Protection
This chapter has been requested by an anon on tumblr, elliebugg and cupcakes. Their joint prompts were -
After Robbie humiliates Finn, the young schoolboy decides his friend needs to get what's coming for him, though he knows nothing he could do to Robbie would hurt him. But Robbie's always been over-protective of Jason and Finn isn't scared of hurting others to get his revenge
This chapter focuses mainly on rape and the after effects of it. If you're uncomfortable reading this for whatever reason, then don't feel like you have to.
"I want a word with you," Diane O'Connor snarled as Robbie left Price Slice, a bottle of pepsi in hand.
"What?" Robbie asked, frowning in confusion as he was practically manhandled out of the shop and into the street by the older blonde, wracking his brain desperately to try and think of any reason as to why she was practically spitting blood at the sight of him.
"Oh don't act all innocent Robbie, we both know what I want to talk about."
"I have no idea on what's going on, so if you'd like to catch me up it'd be pretty good," Robbie replied, wondering just why he had even left the comfort of his bed that morning.
"You think you've got everyone fooled don't you?" Diane said lowly, taking a step forward, her eyes cold. "Everyone thinks you've turned over a new leaf but I see right through you. I know what you did to Blessing the other day, attacking a defenceless girl is disgusting enough, but bringing our Finn in on it, making him film it and blackmailing him to keep quiet is vile, and you're pathetic."
"Wait, you think I attacked Blessing?" Robbie gaped, unable to wrap his head around the latest development. "I've never even spoken to the girl, why would I?"
"You tell me, I don't know how your twisted mind works. But next time, you leave Finn out of it, he's been in bits ever since." Without another word, Diane turned heel and marched off, throwing one final glare over her shoulder as she went, leaving Robbie's head spinning, coffee date with Phoebe completely forgotten.
He had no idea what was going on in the O'Connor house, hadn't spoken to Finn for weeks, but in just one interaction with Diane he knew exactly who had attacked Blessing, and Robbie vowed to himself that he was going to get Finn sent down if it was the last thing he did.
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It didn't take long to find Finn, he was milling about at the back of Tony's restaurant, cigarette in hand as he took a quick drag, obviously on the lookout for either of his guardians. But even though he was trying to stay as aware as possible, he completely missed Robbie sneaking into the small alcove, only realising he wasn't alone when the young Roscoe ran at him, punching him and catching his jaw.
"What the hell was that for you freak?" Finn exclaimed, wincing as he pressed lightly on the already blooming bruise.
"Why don't you tell me? Had your mum going on about how I was the one to beat up Blessing. Now, I know it weren't me, which means it was most definitely you, and you've been using me as your scapegoat."
"So what if I did?" Finn asked, standing up and smirking, determined to beat Robbie like he had done once before. "Says a lot about you if they believed it."
"Yeah, well lets see how much they believe you when the police come to arrest you, because if you didn't think I wasn't going to go after this and what happened with John-Paul you're even dumber than you look."
As he turned to leave, Robbie completely missed the look of panic that flickered across Finn's face, trying to think of anything to make sure the older teen didn't talk.
"You don't want to do that Rob," Finn finally called, smirking coldly as a plan started to take form in his mind. "Not if you want to protect Jason that is."
The words had the desired effect as Robbie froze where he was, turning to face Finn and looking completely repulsed. In that moment, Finn knew he had Robbie exactly where he wanted him, threatening him would never work, but Jason, well that was a whole other ballgame.
He knew Robbie would do anything for his twin, and this would just prove it. Finn was once more going to walk away the successor, he was unstoppable and he wasn't afraid to do anything to get what he wanted, what he so rightfully deserved.
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Finn's words were still at the forefront of Robbie's mind as he entered the family home an hour or so later, the conflict warring heavily. He knew that he should go to the police and tell them about every horrid thing Finn had ever done.
He was insane, needed to be locked up to protect all the innocent people out there, because no-one was safe when Finn had classed them as a new target, and the knowledge that he could and probably would ruin dozens of lives sent made Robbie feel physically ill.
But if he went to the police, Jason wouldn't be safe. He would be causing the exact effect he didn't want to by reporting FInn, but this would be even worse. Because this was his brother, the person he was probably closest to in the whole world and an innocent in this sordid mess.
