Robert getting a dog because he needs a routine post prison
Written entirely on my phone so any mistakes are down to autocorrect
*****
He’s on his way to the pub when he sees her and slows down. He’s not seen much of her the past few eeeks, all part of his trying to ignore Robert plan.
“Alright? Who’s this?” He crouches down to pet the labradoodle at her side. The dog immediately rolls onto its back and he obliges, rubbing her belly with a smile.
“This is Maisie.”
“Harry finally wear you down?” She’d been moaning for months that his godson wanted a puppy.
“No…she’s…she’s Robert’s.”
“Robert’s? Got you doing all the hard work eh? Typical.” He’s surprised, Robert had always been against them getting one no matter how much he and Liv had pleaded. “What’s going on Vic?”
“Nothing. Robert had an appointment that’s all.”
“Oh. Anything important?” He didn’t know why he was asking, it wasn’t any of his business anymore.
“You should ask him.” She looks uncomfortable. “I should go. See you.”
He watched her go wondering just when everything had become so awkward between them.
*****
He doesn’t think about it anymore until he sees Robert when he’s on his morning run. He sees the lead hanging from his hands and then sees Maisie running in circles at the bottom of the hill.
“Bit early for you ain’t it? Your new woman a bit demanding. He almost laughs at the expression on his face. “Maisie. Saw Vic with her the other day.”
“Ah. Well I thought it’d be good for Harry.” Robert shrugs and Aaron wonders if he’d always been so bad at lying. “You’re running.”
“Yeah.” Robert instantly looks worried. “Not like that. I promise…this is just me trying to keep fit.”
“You know…I know things are difficult between us but, if you needed to talk you can always find me.”
“I know. Same goes for you, you know. I know what it can be like…adjusting.”
“I’m doing alright. Doubt John would think much to that.” Aaron knows he wouldn’t. Ever since Robert had come back he’d been making comments about it and no matter what Aaron said he carried on.
“Yeah well, the offers stands whatever he says. If you’ve not been there you don’t get it do you. Anyway I better go, I’ve got a delivery at eight.” He runs off, trying hard to fight the instinct to just stay with Robert for the rest of the day.
*****
The delivery lorry hasn’t long gone when his phone goes. If it had been anyone but Vic he would’ve ignored it.
“Aaron I can’t find Robert.”
“You know he’s an adult don’t you? Saw him earlier with Maisie up on the hill.”
“You don’t…he’s got a routine, and he never changes it. I just think something might’ve happened.”
“What exactly do you want me to do?”
“You could go look for him. Please, I’m worried, it’s not like him.” She’s quiet for a minute, “He’s been having nightmares. He denies it every morning but I hear him.”
“Alright alright, I’ll call you when I find him.”
He barely even remembers to lock the cabin door he’s that worked despite what he tells Vic. He’s trying not to worry, after all like he said, Robert’s a grown man who is perfectly capable of taking care of himself.
It takes him a good half an hour before he spots him down by the stream by Moira’s farm. He’s sat on the grass, that has to be damp after the previous day’s storms, with Maisie sat by him and he’s clutching on to her fur, while the dog is gently licking at his face.
“Robert?” He touches him lightly on the shoulder, heart thumping at the flinch. “Hey, it’s alright, it’s only me.”
“Thought you had a delivery.”
“I do, but you have a very persistent sister.”
“She should keep out of it.”
“She’s worried about you. Want to tell me what’s going on?” He sits beside him grimacing at the dampness. “She mentioned nightmares.”
“You don’t need to be doing this.” He pats Maisie’s head. “I’m alright love. Good girl.”
“Can’t get used to you having a dog.” He says trying to fill the silence. “She is beautiful though.”
“I…I’ve been seeing someone. To try and sort myself out. He suggested I get a dog. To get me out of the house and that.”
“Looks like she helps to me. Makes it better in the dark and the quiet?” Robert looks over, understanding crossing his face.
“Yeah. I can’t…I have to do everything in order at the right time. He said…I’m not crazy.”
“I never said you were.”
“Sometimes I think I am. I…I slept in the other day, Vic turned off my alarm, said I needed the sleep. I went a bit mad at her.”
“She understands.”
