Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
There's a feeling of euphoria in the air, a feeling of it within himself as he dances to the music. The beat is loud, and he takes it in all the while keeping his eyes closed listening to the music. His head waves as his hips sway, a smile plastered all over his face, it took everything in him to work up the courage and finally step in. Yeah he'd come out to his family, to his friends, but this was his first time truly accepting it. His first time having the courage to walk through the doors of Hotten's premiere gay bar. As the feeling flows through his body he senses a massive weight lifted off his shoulders. Aaron feels like he's free, like he can finally just be who he truly is, and a small part of him curses himself for waiting so long. As he opens his eyes they zero in on the reason he's there, the reason he had the courage to walk through the doors. Something about him pulled him in when they first met weeks ago, maybe it was his looks, the dark skin, his body, or maybe it was just the fact that he was a rugby player. Ed was the first bloke he'd ever allowed himself to be attracted to, the first bloke he'd ever kissed, and in this moment he felt like maybe just maybe, there could be something between them.
A smile spreads across his face as Ed grabs him by the hips and pulls him in. With their bodies pressed up against one another Ed leans down and presses his lips to Aaron's neck.
"Oi...not here...not around other people." Aaron tries to protest over the loud music.
"What?!" Ed shouts back questioning.
"Not here. Maybe we can go back to yours?!" Aaron shouts back.
Only having caught the tail end of what Aaron said, Ed quickly nods in return with a smile on his face. Clearly he caught the most important part.
Aaron smiles and takes Ed's hand leading him back outside as they squirm past all the bodies dancing around them. Part of him thinks it's a shame to leave so soon after all the trouble he gave himself even stepping inside the doors. Right at the moment however, his body was in charge and his body wanted more than dancing. As they stepped outside a cool breeze brushes his face and he pulls Ed closer to him, he tells himself it's just for warmth, but really he can't wait. He turns and pushes Ed against the side wall of the bar and places his own lips to his. He's not fully sure of how he feels about Ed, but he's nice enough, and he's ready to experience being with another bloke, really being with another bloke. It's all he can think about.
Ed pulls back after a moment. "Slow down there, mate. We have all night." Ed, ever the nice guy. "Hang on a second." He adds as he hears his phone go off, he swipes his finger across the screen to open up his messenger. "Shit!"
"What? What is it?"
"I have to go. I'm really sorry, Aaron, but I have to go. It's an emergency drill, change in line up for the big game this weekend."
"Shit...really sucks, mate." Aaron replies. "You were getting lucky tonight, but I guess you'll just have to wait." He tells him with a grin on his face before he reaches up and gives him a quick kiss.
"Oof... that's not fair. You can't leave me hanging like that."
"Hey, you’re the one bailing out on me."
"Come on, you know that's not it. I'm not bailing out, it's work"
"I'm just winding you up, you muppet." He chuckles. "Call me later, yeah?"
"Yeah." Ed agrees before waving good night and turning around making his way back to his car.
With a smile that spreads ear to ear, Aaron turns and starts walking towards his own car just around the corner. Yeah the evening had been cut short, but even so, so much had happened, so much had gone right. Nothing can ruin his night.
"Hey poofter!" He barely manages to catch. He'd been so caught up in his thoughts he didn't hear the steps behind him.
"Where you going poof?" He catches another voice asking as he turns. A group of four men quickly catch up and surround him.
"What's the matter, boyfriend decided he had something better to do?" Another man asks. "We saw that disgusting show you two were putting on outside that bar."
"So what of it? Was it not long enough for you fellas?"
"Fucking faggot." The last man says before taking a swing landing it to Aarons left cheek sending him tumbling to the floor. "Disgusting piece of trash." He says before spitting down at him.
Everything happened so fast. The slurs, the surrounding, the hit. He feels dazed, not sure who's where, or what direction is up, all he can do is curl into a ball to protect himself as the kicking begins. All he can do is cry in pain as he feels every kick, the pain only becoming more excruciating after everyone of the kicks.
Then he hears a voice shout. "Oi!" And almost as quick as it had all started, it had stopped.
