It was early in the morning and Dean was very quiet. The slave looked like a zombie, had been cleaning the same spot on the floor for over half an hour. To make things worse, he had a big hickie on his neck. The auburn-haired slave was frustrated and this was obvious to Roman, who felt useless to see Dean suffering in silence.
"That's why I need you out of this place". Roman took a deep breath trying to remain calm, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Dean sighed and shook his head, "It's three years now, Roman. It does not matter".
"Dean, you must go back to the hideout and find out how things are going with Becky's brother".
"No matter how fast things go, I'll be here until the night of your sentence". Dean continued to rub the same spot.
"Dean, why are you so stubborn?" Roman was starting to lose control.
"Oh! I'm stubborn". Dean said with exasperation: "You'd rather be beheaded instead of giving up and maybe earn a few more days of life to come up with a plan and get you out of this castle. To get out of here together! But your bloody pride is more important than anything else!"
Dean was so angry that he was breathing hard. Roman was stunned.
"I also want us to escape together, but you have to understand that they killed my family and enslaved my people. It took decades to build a safe place for the islanders and it all was destroyed in front of my eyes. It's not that easy, I cannot just pretend all this didn't happen and become their toy to see how they delight in the misfortune of all that I loved. I prefer to be dismembered before being a slave in this place!"
Roman was furious. They both looked at each other intensely. Their emotions would make them do things they would sure regret.
"You're right, you always were. You said this relationship would end up hurting me!" Dean couldn't look at Roman, he was so angry. "But what relationship am I talking about? I'm not just the whore of the King, now I'm also your whore!"
"No Dean, that's not true... I..."
Dean hurried out of the room leaving Roman with his mouth open and a bunch of words stuck in his throat.
...
"Good morning, Roman!" Seth greeted with a shy smile. Actually, it was the first time the prince smiled. "Here's your breakfast".
Roman was still worried about what happened in the morning with Dean. But seeing nothing more and nothing less than the prince of the kingdom doing the work that was usually assigned to the slaves, Roman was sufficiently impressed to turn his attention to another topic, even if only for a moment".
"Good morning, Seth", Roman was about to question the behavior of the young heir, but he rebuked himself for being prejudiced against him.
Seth set the tray on the nightstand beside the bed and sat down on the floor, right in front of the prisoner. Roman was also sitting on the bed and man! Seeing Seth sitting on the floor like any of the slaves was strange. But he already knew, Seth was a very special person.
Roman took the tray, "I don't know how you can be a part of this family, you're not even like them. You're not the arrogant heir that everyone thinks you are. You're just a playful teenager".
Oh boy! That made Seth's day. For the first time the young heir smiled widely. Seth was happy, even his eyes seemed brighter. In that moment Roman couldn't keep denying it. Seth was not only very special, he was also very beautiful.
"Thank you, it's so good to have a friend, although it's weird. I feel the only way I could have a friend is to chain him to a room inside this castle. Maybe making friends is not my thing." A small touch of sadness invaded the prince's happy gaze.
"Actually, nothing that has happened is your fault", Roman didn't know why, but he felt the overwhelming desire to comfort the young heir. "You have done everything you could despite the circumstances, and you did these things expecting nothing in return. You are a very noble person, but you must know that there are things that are beyond your reach and you should not feel guilty about it".
"If you mean saving your life, I know. You've made that clear enough, but I cannot help but hope", Seth sighed.
"You already have enough trouble to worry about, like your future marriage to Randy". This was another worry in Roman's mind.
"I try not to think about it. I know it's inevitable, but under the law they're supposed to wait until I turn 19, and it's almost half a year before that".
"Don't you have relatives who can help you? A place to go?" Roman was very worried about the prince's future.
"Actually, the only member of the family who was interested in me was Uncle Shane. He shared my love of reading. When I was 14 my father was very angry because I wasn't skilled in the use of weapons. Uncle Shane tried to defend me... but Dad, Mom and he had a heated argument. They even insulted the other. In the morning I saw the broken vases, it was very shocking. Uncle Shane... He disappeared, just took the most important things and left. He didn't even say goodbye".
"You can always escape. I don't think a polite and honest young man like you cannot find a way to survive". Roman was trying to get Seth to entertain that idea in his mind.
Seth got up and walked to the bars of the window. He looked at the horizon with sadness.
"Everyone in this kingdom and the neighboring kingdoms know who I am, and everyone has the same opinion as you had of me. They hate my father and rightly... Do you think they would give me the opportunity to show how I really am? If you weren't chained, you would have killed me. The same thing would happen if I decided to flee. I don't know how to defend myself, and all the people who hate my father would think of revenge for him through me. I have to live locked in this prison and I must accept the destiny that being the son of my father has predisposed me".
Roman felt his heart breaking. It was true, he judged Seth mercilessly. The prince had no way out. Randy was going to destroy him.
"I think maybe I should ask Dean a few things", Seth murmured almost to himself. "I don't even know what I'm going to do on the wedding night, no one has talked about these things with me. All I know is that Randy is going to hurt me... a lot".
If someone had said these things to Roman, he wouldn't have believed a word. But he knew Seth was telling the truth.
