

Except Robert wasn’t being. He was breaking down and Aaron didn’t know what he could do except hold his hand. This was the deepest Robert had ever went with him and Aaron knew it meant something big. He already knew he didn’t love Chrissie but to now know the damage his dad had done being a homophobe... It made so much sense now why Robert was desperate to stay straight. “Robert...you’re loved for who you are. Vic loves you for you. I love you....God knows why.” From a voice so soft and painfully serious, Aaron had to add the joke, to drag Robert closer to the surface of the dark memories that were pulling him under. Stroking the hand in his own, Aaron smiled down at the blond. His emotions were so up and so down that he felt exhausted, unable to feel much except relief. Relieved to be right there.

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Hearing that Victoria was outside made Robert’s eyes widen, he was so worried about how his little sister would take the news of him being so seriously injured, it didn’t even bear thinking about; if the roles were reversed he would be out for blood on the person that caused it. “Your mum? Well, that’s good, I’m glad she’s here for you…” The blond said in a gentle tone, a sad smile appearing on his lips as his eyes diverted to the window; Chrissie and Lawrence were outside, and they looked like they were ready for blood.

“I know you said it wasn’t my fault, but it was, I shouldn’t have shoved Katie to try and get her phone, I just- I never wanted people to know I was bisexual, it was never something that anyone understood; they more condemned it rather than accepted it…. And my dad, God, the moment he caught me with a bloke in my bedroom…. Nothing was ever the same.” Robert confessed, tears filling his eyes as he looked down and bit his bottom lip.

Aaron smiled a small, sad smile. “Well...she’s here for you too,” He said softly, still in amazement at what Chas had said. At how much he had needed to hear it. Still holding Robert’s hand, Aaron saw the shift in Robert’s face - his smile dissolving and his eyes losing some shine. On instinct, Aaron glanced over his shoulder. There were Chrissie and Lawrence. Furious. Of course they were - she’d been jilted...her wedding day had soured into the worst day of her life.

Aaron couldn’t help feel a pang of sympathy for her but selfishly he couldn’t bring himself to want to spare her. Sparing her would make him lose Robert and he just got him. Turning back, he tried to banish them from his mind. His heart broke for Robert as he tore his past open in front of him. The pieces of the puzzle fell together; Aaron now understood why Robert had needed so badly to be straight. His dad. Aaron could understand that desperation perfectly. “Oh Robert,” He whispered, caressing the hand in his own, his face so open with his want to free Robert of his pain. “Your dad...he sounds like he was a dick. Being bisexual...doesn’t make you bad. Or...a failure. You’re just Robert. Robert Sugden.”

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“Of course not, I would have to be really unwell to only want to do something by the halfway mark.” Robert said with a chuckle, keeping his eyes locked on Aaron as he forced a tiny smile out for the man he loved, “God, that’s ages… And you’ve been here this whole time? Have you been on your own?” He asked, biting his bottom lip as he took a deep breath and sighed, “have you heard anything? Did Katie take full advantage and tell?” He asked, the fear returning on his face. “I- Lawrence and Chrissie are going to kill me…. I shouldn’t care, but I do…. Is that daft?”

Aaron was sorry he hesitated in mentioning Chas and Vic, stood outside waiting as he had. It let fear take Robert and Aaron’s heart crack for the man, knowing what awaited him. He knew all the feelings that must be raining over the man like stormclouds. “Course not,” He murmured, focusing on Robert’s hand as a stabiliser. Something to converge his mind on and maintain his balance. “...Vic’s outside. And...me mum.” He added, his mouth curling on sarcastic distaste. His mum and Robert, together in the one place without killing each other. It was...definitely a day to be remembered.

Chrissie and Lawrence could wait. Katie could wait... Aaron wanted to have a few choice words with her himself. One to one. She knew what he went through accepting himself and now she’d ignored all that to be spiteful.