He slowly uncovers his face to see what's happening, but his head's a mess, he feels dizzy and his eyes are swollen with tears. He wipes at them trying to get a better view of what’s happening, he does his best to focus, to calm down, and that's when he sees him. The tall blond man. It's all happening so fast. He sees one of his attackers take a swing at him, but the man is too fast. He quickly dodges the punch and elbows the man on the side of his face sending him to the ground. A second man runs at him and just as quickly finds himself on the ground as the blond man throws his knee in the air and connects it to the man’s chin. It's not until the third man attacks that everything goes black.
----
Poofter! Poofter! He remembers the word so vividly. He remembers how bad everything turned so fast, but he doesn't remember what happened after, what happened after it all stopped, after the stranger possibly saved his life. His eyes slowly begin to flutter open and he hears the soft beeps of a heart monitor. "Where am I?" He asks aloud not expecting an answer.
"You're awake." He hears a soft voice answer from the edge of the room.
"What? Where am I?" Aaron asks, groans leaving his mouth between words. He can feel every hit, a sharp pain hitting his chest every time he takes a breath.
"It's okay mate, you're in the hospital."
"How'd I get here?"
"I phoned for an ambulance and the police after you were attacked."
"Attacked?"
"Yeah, those assholes that attacked you. Do remember what happened?"
"Yeah...I think."
"Good, the police are going to come asking questions about what happened." The man says.
"Those arseholes...what happened to them?" Aaron asks, still trying to focus, trying to recollect exactly how everything went down.
The man chuckled briefly before he turned serious again. "They got their arses handed to them, that's what happened. They got what they deserved."
As Aaron hears the words everything clicks into place. It's the voice, the voice he heard right before the attack stopped. He finally brings himself to fully focus on the man and he sees it, the blond hair. "I...I don't know what to say, how to..."
"How to what?"
"Thank you. I mean, you saved my life."
"Don't be daft, there's no need for that. I did what was right, anyone else would have done the same if they'd been nearby." The man replies.
Aaron chuckles, can't help but let it out at the optimism of the man. "No, no they wouldn't. Not for someone like me." He says feeling like he’s about to throw up. After everything he's been through, after finally accepting himself for who he is, this is what happens. "I shouldn't have been there. I knew it was a bad idea." He lets out as his eyes begin to gloss over with tears.
"Whoa...hold on there. What happened wasn't your fault. Don't let a group of arseholes make you feel like any less of a person."
Aaron drops the eye contact he had with the man and stares down at his hands. Everything he's telling him should be making him feel better, should make him feel comforted, but all he could think of was regret. The regret he had for letting himself feel so free. For letting himself believe that everything was alright, that there was nothing wrong with who he is.
"Oi, I mean it." The man said. "Look I know you don't know me, so my words must mean nothing to you, but I'm serious. There's nothing wrong with you and don't you ever let anyone make you feel otherwise."
"So, am i supposed to just go back to acting like everything's normal. Like a group of arseholes won't just decide to kick my arse for being gay." He says, and the words almost feel like fire leaving his mouth. Gay. It's what he is, and for the first time in a while he's almost ashamed of it. Not because it's wrong, but because of how others would see him, because of how others would treat him because of it.
"Yeah, that's exactly what you do. You shouldn't let arseholes like them stop you from living your life. You shouldn't let anything stop you from it." The man says with a deep look in his eyes. There's a sincerity to them, yet at the same time a sign of doubt. "And if you’re afraid of getting your arse kicked again, then learn how to defend yourself."
"What?"
"Learn some self-defense. Hell, if you're that worried about it I'll teach ya."
"You what?"
"I'll teach you how to defend yourself."
"And why would you do that? You don't even know me." Aaron responds, can't help but feel a strange pull towards the man. Something about him makes him feel safe. Not just the fact that he saved his life, but there’s something very comforting about his presence. He takes a moment to think it over and taking a deep breath he makes eye contact again. A clear green looks back at him and he feels it, the hitch in his breath when the plump pink lips smile back at him. "You...uh... you'd do that for me?"
"Of course. Any decent bloke would."
Aaron chuckles again, he chuckles at the fact that the man seems to be uncomfortable with taking any credit for his good deed. "But you don’t even know me." He reiterated.
