AARON & JACKSON

-1912-

"Through All The Noise You Found Me"

Titanic was sinking and now a definite noticeable slant could be felt as the water pulled the ship down. Crowds of women, children and men stood on the deck where each lifeboat was to be lowered, panic begin to infect everyone, officers had to push people back to give room for the passengers getting on the small boats. Some officers shot their guns in warning, and it worked, for a time at least.

Aaron and Jackson had been unsuccessful in finding a boat that would let men on. They hadn't lost hope though. They were sat on some steps leading to a higher area which was for maintenance. Rockets were being fired in random intervals, passengers, frightened for their lives clung onto deck chairs, anything that would float and then flung them overboard, then themselves over afterward. Other passengers were also climbing overboard and using the abandoned ropes used to lower the lifeboats to get down into the water.

Aaron watched tears ran down his face. What he was seeing, the enormity and devastation of the situation unfolding before his eyes rattled him to the core. He looked over and the band that would normally be playing in the first class areas were now on deck playing, he watched them…how could they simply carry on? They were brave, and he respected them. Then another thought crept into his mind, he and Jackson were brave too, among the chaos they were motionless, sat waiting for what was to come.

"The boat is sinking Jackson and we're just sat here on a step, there has to be something we can do"

"Really? Does it look like it? We've already checked the boats; they are not taking men on, what the hell do you suggest we do!? We have to stay on as long as possible" Jackson spoke, his words not meant in anger at Aaron.

Aaron knew that and he nodded, and then frowned. "But we're just sat talking"

"Yeah well we're weird like that"

Aaron sighed and nodded, under normal circumstances he'd probably have laughed but not tonight. He looked down at his hands they were red with cold, he held them together and placed them to his mouth and blew, his hot breath warming them, he revelled in the sensation, for a seconds or two, it wouldn't last long.

Jackson noticed how cold Aaron was, he turned and sat facing him and grabbed his hands and held them tightly in his own. A small smile spread across his lips when they locked eyes on each other. Aaron smiled back, grateful for Jackson. His eyes narrowed and he looked down at their hands locked together. "You know I never thought this would be how it would all end" Aaron spoke, his voice cracking as he realised the seriousness of his words.

"Hey…" Jackson began. "Don't think like that"

Aaron closed his eyes briefly and sighed. "I'm numb now Jackson…I-I can't…" he swallowed hard. "That water it-…"

"Listen, I know Aaron I do…but whatever happens I will be right with you"

Aaron nodded and looked back up at Jackson. "I'm not normally like this you know"

"Well what are you usually like?" Jackson smirked.

"A hard man" Aaron said as he began to laugh.

Jackson pouted then nodded. "Yep…yep I can see that actually"

"I'm erm…moody, don't talk to anyone really, good with my fists…I keep everything in…what's strange is since coming on this ship, it's all changed, I've changed"

"I suppose leaving your home would do that"

"Yeah but I never expected being beaten up, falling in love and having to put up with my boyfriend's mother" Aaron smiled.

Jackson watched him with complete adoration and love. "I'm so glad I met you"

"Me too" Aaron replied with a smile.

The boys were silent for a few minutes until Aaron spoke again. "How did you know you were gay?" he asked in a quiet voice.

Jackson pouted as he mulled over his boyfriends question. He let out a deep breath and he could see through the coldness of the air. "I wasn't really bothered about girls' attention; obviously I've been with them but I found myself looking elsewhere to the men around town, lads my age" Jackson shrugged. "And I liked what I saw, I didn't think it was wrong, yeah I was startled by it because you grow up thinking that it's a man and a woman but I didn't necessarily think too much about it" he explained. "Then of course there's my mother"

Aaron rolled his eyes with a smirk and nodded.

"When I was younger she caught me with a friend, we were kissing and she kicked off, threatened to tell my dad unless I saw a psychiatrist" Jackson then rolled his eyes and Aaron's eyes widened in shock he hadn't expected that, not initially anyway but when he thought about it what else could he really expect from the older bolshie woman.

Jackson sat staring, dragging the past up was something that didn't come easy but he wanted to share everything with Aaron, so he would continue.

