Nine
Was playing it safe worth it? Roman certainly had thought so. Until he heard his new student's name. Then he started to question it.
There was still a glimmer of hope that Randy didn't know that Roman lived in California now. No, it was just his plain rotten luck. That was all. The rest of his day passed by in a daze, his mind filled with dread.
Don't run from who you are, Roman, a voice inside him said.
From who he was? He was a teacher and a law abiding one at that except that one ticket for his car being parked illegally that he paid a day later. He was not a mobster. He was not his father or his uncle or Seth or Dean.
Dean.
Even after ten years, pain still ripped through him whenever the thought of his best friend crossed his mind. What was Dean even doing? Was he still in New York? Had he graduated? Was he married? Did he have any kids? To this day, he missed him despite being angry with him. How could he not? Dean Ambrose had meant more to him than his own family.
Roman rubbed his eyes, tired from overthinking. The whole thing was a mess.
Grabbing his things, he headed for the gym. Maybe working out would distract him. As usual there were only a few people as it was just late afternoon and he was thankful that the bicep curl machine was not used.
Sipping his watermelon flavored BCCA drink, Roman forced his mind to focus on his training. Today's workout was for his arms.
As he was about to sit down, a voice from behind him said, "We really got to stop meeting like this, Rome."
He stiffened at the sound. Turning his head, he found himself staring into the clear blue eyes of Dean Ambrose. No, this couldn't be happening. What was it about his past coming back to haunt him today? His throat felt dry.
"I'm surprised you don't have much to say, Rome," Dean continued. "After all as I remembered you ran away from Vegas the last time we spoke; you ran away from me."
"Why should I stay around a mobster?" Roman retorted, finding his voice again. "How did you know I was here? I thought you said the mafia had no connections in California or Wisconsin."
"Yes, the mafia don't," Dean reaffirmed. "I didn't say that I didn't."
"How long have you been here?"
"Ten years."
"What?!" Roman exclaimed. "Are you kidding me? So you've been watching me the whole time?"
"Rome, I meant it when I said that I would protect you always," Dean replied cooly. "I always honor my word."
"I don't need your protection!"
"When Orton's kid is in your class, you bet your ass you need protection. Unless you've been taking up some sort of martial art training which you haven't."
He had Roman there. Randy had now moved to California. Who knew what he was really here for. "Where are you living?" he asked. "And don't you dare say next door-"
"But of course, Rome. How else was I supposed to keep an eye on you?"
"You're that annoying neighbor who keeps slamming the door late at night? How is it that no one complains about you?" Dean sat down on the bicep curl machine. "I was going to use that!"
Dean grinned at him. "How could they? I'm their landlord."
"How do you have so much money?" Roman gasped.
Dean shook his head in mock dismay. "Rome, you know who I am and where I come from."
He crossed his arms. "Not really, Dean. Since the day we met, all you've done is lie."
Not a trace of bash was on his face. "Rome? I'm proud you've grown a spine and and all but let me refresh your memory: I did not lie to you. I just chose not to tell you."
"That's lying!"
"It is not!"
"I was nothing but a job to you."
Dean's face twisted in annoyance. "It was not like that with you, Rome. It still isn't. I dropped everything in New York to come here."
"I didn't ask you to."
"I wanted to." Then he added quietly, "You'll always be my brother, Rome. Whether you believe it or not."
Roman felt nostalgia wash over him looking at Dean. His hair was still shaggy and he was dressed in a black leather jacket over a white wife beater and denim jeans. Despite it all, Roman missed him, missed his company. Dolph and Big E were awesome in their own ways but they couldn't replace Dean in a million years. "What's Randy doing here?"
Dean shrugged. "He got a job offer."
"Really? Does he know that I'm here?"
"Yep."
Roman shook his head. "So what do you expect me to do? Drop everything and take it on the run?"
"No. You go along and live your life. I'll be close to you."
"He knows I'm here, Dean, in case you forgot."
"Of course I remember. But he's going to be highly suspicious if you just disappear. You're not alone, Rome. You know I have my eyes on you."
"I still don't get how you're going to pull it off. Don't tell me you've applied to be a teacher too."
"Of course not. Seth did."
"Seth Rollins?!"
"Yep."
He was starting to hate that word. "He graduated?"
"Yeah. He kept eye on the bar for me. When he graduated, he worked in a middle school in New York. I asked him to come over here." Dean kept his eyes on the handle bar. "My father and yours are furious with me after you up and left. To be honest, Ro, after you ran off, I didn't had the heart to stay. As much I had hurt you - and you have every right to be mad at me - I was hurt that you left me too."
Roman hadn't thought of that. All he had thought of was himself. Yes, Dean had hurt him but he was also earnest with him when he told him the truth.
Logic be damned. Roman still wanted Dean in his life.
Dean let out a yelp of surprise when Roman pulled him in a hug. "Gosh, Dean. I missed you. Fuck, I missed you."
His best friend returned it fiercely. "I missed you too, Rome. Don't you dare forget how much I care about you." They broke the hug. "And I apologise for hiding so many things from you. There was so many times I wanted to tell you much earlier. I even told our fathers that but they threatened to remove me from the situation and I couldn't bear to be away from you. I've told you everything I know, Rome. No more secrets from me. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too. The whole thing with our fathers and their plans… it's just a labyrinth of lies. But we'll be okay." They'd get along fine, Roman thought. He smiled remembering something Dean had told him once. "Hey, Dean?"
"Yeah?"
"When this is all over, what do you say we just jump into a car and hit the open road?"
He smiled. "You remembered my plan."
"I remember everything about you."
Dean hugged him once again. "I'll hold you to it, Rome."
Roman ruffled his hair. "You better do."
A/N I couldn't do it. I could just picture how disappointed they were to be apart that I had to bring them back together. Thank you for your reviews. Have a great weekend!