Jason didn't deserve to be dragged down into the whole thing, and although he hated himself for it, Robbie knew that in order to keep his twin safe, he would stay quiet about just what Finn had done to both Blessing and John-Paul.
He hated feeling so useless, so out of control. He was meant to be stronger than this, he wasn't meant to be so weak, bending to Finn's will at the drop of a hat. But that's what was happening, and Robbie felt repulsed by himself. Without thinking, he kicked the kitchen chair, it falling to the ground with a loud bang, though none of his anger was released.
As the wooden chair hit the floor, Joe entered the kitchen, a mix of confusion and concern etched onto his face. "Rob?"
"It's nothing," Robbie muttered, going to move past his older brother, though Joe easily blocked his path.
"Yeah, well you kicking the chair halfway across the kitchen says otherwise. Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but no matter what, you're telling me what's going on."
"I'm not six anymore Joe, just leave it," Robbie snapped. The more people that knew, the more danger Jason would be in, and he couldn't risk that.
"But you're still my younger brother and I have a right to know."
"No you don't! This has nothing to do with you, why can't you just leave it?" Robbie yelled, struggling to escape even more, though Joe was having none of it.
"Because if something is this wrong with you, it affects the whole family, and we stick together, so tell me Robbie, what's going on?"
"Finn's blackmailing me!" Robbie spat out, almost instantly wishing he could take back the words. But now that he had started talking, he found he couldn't stop. "I found out he was behind the attack on Blessing but he said he'll hurt Jason if I tell the police."
"That won't happen, I won't let it," Joe said after a moment. "You're going to go to the police tomorrow Rob, you have to."
"But Jason?"
"I'll keep an eye out on Jason. And until Finn has been put behind bars, one of us has to be with him at all times. Now, you're going to have to tell me the whole thing, I can't help otherwise."
With a calming breath, Robbie nodded and for the first time, told someone about the hell Finn had been putting him through.
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"Is it me or are Joe and Rob being really weird," Jason muttered to Ziggy as he watched the two other men standing at the other side of the garage, obviously trying hard to act inconspicuous but both failing spectacularly.
"Those two have always had a screw loose. Pass me that wrench would you?" Ziggy said, attention fully focused on the engine in front of him.
"Yeah but they've been acting really odd all day, more than usual, you can't say you haven't noticed."
"Honestly, after so many years of blocking them out, I can't say I have."
"This is serious Zig!" Jason hissed, ducking his head behind the car bonnet when Joe and Robbie shot him a curious look at the disturbance. "They've been watching me all day, following me round like a bad smell."
"And people say I'm the dramatic one," Ziggy rolled his eyes, though there was no hiding the amusement. "You're being paranoid mate, those two aren't acting any differently, you've just become more aware of how weird they are."
"I'll prove it then shall I?" Jason snapped, moving away from the car with a determined look painted on his face. "I'm going to grab a drink from College Coffee, does anyone want one?"
"Actually I could do with stretching my legs, okay if I come with?" Robbie jumped in instantly, causing Jason to shoot Ziggy a knowing look.
"Actually mate, I was hoping to go down by myself. I kind of need a bit of time alone, this whole Holly and Dodger thing is still screwing with me, a walk may help clear my head."
"Uh, yeah, sure that's cool," Robbie said, looking incredibly disheartened, more so than he would have been if something wasn't up. As Jason shot him another look, Ziggy couldn't help but hold his hands up in mock surrender, starting to believe the point his youngest brother was trying to prove to him.
Jason noted down the drinks that the others wanted before leaving the garage, though it wasn't him that Ziggy was watching. He couldn't keep his eyes off Joe and Robbie who were furiously muttering in the corner of the garage, with Joe going to leave not even a full minute later, presumably to follow Jason.
"Where are you going? Hour of the skiver is it?" Ziggy called out, though he didn't expect Joe to be truthful with him.
"Uh, I just need to grab some paperwork from the house, new insurance forms that have to be sent out sooner rather than later. I won't be long!" Joe yelled the last part over his shoulder as he went towards the garage door, only to come face to face with Jason.
"Forgot my wallet," the youngest Roscoe explained, moving to get his coat, though not before he shot Ziggy a look that showed just in one motion that he had heard every word Joe had just said and he didn't believe any of it.
