Twelve
Roman buried his face in the crook of Dean's neck when he woke up, inhaling his scent. A goofy smile spread across his face but he didn't care.
This was a nice way to wake up.
Dean was still sound asleep and he looked so peaceful that the Samoan man didn't have the heart to wake him up.
Maybe he could get them something for breakfast, he decided. He was craving for chocolate cookies though so maybe a trip to the campus convenience store was in order.
After taking a warm shower and dressing up, he gave his boyfriend a soft kiss on his forehead before leaving the dorm.
Mentally, Roman made a note of things he needed to get done including going to Dean's race. He was mostly excited about that. Then there was his demo and biodata that he had to write. He was actually procrastinating on those.
Somewhere in the back of his head, he still had a small doubt about making it. While Dean had fallen asleep, he decided to research how singers got their break.
Most of the articles were negative.
It was an ordinary day with clear skies and a cool weather. Maybe Dean and him could go out today...
He was surprised to see his father show up on campus with Jaxon close by. He had been going to the convenience store when he spotted them strolling towards his hall.
They were now sitting down at one of the benches with styrofoam cups of coffee. Sika kept glancing at him while Roman's eyes were glued on his coffee.
His father and him hadn't part on good terms the last time they met.
"Son, we… I care about you," his father began. "How much do you know about Dean for you to choose him over us? We've been there for you all the way and the only disagreement we've had was over this. Please reconsider. We love you so much."
So did Dean despite his non verbal communication.
He missed his parents despite all that happened. But going back to them meant giving up his dreams. Dean would be furious with him. "I-"
"Son, I can name you singers who have not made it. Who have achieved their five minutes of fame and just vanished. I don't want that for you. I only want a stable future for you, where you won't have to wonder where your next meal is coming from."
Roman couldn't help but think of how his father was right about this one. Maybe he should reconsider his decision…
"I'll support you if you wish to get your Masters or PhD," Sika continued. "But please, Roman. Don't throw your life away."
Was that what he was doing? Throwing his life away?
Dean was already up when he returned with the cookies. "Hey," his boyfriend greeted him before sipping from his mug. "I woke up and you were gone."
"Good morning," he replied. "I was craving for some cookies so I went out." He took out the cookies from the plastic bag.
Dean licked his lips. "Those look yummy."
He laughed. "They are." Roman tore the packet open and held it out towards Dean.
"Don't mind if I do," the auburn haired man said, taking one out. He bit into it, chewing thoughtfully. "Wow. It melts in your mouth."
"I love you, Dean," Roman said quietly.
His boyfriend stared at him. "What's wrong?"
How did he know? "N-Nothing," he quickly covered up. "I just wanted to-"
"Roman."
"It's nothing, Dean. Really. What's wrong with telling you how I feel?"
"Probably the way you said it."
"The way I said it? How am I supposed to?" Roman wanted to stall Dean and hopefully he'd get confused and forget about the whole thing.
But the way Dean was staring at him made him realise how wrong he was.
"Roman Reigns, out with it," his boyfriend insisted.
"I met my dad… well ran into him actually."
"Oh." Dean did not look pleased. "How did it go?"
"We got to talking about my career…"
"And you're no longer going to do it."
"I'm not sure yet. I haven't made a decision."
His boyfriend sighed sadly. "Roman, do you want to live a life of regrets?"
"No but who's to say I won't regret it when I decide to follow my dream?"
"You mean I sold Ambrose Asylum for nothing?"
"I'll buy you a new bike and-"
"Money isn't everything, Roman," Dean huffed. "Your dream was something to me that's why I didn't think twice about letting her go. But for you to give up on it…"
"Dreams aren't everything, Dean. Some of us have to be realists."
Dean shook his head. "Do what you want, Roman."
"Dean… come on. It's not like we're breaking up. It's just about my career."
"Sure. Okay." His boyfriend switched on the kettle. "What do you want to drink?" he asked.
"C-Coffee," he answered. He watched his boyfriend open up a bottle of coffee powder, his face lined with disappointment. "I… uh… I'll make us something to eat."
"Nah. You just relax in the living room. I need something to distract me."
Distract him? Was he really that upset?
Roman decided to watch something on television. Just as he had switched it on, he heard Dean say out loud:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, Then took the other, as just as fair, And both that morning equally lay I shall be telling this with a sigh
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Roman felt moved that his boyfriend was reciting poetry though the idea of Dean and poetry just didn't seem to mix. He placed the remote aside and went to the kitchenette where his boyfriend was spreading butter on toast.
"You… read that?" he asked.
"Nope," came Dean's reply. "I took Literature during freshman year. I loved this poem so much that I memorised it, lived by it."
"Babe-"
"You may agree with your father, Roman but you'll be haunted that you didn't follow your dreams and that'll be the real tragedy."
Would it be? Before he met Dean, he hadn't really thought about pursuing it. But now… his father's words came back to him. Despite what his boyfriend said, it did come down to money. "Maybe," he allowed. "Can we drop this subject?"
"Fine."
Roman didn't want them to be on bad terms. He wanted to see those dimples on display. "Let's go out today. Like on a date."
Dean gave him a look. "Where?"
"It's a surprise." He grinned. "Dress nice."
