The Afterglow.|| Aarotin ♥
Discord thread featuring: Quentin and Aaron @aaronhart93
When: January 3rd 2021
Mentions: Roman Beckett @romanbeckett
Description: Quentin goes over to Aaron’s penthouse for the first time after Aaron’s confession.
Trigger Warnings: Murder Mentions, Death Mentions, PTSD, FEELS!!!
Aaron Aaron had had a rough couple of days. Obviously, he had a shitty New Year’s Eve. Then on top of that, he was trying to help Alison deal with the fact that her boyfriend had gone AWOL. he’d taken the kids for the weekend because Alison could barely take care of herself. So now he was anxious about Quentin, Alison, the kids, and for some reason he was also anxious about Roman. He wasn’t exactly sure why either. Aaron had just put the twins down for bed when Quentin texted him to tell him that he was in his way. He’d texted back and told him to use his key to come in and up to Destiny’s room because he’d be putting Des down still when he got there. He was in the middle of reading her the Princess and the Frog when he heard Quentin walking down the hall. “In here.” He said, not too loudly because Destiny was already half asleep in her father’s arms. He was nervous to see Quentin. He was nervous for whatever conversation they were about to have. What was he going to tell him? He was terrified that he was going to chose Roman over him. Seeing both men that he cared about deeply together...that would hurt the most. Aaron hadn’t been this nervous since he’s found out that Alison was pregnant. He tried to keep his hands as still as possible as he flipped the pages of the picture book, but the book was still quaking in his hands.
Quentin. To be honest, Quentin was kind of dreading whatever was about to happen tonight. It seemed like all he could think about nonstop since nye was Aaron and Roman. He felt so torn, and it wasn’t unlike him to just drop and run from these types of situations. Instead, he was walking down the lightly lit hallway of Aaron’s penthouse. Heading straight for the bedroom of the man he fell in love withs daughter. He could feel his heart pounding relentlessly against his chest, and he took a deep breath in. Stopping in the doorway as he peered through the crack. Pushing the door open just enough so that Aaron could see him and he could take in the vision of this beautiful man holding his tiny creation. She was literal proof of how much Aaron could love and it almost made his eyes tear up. What did he do? How could he have let this gigantic mess happen? He didn’t want to choose between these two men. But in his head that was the only rational answer here. “Hey” he whispered softly. “Do you want me to wait downstairs?” he asked. His breath shaky as he whispered, but he hoped Aaron could understand him.
Aaron Aaron wasn't the only one to hear Quentin walk into the room. Des' head popped up slightly when she heard the musician walk into the room. Aaron the same time, Aaron peered up at Quentin and nearly forgot to breathe when he walked in. Fuck. Although he was smiling, he was still nervous about the conversation to come. He just couldn't help but smile when he saw that face. Aaron opened his mouth to speak, but Des beat him to it. "Quenny..." She said sheepishly. "Can you sing me a bed time song?" She said in her tiny voice. Aaron looked down at Des as she spoke, then his blue eyes flickered to the other male in the room. He shook his head when he asked him if he should wait, then waved him into the room to sit down next to him. "I'm sure he'd love to, but you have to lay down and close your eyes." He told her, helping her get under the covers. He put a hand on Des' head to gently rub her little blonde head. Raising his brow jokingly, he looked over at Quentin with an anticipating look.
Quentin. It was impossible not to smile when Destiny’s little head popped up and called out for him. It made him feel all types of emotional, but how could he say no to such a perfect little angel. His eyes shifted over to Aaron and their blue eyes met as he waved him to come in. His heart pounding even harder now as he walked over to take a seat beside his lover. “Of course I’ll sing to you” he nodded slowly. The warmth of Aaron’s body sitting next to him making it nearly impossible for him to think up any lyrics. But he sure as hell would try. He reached out and placed his hand on top of Aaron’s on Des’ head and smiled over to him. “When the lights go down in the city...” he began to sing softly. His voice still shaky with nerves as his eyes shifted from Aaron and over to the little girl. “And the sun shines on the baaaay. Oh, I want to be there- in my city. Ooh, ooh. Oh, ooh, oooooh.” He stopped singing and tucked his bottom lip between his teeth as he removed his hand from Des’ head. “I don’t remember the rest of the words” he said softly. His eyes shifting down to the floor as he shook his head. “I’m sorry” he whispered. Clearing his throat quietly before softly singing the words to Love me like you do all the way through. His eyes shifting back over to Aaron as he finished before standing back up and leaning over Des to kiss her forehead.