"Insurance forms you were looking for it weren't it?" Ziggy called over to Joe who looked ready to leave the garage once more, hot on the heels of the already departing Jason.
"Yeah, I meant to bring them with me today but forgot clean about it, best for me to go now before I forget all over again."
"I don't think you'll have to do that," Ziggy said triumphantly as he picked up the very forms that Joe had been talking about that had been lying innocently on the desk. "Your memory must be going though, if you couldn't even remember bringing the forms with you."
"Yeah must have been," Joe said through gritted teeth, making his way to the papers to get started. As he grabbed his pen, Robbie began to make his way to the doorway, determined that at least one person would keep watching Jason.
Finn was dangerous, and even though he had no idea that Robbie was going to go to the police, that didn't mean he wasn't going to attack Jason just for the hell of it. The risk was too great for Robbie, though like Joe, he was stopped by Ziggy before he'd even made it out of the garage.
"And where do you think you're going? We've got a load to do before tonight mate, and with Jase gone you can't leave too!"
"I was just-"
"I don't want to hear it Rob, you said you'd help out at the garage now you've finished with school, you can't just leave whenever you want. I know it's getting late, but this is what it's like in the real world, we don't finish at four, not if we want food on the table that is." Seeing there was no winning against Ziggy, Robbie sighed but moved back to the car he was meant to be fixing, just praying that Jason would make it back to the garage with no difficulties.
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Jason sighed as he made his way through the park back to the garage. The line outside College Coffee had been absolutely huge due to one of the drinks machines breaking, and it had taken him double the time to get four poxy coffees.
With the way that both Joe and Robbie had been acting all day, Jason was honestly surprised that his phone hadn't been constantly going off, his two brothers determined to know exactly where he was at any given time. But all thoughts of his family's odd behaviour was soon forgotten when Jason found his path blocked by Finn, a dark look clouding the schoolboy's eyes.
"You alright mate?" he asked, trying to keep his tone casual, though it was harder than expected. "Robbie's at the garage still if you want him?"
"Oh no, it's you I wanted actually," Finn said calmly, causing the hairs on the back of Jason's neck to rise. "I thought Robbie would have told you all about it actually."
"Told me about what?" Jason asked, curiosity officially piqued.
Finn took a cautious look over his shoulder, making sure no-one was in hearing distance. The look in his eyes changed too, more vulnerable, making him look a lot younger than he was. "Over here," he muttered, walking off the park path and to one of the darker corners, hidden behind a small building. It was a popular spot for teenagers during summer days, somewhere no-one would spot them unless they were specifically keeping an eye out.
Jason didn't know why he followed Finn, he wasn't particularly close to the younger lad, he was always Robbie's friend more than his, though the two teenagers had been hanging out less and less in recent months. But Finn's mention of his twin had caught his attention and and if it explained why he had been acting weird all day, well Jason wanted to know it.
As soon as he was in the little alcove Finn's whole demeanour changed. He eyes were cold and hard, his body language was no longer meek and small, no now he made himself bigger, trying to tower himself over Jason. In that second, the youngest Roscoe knew he had made a terrible mistake trusting Finn.
Before he could do anything, Finn had flipped the coffee container, so four full cups of boiling liquid spilled over Jason, his thin shirt doing little to protect him. In reflex he buckled, closing in on himself as if that would stop the burns stinging his skin. "What the fuck?" Jason yelled, having to take a step back when Finn moved forward, his back hitting the cold wall. "What's your problem?"
"I'm sorry Jason," Finn said softly, not seemingly sorry in the slightest. "You're a good guy, you shouldn't be dragged into this, but it's Robbie you see. He's gotten too close, threatening to report me and I can't let that happen. He can't do that, he just can't.
"I thought of getting him, but that wouldn't stop Rob, he's stubborn like that. But then I had an epiphany, the way to get to Robbie is through his family, more specifically you. And that gave me a little more time, telling him everything I'd do to you, but I know I don't have long before that bastard does go to the police. So I have to show him I'm serious, and I'm sorry but that means you're going to get hurt. Call it collateral damage."
