AARON LIVESY
-The Chase-
"Blinded"
I never promised you a ray of light
I never promised there'd be sunshine every day
I'll give you everything I have, the good the bad…
Aaron walked into Jason's house, his face stern already with the bruising but with the added scowl it just made him look angrier and Jason knew what was coming. Aaron stood in the living room waiting for Jason to walk in from the passage after closing and locking the door. When he appeared, Aaron's expression didn't change one bit. "Think we need to talk don't you?"
Jason sheepishly hung his head and nodded. "Yeah, I'll uh I'll get us a drink" he said as he started off to the kitchen.
"I don't want a drink" Aaron told him bluntly which made Jason stop and turn to him.
"Do you want anything at all?"
Aaron shook his head. "I want you to sit down for starters"
"Okay" Jason replied and walked to the sofa and sat down. "You sitting with me?" Jason asked and Aaron shook his head and sat on the single chair on the other end of the room.
"Right…well this isn't at all how I imagined our relationship"
Jason knew he had done wrong, and he nodded in agreement. "Me either but it was a mistake that will never be repeated"
"Well, let me tell you something" Aaron said angrily through gritted teeth and he leaned forward with his arms resting on the tops of his legs. "IF you do hit me again, in a blind rage or not I will hit you back without hesitation, you just caught me off guard yesterday"
Jason swallowed hard and nodded. "I understand, I'm really sorry Aaron"
Aaron rolled his eyes. "Sorry? Have you seen the state of me Jason?"
Jason now couldn't look at him and it angered Aaron further. "LOOK AT ME!" he yelled, but it worked and Jason's looked up quickly and nodded as he took in the dark purple bruises on Aaron's face, his swollen eyes and lip.
"There's a difference between saying the word and showing how sorry you are, you have yet to prove it"
"Then let me" Jason pleaded.
"I wouldn't be here otherwise!" Aaron snapped then with a sigh he looked away. "But what you need to understand is I'm not in this for Ed round two you got that?"
Jason scowled in reaction. "I'm nothing like him!"
"No?" Aaron shot back with a shocked expression. "Well the way you were when you were hitting me felt very much the same"
Jason sighed and shook his head.
"How dare you sit there and shake your head? I know what he was like and I experienced what you were like, it was THE SAME!" Aaron shouted then growled in frustration and got to his feet. "I'm going for a smoke!"
"You shouldn't smoke Aaron" was all Jason said to that.
"Tough shit mate, I do and I am; nothing you can do about it!" he told him harshly and walked to the back door and unlocked it.
"We'll see" Jason muttered but it was loud enough for Aaron to hear and he scoffed and shook his head as he walked out into the back garden letting the door slam behind him. He blew out a deep breath and with shaky hands he pulled out the cigarette box and took one out and lit it quickly. He was so angry but upset at the same time and he really wanted to break down and cry but he wasn't going to.
When Aaron finished his cigarette he flicked it away over the fence and turned and walked back inside, he saw Jason still sat on the sofa and he walked on through to the living room. "Why were you fighting?"
"I told you, Cameron gets me angry, knows how to push my buttons"
"Yeah" Aaron nodded as he propped himself down on the arm of the single chair. "That's all well and good but that's not what I asked"
"Alright, he said you'd never love me like you loved Jackson, that I'll always be second best" Jason's words were true but they weren't the reason behind the fight.
"For god sake, this isn't a competition, I loved Jackson, still do, always will you know that, but I love you, there's no first or second place, if I love you which I do then that's the way it is"
"Sorry…I-I should have known, it just got me thinking and mad when he said that"
Aaron nodded, he understood. "Just don't rise to him, and never ever bring up what your brother and my mum are doing again have you got that?"
Jason sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry" and he really was, the genuineness was oozing from him which Aaron picked up on.
"Good"
"I wish I could take it away" Jason told him sadly.
Aaron frowned. "Take what away?"
"The bruises, Aaron…I'm so, so sorry, I mean that I am…I never meant to hurt you, I-I don't want this to be the end for us, I want you so much and I need you more than you will ever realise, you're special to me do you realise that?"
"Ah Jason…"
"No please just-"
"No, I was going to say it again, I wouldn't be here if I didn't know Jason, and I would have ended it as soon as you stopped punching me if that was what I wanted but I didn't, I want you and I love you but you have hurt me, like I said it hurts more because of the love I have for you"
Jason nodded and broke into a sob which Aaron hadn't expected and it caught him by surprise, he frowned and slowly edged off the arm of the chair and walked over and knelt down in front of him. He blew out a shaky breath and looked up at his boyfriend. "But I've been through worse, you know that" Aaron said with a small smile. "I'll get over it"
"You shouldn't have too" Jason spluttered as he cried his eyes out as he hid his face in his hands.
"Hey, shh come here" Aaron moved closer and put his arms around him and pulled him close so that his head was resting against his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry" Jason sobbed into him but Aaron tightened his hold on him and rubbed his back slowly.
"It's alright Jason, I'm alright…we've gotten through this…we're fine alright…"
Jason nodded and pulled away, wiping his eyes as he did so. Aaron stood up and held out his hand. "Come on…"
"Where?" Jason asked with a frown.