Aaron Quentin was making it hard for Aaron to not fall more and more in love with him. He smiled widely at Quentin, completely paying attention to him while he sang. He nearly would have forgotten Des was in the room if his hand wasn't on top of his head. And feeling how Q's hand felt on top of his...this was the perfect moment. His daughter and the man he loved both in one room with him having one of the sweetest moments ever. He chuckled airily when Q said he forgot the words. Aaron pressed his lips together to try and hide an even bigger smile that was slowly starting to creep across his face. That was Quentin's song to Aaron, and he knew exactly what Quentin was doing when he started singing that song. Aaron. Loved. This. Man. So much. And he was so god damn gorgeous, but that was really just the cherry on top. There were so many amazing things about Quentin, no wonder Aaron was head over heals for him. He heard Des' breath get heavy right before Quentin finished the song. He gave Des a kiss after Q did then lead the silently out of the room. Now it was time to get serious. "Do you...um...want a drink?" He asked, unsure of where to go from here. The ball was completely in Q's court.
Quentin. Moments like these, with Aaron. They only made Quentin fall in love with him even more. It was hard for them not to when he could see so very clearly how protective, loving, and caring this man was. He knew exactly why he loved Aaron, why his heart couldn’t let go. But he also loved Roman. He was so madly in love with Roman. If he could literally cut himself in half and have them both he totally would without any hesitation. Hell, he’d do it even now and just let himself bleed out all over the floor for them both. That would be easier than ever having to choose. It was almost like he went into his own little world in his head for a moment as Aaron lead them out of the room. The sound of the business man’s voice pulling him from his thoughts as he shifted his eyes to lock on Aaron’s baby blues. “Uh... no, I’m good” he replied, still obviously contemplating in his head. “Actually...” he breathed out as he placed his hands on Aaron’s shoulders. “I just want to kiss you.” He pushed the business man’s back against the wall and pressed his entire body weight into his. His eyes closing as their lips brushed just barely together. “Tell me you love me” he asked with such a soft undertone. His heart pounding relentlessly as he waited to hear those three little words.
Aaron Okay...so maybe they weren't going to talk. Of course, Aaron was more than okay with that. He had been waiting to kiss Quentin again since he left him on the rooftop on New Year's Eve. His breath hitched when Q practically pinned him against the wall. The reality star's hands immediately reach up to cup his cheeks to try and bring their lips closer together. But Aaron paused when Quentin asked him to tell him that he loved him. He smiled contently as his heart started feeling so god damn full. He sighed with content before he whispered. "I love you." He eyelids fluttered closed as he pressed their lips together softly. He hummed softly on his lips as he kissed him sweetly and lovingly. "Mmm...fuck...I love you so much." He whispered, smiling softly before kissing him gently again. He just wanted to keep repeating it because he had been holding it in for so long. It felt amazing to say. And it right so fucking right too. Part of him wanted to scream it from the rooftops and part of him wanted to whisper it tenderly in Quentin's ear all night.
Quentin. Did they need to talk? Yeah, they probably did. But there was no way Quentin would have been able to get through any kind of talk without feeling Aaron’s lips on his first. He needed this moment, probably even more than he initially thoughts. Just hearing those words fall from the business man’s lips, without any hesitation, and without the loud distractions of the city. It was breathtaking, and that kiss to follow. God! He couldn’t even remember he needed to breath. A deep breathy sigh passing his lips as he practically gasped for air when Aaron pulled back to speak again. “I love you too. God, I love you so fucking much” he whispered back. Pressing his forehead against his lovers as he just melted into the moment for few seconds. His heart feeling so full he could swear it was literally about to pop. “Aaron...” he finally spoke again. His eyes shifting to meet his lovers without pulling his head back from his at all. “Can we go to your room? I wanna tell you everything. Just not here.”