"You're insane," Jason snarled, struggling to move past, but when Finn pressed into his fresh burns he found himself stopping, gasping for breath. A sharp blow to the stomach left him winded, falling to the floor and at Finn's complete mercy.
"Like I said earlier, I am sorry Jason. But this has to be done, I need Robbie to keep his mouth shut," Finn said, his voice eerily calm for what he was going to do next. And as his hands reached for his flies, Jason began really struggling, trying to get up and away as fast as he could as he realised that Finn wasn't there for a simple beating, but something much worse.
A quick kick to the ribs stopped him in his paces, and as he wheezed for breath, Jason could only close his eyes and wish for the whole ordeal to end sooner rather than later.
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Jason didn't know how he made it home, didn't remember leaving the park, re-dressing himself or even Finn leaving. It was like Jason had been hollowed out, like there was nothing there but the memory of Finn forcing himself onto him and the sickening numbness that was lying heavy in his stomach. As he entered the family home he couldn't help but wince in anticipation for the call of Sandy and the rest of his family, crowding him and trying to make him speak.
But no noise hit him as he walked through the front door, and he remembered both Sandy and Lindsey were away for a spa weekend, whilst the others were all at the garage. He was home alone, and the teen had never been more grateful. Kicking his shoes to the side like he always did when he got home, Jason made his way up the stairs, wincing in pain with almost every step, till he had made his way to his bedroom, the door clicking shut behind him.
He tore his clothes off then, when he was officially hidden from the rest of the world, couldn't get rid of the garmets fast enough, though as he tore his shirt off, Jason couldn't help but wince. His whole torso was red, covered in the light burns that the coffee had caused when they'd been spilt over him. Under that, Jason could see the flesh already darkening, from when Finn had hit and kicked him, he painted a frail and defeated image, and he just wanted to scream at what he saw before him.
How could he have even let this happen? He was older and bigger than Finn, so how had he been at the schoolboy's mercy? He was weak and pathetic, couldn't even fight off a lad two years his junior. It made him feel sick, even more so when Jason tried to focus on just what Finn had been saying before he had attacked.
The realisation struck that he wasn't Finn's first victim and Jason wasn't sure if that made him feel even worse than he already did, because if someone was already feeling this pain and humiliation because of the young O'Connor, enough to not report him to the police, Jason had to wonder what hope he had.
Briefly the thought that Robbie had suffered the same fate as he had flashed through his head, Finn had been pretty focused on his twin throughout the whole twisted thing, but the horrific thought faded before it had even properly settled as Jason thought more deeply into what Finn had implied.
Him and Robbie were on the outs yes, and it was why Finn had gone after Jason, in a bid of sick revenge. In that moment Jason knew he could never tell anyone what Finn had done to him, if the shame wasn't enough, the knowledge that it would completely destroy Robbie was.
Finn had done this to hurt Robbie, and it was now on Jason's shoulders to make that didn't happen. He was broken and beaten down, but he was going to protect his twin till the end. No-one could find out what happened between him and Finn, and that night the teen only prayed that no-one else would be attacked by the Scouser, he didn't think his conscience would be able to deal with it.
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"Are you sure you're okay?" Robbie asked the next morning as he watched Jason get ready, looking for anything in his brother's actions to suggest that something was wrong. "You disappeared last night, we were worried, thought something might have happened, especially when you didn't answer your phone."
"I'm sorry mate," Jason said, forcing a smile as he met Robbie's eye. "Holly called though, wanted to talk and I just needed to be there."
"I hope you didn't take her back, not after what she did."
"No I didn't don't worry. We're over, no going back," Jason sighed, because hell, even if he did want to get back with Holly, there was no way she'd take him back now, not after what had happened. "Right I better be off, need to get some stuff from town."
He was gone before Robbie could reply, and the teen found himself sighing, falling back onto his bed. He had meant to go to the police the night before, but when Jason never returned from his coffee run the thought had completely been forgotten as he and Joe tried to remain as calm as possible, not an easy feat, especially when his twin ignored all incoming phone calls sent his way.
They had searched through the village with no luck, though it seemed that their worries had all been in vain, as it was made instantly apparent that Jason was at home and had been for a good while the second they walked through the front door.
