hiiii !! would u write another fic for eli (or bobby)? i loved ur other one sm <33
BREAK | bobby skeetz / robert keating
summary: inhaler have a break in their world tour, and bobby surprises an un-expecting reader!
content: established relationship, fluff, slight language, slight suggestive content
notes: i'm back!! + not proofread so please let me know if there's anything you notice! for the sake of this fic please pretend all the uk festivals and st anne's park were AFTER the australia and japan shows, and that manchester night 2 was NOT rearranged!!
wc: 2.2k
"I know, baby. I'll be back soon, just a few more shows."
"It's been so long, Rob."
"I know it has. I promise, you're the first person I'm coming to when we get back."
It was early May 2025, and Inhaler had been touring since April. You were so proud of your boyfriend, of course you were, but the distance was starting to have an effect. You had gone lengths of time like this before; you knew you could do it, but something about this time of the year just made it worse.
Your four-year anniversary was the next day, and the thought of spending it without him was something you couldn't fathom. You had never spent anniversaries apart before.
You were trying to stay positive, and Bobby was making it better, but late-night, post-show FaceTimes could only do so much.
"I just wish you could come back. I mean, you have a break, and you're spending our anniversary over there doing nothing."
"I know, I wish I was with you too. We'll celebrate when I'm home."
"Okay. I should let you sleep, I don't want to keep you up."
"I'm never being kept up when it's with you. But yeah, I should probably get some sleep. That and Eli's banging on the wall. Apparently I'm being too loud."
I laughed, "send him and the guys my love."
"Always. I'll speak to you tomorrow."
"Can't wait. I love you."
With a final smile, you hung up, sinking back into the sofa cushions. It was midnight in Ireland, making it 1am in Cologne. You were dreading the upcoming Australia tour; the time difference would make everything worse, with tour prep and your own work taking the days up.
With everything on your mind, you let yourself fall into a restless sleep, the light of the TV and the soft sound of Inhaler's music being your only comfort.
You woke up around nine, with an arm over the back of the sofa and your leg hanging off the side. The overstimulating view of a smaller version of the screen you fell asleep to bouncing around the TV. You sighed, reaching for the remote and turning it off.
You dragged yourself to the kitchen, grabbing some eggs from the cupboard and turning the hob on to high. You poured some oil in and cracked the eggs over, and you watched as they bubbled.
Once your eggs were done frying, you grabbed a plate and some bread, trudging back to the living room to scroll and eat.
You allowed yourself to get lost in TikTok for a while, until you realised it had gotten to quarter to ten. Your empty plate sat discarded across the sofa.
Pulling yourself up, you made your way up the stairs up to your room, grabbing some jeans and a top to change into. You walked into the bathroom, starting the shower and ridding yourself of your pyjamas.
When you stepped out after your long shower, you dried and dressed yourself before heading back downstairs. You were not needed at work today, so you'd decided to take a day for yourself. You turned the TV on and pulled up How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, a comfort for you, and one that you had been relying on in your boyfriend's absence.
Your phone vibrated. You picked it up. A message from Lucy: 'I hope you're not sat feeling sorry for yourself.'
'We're going out tonight. That Italian restaurant near yours. 6pm. Dress cute babe.'
You chuckled. Maybe a night out with your closest friend was what you needed to distract your mind from the fact that it was your first anniversary away from Bobby. It had gotten to one, and you had at least four and a half hours to kill before you had to leave to meet Lucy. You put on another film for background noise while you tidied up for a bit.
And did anything to help pass the time.
Two hours passed, and you gave in and went back upstairs to start getting ready. After putting on your playlist, you pulled out a white mini dress with black polka dots, some detailed sheer black tights and some black knee-high boots. You laid them out on your bed as you grabbed your hair straighteners and white clips.
After briefly running the iron through your hair, you clipped the front parts back, and started on your makeup. You didn't do too much, just a natural look with a bit of silver swiped over your eyelids.
You pulled the dress and tight on, and stepped into the boots, glancing over yourself in the full-length mirror in the corner of your room.
You chose some gold earrings, some bracelets and a necklace, putting them on quickly and choosing a bag.
You grabbed a small black shoulder bag, and chucked your lip liner and gloss, purse, perfume, your pack of cigs and a lighter.
It was five-thirty and the restaurant was only a ten minute walk away, so you clicked a few pictures and posted one to your story before heading out.
The walk was uneventful, and you pulled your phone out as you arrived to text Lucy. There was already a text waiting for you: 'Inside, towards the back of the restaurant. See you soon! Xxx'
You laughed and tucked it into your bag.
You walked inside and made your way to the back of the restaurant, where Lucy had said she was sitting. But as you looked around, you couldn't see her anywhere. Just an older couple, a woman and two girls, and a bleach blonde man sitting alone, facing away from you. A familiar back of a head, but you put that aside.
You pulled your phone out again, fingers moving to text Lucy but she had beaten you to it:
'Look at the blonde again. You're welcome xx'
You looked up again, but the blonde was no longer facing away from you. Instead, his eyes were locked on your face, and you had to bite your lip to stop you from laughing. And screaming. And just passing out right there.
Your eyes were practically bulging out of your skull as he slowly stood up and began to make his way towards you. He wore simple blue jeans and a white button up, and his hair was left untouched, but you thought he looked even more attractive than ever.