"Your parents, they should..." Roman tried to say.
"You know how is my father, for him Randy is his son. And mom is just interested in the title, she doesn't want the crown to be in the hands of a person who doesn't represent her lineage and even if I'm weak I represent her lineage. Anyway Dad always appeases her by showing her his achievements and making a blind eye to her lover, a man named Chris", Seth now leaned against the wall, looking at his shoes. "My parents don't love each other, and they don't love me. They don't care what the other is doing, they just want to satisfy their self-interest, I think I would have been happier if I were a slave".
Becky came into the room, "Prince Seth, the king is looking for you."
Seth thanked the slave and left.
"Dean is very sad", Becky murmured.
Roman sighed. "We had an argument".
"Excuse me, but... I know it's none of my business... I know you have some kind of relationship with Dean. I just want you to know that these things are new and strange to him," Roman could see that the slave was trying to find the right words to explain herself, "Because of his role in this place, Dean always said he would never get involved with anyone. He hates when others approach him. He's mostly a loner, but with you he has managed to overcome all those fears... I mean, this is serious for Dean".
Roman understood the girl's concerns. After all, Dean and Becky were supporting each other inside this hell.
"You don't have to apologize, I'm just a prisoner. And you're right, Dean doesn't know how to act in these situations. I'll make things easier for him". Roman was sad. "If you see him, tell him I want to talk to him. It's something important."
"Do you really care about him?" Becky asked nervously. "I know you just met each other, but..."
"Dean is very special to me Becky. I'm not playing with him. It's just that I'm going to be beheaded. Do you realize where all this is going? It's a very complicated situation and I don't know what to do".
"Why don't you try... I don't know... to listen to your heart. Dean deserves some happiness in his life, no more torment. If you can make him happy, even if it's only for 8 days. You should try".
"If I could, I would make him happy for the rest of his life not just for 8 days, but I can't. He doesn't understand how difficult this is for me. This situation is killing me and I can't make him understand my motivations. I'm desperate! I don't know what to do, especially since what I feel for him is so intense that I have not had peace since we argued".
The door opened slowly, Dean stared at the floor.
"Dean!" Roman said, his eyes wide.
"I'm sorry", Dean said shyly.
"No Dean, I'm the one who needs to apologize... I..."
"I think the two of you need to talk", Becky grinned. "I'll be talking to the guards to distract them so you guys will have the privacy you need. If anyone wants to come in, somehow I'll let you know".
"Thanks Becks", Dean smiled at his friend.
Becky left the room and Dean immediately threw himself on Roman who was waiting for him with open arms.
"Forgive me, Dean. I don't know how to make you understand my reasons and..."
"No, Roman ... I understand you". Dean replied. "In fact, when I saw you defend your honor and what you believe to the point of not caring about your own life... I saw myself three years ago. I think I couldn't bear to see the reality of what I have become. I was like you and I behaved exactly the same, but I resigned myself to my fate. Seeing you are not doing the same thing made me feel so low..."
"Please don't say that. You did the right thing and you didn't even do it for you, it was for her. Dean, I'm so proud of you. Especially because despite the horrible things that surround you, you're still here fighting. That's why I have to help you Dean. Let me help you, I have to get you out of here".
"I'll leave you help me, Ro... I'll do whatever you ask. I won't let you become someone like me if you do not want to".
"But what are you saying, Dean? You're perfect as you are. Stop talking like that about yourself, the truth is that you can be you. When you leave this fucking place, I want you to become the boy you used to be. Rebel, proud. Dean, no one will stop you".
Roman couldn't help it and kissed Dean so hard. They both needed this. They were kissing with real need and passion, forgetting everything around them. They kissed for a long time, savoring the other's lips, letting them wrap around the warm dampness of their mouths.
"I don't want to hear you say you're a whore. Dean, no more please", Roman begged. "Much less I want to hear you say that is you are what you are to me. You have no idea what you really are for me. If circumstances were different, I would want to woo you correctly. I would introduce you to my parents and I would have asked permission from yours... You know, to be with you".
Dean shook his head. "No, Roman, it's not necessary for you to say these things. You shouldn't feel pressured just because I had a tantrum. I don't care if we have a relationship or not. We don't have to label our relationship. You and I, that's all that matters to me. We don't need to put a name to it".
"At least let me finish what I was going to say", Roman smiled. "I know you're a slave and I'm just a prisoner, but that's not a good reason to do things wrong. You and I don't have family, so I have no one to ask for authorization, no one else but you, Dean. So I'm asking you..."
Dean tried to push Roman and prevent him from speaking, "Roman, this is not necessary..."
But the prisoner stopped him. "Dean Ambrose, I know we only have 8 days to be together and this may sound crazy and corny but... I want you to be my boyfriend, nothing would make me happier than that".
Dean was in shock. He couldn't breathe properly, his cheeks were red like tomatoes. Roman smiled tenderly.
"Yes, I want!" Dean almost choked as he spoke.
They kissed again, deeply and slowly. They both forgot the horror of the reality that surrounded them, giving in to the feelings they didn't fully understand, but they were no longer interested in denying it. It was perfect, despite the horrible circumstances, it was perfect.
