Chapter Text
It was a frosty morning in the Dales, which made Robert wish even more that he was back at home at the Woolpack, curled under a blanket with Aaron watching a film. However, here he was in the portacabin at the scrapyard with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands to keep him warm as Aaron and Adam were out in the yard trying to tear apart a car that arrived the previous day.
Robert sighed as he looked at the pile of paperwork he needed to get finished by the end of the month, it was a lot, as he had been putting it off due to wanting to take care of Aaron after the car accident. He smiled as he listened to the sound of his fiancé’s laughter. The sound he never wanted to stop listening to. He rose from the office with the cup of coffee in his hands and walks to the window to watch Aaron quietly.
Aaron was clad in a black hoodie, coat and high visibility jacket to keep him from freezing in the temperatures the village was being faced with. He even had a beanie on to insulate his head and ears from the cold. Robert couldn't help the smile form on his face as he watched the man he trusted with his life.
“What are you doing here?” He heard Aaron ask annoyed, his eyes suddenly moving from his husband-to-be to the small figure of a teenager opening the creaky door, letting the icy wind in and disturb the warmth Robert had surrounded himself in. Olivia.
He sighed and watched the 14-year-old walk to his chair and sit down. Ever since the engagement, Robert and Liv had grown significantly closer and Robert had become very overprotective over the young girl. He walked over to the desk and perched down in front of her slowly, realising the far off look she had in her eyes.
“Why aren’t you at school, missy?” He asks quietly as Aaron appears at the door and Liv shrugs quickly, looking away from her older brother. Robert shook his head at Aaron a little, a signal to the younger man to allow him to give Robert some time with her. Aaron huffed and shut the door as he walked back to his job in hand, leaving Robert to deal with her tear away.
“Girls at school found out about yous two getting’ married and they thinking its weird” Liv says looking up at the blonde man sat in front of her.
Robert’s jaw clenched as he listened to her explain the teasing they had subjected her to that morning during her classes.
“So, they are bullying you?” He asks angrily about the situation, not at the young girl that needed his support at this moment in time. He watches her nod sadly and sobs quietly.
“What am I going to do Robert? What am I going to say to Aaron without making him worry?” She asks as she starts to have a mini panic attack, which Robert sensed straight away.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay, I will speak to Aaron, come on, I will come back to your school with you and speak to your tutor.” Robert says as he finishes his tea before he grabs his keys and Liv’s bag for her. He sets his hand on her shoulder as he guides her out to his car, which makes Aaron look over quickly and he passes the keys and bag to the teenager to indicate to get into the car while he speaks to Aaron.
“Well, why isn’t she at school?” Aaron asks his fiancé as he points the screwdriver he is holding in her direction. Robert can sense his anger at how much the girl had been skipping classes and the school always were calling him about how vital these two years were for her.
Robert sighed and looked at the man he dearly loved, telling him this news would make Aaron so upset and angry, something he didn’t want but they were both Liv’s guardians so he needed to know.
“She’s getting bullied at school Aaron…” Robert says softly, hoping that it would keep him calm. He watched the Dingle lad’s face for his reaction. Which looked shocked and upset.
“W-what? Why?” He asks quickly and looks at the blonde man in front of him.
“Because of us apparently…” Robert explains “Don’t worry, I will go into the school and explain it to the teachers.” He says to calm his fiancé down, resulting in the response of a nod. Better than nothing.
Robert kisses Aaron on the cheek quickly, they both have become more opinion in showing personal displays of affection, before walking back to the car to drive Liv to Hotten Academy.
It was going to be a long and quiet drive…