If you asked Aaron if he was a sentimental man he’d tell you no. No question about it. But Liv knows better, Liv knows about the secret playlist on his phone. He thinks he’s being subtle about it but the RJS paired with a blue heart emoji kind of gives the game away.
It’s more than just a playlist full of soppy love songs. It’s a release, a comfort, a happy place. It’s funny really, Liv knows exactly when he needs it, even if Aaron wouldn’t ever admit it. Aaron has bad days, of course he does, no amount of counseling and love can erase the pain he’s been through. The days are few and far between now but occasionally his insecurities rear their ugly head.
It was one of those days last Thursday, Liv knows the signs like the back of her hand now.
She’d attempted to greet Aaron with their usual morning handshake but he’d kept his head sunk low, hollow eyes staring into his cold tea. She’d shared a look with Robert over the kitchen, a pained look that speaks so much volume. He’s having a bad day and it hurts me because I love him but it’s hurting him impossibly more.
She knew Robert had an important meeting that morning, not because he’d said so but because he was dressed up to the nines and folders of salient looking papers covered the coffee table. As it happens, she knows Robert just as well as she knows her brother, so she knew what he was about to do.
“Robert, I’ve got this” she’d told him, voice barely a whisper but he’d understood.
“No, I can cancel, it’s no bother really”
“Just go Rob, go get this deal so can take me that holiday of a lifetime you promised” She knows exactly how to get her own way with Robert, he’s way too predictable.
She’d got him out of the door eventually, only after he’d lingered around Aaron for another twenty minutes. It’s sweet really, he just wants to take care of his husband. He thrives off it, being able to take care of Aaron, making him happy - she thinks it has something to do with all the times he couldn’t do that for him.
Aaron had driven her to school, Greg James’ way-too-enthusiastic-for-eight-am voice filled the car. Now Liv hasn’t got anything against Greg James, she really hasn’t, but he’s not going to be the one to make Aaron feel better. She’d stubbly switched the mode on the radio, and gone straight in for Aaron’s RJS playlist. The slow, monolithic riff of Arctic Monkeys ‘Do I Wanna Know’ had charged the air, and it took all of 13 seconds before Aaron was subconsciously tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. One minute forty-seven in and Aaron had found his voice, his impression of Alex Turners maybe I’m too busy being yours to fall for new line falling freely from his lips.
(Liv doesn’t know much about his and Roberts affair, she figured it best not ask. But she imagines it to be very fitting to this song.)
Music is Aarons release. Music and Robert.
Which is why she’s currently holding a neatly wrapped CD, throat dry and heart hammering away. It’s Roberts birthday and Liv wanted to do something nice, something meaningful so he’s burnt Aarons playlist onto a CD. She isn’t sure how he’s going to react, she thinks it’s pretty naff as far as birthday presents go. But Liv has bigger problems than that - Aaron’s most likely going to murder her.
“Oh a CD, is it Taylor Swift?” Robert asks with a crease in his brow.
“No idiot. It’s not just any CD, it’s a CD of your life, yours and - and Aaron’s life together” She tumbled out.
“There are 30 songs on there. I think. Each song is related to a period of your lives together. I can’t take all the credit, not when this soppy one here has a whole playlist dedicated the love of his life” Liv mocks. “But well - I yeah - I added a few of my own too.”
If looks could kill she’d be the next victim to Aaron’s hostile glare, but Robert … well he’s tearing up, isn’t he? Soft lad.
Robert walks over to the CD player - thank god he’s a Grandad and still owns one of these ancient things, Liv thinks - and within seconds the familiar melody of The Love We Stole steals the attention of everyone in the room. Even little Seb’s eyes have glazed over, still, that could have something to do with the fact he’s been left there to fed himself.
Robert lets the sounds of love and home and family continue to roll throughout the day. It’s nearing ten o’clock when Liv catches them having a dance in the kitchen. Aaron would deny it - just like he’d deny having a playlist made up of songs that remind him of his husband.
But she’s proven him wrong on two accounts today because here they are; Robert’s hands bunched up at Aaron’s waist and Aaron’s own wound around Robert’s neck. The whispered poetics of ‘Angels’ seeping deep into their hearts and leaving goosebumps to travel the expanse of Liv’s body. She carefully treads back to her room as to not disturb them.
But not before capturing the moment on her phone, of course.
The things that no one else sees
Being as in love with you as I am
send me a ship & a word and i’ll write a little headcanon/drabble/whatever