Aaron Those words sounded to sweet coming out of Quentin's mouth. It just felt so right. And he was so fucking happy. He hadn't felt the happiness he was feeling in this moment in such a long time. Their embrace was so perfect. It was a long time coming too. Aaron just wanted to bask in it forever, but he knew Quentin was right. They had a lot to talk about, and honestly Aaron wanted answers about what happened a couple nights before. He sunk into his for a few moments more before finally letting out a sigh and nodding. "Yeah..." He whispered. He laced his finger's through his lover's hand and pulled him all the way down the hall and into the mater bed room. He rested his back against the board and pulled Q down so that he was sitting between his legs and resting his head against the millionaire's chest. The perfect angle for Aaron to play with Q's hair. "What happened, Q?" He asked, gently stroking the other male's thick locks.
Quentin. Standing with Aaron in the hallway, wrapped in each other’s arms. It felt like such a safe place. One that he didn’t ever want to come out of. It was like nothing could hurt them as long as they were holding onto one another like this. It felt right. But when Aaron agreed and pulled away from him to lead him down the hallway. He could feel that anxiety of hurting him starting to consume him all over again. Thank God Aaron decided to pull him back in when they finally sat down. Because he really felt like he might have just turned around and ran away. He wished so hard that he was taught how to deal with these emotions while growing up. But he really was trying. He was holding onto Aaron so tight now, as he laid his head on his chest. The sound of his lovers heartbeat and the scent of his skin calming him in a way he never could have expected. “I... I wasn’t expecting any of that. What you said, and how I reacted. I think it made the situation a whole lot worse that I didn’t. Expect it, you know?” He could feel his eyes stinging with tears, as his fingers played with the hem of the business man’s shirt. “My birth parents. When I was five. We spent New Year’s Eve together. The last thing I really remember is them telling me they loved me before I watched them get murdered.” This was probably the first time he actually said those words out loud to anyone. Most people he told through text, or didn’t tell at all. But this was all part of the issue. He didn’t wanna leave anything out, and Aaron deserved the truth. “I guess.. when you said you loved me, and hearing all the loud noises. It just kinda triggered me. I’ve never had anything like that happen to me before. I was just so convinced you didn’t want me like that. That you couldn’t possibly love me, ya know?” He took a deep shaky breath and then closed his eyes as he sniffed. “Then..” he started to actually back track a bit. “I was with Roman. After his breath up with Khai... and he told me he was in love with me, I always knew I loved him too. But this was different. We made love.” He stopped talking and brought his hand up to wipe at his tears. Trying to take a few calming breaths as he waited for Aaron to react.
Aaron Aaron took several deep breaths as he listened intently to Quentin's story. His heart ached for the other male. He knew Quentin had been through a lot of shit, and he now realized that the night his parents died was the night it must have all started. Quentin had been through immense trauma and Aaron finally understood why Quentin reacted the way he did on New Year's Eve. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Quentin. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It would have made this a lot less stressful for all of us." And by all of us...he met Roman, Quentin and Aaron. All three of them. They were all confused by their feelings for each other....and this entire situation was messy. Maybe if Aaron would just honest from the start, things wouldn't have become so confusing. "I do love you. I've loved you for a while now. If I were honest from you from the start, I wouldn't have triggered you. Thank you for telling me though." His heart ached at the fact that Aaron had triggered the man he loved. How could he do that to him? He didn't know, but Aaron still felt like it was somehow his fault. The next thing Aaron said made him feel oddly jealous...he wasn't sure who he was jealous of though. Another part of him also found that picturing Roman and Quentin making love to be hot as fuck. God, if things weren't confusing already. The businessman continued to stroke his hair. "I can't exactly blame you for being in love with Roman." He admitted with a tiny sigh. He looked down at the top of Q's head. "What are we going to do about this, Q?" He asked because he genuinely did not know the answer. Aaron wanted Quentin, but he didn't want to stop seeing Roman. And he sure as hell didn't want to come between them either. "I'm really confused." He whispered.