“She shouldn’t have to!” Maisie moves closer at his outburst. “Sorry.”
“Robert it’s ok to not be…you, straight away. You know how I was and that was only a few months. You’ll get there. You’re getting help. That’s a good start.”
“Listen to you.”
“Yeah well, someone helped me out once. Right prat he was.” Robert smiles and it’s the most he’s looked like himself since he came home. “You ready to go back?”
“Can we…just sit here a bit longer? I like the peace, and I’ve missed this…just talking to you.”
“Well yeah but, can we do it in the truck? My arse is freezing!” Robert laughs but he gets up and holds a hand out to Aaron.
He has work to do, he should be getting back to it, and if John calls in he’ll go mad but some things are more important.
Feeling slutty in a way where I'm imagining a reverse glory hole situation where my dom (and maybe friends if they're feeling generous) use me, but I can't see who and (consensually) can't run away from embarrassment
AUTHOR’S NOTE: HIIII i told y’all i wrote some hurt/comfort. this is not beta read!!! i have been kindaaaa sick and delirious? so if it’s kinda shit i am. sorry. anyways that’s all i love jill valentine :)
DESCRIPTION & WARNINGS: GUNSHOT WOUND!!! blood, description of “diy” (LMFAOOSHAKSG) surgery. gn!reader x jill, established relationship. just hurt/comfort w jill. takes place during re3 :)
“fuck,” you groaned, leaning on the wall in the gated alleyway. “are you okay?” jill immediately crouched before you as soon as she made sure that nothing threatening was in here with you both.
“it, hng — really hurts,” she rolled up your shirt, seeing the bullet in your side.
you were both being chased by that big fucking thing, and it somehow was able to get a shot in on you. jill and you were the only stars members alive (or in town for that matter). the brunette was able to throw the beast off your tail before getting you somewhere safe to treat you.
“i know baby, i know,” she recovered the wound with your shirt, getting up to try and open the red door to your right. if you would guess, it looked like it let to the bottom floor of an apartment complex. she twisted the knob, surprisingly it was unlocked. “let me scout this out real fast,” she said, pulling out her gun and heading inside.
after a few minutes, she came back out and got you up on your feet. “i found a room, i can get you fixed up in there,” she slung your arm around her shoulder, kissing your cheek while doing so. “c’mon (y/n), just a little further.”
you moaned in pain as she helped you walk, tears welling up in your eyes. “jill it hurts,” you whined, head resting on the arm she’d swung over to help you. she tried to soothe you, getting you into the apartment and to the room quickly.
she put you on top of a table, helping you slide on top of it before going to close the doors that were open. once she came back she immediately grabbed the medical items she’d found around the room and what she had on her.
her hands were cold as she moved your shirt, frowning at the sight of your blood. “i’m going to put pressure on it, okay?” she pushes your hair out of your face, cupping your cheek for a second. you nodded, your jaw clenched from the pain you were already in. the brunette took a breath in, mentally preparing herself to inflict pain to someone she cared about so much. not more than a few seconds later, there was gauze over the wound and she was pushing down with her hands.
you cried out, tears rolling down your face. “jill!” you whimpered softly, apologies fell from her lips quickly. she kept repeating them, telling you how well you were doing and that it would be over soon.
after very slow few minutes, she stopped putting pressure on the wound. “i need to get the bullet out and stitch you up,” she mumbled, mentally trying to numb herself from your crying. “it’s gonna hurt, i’m sorry,” she closed her eyes with a pained look on her face, “it was my fault it fucking shot you in the first place. i’m sorry i have to do this, (y/n).”
you shook your head, feeling delirious from the pain. “no — it’s not your fault, promise,” you croaked out, throat dry from the running.
she took off the gauze, grabbing a pair of tweezers (which she had sterilized with a lighter) and opened your wound enough to be able to grab the silver bullet. when she plunged the tweezers in you screamed, the pain turning your vision white and hazy. your sobs only fueled her to work harder, grabbing the bullet with the instrument and tossing it to the floor.