"It's okay" Aaron reassured him. He didn't want him talking about it if he didn't want too; he was just interested in him, in his life before Titanic.

Jackson smiled reassuring him. "I did see a psychiatrist cause I didn't want my dad finding out...but then it didn't really matter because that same week he left…" Jackson swallowed hard and frowned at his thoughts. "Sometimes I wonder if he left because he did know and he couldn't deal with it, it's not the right thing...imagine the 'disgrace' for him"

"Aww Jackson I'm sure that's not true" Aaron told him as he tightened his grip on his hands.

Jackson scoffed 'I'll never know...this is all kinda new to me...the secret it was all putting a strain on me"

Aaron nodded as he listened intently.

"Some people found out and threatened to tell my mum, this was a few years later but I actually almost told her myself but sadly I just decided it was easier to be with a woman, but I think from that day when she found me with that lad she was always on guard and she knew. But then four days ago I met you and you changed everything, your outlook to life is so simple and I don't mean that in a patronising way I just mean you just look at things and it's like fuck it...you don't care and I admire you so much for that, for a lot of things." Jackson wiped tears quickly from his eyes and smiled at Aaron who was teary too, well he was trying to hide it but Jackson could tell. "You've taught me a lot in such a short space of time and for that and for all of you I love you so much Aaron"

Aaron smiled warmly as he stared into Jackson's big dark eyes and he couldn't sit still any longer he moved forward and hugged him tightly. "I love you too" he whispered and gave him a quick soft peck on his neck as he pulled back.

Seconds later Aaron was unexpectedly dragged to his feet and slammed into a wall by a very angry looking older male passenger. Aaron frowned and tried to fight back to get loose from the man's grip. Jackson was stood right next to the man. "What the hell are you doing!" Jackson yelled.

The older man turned to him. "What he just did, what you were both doing is wrong! I don't condone it whatsoever but you're in the presence of other people!" the man argued.

Aaron rolled his eyes and sighed before fighting back and pushing the older man away while he was distracted replying to Jackson's words.

Jackson watched on and swallowed hard. Aaron was angry. He could tell.

The veins in his neck were bulging and a surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins. "Do you NOT think there are bigger problems right now than picking on two men who happen to be in love?" Aaron screamed as he pointed angrily at the man, other people were now watching on but he didn't care.

"It's not right"

"Do I look like I give a damn? It's right to me, just like it's 'right' for you to kiss your wife goodbye before she got on that boat, I just watched you like I've watched many people tonight! But hang on…what if I don't want to see it? Oh yeah that doesn't matter because a man and a woman comes under the category of normal doesn't it?" Aaron spoke with bite and a raw anger. "This is normal to me, to him and I will do what I like when and where I want, he will too because we are NOT ashamed!" Aaron warned as he looked around at his audience. "It's nobody's business and you mate picked a fight with the wrong person so I suggest you fucking jog on otherwise I will tear you to shreds, I love this man and there's nothing you will do to stop me showing that, who do you think you are to judge someone you have no idea about? You don't know me, know anything about my life…" he frowned angrily and shook his head. "Now I'm going now, if anyone else dares to disapprove, you'll regret it" Aaron warned them and turned. "Jackson!" he called to him and started walking up the ship, walking was slowly becoming a strain as the ship was slowing rising to a vertical point.

Jackson followed him quickly not before glancing over at the man before he left the area. Aaron was seething, his breathing was heavy and he really wanted to punch something.

"Wow" Jackson said with a smile as he caught up with his fired up boyfriend. "I think you need to relax"

"Relax!" Aaron stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face Jackson, who had also stopped. "Are you being serious?" he sighed and apologised when he realised his error.

"It's alright, don't apologise to me, it's fine…come on let's get up there and we'll find a spot and we won't move till we're in that water"

"Oh the things we've got to look forward too" he smirked.

Jackson chuckled. "We have got a lot to look forward too" he told him then started walking again. "Only thing keeping me going to be honest" he added as Aaron started to follow him. They walked through the crowds and against an ever rising ship they attempted to make it to the stern.

TBC….