Ten
"What are you doing here?" Dean demanded, his body poised to attack if Regal tried anything sneaky.
His professor laughed, having caught onto Dean's intentions. "My dear boy, what are you doing? I'm here looking for James. You know… my boyfriend."
Dean quickly sneaked a glance at James who was visibly cowering. "He's not coming back with you."
"Of course he is." Regal smiled at James. "Aren't you, darling?"
"Y-y-" James stammered.
Dean pulled his best friend to his side. Regal took a step closer, cocking his head. "What do you think you're doing?" His voice was tight, as if he was restraining himself from retorting harshly.
"Protecting my friend," Dean answered, his fists clenched.
"This is between my boyfriend and I; I don't appreciate you getting involved in our love life. You don't see me getting involved in yours, do you?"
"You wouldn't have to. Roman doesn't abuse me in any way. You do. You manipulate James into doing what you want. He's scared stiff about you-"
"Oh listen to you and your allegations. James is mine. Do you hear me? He's not yours." Regal extended his hand. "Darling, let's go home."
Dean blocked James. "He's not going anywhere."
"You-"
"Stay away from my boyfriend, Regal or you're going to see what happens when you don't listen."
Dean bit back a smile as Roman appeared from where he had been hiding. Regal looked like a deer caught in headlights. "So an ambush now, Reigns?" he accused.
"The way I see it," Roman replied, "I'm taking a walk in the park and I just happen to have the misfortune to run into you."
"Tell your boyfriend to stop blocking mine from seeing me."
"Does your boyfriend want to see you?"
Dean hoped James could see the support he was having from both of them and not fall for Regal's threats. "N-no," James stammered. "I don't."
Regal scowled. "You'll come crawling back," he sneered at James. "You know you will never find a better one than me." He glared at Roman who then took a step forward; Regal's "brave" face flinched and he scurried off towards the parking lot.
Dean sighed in relief.
"You okay?" Roman asked him, cupping his face.
"I'm fine," Dean replied, grateful for his boyfriend's intervention. Not that he couldn't have handled it himself but it was a nice feeling to have his boxing darling stepped in. He turned his attention to James. "I hope you haven't moved in with him yet."
"No, not yet," his friend replied. "Why?"
"We're going to follow you back home. Pack what you need; you'll be staying with us for a while till we figure out what to do with Regal."
James looked at both Roman and him. "Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't have suggested it if we didn't mean it."
"O-okay."
Dean laced his fingers through Roman's, once again feeling thankful that the Samoan man was his.
The ride to James' house was a quiet one.
Roman tried to make small talk with the accountant but he merely answered with a word or just kept silent. In the end, he gave up and concentrated on driving while listening to rap music. Dean had dozed off beside him in the passenger seat so there was no way he'd wake up his boyfriend.
Upon reaching the place, Roman and him escorted James to his apartment. The former champion chose to wait outside to look out for anyone suspicious while Dean went in with his friend to help him. It was a terrible situation to be in. Roman sent a quick text to Clarence asking him to call him when he was available to discuss options for what James could do regarding Regal.
Men like Regal made Roman sick to the stomach. They pulled their weight about thinking that it could help make people cower and submit to their demands but they were nothing more than people with inferiority complexes who needed constant validation of their worth.
About twenty minutes later, both James and Dean came out with two huge suitcases. Roman locked the door before they made their way to the car. Along the way back home, they stopped at a drive thru and ordered some burgers, fries and shakes before continuing their journey.
He gave Dean the honor of showing James to his room while he locked the house up. No telling what that nutter Regal would do though the grey eyed man would be waiting for him, ready with a fist of his name written on it.
Just as he had stripped himself of his clothes in Dean and his bedroom, his boyfriend entered and closed the door behind him. "Thanks for taking him in," the auburn haired man said quietly. "It really means a lot to me."
"What did I say about thanking me?" Roman teased.
"Babe?"
"Yeah?"
Dean walked up to him slowly, his eyes not leaving his once. "Make love to me."
Roman pulled him into his arms and started to kiss him passionately. His boyfriend ran his fingers through his hair as he moaned into the kiss before jumping up and wrapping his legs around Roman's waist.