“shh, it’s okay. it’s out now,” she grabbed the needle she found (also deemed safe because of her flame) and lacing the yellow thread through it. “i’m stitching it up now, it’ll be over soon,” you heard her say, still violently sobbing. the needle pierced your skin but you were in too much shock to feel it, jill had you stitched up in less than five minutes. afterwards she applied more gauze and dressed your wound, using medical tape she secured the bandaging.
when she was done, she pulled you into her arms. “i’m sorry,” she cried, kissing your face over and over, “i’m so sorry.”
you were both content like this for a few moments, crying in eachothers arms. lovers embraced in a raw emotional display. the fires outside still burned and the groans of the undead echoed through the street. but that wouldn’t stop you or her, not even that monster fucker would stop you both from surviving this mess.
A few of you asked, so here is session 1 of our D&D campaign 299 Days (I don’t know why it’s called that, you’ll have to ask the DM).
So many thanks to @littlesnowarrow, @rhetoricalrogue, and @alittlestarling for creating Valka, Brie, and Meera to play with Elenia. Thank you to @uriellactaea for the wonderful portrait of Elenia. Biggest thanks of all to @novamm66 for creating this sandbox for us to play in and guiding us through it.
Purl is a small seaport, basically a hub or switching point. Boats come in and boats go out. There isn’t much land transport. The town is small, a village really. There’s a general store, a fishing fleet, and about 20 houses. There are two inns in town; the classier inn is The Clipper and the commoner inn is The Sailor’s Anchor.
Purl is where the adventure started.
Briel Morningstride, a half-orc cleric and blacksmith, arrived in Purl travelling with Magistrate Martin Kirkoff as his bodyguard on the road. He took up lodging in The Clipper, telling Brie that he wouldn’t need her until it was time for him to leave again. Until then, she was free to do as she liked, including making her own accommodation arrangements.
Valka Delahunt, an elven Druid, and Meera, a human Paladin, arrived in Purl on the same boat. Valka ran off to sleep on the beach as soon as it docked. Meera, noticing the elf seemed twitchy and troubled on their voyage, followed to ask if she was okay.
“Yes.” Valka’s answer, was short and sweet. She barely looked at the human checking on her.
“Would you like a drink? Maybe a meal?” Meera tried again.
This time Valka looked at her. “If you’re paying, yes.”
“Oh.” That hadn’t quite been what Meera had meant. “Um… sure.”
Valka quickly stuffed the few belongings she had unpacked back into her bag and the pair headed back up the beach.
Elenia Oceanweaver, a half-elf Bard, was performing on her lyre at The Sailor’s Anchor. She wasn’t on her game but she got a meal and a corner of the kitchen to sleep in exchange. It was far poorer accommodation than she was used to, but she supposed it was better than nothing. She should have thought about grabbing more money before leaving home, but life was more expensive than she had anticipated.
Brie, Meera, and Valka all arrived at The Sailor’s Anchor to eat. Valka and Meera talked over their meals. Well, Meera talked and Valka said as little as she thought she could get away with, given that the stranger had bought her a meal. Valka was on a personal quest and wanted to see a sea storm. Meera was on a quest to raise money for her Temple.
Brie, sitting at the next table, overheard them talking and turned her chair to ask Meera about her money raising. Meera explained that she came from the Temple of Helm, who is the God of Protection. The Temple was in need of repair and the priests had sent her out to try and raise funds to pay for it.
Valka snorted quietly to herself. “He can’t be a very good god if he can’t protect his own Temple.”
Brie ignored the elf. “Here,” she told Meera, passing her a silver. “I’m a cleric of Chauntea myself.”
As they talked, Elenia continued to play, improving as she warmed up, fingers flying over her silver lyre. A couple of patrons tossed her 10 copper in tips, and she flashed them a smile, green eyes peering out from dark lashes.
Brie called the innkeeper over and asked her whether there were any blacksmithing jobs in the area.
The woman considered for a moment “None in town, dear, but there might be something at the shipyard.”
Meera gazed curiously at her new companion. “How can a cleric also be a smith?”
Brie smiled warmly. “I was taught by my Da. I’m only an apprentice but I could do with the work while I’m here.”
As they discussed their lack of travel experience. Brie noticed that Meera was very naïve and looked around to see if anyone less kind had noticed she was a potential target. She also offered to share a room with both Meera and Valka. Meera happily accepted but Valka declined, saying she would sleep on the beach.