Quentin. Hearing Aaron apologize, he just closed his eyes tighter. He hated that he felt like this was somehow his fault. It wasn’t his fault at all. Quentin had a lot of demons in his life. Some he might never actually voice out loud. But this definitely wasn’t Aaron’s fault. “Babe... it’s not your fault. Things happen, and sometimes they don’t happen like we hope they will. But, you telling me you love me. That was perfect. I wanted to hear you say those words for so long” he admitted. Finally opening his eyes and looking up at his lover when he said he couldn’t blame him for loving Roman and that he was confused. What was that supposed to mean? It didn’t really matter though seeing how he did love the man. It showed in his eyes when he looked up at Aaron even now. “Aaron... we want to be together. He makes me feel so..” he stopped talking and looked back down at the hem of the business man’s shirt again and shook his head. “I don’t want you to think I don’t love you. I do love you, I’ve been in love with you for a while now. But, when you shut me down. I had to let go, I’ve been trying to let go” he admitted with another sniffle. “Things with him are just so raw, ya know? they’re intense, and rare. It’s just like, I don’t ever have to compete for him, and he loves me so hard.” He pulled out of Aaron’s arms and turned slightly to face him more directly. “Aaron, I love you. I really do, and I believe that you love me. I know you’d never hurt me and I trust you. But I’m scared. I’m so confused and scared right now, and I know you like being single. I just wish I had the answers, that I could have you both. But I can’t.”
Aaron Aaron looked down at Quentin as he spoke, smiling softly at first. It quickly faded, though, when Quentin told him that he wanted to be with Roman. He felt like he could cry right then and there. If only he was honest with himself and Quentin earlier. He was mad. Not at the Quentin. How could he be? He was mad at himself. In fact, he was furious with himself. Aaron rolled out from under Quentin and turned away from him, his legs dangling over the side of his bed. His throat tightened and he squeezed his eyes shut. He literally hurt all over. "Are things with us not raw? Are they not so real and special? I've been loving you with all I've got, even if we both didn't know it at the time." He admitted with a little bitterness in his voice. Quentin was right...he liked being single. But what he really liked about being single was being able to have sex with no strings attached. There were so many strings here, and Aaron knew he would be a fool to ignore something like that again. "I like being single, but I love you. I want you. I'm fucking so sorry it took my fucked up brain to realized that." He paused for a moment as he thought. "Why...why can't you have use both?" He asked, finally turning to face him again.
Quentin. When Aaron pulled himself out from under him, he could literally feel his heart break. God! The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Aaron like this. The pain was so fucking intense, it made him actually place a hand over his chest. He felt like he couldn’t even speak as his eyes scanned every painful detail of the business man’s expression. “No..” he choked out, moving to his knees on the floor directly in front of his lover before more tears fell. “That’s not what I meant. Aaron.. stop. No” he almost demanded for him to clear those thoughts from his head. “It is raw, we are raw. We’re intense, and intimate, and real. It’s always been real. Even when you wouldn’t say it, I could feel it. We have a connection. You and I. We have this...” he aggressively reached out and griped on to Aaron’s shirt over his heart. “I don’t know why not. I don’t know..” It was clear Quentin was becoming overwhelmed again and there was a slight panic burning through his eyes. “I love you both. I’m in love with you both. I just...” he let go of Aaron’s shirt and leaned back sitting on his butt and wrapping his arms around his legs. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t not be with him, Aaron. And I can’t not be with you either. I don’t wanna lose you. I don’t wanna lose either of you. But can you honestly say that you would be okay with me being with him. That you would be happy with just me? Would that be enough? Am I enough?”
Aaron Aaron absolutely lost it when Quentin grabbed her shirt over his rapidly beating heart. He squeezed his eyes shut because he knew that he would cry if he didn't. Without even a thought, he hand automatically flew up to grabbed onto the hand that was placed over his heart. His heart was equally full and ached at the same time. He loved hearing about how special they were. But why wasn't that enough? Aaron knew it was there too. It was all he could ever really feel when he was around Quentin. He felt Quentin's love the exact same way that Q had felt his. Aaron wiped his face before he turned to see Q curled up behind him. He could tell that this was just as hard for him as it was for the businessman. "Quentin, I don't want to lose you either. If you can't tell by now, I'm willing to do anything that makes you happy. If you want to be with Roman too. That's fine with me. You are so worth it, Quentin and don't think for a second that you aren't." He forced Q to look at him, wet blue eyes meeting. "I love you so much. So fucking much." He said as he took a sharp breath in. He wasn't exactly sure what he was agreeing to here. but he was sure that they'd work it out together at some point. Right now, he just needed to know that Quentin could still be his. He needed him.
