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for swolemate
(Fuck??? Probably fuck, Robert assumes.)
So, he drives up to the usual meeting spot and worries a little as he does because typically, he drives them both up here. He thinks Craig might know how to get here and has faith that Craig does but what if he doesn't? That's when Robert starts to worry a little bit.
In the end, he parks and gets out of his truck to sit on the back, swinging his legs under him and whittling as he waits. It's only an hour or two until sunset and Robert kind of assumed that's what Craig was going for... some romantic necking while the sun went down, something like that. But if that was his plan, they're quickly running out of time.
And time does keep passing.
Eventually, Robert's worrying turns into anxious worrying and he pulls out his phone to text Craig. ]
hey
so i know you wanted to meet up at the usual spot
but like
you're not here and idk when you're getting here
are you okay??
if you stood me up that's fine lol it's nbd
but just
wanna know if ur ok
no pressure
[ Robert wonders vaguely if his anxiety is coming through in his texts but look. If Craig had better things to do then hang out with Robert, that's fine. Craig is... perfect and way better than Robert in every way and Robert is still kind of stunned that the guy gives him the time of day in the first place.
So, yeah. Just want to make it clear that it's TOTALLY FINE if Craig just had better things to do. He thinks he makes that clear. Does he make that clear? ]
seriously no worries if you're busy
i just didn't hear anything soooo
if i got the day wrong just lmk
or if you just don't want to meet anymore
100% fine if thats the case
don't worry about it
[ There. That probably makes it clear how fine it is. Phew. ]
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it was going to be cute, okay. so cute. he got the stupid fairy lights from his girls' room, got the cute woven cotton picnic blankets - there's even a moth in it!! get it? because, okay yeah - he even made the whole spread of sandwiches and little fucking tea cakes that he asked damien the recipe for-- it was going to be So cute.
he was going to ask if they could be exclusive because, good god, does his heart beat a little faster when he thinks about robert waking up with him in the morning, grumbling into the pillow because craig keeps trying to go out for a run and -- no, it is not the time to be thinking of romantic mornings. it's time to fucking panic.
because craig is fucking lost. and even worse, robert is already here and he's going to have to fight off a bear that will inevitably win as craig tries to beat it off so robert can eat the fucking food he made.
... listen, craig is strong but he isn't stupid. it's a fucking bear, man.
anyway.
he doesn't want to contact robert - solely because who asks a man to a romantic picnic to ask him out and gets lost?? he'll never hear the end of it!! he doesn't seem to have a choice though; robert contacts him first. and fuck, he can just taste the anxiety through the texts. yeah, that doesn't feel great. ]
robert chill bro i wanna see you!
im here fr i just uh....
[ craig cahn you are fucking lost. just admit it. ]
i got rly excited setting things up n got lost
dont laugh i can hear it already
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Well, that's a whole different thing than Robert's idea of Craig realized I am the worst and ditched me which is still a pretty valid fucking idea if you ask him. He doesn't know why the guy keeps him around and every time they kiss, Robert's toes curl in his boots and he feels like he's going to float into the fucking ether but like, that's just him. Of course. He's not going to assume anything about Craig at all. So, he's still kind of surprised Craig didn't ghost their da-- not date. It's not a date.
Him getting lost though... does that mean he got here before Robert? Why? They could've just come together, and now it's getting darker and Robert can't help but be a little worried. He turns to go fishing around in the bed of his pick up, pulling his toolbox close and pulling out a flashlight. He could use his phone but he wants to make sure to be able to text him while he looks.
Slipping off the truck bed, Robert starts off down the trail from the parking spot, flashlight on and texting Craig with his phone in his other hand. ]
fuck
i'm not gonna laugh till i find you
it's getting dark and the shit out in these woods is no joke
you remember me telling you about the dover ghost right???
tell me what you see
or the area you started in and i'll come and try and find you
[ At the same time, as he sends that out he calls out loud into the woods -- ]
Craig? Craig!
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baby trails for dumb normal people like him. but there's a real reason for him going off course, you know- ]
uh
you know that spot where we uh
[ fucked under the sunlight until the sun started to set, leaving robert glowing in fucking oranges and purple hues while craig's legs were wrapped around him, pulling him in because god, he looked so fucking good, craig revered him that day.
is that dramatic? whatever.
it was a pretty spot, okay. it was so pretty and the sun filtered through so pretty and honestly, craig's sure that's where he fell for robert for real. honestly, it was the way he very, very seriously told craig that the dover ghost was going to be out and about and cut their after sex glow short. and then almost tripped putting on his pants.
yeah. he's supposed to be there. but the thing is, craig was with him when they found it and now craig is 90% sure hes in the right vicinity and 100% he's not actually where hes supposed to be. ]
you know that really pretty mossy place.
w the nice sunlight and uhh
i think im there???
wait was that u
[ he hears a yell a bit of a distance away but he's nooot 100% sure it's robert. probably!! ]
Robert? Bro, is that you?