The inn started shutting down early. Brie asked the innkeeper if this was normal. The innkeeper said yes because people are back at work tomorrow. Brie and Meera rented a room to share. Elenia bedded down in the kitchen nook. Valka found a large flat rock on the beach where she could meditate.
Something woke Brie in the early hours of the morning. There was no noise but something felt off. She lay quietly and listened but couldn’t figure out what was wrong. She crept downstairs to see if she could find out what it was. A fog has rolled in but she couldn’t otherwise see anything.
At the same time, a little further down the bay, something pulled Valka out of her trance. A fog had rolled in and she felt something was wrong. She could hear an unsettling clicking coming from town. She packed up her camp, pulled out her dagger, and snuck towards the town.
Brie opened the tavern door and the fog rolled in. It felt weird, clammy, and icky. She quickly closed the door, shutting out the foul night air.
As Valka entered town, a couple of boats and warehouses exploded. The whole town was awake in an instant. Meera grabbed her sword and shield and ran downstairs in her nightgown. Brie ran back up to grab her mace and ran back down. Elenia rolled out of bed, grabbing her dagger and dashed into the main room.
Valka seeing fire, her greatest fear, turned and ran straight into an intangible wall. It knocked her out cold.
Elenia met Meera in the main room of the inn. The innkeeper had already blown through and the front door was wide open.
“Is this normal?” Meera asked.
“Do I look like I’m from here,” Elenia replied. “I don’t fucking know!”
Meera and Brie ran out of the door together. Elenia followed more cautiously, peering out the door. All she could see was moving shadows and smoke.
As Meera reached the middle of the street, she saw an armoured skeleton run a woman through and zombies roaming the town. Brie couldn’t quite make out what was happening through the smoke but did see Meera freaking out, so she knew it wasn’t good.
The skeleton turned to Meera and struck her with a rusty sword, cutting her. Meera swung back with her sword but missed. Elenia saw this and used her Vicious Mockery enchantment to shout, “You smell like a corpse that’s rolled in shite!” psychically damaging it. Brie ran up and walloped it with her mace.
Meera heard the nearby screaming stop and as she dodged another blow from the skeleton shouted towards Brie, “There’s more coming!” She swung back at the skeleton, killing it.
As she crept closer, Elenia saw the slash wound on Meera and sang, “And when you get that feeling, you need Bardic healing,” healing Meera and inspiring Brie.
Brie ran up to a pair of approaching zombies and hit the closest one with her mace, injuring it. Meera swung for the other one, hurting it. Brie’s zombie swung its shiv at her and missed her but Meera wasn’t so lucky and reared back in pain from the zombie’s attack. Elenia concentrated and cast her Bane enchantment on them.
Brie swung again at the shiv-carrying zombie, making it hurt. Meera swung and missed again. Both zombies swung and missed. Elenia laughed at them and cast Vicious Mockery, asking the zombie attacking Brie, “How does it feel to always be the ugliest person in the room?” Brie used the distraction to strike the zombie and kill it.
Meera struck the other zombie hard, really hurting it. It swung and missed her but ignored Elenia trying to mock it. Brie also swung at it, killing it, but it stayed standing. Meera sliced through it, knocking it flat.
Brie suddenly remembered her boss, Magistrate Kirkoff and ran to The Clipper, where he had been staying. Meera and Elenia followed her. By the time they arrived the place was in chaos. The upper floor was in flames and there were a lot of zombies filling the courtyard. Brie saw the Magistrate fighting a well-armoured, well put-together skeleton-like creature with burning eyes. The Magistrate was fighting well but was overwhelmed by the creature and Brie cried out as she watched him run-through.
The Thing he was fighting turned and looked at the three women. Everything went black.
Brie woke up in a small 8x8 cell, stripped of everything but her nightgown. She tested the door but it was locked.
Valka woke next, hearing the rattling of bars.
Elenia woke up and looked at her surroundings. “Well, this is shit,” she commented.
“No kidding,” Valka retorted from across the way.
“Owww, my head,” groaned Meera as she woke.
As they all started complaining about their circumstances, Elenia leaned as far forward as she could in her cell. She could see the door at the end of the hall. There was torchlight flickering under the door but no noise.
