Well I know I'm going against the flow but I like Aaron. I wasn't sure about him before but after this chapter I really like him. He's more like Jeff but he has it much harder than Jeff had. They didn't live in a period that would be favourable to man-man relationships.
You guys should give him some slack. He said it in this chapter. He's not running away from his gayness, he's running away from his pain, pain caused by the love he feels for Steven. It's the only defence he has - attack. Sure, it's going to be tough for him, the farewell and all, but it would have been much worse if they went together. They would be separated no matter what. Now he'll be alone, he will need to take care of himself, to learn how to survive - that's what will distract him from his pain caused by losing Steven. I bet he dies some big heroic death like Andre, saving some men of his crew or something. He's just that good, I'm sure.