You were still in a state of shock when he reached you, his hands reaching out to you as yours covered your mouth, and swept away the few tears that had fallen.
He pulled you into him by your waist, strong arms wrapping and interlocking behind your back. You struggled to get over the surprise, but as soon as you did, you melted, and reached your arms around his neck, resting your head on his chest.
You let out a teary giggle, finally allowing yourself to speak, "I missed you so much."
"I missed you more, angel," he pulled away to look at you briefly. "I couldn't miss our four years."
He leant down to press a short chaste kiss to your mouth, and you smiled into it before pulling back, hugging him one more time before making your way back to the table, holding hands the whole way.
They stayed interlocked as you sat down, as he revealed, "I ordered for you. I know your favourite. And a bottle of Pino Grigio."
"Don't you just know me so well," you laughed.
You aimlessly chatted and caught up on the time you had spent apart until a waiter arrived with the wine. Bobby poured a glass for each of you, snapping a quick photo of you before clinking his glass against yours.
You sighed, "stressful. But I'm up for a promotion so fingers crossed." You were a music and film journalist, your job actually being how you met Bobby. You were interviewing the band a little over four years ago, and yourself and your boyfriend had been instantly drawn to each other, exchanging number and going out just a day after that. Unprofessional, but sweet.
"That's amazing, baby. You'll have to get us back in the studio soon."
You laughed, "I will! If I get the promotion I'll have so much more creativity in what I can do, so it'll be more than just a quick album overview this time."
"I'm so proud of you. Seriously, you're the best there is," he gushed. "And it let us meet, so it's probably my favourite job out there," he added with a lower tone.
You blushed under his gaze, and by the time your food had arrived, you were completely in-the-know about each others' lives again, and you settled down to eat, but not before taking a photo of it. You had to keep the feed updated.
You and Bobby never got bored of company. You could talk about anything - the same or different topics - and never get bored. Just sitting together was enough.
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You payed the bill and got up, and despite the fact that Bobby had his own bags to carry, he insisted on carrying your boots too, the slight heel having had an effect on you after one too many nights out. You walked in a comfortable silence, the bottoms of your tights no doubt having rips in them.
You reached the front door and unlocked it, stepping through and dropping your bag on the floor, your boyfriend following in suit.
You immediately wrapped your arms around him once again, drinking in his presence more this time; you didn't want to show too much affection back at the restaurant.
He responded with no hesitation, allowing his hands to rest around your waist, pulling you even closer to him.
You breathed in his scent, pulling just your face away slightly to step onto your toes to kiss him. He sighed into you, bringing one hand to rest on your cheek, thumb swiping soothingly over your cheekbone. You trailed a manicured hand to his chest, gripping his shirt slightly in your fingers as you deepened the kiss.
He broke away first, resting his forehead against yours.
You almost didn't want to speak, in fearing of ruining the moment.
"I'm here for two and a bit weeks, then Australia."
"That's not too bad. Are the lads back too?"
"Yeah, I think Eli's with Grace tonight. Do you fancy a pint tomorrow with everyone?"
You smiled, "yeah, that sounds great. I think Luce has a gig tomorrow so we could grab a drink with her after."
"Cool. I need to thank her for helping out with this. I don't know how I would've pulled it off without her help."
You raised your eyebrows playfully, "yeah, I don't either."
"Oi." He nipped at your hip lightly, before pulling your face back up to meet his briefly.
You had settled back down on the sofa, a film playing, forgotten, in the background. Your leg was thrown over his thighs, one of his hands resting there, your chests pressed together as you kissed. He was constantly pulling you closer to him, to the point that you moved as one. Your arms were draped over his shoulders, and you pulled away for a breath.
You had spent three hours at the restaurant, and had been home for a good two, so it was nearing eleven, and you were getting tired.
"Do you want to head to bed? Olive's up there, I think."
Olive was your two-year-old springer spaniel.
"Yeah, sure. I've missed that shit."
You chuckled, "he's missed you too. Might be a bit pissed when she sees you, though. You've been gone so long."
He rolled his eyes and picked up the remote, switching the TV off before tucking his hands under your thighs, bringing you to straddle his, standing with you wrapped around him.
He carried you upstairs, and when you walked into your shared bedroom, Olive perked up. She leant forward as Bobby placed you down, giving his hand an affectionate lick before letting out a small bark and jumping down and off the bed, walking out.
You pointed at her, "told you."
You stood up and made your way into the bathroom, Bobby following in your footsteps as you both started to brush your teeth. He came up behind you and wrapped his free arm around your middle, pulling your back against his chest and leaning his chin on your head.
You finished getting ready, and walked back into the bedroom to change. You wore a tank top with a pair of Bobby's joggers, while he stripped of his shirt to put on his own pair. You both clambered under the covers, and he wasted no time in pulling you flush against him.
Your hand again found its way to his chest as you both just sat in each others' company for a moment.
"I love you," he spoke, nose brushing and breath mixing with yours as you replied.
He leant even closer to your face.
And with that, he closed the gap between you once more, pushing you ever so slightly to lie on your back as he hovered over you, sighing into your mouth before moving down to drag slow kisses against your jaw and neck.
"I missed you so much, angel."