Sabu looked up from his coffee, not entirely sure what Rob was on about this time. Probably something that had to do with all those strange TV series he was so fascinated with. Most of them didn't make much sense either, Sabu reasoned, so Rob should feel right at home.
"Peace keeper? What the fuck is that?"
"I made it up, actually. But you keep my peace, so you're my peace keeper."
He snorted. Rob's mind worked in mysterious ways, and even after all the time they'd spent together, he still wasn't sure what possessed Rob sometimes.
"You're so surly you keep all the annoying fans away. It's brilliant!"
"Your fans should hear you now, they'd definitely turn in their RVD fanclub cards," Sabu muttered, ignoring the way Rob was sneakily trying to pull the newspaper, the one Sabu was reading, towards him. Eventually Sabu let him have it, sagging back into his seat and watching Rob as he checked the sports pages. Rob's interests had always been pretty limited.
Enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the lobby - then again, what did he expect at six o'clock in the morning - he finished his coffee and tried ignoring the annoying twinge in his back. The chair wasn't too comfortable, but it would do for now. He hoped to fall asleep once in the car, and thus spare himself the frustrating aching of his back, but with Rob's rather chipper mood he doubted that would happen. Unless, Sabu mused, he somehow let Rob know how he was feeling. The guy usually noticed these things easily enough.
However, realizing that would mean putting up with all of Rob's worried glances, him knowing Sabu was injured, and Rob suggesting Sabu'd call in injured - like he could do that - Sabu shook his head, grimacing at the pain shooting up his spine. It'd be one of those days.
He sat up startled when something warm brushed under his shirt, the soothing murmur from Rob not enough to keep Sabu from snapping at him.
"Give me a heads up next time, damnit!"
"I'm sorry," Rob whispered, his hand still resting against Sabu's lower back. He leaned back again, relieved to see that besides the half-asleep hotel clerk there was no one around. The fact they'd even managed to get coffee - no doubt from a nearly broken coffee machine somewhere in the back - was a small miracle. As it was, no one would notice, and Sabu relaxed into the comforting warmth of a hand moving in slow circles.
"Does it hurt a lot? We could always -" Rob started, but Sabu quickly interrupted him, his body going tense again. Damn Rob and his endless concern.
"Don't start that, Rob, no we couldn't."
The man next to him sighed. "I'm sure -"
"Rob," Sabu warned, and his lover - Sabu almost snorted at that word - nodded, though there was a stubborn edge to his eyes. Then again, when wasn't there.
"You can't do anything about it, let it go," Sabu continued, closing his eyes as he focused on the hand that was - temporarily, he knew - taking the discomfort away. Was it too early to take some heavy painkillers? Probably, and Rob would berate him for it, stating he'd have to worry about Sabu overdosing while Rob was stuck behind the wheel. It would have to wait.
"You should try and get some sleep in the car, I promise to be quiet."
Sabu's eyes shot open and he frowned in annoyance. "Stop treating me like some old man on his way to the retirement home. I'm fucking fine!" It all came out a bit too harsh, evidenced by the unhappy murmur from Rob.
"Well, shoot me for giving a fuck."
"I'd shoot you for a lot less. A fuck would be nice, though."
Rob ignored the quip, and Sabu - about to close his eyes - barely heard his next response.
"I know you don't think it's important, but it's just... I care, Sabu."
Sabu turned his head to the side, catching the way Rob was staring outside with a rather vacant look in his eyes. Most of the times he'd have made some remark about there being such a thing as too much pot, but not right now. Who knew what Rob was seeing in the dull colours of an early morning?
"I know," he admitted. And he did. Strange as it was, he did. It took some getting used to, realizing that, but Rob made it rather easy. Rob made everything look easy, even dealing with a man as complicated as Sabu knew he was. And even if he'd never admit it, there was nothing better than the annoying poking, prodding and hovering that showed just how much he cared.