"To bed you idiot" he told him with a smirk.
Jason smiled a little and took Aaron's hand and was led upstairs to his room.
…
The next morning Aaron sat at the kitchen table munching away on some toast when Jason walked in fastening the last of the buttons on his shirt. "You're breakfasts done" Aaron told him with as he chewed on a piece of toast.
"That's funny…" Jason grinned.
Aaron faked a laugh. "You thought you already had it?" he smiled. "Proper food Jason, this is proper food" he told him with a smile as Jason walked around him and sat down next to him.
When he was sat Jason found himself staring at Aaron. "I love you Aaron"
Aaron smiled and looked at him with a smile. "I love you too, now eat" he chuckled.
Jason picked up the slice of toast, which was burnt and he frowned at it and just laughed at Aaron. "Good job that's how I like it eh?"
"Was either that or you made it yourself, I wasn't slaving over the toaster for three or four attempts not a chance!"
When breakfast was over, both men sat back in the dining chairs finishing off their cups of tea "Did you sleep alright babe?" Jason asked.
"God yeah that bed is heaven!" Aaron said with a massive grin. "I slept even better with you in my arms"
Jason smiled shyly. "How's your face?"
Aaron stared at him and nodded. "It's fine" he said before swallowing hard, it wasn't but he didn't want Jason knowing that, he didn't want to make him feel any worse than he already did.
Jason sighed however and looked away, he'd picked up on Aaron's hesitance. "No it's not Aaron"
"I-It doesn't matter alright…I'm alive, I'm still here just stop worrying okay?"
Jason nodded and looked back at Aaron. "I'll drop you off if you like? No need to go for the bus"
"You sure?"
Jason put his arms around him "Of course I am, get you to myself that bit longer" he said before giving him a passionate kiss.
On their way out of the house Aaron wasn't expecting what was to come as Jason followed him out of the house, four words, that were all they were. "Move in with me" Jason said hopefully.
Aaron frowned and stopped in his tracks and turned back to him. "Excuse me?"
Jason chuckled. "Move in with me?"
"Woah, where did this come from?"
"Oh! I-I didn't mean dale head, I meant here…"
"And again" Aaron chuckled. "Where did this come from?"
Jason sighed and looked disheartened. "Don't you want too?"
"I didn't say that, it's just a bit out the blue isn't it?"
"Not really, I know how I feel about you and I'd love waking up next to you every morning, could spend our lives together Aaron"
"We don't need to live together to do that, not yet at least" Aaron told him but when he saw the disappointment on Jason's face he sighed. "Let me think about it yeah? It's a big thing"
Jason nodded. "Y-Yeah course" he smiled. "Sorry"
"No, don't be, it's a lovely thought, I just need to think about it"
Jason smiled and walked along the path to drive where Jason's car was parked. "What you got on at work today?"
"Oh just the usual but I'm gunna try and catch Debbie at some point and discuss branching out…see what she thinks"
"Debbie isn't there all the time right?"
"Yeah but it shouldn't be a problem"
"You've just got to grips with it babe, you can't do that, don't take on too much at once, doesn't sound like a good idea to me…"
Aaron frowned. "Oh, okay…" he was left confused as he sank down into the passenger seat of the car.
The drive to Emmerdale was pretty quiet, mostly due to Aaron's belief that Jason didn't believe in him, it left him confused but as they neared the village he thought that maybe he was right, that he couldn't do it. Soon enough Jason stopped the car outside Dale head and Aaron quickly kissed him. "I'll let you know later"
Jason frowned. "You alright?" he asked as Aaron got out of the car.
"Uh yeah, suppose, see ya" he told him coldly and closed the door and walked away. Jason smirked as he watched Aaron walk the few yards down to the garage. Jason put the car back into gear and drove off and as he drove up through the village he passed Adam and Flynn walking out of the shop and down the village. As he drove by them he revved his engine and stared at them both. Flynn put on a smile. "I really don't like him"
"Me either" Adam replied.
"Aaron's back then obviously" Flynn noted
"And?"
"Ah come on Adam he's your mate for god sake"
"No, he was, I told you I'm done with him Flynn, he's changing and I don't like it, and whatever I say he won't listen to so I'm not going to waste my breath"
Flynn sighed. "Well I wanna see him"
"Sure I'll be in the café right?"
Flynn nodded. "Won't be long" he told him as he walked down to the garage.
…
Aaron had changed into his overalls and when he walked back out into the workshop Debbie was stood waiting. "Oh there ya are"
Aaron smiled. "Alright?"
Debbie nodded with a smile. "Yeah, you don't look it though"
Aaron sighed. "I wish people would stop going on about my face, I'm fine how many times"
"Woah, alright relax"
Aaron sighed and his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry Debbie"
"So you should be, anyway I got your text last night what was so important?"
"Oh erm" he frowned. "I just wanted to talk to you about expanding but I've changed my mind, thought about it and I- I don't think I could do it, sorry I wasted your time"
"No you're alright" Debbie said in a concerned tone. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Aaron nodded and rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, yeah just stuff" he said with a sigh. "Listen I better get under one of these bonnets otherwise we won't get any money in so…" he pointed to the car and let his arm slap down again against his overalls then walked over to it.