Without breaking romantic form, Roman lowered him down to the bed and continued to show him in action how much he adored him.
Roman was sprawled on the bed, sound asleep with his mouth agape and snoring lightly after their lovemaking. Dean smiled at him softly, recalling how he had felt deep within the auburn haired man.
He wished James would find someone like Roman, someone who could see him for the person he was but the last time Dean had tried to set him up, it didn't end too well. James was so clingy that Randy felt intimidated thus ending their short lived relationship. Then he met Regal, the scum of the earth.
Planting a soft kiss on Roman's cheek, he left their room, closing the door behind with the intention to speak to James. His best friend was watching The Office on television and smiled when Dean entered the room. "Hey, man," Dean said.
"Hey." James muted the television. "Thank you so much for everything, Dean. I have no idea how to repay Roman and you."
"Friends don't ask for repayment. I'm fine and Roman is too. We just want you to be safe, James."
"I have no idea why I let him get away with all that he's done to me. Maybe I just wanted to have someone so bad that I didn't care what happened to me."
Dean gave him a small smile. "Look, let's put this whole thing behind you, okay? Everything is fine now. You've left him. Take a few days to rest before we figure out what to do about Regal."
James looked apprehensive. "I'm not sure, Dean."
"James, you can't be serious in letting this guy go after all he's done to you."
"He's a very powerful man."
"Not against the law, he's not. We're going to show him that he can no longer snap his fingers at you to do his bidding. You weren't his boyfriend, James. You were his puppet first and foremost."
His friend broke down then. Without a second thought, the blue eyed man placed his arms around him, whispering words of comfort and assurances over and over. When James was seemingly okay, Dean unmuted the show and they continued watching it together.
"Won't Roman be looking for you?" James asked.
And Dean smiled. "Roman's sleeping."
"Why did you help James?" Dean asked as he sat down beside Roman by the pool later that night. "I thought that you were convinced that he was just as guilty as Regal was regarding the accident."
Roman shrugged as he draped an arm around his boyfriend. It was after dinner - which was their drive thru meal - and they were lounging about, unwinding after a long day. Tomorrow it would be back to training. "If it means a lot to you, then you know I'll help you out anyway I can. But if he crosses a line, that's it."
"People may call me stupid for believing him."
Roman smiled before kissing him on his forehead. "This reminds me of a quote from Rocky that I used to repeat to myself as a form of motivation almost daily."
Dean looked at him, curious. "What quote is that?"
"It doesn't matter how this looks to other people. If this is something you gotta do, then you do it. Fighters fight."
"That's a nice one."
"But a true one."
His boyfriend was quiet for a while. "Roman?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"I'm glad that you don't… that you're nothing like Regal."
He had to laugh. "I wasn't raised that way, baby boy. Oh before I forget; I'll be training tomorrow so you have the whole day to spend with your other boy friend."
Dean was frowning now. Even when he was upset, he looked so handsome that Roman wanted to kiss him till he panted. "That's not funny, Roman," his boyfriend remarked.
"It's not?"
"No. Especially when I came so close to losing you-"
Roman covered his mouth over his, plunging his tongue into the warmth of his boyfriend's mouth. His scruffy darling. Dean wounded his right arm around his waist as their kiss deepened, his tongue playing tonsil hockey with Roman's.
The Samoan man broke the kiss, trailing hot kisses down his boyfriend's neck. "Fuck, Roman. You wanna do it here?" Dean moaned.
"I'd love to," he whispered. "But we have a guest living with us now and who knows what will happen if he happened to walk in on us."
"Let him watch?"
"Mmm… I thought you don't do public sex."
"This isn't public."
Roman pulled Dean's t-shirt halfway up, his mouth now on his boyfriend's chest before common sense kicked in. He stood up and carried Dean in his arms. "Let's continue this upstairs."
"What a romantic person you are."
"When I'm done with you, you'll be begging me for another round."
"Oh ho are we being cocky now?" Dean chortled.
"No, that's a promise."
And his boyfriend never broke his promise, Dean thought as he woke up the next morning with a goofy smile on his face the next morning.
