Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Aaron cracked his neck and shifted the six-pack of beer he had in his left hand to his right hand and stared at the elevator doors, willing them to open — it was one of the few downsides to him moving in with Adam. The building was nice enough, but it was old, and the elevator was notoriously slow. It was probably a good thing that there were only three floors. "Come on…" he muttered. He'd had a long day with not one but five shitty customers who didn't seem to get their cars could be magically fixed. He was still covered with a film of engine grease and sweat from the July heat. All he wanted to do was get the beer in the fridge, get in the shower and then do nothing but sit in front of the telly, drink and eat whatever takeaway Adam was bringing home with him.

He heard steps behind him and turned, thinking Adam may have already gotten back from the takeaway place, but it wasn't Adam at all. His mouth went instantly dry as the man continued to stride right toward him. He was taller than Aaron, short and stylish blonde hair and a jawline that could kill. Aaron ducked his head down to look at the beer, so he wouldn't stare at the guy not wanting to cause any sort of scene. But he was bloody gorgeous, and he stopped in front of the elevator and huffed out in annoyance.

"It should…" Aaron started to say, and the doors opened.

"Guess so," the man laughed, and the two of them stopped onto it. Aaron couldn't help himself glancing at his profile. It was nearly perfect, he thought and shook his head. It'd been far too long since he went out on the pull, he should rectify that soon, he thought. He was going mad, practically drooling over this guy. He'd never seen before, though he'd only been living in the building for a few weeks.

They both went to push number three at the same time. The man getting there a second before Aaron, who was thankful he managed to pull his hand back soon enough. As they stepped back away from the buttons, Aaron caught the guy looking at him. Their eyes met and something pulsed through Aaron and time seemed slower somehow — like everything was slow motion despite reality not working like that all. Aaron forced himself to glance away and felt the elevator lurch.

"You moved in across the hall, with whathisface?" the man asked.

"Adam Barton, yeah…" Aaron nodded.

"Huh, yeah okay…" he trailed off. "Liking it?"

"Elevator's slow," Aaron said as it stopped for no reason on the second floor. "And dumb…"

"It does that. You'll get used it. It's a pain when you're in a rush to get home, though, I'm gasping… worked through lunch, barely had any breaks."

"Yeah, know the feeling…" Aaron said though he was pretty sure he didn't. This guy was in a suit, and it looked tailored to fit him — and it was molded to him, and Aaron tried to stop himself from looking at his arse. He held a briefcase, he definitely had a better job than Aaron.

"I'm Robert, by the way, Robert Sugden," he said and offered his hand.

Aaron felt instantly insecure about his grease filled fingernails and hoped his hesitation wasn't obvious as he forced himself to take his hand. Robert's was warm, and he gripped Aaron's hand tightly, and that pulse happened again, and Aaron looked up and met Robert's eyes…. They didn't look real, they looked like sea-blue water he'd only seen on television.

Wait… Sugden?

"And you are?"

"Sugden?" Aaron said, echoing his mind.

"That'd be weird," Robert chuckled.

"No, I mean it is weird, I mean…" Aaron really hated it when he turned into Paddy. "I'm Aaron Dingle, are you from Emmerdale?"

Robert stepped back a step and let go of Aaron's hand, making his palm feel suddenly cold. He grimaced because he'd seen something shudder in Robert's eyes when he brought up Emmerdale. He could take it back, not admit he was Dingle.

"You're a Dingle?" Robert said after a beat and shook his head.

"Yeah…" Aaron said.

"Well, guess not much chance of making a good impression… they don't like me much, the Dingles."

"Don't they?"

"Aren't close to them then?"

"No, I am… yeah, just not much for gossip."

"Oh… well, then, try to not ask about it," Robert scratched the back of his neck.

The doors opened again on their floor. They headed toward their doors. Aaron put the beer on the floor and started looking for his key. But he felt eyes on him, but heard nothing from behind him. And he ended up turning and caught Robert staring at him. It made him blush, and it made him curious because there was no mistaking it, it was a full on stare. What was he looking at?

"Uh…" Robert said and then seemed to roll his eyes at himself. "It was nice to meet you, Aaron."

"Yeah?"

"Don't sound so shocked."

Aaron cursed himself. "I mean, yeah, you too," he tried to save it.