"Okay" Debbie said quietly and watched him walk off. She'd seen Aaron in many moods but this, this one was different if she could choose only one word to describe it it would be withdrawn.
When he opened up the bonnet he saw Flynn walking up to him, he rolled his eyes and buried his head into his work. "Hi" Flynn greeted but he wasn't met with a reply. "Aaron"
Aaron sighed and shot a look at him. "What!"
"I-I just wanted to know if you were okay?"
"I swear to god if anyone else asks me that today I will hit them!" he growled in frustration.
"I'm sorry I'm just worried about you"
"Well it's not your place too, I've got Jason for that" he explained as the phone rang and he heard Debbie answer it.
"Oh yes, Jason…the one and only, course yeah" Flynn sniffed. "He's not good enough for you, especially after what he's done to your face; I thought that would have been a wakeup call…"
"Is this you talking or Adam?" Aaron snapped.
"We both feel the same way about it"
"Don't care oh and actually you can go tell your mate and anyone else who is bothered that I'm moving in with him, and there's not a damn thing you can do about it"
Flynn's heart sank. "Are you serious?"
"Deadly, moving in tonight"
"Oh er...right…bit quick that isn't it?"
Aaron scoffed. "Chris, Flynn…that's all I'm saying on the matter"
"Yeah alright, I deserved that but jesus Aaron he's dangerous!"
Aaron slammed down his tools and stepped closer to him. "I'll show you who's dangerous in a minute if you don't remove yourself from this property"
"Alright, fine" Flynn for the moment was giving up. "I'll go, this time but I'll be there Aaron when you need me, I'll be right there, you might not see it now but this is all going to go wrong"
"I said go!" he raged.
Flynn nodded. "Fine…like I said…I'll be there and you'll realise who you're meant to be with" he told him and left. When he had Aaron took out his phone. Okay, pick me up after work; I'll have my stuff ready x
"What was that about?" Debbie asked as she walked over.
"Oh nothing, he's just a jealous twat, he's lost me, end of"
Debbie frowned. "Okay well anyway I need you to go away for me for the weekend"
"Where to?" Aaron asked.
"Car auction in Manchester, I know you've been with Cain before so you know what you're looking for"
Aaron smiled and nodded, it was about all he felt he was good at, aswell as the mechanic side of it all.
"Great, I've booked the hotel it's paid for already; details are on the side you just have to sort out getting there"
"I'll just take the train, won't take long, about an hour or so…"
"Great, my dad will cover while you're away but there are still a few days yet so get this place right before you leave Friday night yeah?"
"Yeah course"
"Good" she smiled. "I'm off, I'll see you later"
Minutes after Debbie left Chas and Paddy marched round the corner and up the forecourt to him, he frowned deeply at them. "Okay, what's this?"
"You! Moving in with Jason that's what! We just saw Flynn in the café!" Chas raised her voice at him in frustration.
"Ahh Mr blabber mouth of course, what a surprise…" he sighed. "And what, what can you possibly do to stop me going?"
"N-nothing mate bu-" Paddy was stopped when Chas slapped his arm. "You are meant to be on my side"
"I am!" he defended. "But it might help if you softened a bit"
"Softened a bit after everything he's put me through the last few years, worry, the constant worry! Even when he was in France I worried Paddy and now he's moving in with a bloke he hardly even knows!"
"Oh shut it mum eh? You do my head in, I'm old enough to make my own choices, I'm moving in with him"
"Well I think you're making a mistake"
Aaron shrugged and looked at Paddy, his dad the man who had always been there for him. "And do you?"
Paddy sighed and uncomfortably nodded. "Yeah, mate it's all going a bit too fast and after what happened yesterday with Cameron and him hitting you I think you should keep some distance between the pair of you until you're certain about him"
"I am certain! I've never been so certain! I love him and I'm moving out, thank you for everything you've both done, I'm grateful I am but I want to be with Jason properly"
Chas furiously shook her head then turned and stormed off. Aaron sighed. "Ah mum! Please!"
"NO! You've done it now!" Chas yelled back at him.
"I'll have a word, if you're going then it's up to you but your mum and I think this is a mistake"
"Well I don't Paddy, I love him"
Paddy began to step back. He nodded and hated what he was about to say but he was anyway. "Love doesn't make bruises go away, Aaron…look what your love for Jackson made you do…what I'm worried about is what his love for you will make him do"
Aaron watched as Paddy simply turned away and walked off. In complete anger Aaron flung the spanner back into the garage causing a loud echoing clatter as it hit off the back wall. He breathed heavily and slumped down to the ground next to the car. Why were they saying the things they were to him? He really didn't understand. Jason was a loving, kind, generous, funny, caring attractive man who loved him, and Aaron loved him back…they both deserved to be happy, but no one could see it…he didn't care anymore he was done with this place with the exception of the garage but anywhere and anyone else...well he simply wasn't bothered anymore.
TBC…