Roman gave him a quick kiss on his cheeks, the scent of his cologne waking the auburn haired man up. His boyfriend was all dressed up after having showered, his long hair damp and smelling of argan oil. "You win."
The former champion grinned. "What's my name?"
"Daddy."
"Correct." Roman claimed his lips in an all consuming kiss that left him wanting more. "I wished I had a picture of how beautiful you looked last night when you came."
"We can also do so tonight again so that you'll have that chance."
"Mmm… what are your plans again?"
"I'm not sure," Dean admitted. "I didn't plan anything."
"Well you know the usual. I left money in your bedside drawer."
Dean sat up with a slight frown. "Roman? About school-"
"Take your time, Dean. I've spoken to the Dean of the school and he agreed you needed time off after your encounter with Regal and then the accident."
"I still need to do something."
"You are doing something," Roman affirmed. "You're taking care of your friend."
When his boyfriend put it that way… "You're something wonderful, you know?"
"I try." The Samoan man grabbed his gym bag. "Well, I'm off. Be good." He kissed Dean on his lips. "And please stay out of trouble."
Dean laughed. "No promises."
"I knew you'd say that."
The auburn haired man found himself smiling at the closed door even when his boyfriend had left. Gosh, he loved Roman like crazy. The happiness he had brought Dean since he came into his life was unquestionable. And the overflow of love… indescribable.
He shook his head. Right. He could continue being sappy later. Now he had to get ready first for his day out with James. He sent his best friend a quick Whatsapp message to get ready in thirty minutes max.
James heartily agreed.
Dean quickly stepped into the shower, lathering his body with Roman's coconut body wash. It was the closest thing to remind him of his boyfriend and he wanted to smell of him wherever he would go today. His mind drifted to possible things to do with James. He supposed he could bring him go shopping or visit the zoo… anything to get both their minds off Regal.
After changing into a black t-shirt and jeans, he grabbed his house keys, wallet and the money his boyfriend had left behind before bounding down the stairs. James was already there, all dressed up as well.
"We ready?" Dean asked.
"Ummm okay but what do you have in mind?" his best friend asked.
"Breakfast, shopping, maybe pretend to be tourists for a day and sight see?"
"That sounds nice. Don't you have to go and watch Roman train?"
"Nah." Dean put his right arm around him. "Today it's just you and me. Okay, buddy?"
James gave him a bright smile. "Okay."
Roman took a swig of water from his sports water bottle, taking a breather after sparring with Rocky. His coach was a tough SOB, making Roman work harder than he had ever done so in his entire life.
And the Samoan man was enjoying it.
"Don't tell me you're giving up so soon, Reigns?" Coach teased him. "Don't be breaking my heart now. Get back in the ring."
Roman laughed. Coach Ron would never talk to him like that, often taunting him. But Coach Rocky was different; he saw Roman as his equal. "Alright, alright. I'll be up shortly."
His coach grinned before bouncing. "Where's the boyfriend?"
"You're very eager to see him again, aren't you?"
"Well, he's the reason for the smile on your face, isn't he?"
"Yeah."
"Then I don't mind him being here."
"He would have been here today but his best friend ran into trouble recently so he's spending some time cheering him up." Roman wondered how their day was going so far. There were no text messages from Dean yet.
Coach raised an eyebrow. "What kind of trouble?"
"His best friend's boyfriend is a manipulative man. Abuses him emotionally and I guess physically."
"What's the friend like?"
Roman mulled over the question before answering, "Quiet and keeps to himself. Shy I suppose. But he's comfortable with Dean."
"How is he with you?"
"We've exchanged pleasantries, made small talk." He gave his coach a look. "Why? What's up with the ninety nine questions?"
"You got to look at both sides of the coin, Roman. I'd keep my eyes out on the friend too."
"Bad feeling about him?"
The corners of his coach's lips merely lifted slightly before he called for the Samoan man to return back into the ring once more.
A/N I'm soooooooo sorry for the slow update. I hope this makes up for it. Thank you for the reviews. I appreciate it a whole lot. Oh and for the favorites and follows of course :-)