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oh yeah the place we had marathon sex
god that was hot
if you wanted to do that again you should've just told me
[ Because that's how Robert remembers it. Craig looked fucking ethereal in the sunlight and surrounded by nature and Robert got so hard looking at him, he nearly passed out. Craig's dopey smile and his thick cock... it was enough to make a guy feel like he died and this was all just one post death hallucination. He certainly didn't deserve it, he was sure, but he fucking loved it. He remembered when the sun went down and they were bathing in the afterglow, Craig all beautifully sweaty and perfect, Robert had to unfortunately cut it short after getting worried about what else might be in the woods.
Which is where he's at right now again, because this time Craig isn't even with him either. It's enough to make his anxiety skyrocket and he startles as he hears something vaguely off in the distance, but he still can't be sure if it's Craig.
Still, knowing what Craig was looking for has him turning off the main path in the woods to go treking through it so he can get to that patch of mossy field from before. He knows where that is, so if he can get there even in the darkness, he can probably find Craig from there. ]
Craig! Craig! God, I hope that's you.
[ Some more texts, just to reassure himself: ]
don't worry baby
i'll find you
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... but im definitely down for marathon sex again
[ honestly, he could've just gone backyard picnics. barbecues with shirtless kiss the chef aprons. a walk in the park. at this point, craig's fucking car. they had car sex before! uncomfortable as shit but at least it wasnt scary as shit like this!!
he tries, oh he tries, to head towards the noise because that sounds like robert. he goes into a little jog in hopes of getting closer but there's a reason hiking trails are the way they are.
free of brush, free of stupid tree roots, free from stupid sticks to fucking trip on.
and because this date-not-date is already shit, why wouldn't craig trip and fall face first into the dirt. why not! it's Robert's fault, okay? those last two texts had his heart fluttering and his ankle is as achey as his little heart. to be fair, that cute as shit.
he hopes robert heard him because jesus, did he let out an extra manly, super not squeaky yelp when he fell. searing pain shoots up from his ankle and already, he knows its just a bad sprain but Boy, he knoes that'll swell up - ]
im just... gonna wait here...
i can kinda see the main hiking trail from here.
sorry this got so fucked up i was just tryin to do smth for you
[ robert can find out his ankle is in searing pain later, okay- no need to make the guy panic more- ]
no subject
nice
[ -- in response to the bit about marathon sex, before things get a little too out of hand. It's almost enough to distract Robert from the task at hand, which is finding his boyfr-- his friend, but then as he's walking through the brush he hears a terrible sounding cry and tenses up all over.
There's only two things that could be. Craig or the Dover Ghost. Either one means he has to find Craig immediately or things are going to get real bad real quick. Robert takes a breath and squares up before starting to stomp through the woods with more determination, flashlight sweeping over the area around him as he goes. ]
was that you yelling??
what happened??? craig wtf???
i'm coming for you
just wait right there
idc what you were trying to do for me anymore
i care that you're safe
so just
wait
[ And frantic texts sent off, Robert is going to put his phone back in his pocket and start at a light jog through the woods, flashlight aggressively sweeping the area as he goes. He knows he's close now to where they were that time but now the sun is fully down and that's not great. He swears under his breath, picking up his pace before -- there.
He spots a flash of familiar blue and starts heading straight for it, calling out as he goes. ]
Craig? Craig!
[ When he gets closer, he can finally see that it's Craig, sitting against the base of a tree and looking crummy. It's a little strange seeing someone who is usually so upbeat look so down and Robert feels a pang of guilt in his chest for not getting here right away.
He's going to rush over, skidding to a halt in the dirt and dropping to his knees in front of Craig, hands frantically reaching out to touch him just to see if he's okay. His fingers are gentle on Craig's cheek as he looks him over, expression the picture of worry. ]
Hey, hey, Craig. I'm here, are you okay? I was so worried, baby.
[ Two 'baby's in a row! And Robert didn't even notice them. Look, that's just how worried he was. ]
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there's a lot of overwhelming things happening and he knows he should be more upset but seeing robert so concerned, so gentle with the way his rough fingers caress his face- it just reaffirms how in love with him he is. and boy, does he love robert smalls.
being called baby - robert's baby - is doing a weird amount for him too. god, he's ready to take this man home. fuck the picnic. he doesn't even know where the fucking basket went when he went flying. guess it really does belong to the bears now.
he places his hands on robert's wrists, thumbing them gently to soothe him. funny how craig's the hurt one and he still feels the need to assuage his fears, smiling softly at him in hopes to reassure him. ]
I'm okay. Just twisted my ankle, I think. Sorry.