"Sure I do. You're Aaron Dingle."
"How...how do you know my name?"
"Your driver’s license. Soz, but I had to look through your wallet. They asked me for details when I called the attack in, told me to check for identification. In any case, you are no longer a stranger Aaron Dingle." The man says stretching out his hand to him.
Aaron finally returns the smile and takes his hand shaking it. "Well you know my name, but I still don't know yours."
"My name is Robert." He says with a smirk, there's almost a surprised look on his face. "It's nice to meet you Aaron Dingle."
"Likewise, mate." Aaron replies with a smile. "And thanks again...for everything."
"Say no more." Robert brushes him off before reaching for his pocket and pulling out a pen. He then looks around and manages to find a notepad on a small table in the corner of the room. He quickly puts the pen to it and writes something down before tearing out a piece of the paper and walks back handing it to Aaron. "Here's my number. Give me a call when you're feeling ready and we can see about teaching ya some moves."
"Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks."
Robert clears his throat and as he sticks his hands into his pocket he rocks back and forth on his feet a couple of times. "Guess I'll leave you to it. Cops will probably be around any minute now to ask you about what happened. I've already given them my statement so guess I'm good to go." He says as he begins to walk out of the room. "Take care of yourself Aaron Dingle.
Aaron nods in response and just like that Robert is gone and Aaron can't help but think of him. There was something about him that was so magnetic, so mesmerizing, and fuck it if he didn’t feel aroused just thinking about him. The light alabaster tone of his skin, every freckle on his face he happened to have notice, as well as those soft pink lips. "What the hell is wrong with ya. You're laid out in a hospital bed, you idiot. You shouldn't be getting a hard on over the man that saved ya." He curses himself and as he shakes the thoughts away he’s startled by the loud voice entering the room. The all too familiar voice of his best mate, his flat mate.
"MATE!" Adam shouts the moment he walks through the threshold of the doors. "What happened? You alright? You get a good look at the arseholes that did this to you?" Seems like a million question shoot from his mouth faster than Aaron can make out.
"Oi, take it easy, mate. I barely made any of that out. I'm still a bit out of it." Aaron says holding onto his side. A sharp sting along his ribcage surfacing now that he doesn't have Robert to distract him. "What's with that look on your face anyway?"
"What look?"
"That look." He says pointing at Adam's face.
"Bro, you'll never guess who I just saw on my way up here."
"Who? Wasn't that guy from Coldplay was it?"
"Mate, one song! I tell you I like one song of theirs and you haven't let me live that down. You know what, never mind...so what happened, mate?" Adam asks as he takes a seat next to Aaron's bed.
Aaron throws his head back onto his pillow in frustration, not wanting to relive the moment. It's bad enough he'll be thinking about it over and over, he sure as hell doesn't want to tell someone else how it all went down. How he was attacked for being who he is, for being gay.
Seeing the look on his face and knowing him well enough, Adam place his hand to Aaron's shoulder and looks him in the eyes. "Mate, seriously. What happened?"
"I was attacked, alright. I was leaving the bar when these arseholes started talking shit and before I knew it one of them had decked me in the face. I barely had a chance to realize what had happened before I was curled up in a ball on the floor as they kicked the shit out of me."
"Fuck, mate, I should've been there. You weren't even sure about going to begin with, I shouldn't have let you go on your own, man."
"What, and have you be a third wheel on my date?"
"Actually where the fuck was Ed? He was supposed to be with you."
"He had to leave early...it was a work thing. Not his fault."
"So, it all haooened after Ed left ya?"
"Yeah, we were on our way out...to his, when he got a message. He had to go and on my way to my car these four blokes, they surrounded me. Called me poof then next thing I know I take a blow to my face and I'm on the ground trying to cover myself as much as possible."
"Fuck. I could kill those arseholes." Adam lets out with a breath, frustration setting in. Frustration that he wasn't there, that he couldn't protect his best mate. "How'd you make it out?"
"That's the crazy part...there was this bloke." Aaron replies almost unsure of how to continue. He wasn't fully aware of everything that happened, he blacked out before it all went down.
"A bloke?" Adam asks shaking his head in confusion.