Brie kicked her lock, making it shake. She asked if anyone could weaken the lock. Valka said she had an idea. Elenia inspired Valka and she cast Frostbite on her lock. She tried to kick it but she wasn’t striping enough. Brie continued kicking at hers until it broke. Meera tried to kick hers but, still disoriented from blacking out, only succeeded in falling over. Valka tried to freeze her lock again but missed, giving herself an ice burn.
Brie, now freedom helped Valka get her door open, then went to help Meera open hers as she was still kicking at it. Valka moved over to Elenia, freezing her lock. She called Brie over, and the half-orc gave it a kick, freeing the Bard. With one final kick, Meera got her cell door open.
Valka moved to the main door and peeked round it to see stairs and another door. She wanted to leave but the rest of the group wanted to see if their stuff was in the other room. Elenia snuck over and peeked in. Their things weren’t in there but there were other weapons and armour. They all armed and dressed themselves and prepared to see where they were.
So, I don't think we're going to get this, but that just means someone needs to write it! So here goes.
*****
It had been on the mat when they'd got back from their weekend. John hadn't noticed, too happy after their weekend in Rhyl to notice anything, but Aaron knew what it was and stuffed it in his pocket. He'd decide what to do with it later.
"You alright?" John slides a hand around his waist.
"Just tired. Shouldn't you be getting ready for work." He turned to face him, trying to keep the smile on his face and not think about the prison letter burning a hole in his pocket. "Unless you want to stay home with me all day."
"Can't let Liam down, he needs me. How about instead you meet me for lunch in the pub. My treat."
"You really want to spend time with my mother the day we come back from honeymoon?"
"I like your mum. Come on, it'll save cooking." He nods and then he's gone, slamming the door as he goes.
He doesn't open it right away, tells himself to just ignore it, that Robert had known what he was doing, and what the consequences were, and he wasn't Aaron's problem anymore. So why couldn't he throw it away, why did he keep looking at it.
He's still doing it when he's waiting for John in the garden at the back of the pub, looking at Grace's garden that he and Robert helped to build. Sometimes he wishes he'd stayed away, where there were no memories to hit him at every turn. But then he would never have met John.
"You don't look like a man who just came back from his honeymoon." He rolls his eyes as Mack sits down beside him, beer slopping out of his glass onto the table. "Ooh, a letter, anything interesting?"
"Just junk."
"Always carry your junk mail around with you, do you."
"Anyone ever tell you you're annoying."
"Many many people. So, go on, what is it."
"A prison visiting order, or at least I think so." He glances behind him, the last thing he needs is his Mum earwigging and telling the whole village.
"Right..."
"From Robert."
"Ah. Well I guess he doesn't have many people to send them to."
"After what he did, why does he think I want this?"
"So chuck it and forget about him. Unless...you don't want to."
"Of course I do. I married John didn't I."
"Sadly yes." He doesn't even have to look over at him. "Sorry sorry. I'm just messing. Still doesn't answer my question about why you're fondling that envelope like it's a long lost lover."
"And to think you were meant to be my best man."
"Says more about you than me." He sips at his beer, sighing. "I'm guessing you haven't told hubby."
"He had to rush to work."
"Sure. Well you've got two choices. You can throw it away, forget all about Robert Sugden which will be hard as you're married to his brother and all, or you can mope about for days before finally deciding to visit him and see what he wants."
"I know what he wants. Me."
"Man obviously has no taste. You already know what you're going to do so I say get it over with."
"I'm meant to be meeting John." There was never really a question, he could fight it as much as he liked, he would never leave Robert alone in prison and wasn't that the whole sticking point in the first place.
"I'll tell him you got called out on an emergency scrap run."
"Just that, none of your dramatics. Tell him I'll meet him for tea instead." He insists as he gets up from the stool.
"You're doing the right thing you know."
"You don't even know Robert."
"For you, idiot. Now go on, before you change your mind and we have to do this all over again. You're making my pint go flat."
He doesn't think twice, gets in the car before he can change his mind.
Hi, here's a prompt: the first time Aaron meets Seb again (your choice whether robron are back together at that point)
He and John are in the shop when he sees him. His husband is deliberating over what kind of toothpaste to buy, as if they didn't all do the same job.