[ he doesn't want to be a pain, a nuisance, so he's quick to try and stand- though he ends up fumbling because ow, ow, ow- jaw tense, he winces and grips onto robert's arm for support. great.
what a great not-date. he's gonna get bears and ghosts after them for what-- ]
Sorry, again. I think I can walk on it; just give me a second and I'll be okay-
[ listen, he's an athlete. sort of. he's sprained ankles, wrists-- broken a few bones while he's at it. he can do this, probably. the only problem really is that, well, he still doesn't even know where they are.
he hates feeling useless, he hates that he put them in this position. but even now, he tries his hardest to keep his stupid smile on because he knows it's freaking robert out. ]
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You don't need to put pressure on that ankle, Craig. Just sit here for a moment and let me think.
[ His hands are still on Craig, fingers drifting up to slide through Craig's hair and just keep absentmindedly touching him. He's so relieved to have him back, that short amount of time of them split up and not knowing what was going on really got under Robert's skin.
It's what has him pressing a kiss to Craig's forehead and then lower, taking a kiss from his mouth in an effort to both reassure Craig and himself. He'll kiss him for a little bit, not minding the dirt smudges on Craig's face at all, just needing the physical comfort from the other man. When he pulls off, he leans his forehead against Craig's, eyes closed. ]
... Okay. I think I can carry you on my back. You'll have to hold the flashlight for me though.
[ He'll give him a piggy back ride back to his truck. He doesn't know how Craig got out here but they can come pick up his car tomorrow if that's the case. There's no way Craig would be able to drive in this state anyway. He doesn't know what other things Craig had with him but he doesn't see anything on him right now so he assumes this is all Craig has. Which is good, it means Robert only has to focus on carrying Craig. ]
I'll bend down, you climb on, okay?
[ He'll move then to get into position, lowering himself so Craig can pull himself onto Robert's back. ]
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god, robert blooms before him and it makes him grip robert's jacket. maybe he craves his touch just as much.
kidding. he knows he craves his touch just as much. ]
Robert, bro, you don't-
[ apparently he does. because robert's already bent down and staring at craig so expectantly that craig realizes he has no other choice. he's already been enough of a pain, hasn't he?
reluctantly, craig does get on, wrapping his arms around robert's neck and takes a good hold of the flashlight. ugh- he smells so stupid good for someone who was probably running around as frantically as he could. he smells woodsy, crisp with the faintest hint of caramel and cigarette smoke and it's just the smell he associates with robert in the best way. he makes no attempt to hide his affection for it, nosing his neck gently. ]
Sorry about this. This isn't... what I had planned for today at all. Thanks for saving me, bro.
[ he does feel bad. he knows robert doesn't get to enjoy soft things on his own normally and god, he wants to treat robert with softer things. he's already concocting another plan - maybe a fucking bubble bath or something where he gets all the damn knots from robert's shoulders because yes, he can already feel them. ]
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It's okay. Was planning on spending my evening with ya anyway, even if this isn't exactly what I thought we'd be doing.
[ His ideas were... a little raunchier but whatever. Robert shifts, securing Craig a little more around him and continuing his trek back to the main path. Robert isn't the strongest and Craig is pretty big but Robert's sure he can make it back to his truck with the man on his back. He's going to damn well try, at least.
But if he's quiet as they walk, it's because he's concentrating on getting them through the woods and keeping Craig on his back. He doesn't want to drop him or make this any worse than it is. There's definitely a little huffing and puffing from Robert as well but he's doing it! ]
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no, he needs to stop for real before he gets a semi and the dover ghost really gets them.
every once in a while, he noses robert's neck as thanks because he figures robert's not really in the talking mood when he's trying not to get them killed. this plan was a real damn failure and he's 99% sure that whenever craig asks robert to go on a morning run with him now, he'll bring this up as his one and done so that's out of future plans too. damn.
it's not long before they get to robert's truck - thank god - and he's very, very tenderly placed into the passenger seat. craig's heart is doing fucking flips at this point because jesus christ, he wants to take him home so fucking bad - stop. it. craig. cahn.
he waits until robert catches his breath once they're both safely in his car, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. he should still ask today, right? right. he probably should. even when robert starts driving - for real, fuck the dover ghost - he feels like he should. but robert might be pissed that he did all this to ask something like that and now he's had to carry his sorry ass back and - ]
Again uh. Thanks. For saving me. I promise I had some real shit set up and I just wanted it to be nice and instead, you ended up having to carry me back and, you know, I'm really sorry about how that all went down and-
[ is he rambling? yes, he is. ]
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So, he concentrates, gets Craig back to the truck and gets him safely buckled in in the passenger seat. He's worried about his ankle, really hopes it's just a bad twist and nothing more severe than that. If he can get him home and get the foot elevated and on ice, that would be the best option. This is what he's thinking about as he climbs into the truck and pulls out, back onto the road.