"Yeah this bloke showed up and he beat the shit out of them Ad, well at least I think he did. I saw him take two of them out before I blacked out."
"You serious? And how'd you end up here."
"The bloke, he phoned and ambulance, and the police. He said he gave them a statement already."
"Did he? How do you know?"
"He told me."
"Who told you? The bloke? Did he come see you?"
Aaron nods in response.
"That's kind of weird, no?"
"That's not all. He, he's a really good guy, even offered to teach me some self-defense."
"You serious? So, you’re telling me some stranger showed up, saved your life, got you here, and offered to teach you self-defense?" Adam asks, amazement spread across his face, and Aaron nods again in response. "Bro, tell me you got his number." Adam says laughing.
"Shut up." Aaron laughs out grabbing at his side. "Don't make me laugh, it hurts." He tells him. "But since you mentioned it...yeah."
"Yeah what?"
"I got his number."
"Aaron! Well played, man!"
"You're such an idiot, you know that? He gave it to me so I can ring him when I'm ready to learn how to defend myself." Aaron corrects him. "Anyway, I should probably call me mum and tell her what happened otherwise she'll actually kill me if she finds out about this afterwards."
Adam breaks out into laughter and gently pats Aaron on his shoulder. "Mate, she's going to kill you either way, the fact that she's not your emergency contact...I'd hate to be you right now. Your mum, she can be right scary."
Aaron can't help but laugh, he knows it's true, he knows Chas will have a go at him for it, and he knows she'll smother him for at least a week. He lets out a sigh just thinking about her wanting to follow him everywhere he goes to make sure he's safe. She may not have been the best of mothers to him growing up, but ever since he came back into her life she's always made him her priority. He figures it's her way of trying to make up for her absence growing up. He's deep in his own head and a small grin spreads on his face, a grin that slowly turns into a smile just thinking of her. He's so deep in the thought he doesn't even notice Adam trying to get his attention, doesn't notice until Adam is nudging his shoulder.
"Mate, you okay?"
"Yeah, soz."
"No, bro, don't worry. It's just...the police are here." He says nodding his head back to the door where two police officers are standing.
"Mr. Dingle, would you mind if we have a word with you?"
----
Aaron yawns into his hand as he takes a seat at the kitchen bar, Chas hard at work making him breakfast finishes plating his eggs and bacon right before making her way to the toaster and retrieving some toast, she walks around the bar and places the plate in front of him. She smiles at him and places a soft kiss to his cheek before heading back into the small kitchen to fix another plate for herself. Aaron's quick to use the long sleeve covering a part of his fist to wipe at his cheek as if offended by the kiss.
"Mum, it's been nearly a week now, and I'm all better now. I think you can take a break now. Go out, have fun, do something." He tells her, more like begs her really. As much as he's loved having her around taking care of him, he's had enough of her following him like a shadow. There is such a thing as too much mothering, even if there's free cleaning and cooking involved. He sees her lips pout and already knows she's going to protest.
"But, you're my baby and I just want to make sure you're alright, luv." She tells him.
"I know ya do, mum, and I love ya for it...but I'm fine. I promise. Plus I need to start getting myself sorted for work next week anyway, the garage only gave me a week off to recover, they're not going to give me anymore time."
"I can help ya with that, luv."
Aaron nearly glared at her. "No, I can do that myself."
"I can take a hint, you just need a break from me is what you're trying not to say." She tells him with a knowing look. "Guess I can go out for the night and do a bit of shopping."
"There's no need for that, youvey already filled the fridge."
"I was talking about shopping for me self, luv." She teased. "How could I not come into town and take advantage."
"So you're really been here for the shopping haven't you? Just waiting for the right time." He laughs.
"Don't be daft, you are my top priority." She tells him as she pinches his cheek. "But...can't deny myself some good shopping."
Aaron simply laughs at her with a soft smile on his face before turning his attention back to his plate and breathing in the aroma of his breakfast. Might as well enjoy it, who knows when the next time he'll have a proper breakfast like this again.
An hour later and Chas has cleaned Aaron and Adam's entire apartment, one last bit of mothering before heading out for the night in town. As she stands at his door she looks him up and down with a sad look on her face.
