Title: Mutual
Summary: Set after Barney and Robin break-up. Lily POV.
A/N: This is me totally not continuing another fic because two people on FF thought it wasn't a one shot. Seriously. *cough* I blame Chris Isaak and "You don't cry". It's pure angst gold.. Plus I felt bad 'cause everyone's so mean to Robin.
"He asked about you," Lily looked away when she said it. She looked down to McLarens' coasters and avoided Robin's glare.
"Lily, we broke up a month ago."
"I know but... he's just so sad, Robin, you should see him."
"Lily, no." She took another gulp of her beer. Beer number 138. "It's over alright; I told you I don't want to talk about."
"Alright..."
"He'll get over it and then we'll all be able to hang out again, okay?" Robin finished off her beer. "Everything'll be fine, alright!"
Lily stared at her friend, concerned.
She hesitated but things couldn't really be much worse. Barney avoided them whenever possible. He still hung out with Ted and with Marshall and with herself, and when he did it was like he was... hollow. He talked to them about work, about stuff, listened to their stories–
But Lily knew. She was pretty sure Ted knew too. And of course she told Marshall who instantly agreed.
It was pretty clear since day 1. The day after the break up.
He was trying to smile at them, trying to act normal. But Lily knew the look. She'd been there. Where you try and act fine and totally great and talk about everything. Everything except the one person you want to.
Robin and Barney had said that the break-up was mutual, and maybe it was. They both seemed pretty miserable about it.
The first week, Barney stayed in his apartment. At least that's where he met them. He didn't go to the bar. He didn't update his blog (Ted checked). He told Marshall he was too busy to take a "conference call". But other than that... Other than that he was fine. He made stupid jokes when confronted, he kept up appearances and never said a word of melancholy to anyone.
Robin was a little different. She was the one who got to the bar and told everyone.
She had waited anxiously for 20 minutes staring intently at the door, waiting for Barney. Finally he sent her a text and she had to explain to Ted, Marshall and Lily – who had made a joke about their coupleness.
"Did he send you a secret text message? That's so cute," Lily commented.
"And to think there was a time when Barney Stinson declared he would never be in a relationship and Robin Scherbatsky would never believe she'd find "the one"." Marshall hinted. He and Lily were confident of their success as a couple; they both thought the two were perfect for each other.
"Marshall." She was dead serious.
"I'm sorry, Robin, but you're the one who's getting secret text messages from your boyfriend."
"No I'm not."
"Oh yes you are."
"I'm not."
"Sure you are. You had that special ringtone set for whenever Barney calls you or send you a text message. It's crazy annoying to tell you the truth."
"Well you won't hear it anymore." Her voice hitched and Marshall's smile disappeared.
"Robin, what's wrong?" Lily asked.
The rest of the night was spent comforting Robin. Marshall left early though, Lily had told him – telepathically of course – to check up on Barney.
But by the third week the two had settled into a quiet routine of avoidance. He avoided her, she avoided him and they both avoided talking about it.
But when he and Robin did end up in the same room, it was enough to break anybodies heart.
He tried to smile, a lump in his throat. She would look at him with wide eyes, utterly unable to say a word. Whatever she was wearing, however she looked – bathrobe and bed hair to evening gown – he always told her she looked good.
They lingered. Each staring deep into the other's eyes. Maybe they were having a communication through telepathy? Lily thought, they had been together long enough to be able to. Or maybe they were just trying to memorize each other. After all they never hung out anymore. They never spoke. They never said anything...
"Robin," Lily tried again, "don't you even want to know how he's doing?"
"I know exactly how he's doing..." she said quietly.
"You do?" Lily asked surprised.
"'Course I do," Robin played with the empty bottle. "He's doing fine. He's probably at some bar, drinking a scotch and nodding to some girl."
"Robin, that's not true. He's broken hea-"
"I know him Lily!" She said, her voice tense and her eyes moist. "He's fine, he's not gonna waste his time thinking about me 24/7! He's Barney, he gets broken, sure. Everyone gets hurt! That's life, don't like it, tough! But he's not weak." She took a shaky breath. "He picks up the pieces and gets better and then he's fine, he'll be fine alright!" She finished and wiped her eyes before any tears could escape.
"Robin..." Lily reached out to hug her friend.
"I'm fine, Lily. I just... I – I need another beer."