"Right…well, see ya around."

Aaron nodded. "Could come over in a few…" he heard himself offer.

"What?"

"Adam and I, we're just getting takeaway and having…" he waved the beer as he picked it back up. "Just you know, give me a bit to wash up."

Robert's mouth parted a bit, and he looked from the beer to Aaron to the door behind him. "Yeah... Uh, I've got a lot of paperwork to do…" he waved his briefcase. "But, um, raincheck?"

"Yeah, yeah…" Aaron nodded believing he was being blown off — not that it mattered, he didn't know Robert, and he was probably being weird, inviting him right over. It wasn't even him, he wasn't known for his social skills, he was probably doing it all wrong.

"Great," Robert said with a sincerity that shocked and confused Aaron.

He nodded and then watched Robert unlock his door and disappear. He licked his lips and shook his head at himself. Tried to tell himself the guy wasn't that fit and got himself inside, expecting to forget about their interaction.

~~~

Robert couldn't concentrate. He was trying to get through all the details he needed to know like the back of his hand for his meeting in the meeting in and all he couldn't think about was the guy across the hall. He scrubbed his hands over his face and shook his head. Aaron Dingle. Dingle, he laughed at the absurdity of it all. He couldn't help be curious about how the guy fit into the Dingle clan. He certainly didn't like any Dingle he'd ever seen before — he was bloody beautiful, probably the fittest bloke he'd seen in a long time. At least he couldn't remember it and it'd only been about a month since Chrissie found him in bed with her — their — personal trainer Scott. He could barely remember what he looked like, but in the short ride up the elevator, Robert felt like Aaron Dingle's eyes been scorched into his brain.

He'd never seen blue like that. Ever.

He shook his head and leaned back on his couch. He'd just needed to get some, he thought, but it wouldn't be with Aaron — would it? He had gotten a vibe or two. He could've sworn he'd felt eyes on his arse and he did catch him staring once or twice. But he had doubts they guy looked away quickly, except the time he caught Robert just staring at him. Aaron was getting out his keys, and Robert just couldn't stop himself from taking a long and nice look…

Aaron caught up, and they'd just stared at each other.

Maybe here was shot? Could he be gay or bisexual… Robert felt his brain stutter on bisexual. He'd only uttered that once aloud to a perfect stranger...it'd gone well enough but once wasn't enough. Sure he wasn't celibate at all and slept with his share of men. But saying it out loud still felt more real than he was ready to deal with. By a lot…

He wondered what Dingle was again and if he was right about having those blue-blue eyes check him out. Before he really decided he was outside his door and knocking on Dingle's. It was when Aaron opened the door that he realized what he was doing, but it was too late to back out now. "Changed me mind… haven't gone through all those beers have ya?"

"No… Adam got a call from his sister, she's having some sort of crisis. They'll be on the phone chattering now for ages…"

"Huh?" Robert nodded because he could hear Adam on the phone, his voice carrying loudly, and he cringed a bit. Sometimes he could hear the guys laughter through the walls, and it was dead annoying. "Come over then…bring the beer?"

Aaron stared at him for a bit and then shrugged. "Give me a few."

"Sure, I'll leave the door open…" Robert turned and walked back into his own apartment and left the door, ajar behind him. He quickly rushed over to his couch and picked up his work papers, shut his laptop, and made the coffee table more presentable.

He heard his door creak and scraped his hands against his thighs as he stood up straighter. Aaron stood just inside, holding the pack of beer, four ca n's dangling. "You missed out one round," he said.

"No bother," Robert said, and he motioned to the couch. "Uh, I could put on Top Gear, or we could watch a movie…" he rolled his eyes at himself and told himself this wasn't a date.

"Or…"

"Or?"

"Are you gay?" Aaron said quickly and then ducked his head.

"No," Robert said with an automatic defensiveness that was proving to be a hard habit to break.

"Shit…" Aaron stumbled as he tried to turn around. "Then let's just forget this, yeah…"

Fuck, Robert couldn't let him go and he was at his door in no time flat and he yanked Aaron around, hand on his hip and another on his face, and groaned at the feeling of stubble on his palm and how dark Aaron's eyes looked as they looked up shining with confusion, embarrassment and something else. "I'm not straight," Robert muttered before he just kissed him to make it perfectly clear.