Robbie had thought his brother was safe, at least for another day, but his worries had only started to increase as the night wore on. Jason was jumpy, flinching at every sound or movement made. His movements were laboured, like it was a genuine struggle to do anything, though everytime he moved too fast he winced, a pained expression painting itself onto his face.
And as he was getting ready that morning, Robbie had caught sight of Jason's torso, it was black and blue all around the rib area, with a patch of red angry skin, sticking out startlingly well against the rest of the marred flesh.
Something had happened when Jason was getting coffee, he was hiding something and Robbie was determined to find out just what, praying it wasn't what he thought it would be. That Finn had gotten to his twin before he could get to the police.
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He felt dirty. It hadn't even been a full day since Finn's... attack on him, and already Jason had had three showers, scrubbing his skin red raw everytime. But it never helped, he still felt repulsive, dirty, like he had a beacon telling the world just how weak he really was.
Deep down the teen knew it wasn't real, that the feeling of being unclean, the dirt on his skin was nothing more than a psychological reaction to help him project his feelings to the outside, to help him deal with the trauma that had occurred. Knowing that fact didn't make it any easier, didn't make Jason feel any cleaner.
He didn't go to town like he had told Robbie he would, the thought of facing anyone made his skin crawl, instead, Jason spent the next few hours at the folley, sitting on the stone bench as the events from the night before invaded his head.
He could still feel the younger boy on him. His hands roughly pulling on his trousers, ripping at the button and flies without any care, only the task on mind. The kicks to the ribs to make sure Jason stayed down, so that he would be the one in control. He could still hear Finn's laboured breathing, the catch in his breath. It was all in HD, running round and round in his head in a never-ending loop.
He just wanted it to stop, wanted to forget that it had ever happened, but it was the only thing he could think about. With a scream Jason grabbed an empty cider bottle that had been lying on the floor with a load of other rubbish, and threw it. Glass went flying as it hit the brick wall, some of the tension and pent up anger that Jason had been feeling leaving as he searched for another bottle to throw, something else to break and shatter, just like he had been.
Most of the rubbish littering the floor were crisp packets and beer cans, but underneath the bench Jason found two more empty bottles, and taking a bracing breath he chucked the first, hitting the wall dead centre, a little bit of the remained drink marking the brick to show just that.
Like with the first bottle Jason found himself feeling that little bit calmer, but just barely. Throwing the final bottle wouldn't fix him, wouldn't make him feel any calmer about what had happened, but it may help clear his head that tiny little extra bit, and well, he was going to take anything he could.
As he lifted his arm, ready to throw the final bottle, the sound of something making their way down the folley steps hit his ears. For a brief, terrifying second Jason could only picture Finn, coming back to finish the job and make his life even worse than it was currently. But it wasn't the younger boy that came round the corner, no it was the one person that Jason didn't want to see, Robbie.
He had vowed to himself that he was going to protect Robbie, make sure that he never found out the truth, and at that very moment, Jason knew he'd only succeed if he could stay away from his twin. He wasn't strong to keep up a cool and calm facade, not so soon after, when the events were still crystal clear in his mind. He needed time, just a few days even, to wrap his head around what had happened, to calm himself, after that he'd be fine, back to normal even.
But Robbie was never one to make his life any easier, even if his actions were intentional or not. The firm line that his mouth was in, the cold look that was in his eyes as he clocked the empty bottle in Jason's hand was enough to show the quieter teen that Robbie was going to do everything to make Jason talk, no matter what.
"It's not mine," Jason said immediately, motioning at the bottle, hoping that he could try and lead Robbie down the wrong path, to keep his secret safe, his shame hidden.
"I'd think not," Robbie scoffed, though he didn't look deterred. "I mean, it's 2 o'clock on a Tuesday afternoon, and you're not a drinker, break up or not. Which leaves me with just one question. Why are you down here, and breaking everything you can?"
"What? I'm not-"
"I heard the other bottles smashing Jase, I know it was you!"
"Fine it was me," Jason sighed, placing the still unbroken bottle on the bench behind him. "I was coming back from town and the whole Holly and Dodger thing got to me again I guess. Just needed to let some steam off."
"Yeah right," Robbie muttered, ducking his head as he spoke, though Jason still saw the roll of his brother's eyes.
"Are you saying I'm a liar?" he growled, taking a step forward.