Quentin. There were so many raw emotions floating wildly the room, and all around them. Quentin only wished that they could grab onto one of them like a lifeline and that everything would be perfectly fine again. Why did it have to be like this? Why was it that when Aaron told him he loved him it almost made him feel empty? He knew why. He let himself fall hopelessly in love with two different men, and he felt like he deserved to be empty. God, he wanted this so bad. He wanted Aaron to love him and to want him like this. But now that he did, he was more confused than ever. He could hear Aaron speaking but his words almost seemed echoed and distant. He was so scared of hearing him tell him to leave he didn’t wanna pay attention. His attention definitely being forced to the surface though when Aaron forced him to look at him. His eyes glossing over as he looked into his lovers teary eyes and his lips parted with a desperation he knew Aaron would understand. “I love you too, Aaron. I love you so much. Je suis amoureux de toi. Avec tout ce que j'ai.” He took a deep breath in and it finally sunk in. Did he just say he would be okay with him being with Roman? Would Roman be okay with that too? Could the three of them really be together, exclusive? Suddenly he felt really dizzy, and his hands moved to grip the side of Aaron’s face as he lifted to his knees. “J'ai besoin de toi beaucoup plus près de moi. J'ai besoin de toi. J'ai besoin de toi maintenant” he insisted. Closing the space between them as he crashed their lips together in a fervent and ravenous kiss.
Aaron Didn't Aaron deserve to be heartbroken? He did this to himself, didn't he? Why did he love to ruin all of the good things in his life? He'd ruined this for sure. He subconsciously did that on purpose because he was just so self hateful, and loved to ruin everything good. Quentin was good. He was probably one of the best things he had right now. Aaron turned his body to face Quentin completely. He face was one of fear and confusion, but he was also looking at him with so much love and compassion. Needless to say, Aaron was feeling a lot of different things right now. "je t'aime tellement, mon amour." he whispered back, even though he'd already said that to him. Now he just needed to say it in French. Aaron looked over at him with wide, blue eyes and wrapped his arms around his waist when Quentin brought his hands up to his face. His heart stopped for a moment when he said those words to him. That was confirmation enough to know that Quentin needed Aaron too, maybe just as much as Aaron needed the younger. Aaron looked up at him as Q got to his knees. He pulled him in by the waist as their lips pressed together feverishly. It had gotten heated very quickly and Aaron was humming on Q's lips in an instant. He got to his knees and pushed Quentin down onto his back. Aaron crawled on top of the barista quickly and hovered his lips just above his nose. "S'il te plait ne me laisse pas." He whispered, kissing him passionately again.(edited)
Quentin. The entire room felt like it was spinning as their lips came crashing together. His heart stopping and dropping to his stomach when Aaron pushed him back. What was happening right now? Aaron moved so fast to hover over him it left him in a bit of a haze. “I’m not gonna leave you, Aaron. I don’t want to leave you. But I don’t wanna hurt you either. I just need you to know where my hearts at, and right now it’s in two places.” His eyes were closed the entire time he spoke. But his lips were fighting hopelessly against the magnetic pull of Aaron’s hovering over his own. He wanted this man so bad. But he had to be honest, if he was anything at all, it was honest. He moved his hands to cup the back of the businessman’s neck as his fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Aaron..” he breathed out, finally opening his eyes. “Are you really okay with being with me if I’m with him?”
Aaron Aaron was suddenly panting as their noses just barely grazed past each other, eyes shut tightly. Aaron heard Quentin. He did. But he words seemed like they were somewhere in an alternative universe. Truthfully, Aaron's heart was in two places as well. He'd be upset losing both Quentin and Roman, and didn't quite understand where his head and heart were at. One thing he knew for sure was that part of his heart was with Quentin and that it would must literally be crushed if the man in front of him left him. He opened his eyes to make eye contact with Quentin, blue eyes meeting. "You have pretty much been with him Quentin. I'll be jealous. Of both of you. But it'd hurt me if you left." He swallowed hard. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you." He whispered, practically inaudibly.
