[ he was about to reply, text him back and tell him he's fine but there it is - a flashlight in his face and he has to squint because ow--
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. ]
[ Robert has a better understanding of the situation now that he has Craig again and he's not going to let him go and hurt himself so easily. His fingers are gentle on his face, caressing his cheek and when Craig goes to stand, Robert's eyes narrow as he stumbles and then Robert is pushing him back to the ground to sit. ]
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. ]
[ the way robert's hands go through his hair leaves butterflies in his stomach. with every gentle kiss, he's more and more convinced robert loves him too because he knows robert. he may be crass, but never cruel. you don't kiss your fuck buddy like this. linger and soak in relief like this. craig knows how robert is as a fuck buddy. and this isn't That.
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. ]
[ Despite the knots of tension in him, Robert's more relaxed right now with Craig on his back than he has been the last hour. Waiting for Craig and then the trouble that was Craig getting lost out here, all of it was a lot and not exactly what he planned for. Yet, now Craig is back and is okay and they can get back to the cul-de-sac for now. That's put Robert right at ease. ]
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! ]
[ he knows robert is pretty focused and he can't help but find it so fucking cute. even the little huffing and puffing is so cute, it has craig burying his face in his neck just to take in more of that smokey caramel smell he finds so endearing-- he needs to stop. he's so close to just pressing a kiss to his shoulder and the tiny show of strength robert's putting on is a real turn on and --
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-
[ Something about Craig smelling him like that does things to Robert that make his brain feel fuzzy and so he has to try not to pay attention to it as they trek together through the woods back to the car. Otherwise he's the one who's going to end up with a semi and it'll derail this whole thing completely.
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, ]
[ curse robert's kisses. not really, but curse them. they're the curse, for the way they put a spell on craig and calms him down so fast. his breath is taken away, literally and he holds his breath for a second; it's something about those gentle touches, the look in his eyes- craig could melt right there.
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. ]
[ The reveal of what Craig was planning comes as a bit of a surprise for Robert. He wouldn't expect anyone, not even Craig, to put that much effort into something for him but he did. He did and Robert is struck a little dumb thinking about it.
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.
[ he does gasp, just a little. it was unexpected but so, so welcomed. placing a hand on robert's wrist, he squeezes just the tiniest bit in appreciation. yes, yes - this is what he was craving. robert's soft lips, his warm hands - making out in his damn truck with soft gasps and slight mewls -
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. ]
[ Craig gets soft laughter in response to that, just the most pleased sound as he thinks about what it would mean for Craig to "court him properly". Robert's too old for that kind of shit, he thinks. Too old and weird and full of bad memories. When's the last time anyone tried to really romance him?
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. ]
[ it feels right. it feels so right to just be right here. the soft scent of salted caramel, cigarettes - even the slight smell of betsy -- it feels so, so good.
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. ]
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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. ]