"Right, you can pick one bag of sweets, ok?" He hears Robert say and he presumes he's with Harry and he turns back to John to see if he's made any kind of decision. He loves the man but no one should spend this much time on toothpaste.
"Can we go to the swings Daddy? Harry told me the slide is awesome." He's sure his heart skips more than one beat at the high pitched voice.
Daddy.
Seb.
He turns round so fast he knocks the basket out of John's hand and he hurriedly starts picking up what's fallen out, eyes not moving from the little boy. Now he's looking he can see he's taller than Harry, the once reddish tinged hair now all blonde. He looks just like Robert in the photos that cover Vic's walls.
"Once you've picked your sweets yes. Just for a bit. Auntie Vic is cooking and your old Dad's not brave enough to be late for that."
He needs to get out of here. It's not as if he's not wondered if Seb would come back to the village, but it's been months so he'd assumed Robert hadn't wanted to uproot him after everything he'd been through.
"Aaron? Are you listening to me? I said are you ready?"
"Yeah." He drags his eyes away from the pair of them, both concentrating on the selection of sweets on the other side of the shop.
He tells John he's going for a pint, knows he won't join him, one of his medical things is on telly and Aaron can't stand them so he waves him off with a kiss. He's almost halfway up the hill when he hears the shout and he turns to see Seb hurtling up the road completely ignoring the car that's heading towards him.
He doesn't think, just runs and grabs him, pulling him towards the safety of Nicola and Jimmy's garden, heart beating out of his chest, and the next thing he hears is running footsteps.
"Seb!"
"He's fine." He puts the little boy down, watches as he runs to Robert and hugs him, obviously scared. Whether that's from the car or the strange person grabbing him he's not sure. "Robert, he's fine."
"You can't do that mate. You have to watch for cars, ok? Your Dad's too young for a heart attack yeah?" Robert just keeps holding him close, and Aaron should go, he knows he should, but he can't move.
"Sorry Daddy."
"Aaron...thank you." Robert sounds shaken and he's as white as a sheet when he lets himself look up. Seb's still clinging to him. "Hey mate, you go to aunty Vic's ok? We'll go to the playground tomorrow instead ok?" Seb nods and wanders up the road, the pair of them not taking their eyes off him until he's safely in her front door.
"I, er, I didn't know he was with you."
"I wasn't sure, thought he'd been through enough upheaval, but Vic kept on at me to visit. As soon as I saw him...he just ran to me Aaron. I thought he'd forget."
"Don't be daft. You're his Dad."
"Even so...what have I got to offer him? I live with my sister, barely got a job and just out of prison."
"You love him Robert. That's all he needs. You and I both know that's the most important thing. The rest can be sorted out." He looks over at the pub. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah, he just scared me." He hesitates, looking past him for a second. "You know, he still remembers you. I mean I don't think he recognises you but he still remembers Aaron who used to read him stories."
"I..." He doesn't know what to say, because he was never anything proper to Seb, not really, however much Robert tried,, he'd had no hold over him and he'd been ripped away just like everything else. He'd had to bury it, the love he'd had for the cheeky little boy. "I should go."
"Aaron...if you want to see him...I know John probably won't like it, but if you do, then all you have to do is say so."
"I don't know Robert. I mean it's Seb and he's no doubt brilliant, but it hurt, and we've all moved on now. Maybe it's best to not confuse him."
"Well, the offers there..."
"Yeah. I'll see you then." He goes before he gives in and all but runs into Vic's.
He doesn't know what's stopping him though. Robert's right, John wouldn't like it, but then he doesn't seem to like much at all lately. It's not like he hasn't thought about it, going back to Robert, some days it's all he thinks about. The thing is he's scared. Scared that it'll alll disappear again and he knows he won't survive it a second time. A part of him has been waiting for Robert to leave. But now, Seb is here and Robert obviously wants to get settled back into the village
So the question is, what's stopping him from ending things with John. Now Robert's back he sees just how much he's settling with him. He hadn't seen it before, had been happy to be settled and normal for a change, but lately it's been like there's something missing.
He needs a drink, and then he needs to talk to his husband.