It's when Craig ends up rambling as he's driving that Robert throws him a confused look and then eventually just. Pulls over to the side of the road. There's no one around so no one is going to see this, thankfully, but he needs to calm Craig down.
He cuts him off by leaning over and kissing him, one hand on the headrest behind Craig's head and the other still resting on the steering wheel. Just one gentle kiss to reassure Craig that all of this? It's fine. There's nothing wrong with what happened and Robert isn't blaming him at all. It was an accident and that's fine.
After their kiss, he pulls away and very gentle murmurs, ]
You okay now?
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he's still worried; that's what happens when you're used to putting in your all into something and (??) fucking it up completely. he knows robert won't drop him just because he made him carry him but hey- he's known as the man who can do it all and he did, well, Not Anything At All this time. he had to rely on robert the whole time and he hates it.
he leans forward, hand resting on the middle console and presses their foreheads together. he just wants to take him in, silencing his need to apologize again. it takes him a minute to quiet his breathing, but he gets there. ]
Just wanted everything to be perfect. I was gonna ask you to be mine [ and his alone ] and everything. It would've been cute as shit and I had a picnic set up and everything.
[ it's a lot - just to ask someone to date you. but that's craig; he doesn't half ass shit. especially when it comes to robert, who opened himself to craig, who trusted craig - he knows that's hard for him. it was so hard for craig too - to realize robert wasn't just indulgence, but a need.
so, you know. he reallt is stupid disappointed but he thinks he's pretty valid for being disappointed in himself this time. ]
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So, it takes him a moment to respond but his response is to take the hand on the steering wheel back and cup Craig's cheek to kiss him again. Slow and languid, he licks into his mouth and feels their shared breaths and the taste of Craig on his tongue. He's going to kiss him for a good long while until maybe it's getting a little too heated.
That's when he pulls away and lingers in Craig's space, eyes half lidded and breath coming a little shaky. ]
You wanna make me yours? [ He lets out a soft little snort. ] Baby, you already have.
[ It's an easy thing to admit because Robert has been gone on Craig for a while now. He knows it wasn't supposed to be like this, that it was just fooling around that started one very drunk night after a barbecue at Joseph's (the irony). But it's been months now, months of sleeping together and things that are almost but not quite dates and having their lives slowly mesh with each other.
Hell, Craig has a drawer in Robert's room at his house. No one else gets to keep stuff at Robert's house.
Robert sighs and nuzzles Craig lightly with his nose against Craig's. He's quiet for a moment and then offers, ]
I know it's... fucking weird and I didn't expect this to turn into something so real but. God, Craig, I can't let you go. If you want this to be official, I'm ready for that. I don't need a picnic to tell you that.
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his ankle is fucking killing him and that's still not enough to turn him off. this man has to stop calling him baby because it's doing something to him.
his baby. robert's. fuck. ]
Just thought I'd court ya properly.
[ it's true - he wanted to treat robert like the fucking king he is for once and wine and dine him all damn proper. without the stuffiness. and also more outdoors sex because they're awful exhibitionists. ]
Wanted our first real date to set up what I got in store for ya, as long as you'd want me.
[ and craig expects them to be together for a long fucking time. he can't envision anyone else waking up next to him, can't envision anyone else kissing river's face and talking to her like a grown adult, can't imagine anyone else he'd rather stay up with in the distant future whenever briar and hazel inevitably try to sneak out.
just the thought leaves him melting, sighing as he rests his head on robert's shoulder. there's relief, knowing robert truly is just as smitten as he is. that regardless, he still wants to be with craig's cheesy ass. ]
... Hey, Robert?
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Ha, it was probably his wife before things went to shit. That's kind of ironic. And if not her then... Joseph... which isn't really a great situation either. Craig really is a step up from all of that.
Craig settles down and rests his head against Robert's shoulder and Robert lifts a hand to card his fingers through Craig's hair, soft and gentle. He turns his head to press a kiss to Craig's temple and gives a soft hum in response to his question. ]
Yeah, Craig?
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he just wants to take it in for a second. but you know.
he also has other things on his mind still. robert's shows of strength... the soft panting noises he makes... being called his baby... his ankle -- well, his fucked up ankle should be first but the guy he likes, likes him back and that's way more important. ]
Call me yours again.
[ he's being a little demanding, for someone who had to be rescued, but honestly, he never gets to indulge himself. the night's already fucked and he's sure robert won't let him feel guilty about it so he'll just go in the other direction.
so what if he moves closer, leans in further, presses a kiss to his neck. sooo what if he presses kisses against his jaw and shoulder. craig's ankle's probably only sprained anyway; he can tend to that later or something. ]