Chapter Text
Annette sat across from where Robert was making toast. "I'm sorry, Rob, what?"
Robert bit his lip because it really was incredibly hard not to smile. "And I don't want to jinx anything, but I think it's gonna be a long-term thing."
"Rob, you-- Elias." Annette said slowly, as if she believed Robert had misspoken.
He turned round and grinned at her. "Yeah."
Her neat eyebrows rose. "I didn't know you had that interest."
Robert laughed and ran a hand over his hair. "Neither did I." He admitted.
"Well." she picked up her mug and took a delicate sip. "Don't mess it up. Elias is a good man."
Robert beamed at her. "He really is, Annie."
She put her cup down and sighed curtly. "I don't actually like it when you're..." She set her lips. "smitten."
Robert laughed.
* * *
"Heya handsome." Elias said, stepping back from his door.
Robert grinned and ducked past him.
"Hey yourself." Ricky winked, following suit.
Elias laughed gently, shutting the door behind them. "I didn't know you were coming too."
Ricky grinned, scratching Beef behind the ears. "Not staying long, just here to pick up that dog bed you mentioned."
"Oh right." Elias nodded as they moved into the living room. "It's just by the TV."
"Cheers." Ricky beamed, heading over.
Robert helped himself to a beer from Elias's fridge, smiling as a kiss was dropped to the top of his head.
"Stir fry okay for dinner?" Elias asked, moving back.
"Absolutely." Robert grinned, cracking open his can.
"Hey, Elias?" Ricky called, a dog bed now in his arms.
Elias looked over Robert's shoulder, eyebrows raising calmly. "Mm?"
Ricky's snicker immediately put Robert on high-alert and he turned to look at Ricky in - he hoped - a cautionary manner.
"Just thought you'd like to know about the glowing reviews Robbie has given you."
Robert's beer was placed with a thud on the counter as colour rushed to his face. "Ricky-"
"-mind-blowing sex, apparently." Ricky, wisely, was edging toward the exit, his grin too big for his face. "A spiritual experience." He continued and Robert wanted to be buried alive. "He said something about indescribable plea--"
"-Richard Clarke, shut your mouth."
Ricky just cackled. "Thanks for the dog bed, Elias." His eyes flicked to Robert. Eyebrows wiggled. "Enjoy your night, Rob." And with that, he was gone.
Elias was clearly holding in a laugh.
The muted rattle of his front door opening and closing sounded.
Robert's face rivalled the apples in Elias's fruit bowl.
"Nice of him to say." Elias finally said, lips curved upward and eyes dancing.
Robert picked up his beer with a resigned chuckle. "I'm going to kill you both."
Elias opened a cupboard to get a frying pan. "Mind-blowing?" He repeated lightly.
"Oh my god, don't."
Elias laughed. "Okay." He hummed, moving over to kiss him gently. "I'm serious though," He pulled back, eyes running over Robert's face fondly. "it's nice to hear."
Robert swallowed. "Well." He said, face ever so warm. "Well. Good."
Elias snorted. "Help me chop vegetables."
"Yessir."
* * *
"Woah." Robert breathed, gazing down at Elias.
Elias bit his lip. "Whoa? Good whoa or bad woah?"
A grin broke out on Robert's face. "Very good." He swallowed and dropped his eyes to where his hips were flush to Elias's arse. "Fuck, you're so tight."
"Uh huh." Elias murmured. "Please start moving, Robbie."
"Shit. Yeah. Fuck. Okay." Robert kept his eyes on their hips as he slowly pulled out.
It was unbelievable; hot and wet and smooth. Completely different from a pussy; Elias was far tighter. There was pressure on Robert's cock from every direction, making it difficult to think.
He started slow and easy, keeping close attention to Elias's reactions in case he was doing anything wrong. He was far more nervous doing this for the first time, than he had been bottoming. When Elias let out a breathless laugh and told him to relax, Robert did his best.
There was a bit of push back as he was thrusting but it felt really, fucking good. As his confidence grew, his thrusts became firmer and Elias's moans increased in frequency. Robert was still louder - he'd always been loud during sex - but each noise Elias made, caused something hot and possessive to bubble in Robert's gut. He noticed Elias's hips rising to meet his thrusts - just like a woman's - and let out a jumbled string of curses, leaning down to kiss him.
"Mm fuck." he panted, lips moving over Elias's neck.
Elias's nails raked over his shoulders as he moaned in response. "Robbie, I-- faster."
"Fuck." Robert pulled out further and fucked back in deeper, repeating the motion quicker than before. "Mm. Good?"
Elias's nails dug into his back. "Uhn yeah."
Robert groaned and bit down on his shoulder, feeling Elias's hole twitch around him.
Robert sort of lost track of reality after that. All that existed was Elias. His sounds; his scent; the way he responded to each snap of Robert's hips. It was sweaty and probably rougher than Robert intended (whenever he fantasised about it, he'd fuck Elias slow and gentle) but it was clear no one was complaining. Elias's breathing was laboured and his moans were loud and he had his hands on Robert's arse, forcing him deeper. A well-known sensation began rising from Robert's balls and through his cock. His mind went completely blank, hips stuttering as a wave of relaxation washed over him.