"You sure you don't want me to stay and keep ya company?" She asks knowing damn well what he's going to say.
"Yeah I'm sure. You need to go out and have some fun. IllI still be here when you get back." He tells her laughing.
"Okay, luv. I guess this is it, but you better promise you'll call me if anything happens." She says pulling him into a hug. "Urgh" she says making a face. "You stink Aaron, promise me you'll take a shower as well, I know you were recovering and all, but a shower wasn't going to hurt.
"Shut up." He replies laughing. "Love ya, mum." He tells her and she hugs him back one last time, squeezing tightly.
"Love you too." She replies before turning around and leading him out where a taxi was waiting for her. She gives him a final kiss on the cheek and gets inside the taxi where she waves him goodbye from the window.
He stands at the curb for a few minutes watching the taxi drive away and once it's out of sight he lets out a deep breath and smiles. She drove him nuts but he misses her already. Pinching the chest of his shirt he lifts it to his nose and takes a whiff.
"Urgh...she was right." He tells himself and heads back in. With Adam already at work he has the place to himself, so he quickly undreses as he walks into his room dropping his shirt to the floor near his bed and his boxers just in front of his dresser where he notices a piece of paper laying on top. A piece of paper with a phone number written on it. A piece of paper he stares at for a few moments before going back to what he was doing. He pulls out a fresh shirt and pair of boxers before heading back out of his room and to the only bathroom in the flat. For months now Adam has been begging for them to find a new place, a bigger one, one where they'd each have their own on suites, but Aaron had argued that it would only be a wast of money. Nothing's wrong with their current flat. An on suite was not enough motivation to spend the extra cash every month. Not when he could save it for holidays away.
He's in the shower for a couple of minutes, under the hot spray of the showerhead, when the piece of paper returns to his mind. Not just the piece of paper but the number. Then again if he was being honest with himself it wasn't the number, but the bloke it belonged to. Robert. Every night since the attack he's thought of him. He's told himself it was only because of the offer he'd made him, but deep down he knew it was more. Something about him pulled him in. In the steam that filled the bathroom he found himself leaning his back agains the shower wall as he thought about him again. The light skin, the freckles splashed on his face, the beautiful green of his eyes, and his lips...those fucking lips. His head leans back against the wall as his hands slide down his chest and to his hardening cock. He can't help himself. The thought of Robert is killing him. "Robert." He whispers, just wanting to hear his own voice say the name, and fuck does it make him all the much harder. He's fisting at his cock, stroking slowly as his tongue slides across his bottom lip. "Robert." He whispers gain as his free hand reaches back around him and his fingers begin to probe around his hole. "Robert." He groans his time, he feels himself getting close as he pictures those lips. He pictures them on his body, he pictures them trailing down his back and all the way down to his arse. "Fuck." He growns and he slides a finger in, followed by a second.
As he strokes begin to quicken he imagines what Robert's tongue would feel like, what it would it feel like on his hole, what it would feel like to have Robert inside of him.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." He moans as he feels his load explode. It took all of five minutes just thinking about Robert and he unraveled like nothing before. It kills him that he hasn't worked up the courage to call him, but it kills him even more to think that he might not be able to bring himself to ever do it. What he feels for him is dangerous. He's only met him once under bad circumstances, and he shouldn't feel this way, certainly not when the feelings wouldn't be returned. He shakes the thoughts away and washes off.
As he steps out of the shower he tries and pysche himself up. This isn't about what he may be feeling for Robert, this about the fear he has about going out on his own. It's about the nightmares he's had about the attack since it happened. He won't let them win. He needs to learn how to defend himself and if Robert can help him do that. Then it's all the reason he needs. He's dressed and back in his room as he paces about with the phone in hand, he's typed up the number but hasn't hit dial yet.
"Come on. Just do it. Do it. Do it." He's telling himself. He's biting at his finger nails and still pacing when he hears the voice. It's low but it's there. It's coming from hos phone.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
"Shit." Aaron says beneath his breath. He didn't realize he had hit the dail button as he bit his finger nails.
He clears his throat and puts the phone to his ear ready to say something, then panic takes over and he quickly hangs up.