"What would you do if I am?" Robbie found himself saying against his better judgement. He was here to protect Jason, to make sure his twin wouldn't get hurt by Finn, or to find out if he already had. Angering the other teen wouldn't help anyone, but he found he couldn't stop, all the anger and fear which had been a constant these last few months were finally coming up to the surface and he couldn't stop if he wanted.
"You haven't said anything about Holly for a good week now, and suddenly you're failing to deal with it? I don't buy it Jase, you never tell anyone if something's actually bothering you, and the only reason you ever start mentioning a problem is if there's something bigger you're trying to hide."
"Don't," Jason muttered, paling as he realised just how close to the truth Robbie was. "Just don't."
"Why? What are you hiding?"
"I said don't!" Jason cried, pushing Robbie as he spoke, the teen hitting the wall as he fell. It was like a red mist had fallen over both Roscoe boys as they finally let their emotions get the better of them. Neither brother knew who threw the first punch, who pushed who, but before they knew it, they were on the floor, bloody and bruising as the adrenaline left their bodies.
"It was Finn wasn't it?" Robbie said after he had caught his breath, not missing the way Jason stiffened at the mention of the schoolboy's name. In that moment his suspicions were confirmed, Finn had gotten to Jason whilst he was meant to be protecting him, and anger once more filled his body. "He did to you what he did to John-Paul."
"What? What happened with John-Paul?" Jason asked, shocked to the core that Finn had attacked his former English teacher, he had suspected that he wasn't the younger lad's first victim, but he would never have even suspected John-Paul.
"I should have told you that, he doesn't want anyone knowing," Robbie sighed, sitting so he was leaning against the folley wall. "But it was earlier this year and then he attacked Blessing. I was going to go to the police when I found out about John-Paul but Finn was blackmailing me. But when he did what he did to Blessing, I realised I couldn't do nothing anymore. It's why he went after you J, and I am so sorry. I was meant to be protecting you, making sure you didn't get dragged into this whole fucking thing but it happened anyway."
Jason was silent for a moment, trying to make sense of the new information, though as mulled over it, watching Robbie as he thought, his twin visibly distressed, he knew what he had to do.
"Well we'll just have to ruin Finn's plan to keep you quiet then. He did... he attacked me because he thought doing it would stop you going to the police. But what if I go to the police, report him myself?"
"Are you sure?" Robbie asked, astounded at just how strong Jason was proving to be. He had seen what Finn's attack had done for John-Paul, and the image of his twin in exactly the same state was something he couldn't bear with. But if he was willing to go to the police, face a court and give evidence, maybe Jason was a lot stronger than initially thought.
"No, but it's something I have to do. This isn't just about me anymore, and if I don't do anything, knowing just what Finn will do to others, I'll never forgive myself." Jason sighed, taking a calming breath before standing up. He didn't want to talk about that night, it was the last thing he even wanted to think about but he had to do it.
Finn had tried to break him, and he had to show that monster that he'd failed. Finn O'Connor was going to get everything coming to him, Jason would make sure of that.
Next chapter - Robbie and Jason have both been swimming for as long as they can remember, that doesn't change when they move up to Chester. Though when Jason doesn't disappears under the water after a dive, Robbie worries that something has gone terribly wrong – mucusshifter50
I am so sorry for the late update guys! With my exams finishing last week, this weekend was spent mostly celebrating. I thought I would have enough time to update between Friday night and Saturday but it didn't really happen (I think I spent 4 hours at my house out of 48!). But celebrations are (mainly) over, so updates shouldn't be late, hopefully at least! This may also be the reason for any typos or mistakes in this chapter, I did proof-read, but am also running on very little sleep, so I apologise.
Guest – I actually hadn't even thought about diabetes being a problem for Jason if he joined the army, I'll have to do a bit of research before-hand. Thank you for asking, I may have completely missed it otherwise!
Lucy and Benny – Even though your prompts did sound really interesting, I'm afraid I no longer take prompts and haven't since chapter 50, so it's been a fair while. On chapter 66 I have made a list of all upcoming chapters, feel free to check it out, there may be a chapter that's somewhat similar to your prompts! Sorry guys about that, though there are a couple of other prompt fics around, so if you review on either of those, it may be done?