Elias came barely a few seconds later, stroking himself through it.
"Mm," Robert nosed sleepily at the crook of Elias's neck. "was I good?"
Elias laughed very faintly, a hand coming to thread through Robert's hair. "You weren't bad." His voice was a little hoarse.
Robert snorted and gave him a playful nip, slowly starting to pull out. "Gay sex is pretty nice."
Elias made a slight sound of amusement, guiding him in for a kiss.
* * *
"He's a mechanic." Elise handed Robert her phone as Gary jumped into her lap, curling up with a chirp.
Robert swallowed his mouthful of curry and set his take-out box down before accepting the device.
On the screen was a picture of a man. He had a strong jawline, deep brown skin, a broad nose, warm eyes and big lips. His hair was made up of tight, springy curls in a tapered cut.
Robert felt himself smile and gave a low whistle, handing the phone back. "Very handsome."
Elise laughed and the subtle pink spreading across her cheeks did not escape Robert's notice. "His name's Harry." She slid her phone onto the coffee table.
Robert gave Gary a scratch under the chin, enjoying the way his purrs vibrated. "Introduce me sometime."
She let out a happy little breath. "Of course."
Robert continued to smile. "Ah mate, I'm chuffed for you." He said, reaching for his curry again. "Oh hey!" A superb idea entered his mind. "We should do a double date again."
Elise laughed, full and sweet. "No." She shot Robert a playful look. "With all the love in the world, Robbie, I am never going on a double date with you again."
Robert chuckled, scooping up a spoonful of rajma masala. "Right then."
* * *
It was a very odd gathering and Robert wasn't quite sure what Annette meant by it.
At the head of the dining table, sat Dave; expression pleasant as ever. On his right, Annette's expression was stern but Robert could easily spot the soft edge she put on when making an effort. Beside Annette, was Ricky. Ricky had never been allowed in Annette's house before and he didn't seem particularly thrilled to be here; his expression held a subtle hint of fear. Emma was at the other end of the table, looking happily confused by the whole thing. Finally, Robert and Elias sat opposite Annette and Ricky respectively.
Robert poked a piece of broccoli. "Dave, you're a cracking cook."
Dave smiled. "I do my best, Rob."
Emma cleared her throat quietly.
Robert felt Elias shift beside him.
"So, how is-"
"Lovely beans-"
Ricky and Annette spoke at the same time.
Ricky looked horrified and Robert stifled a laugh.
Annette threw Robert a dirty look and started again. "How is... work, Ricky?" The way she said work gave one the impression that it pained her.
Ricky blinked. Once, twice, three times. He glanced to Robert, before focusing back on Annette and trying a wobbly smile. "Yeah, alright, thanks."
"His newest client is seventy-one." Emma piped up. "She wants to get into weightlifting."
"Oh." Annette nodded slowly, hand closing around her wine glass.
Robert squinted at her.
She took a sip.
"Holy shit!" he laughed.
Annette's lips curled. "Language."
Robert ignored her. "This is a thing." He said and received five looks of varying confusion. He put down his fork and beamed at Annette. "This is a bridging thing."
The five looks of varying confusion intensified.
Robert shot Ricky a grin. "You can relax, brother. She's trying to get to know you."
Ricky didn't look wholly reassured.
Robert just continued to smile. "By the end of the night," He started, speaking to Annette again. "you'll see why I've kept him around so long, against your better judgement."
Annette had another sip of wine.
Robert's chest buzzed and he dived back into his dinner.
Stilted conversation started again when Dave asked Emma how she got into plumbing. Gradually, things became less awkward and it really wasn't long at all until everyone seemed to loosen up.
Robert did less talking than usual, but no less smiling. He looked about Annette's posh dining room and felt impossibly warm. There was a lot of love in here.
Dave was a bit of an odd-bod, but he was decent and made Annette happy; Robert naturally held affection for him. Similarly, Robert couldn't help but be fond of Emma and the light she brought to Ricky's eyes. Ricky, it went without saying, was profoundly important to Robert. Annette was Annette. Overbearing and opinionated. Kind and thoughtful. Willing to try.
Elias, Robert didn't yet have the words for. He was irreplaceable. Of that much, Robert was confident.
* * *
"'Lias." he said, fastening his seatbelt as Elias started his car.
"Mm?"
Robert grinned stupidly at him. "You're a cup of tea."
"Am I?" Elias hummed, pulling onto the road. "I didn't know."
Robert chuckled. "I mean, that's what you are. To me." He wasn't doing a great job of explaining. "Think of the most comforting feeling in the world. The thing that calms you down no matter what. The thing you think about when you're away from home too long." Robert trailed his eyes down to where Elias had taken his bottom lip into his mouth. "That's what you are to me."
A breathless laugh slipped from Elias's throat. "Are you trying to kill me?"
Robert snorted. "Ah." He clicked his tongue. "You figured it out."
Elias rolled his eyes. A beat passed. "To me," He started softly, hands slipping down the steering wheel. "you're the sound of Beef snoring."
Robert laughed. "Mine was more romantic."
Elias threw him a look; fond, exasperated and amused all at once.
Robert wanted to kiss him.
But, he supposed, he'd wait until they got home.