"Define nice."
"A shirt and jeans should be fine."
"Okay. Come on. Let's eat; breakfast is ready."
To say Dean was disappointed was an understatement.
But it was Roman's life and he had a right to do whatever he wanted. Even if the auburn haired man didn't agree with him entirely. His boyfriend was changing his clothes while Dean had just turned off the shower.
He walked out of the bathroom with just a towel around his waist as he opened the wardrobe. Roman held his waist from behind, planting kisses on the side of his neck. "You smell so good."
"That's because I just took a shower," Dean said.
"Still…"
He squirmed out of Roman's embrace. "Babe, if you don't stop kissing me, I'll never get ready."
Roman looked confused, his grey eyes scanning Dean from head to toe. "Nothing wrong with a little hanky panky." He sighed. "Dean, is this because of what I said earlier?"
"Nope."
"Don't lie to me. I know you're disappointed in me."
"Roman, didn't you ask me to drop the subject?" Dean reminded him, putting on his jeans. "Well, let's stop talking about it."
"But-"
"Not another word. Let's just go on this date and forget about this whole thing."
Inside Roman's car, Dean chose a classic rock station where they were playing Motley Crue's Home Sweet Home. His boyfriend kept giving side glances as he drove but Dean pretended to be interested in the view.
He couldn't believe that Roman's father got to him. Was money really everything to these people? Dean had grown without a lot. Money came in and money went out. He hated arguing over money but the rich saw things differently apparently.
Dean wondered what Roman would be like when he had a lot of money. Would he still be the gentle, kind man he was now or would he allow his wealth to rear its ugly head? "Did your father come alone?" he asked, the question suddenly popping up in his head.
"Ummm not really," Roman admitted hesitantly, his beautiful silver orbs focused on the road. "Jaxon was there too."
Of course he was. He had said that he wanted to reunite father and son and that was exactly what he did. Jaxon's father's words hit him: "What can an orphan show you about family?" Dean was starting to feel like a fool. Hadn't his experience with Chris taught him anything?
"Dean? You okay?" Roman asked, interrupting his thoughts.
"I'm okay," he lied. Obviously he wasn't. He really had to go on the internet to google how to fall out of love with someone because he didn't like where this was going. Jaxon had mentioned how their families went way back; he probably had a hold on Roman that was hard to break. Dean didn't want to get hurt and go through all the heartache again. He had a hard enough time moving on from Chris. "Stop the car."
Roman did a double take. "What?"
"I said stop the car."
Roman swerved the car to the side of the road along a stretch of field. "What's the matter?"
He stared out at the field. "I want a break up."
"What?!" his boyfriend shouted which caught him by surprise. "What… Why? Is it because of Jaxon? Dean, nothing happened between Jaxon and me. He just sat there and-"
"It's because of everything. This whole thing has been a mistake from the start to the finish."
"I can't believe you! Just because I'm reconsidering my decision, just because my father and I-"
"Turn this car around now."
"No! Is this what you meant by loving me? Do you even know what it means?"
"I never said I loved you." Dean regretted his words immediately when he found Roman's eyes filled with hurt. "Fuck."
"I… see," his boyfriend said hoarsely. "You seem to have a low opinion of me." He started the engine but for some reason, turned it off again. "I'm not Chris, Dean."
Dean stiffened. "I never said you were."
"But you're treating me like I hurt you badly. If I did, you have to let me know what I did wrong and we can find some middle ground but don't tell me that we're over just because we have a disagreement. We're supposed to be going on a date, to do normal things couples do. We're not supposed to be walking separate ways for silly reasons."
"Silly reasons? Your father walks back into your life, gives you a speech about who knows what with your ex boyfriend by his side and I'm supposed to be okay with that?"
"Dean, I was already having self doubts. And shouldn't you be happy that I'm okay with my family?"
He was beginning to think his boyfriend was naive. "If you think that it's merely a reunion, then I have news for you. It starts with this career thing before it progresses to them controlling every other aspect of your life."
"My family isn't like that. You're mistaken."
"Am I? Roman, your father gave you an ultimatum and then disowned you. Now he's suddenly back and you're not even curious about the sudden change in his attitude?"
"Jaxon managed to talk to him, to get him to see things from my perspective."
Jaxon again? "You've got to be kidding me, Roman. Why is he so invested in your relationship with your family?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe he cares because of how close our families are. He values familial bonds. I appreciate his efforts for reaching out to my dad." Roman took a deep breath. "There isn't a competition between the both of you, Dean. I've never felt strongly about anyone the way I do about you… even when you don't love me."
Dean grabbed him by the arms so that they were face to face before covering his lips possessively. "Damn it, Roman. Don't ever think that. You know that it's not true."
Roman looked at him in surprise before he wound his arms around his neck in response, continuing their passionate liplock.
The Samoan man's lips trailed a line of butterfly kisses down his neck causing Dean to shiver. All this could be taken from him should Roman wake up to reality.
His cell phone beeped, indicating he had received a message. Dean mumbled an apology before checking it. "I have a race tonight."
Roman stopped peppering his neck with kisses. "I want to go!"
"Yeah?"
"Of course. It'd be interesting to see you race."
Roman followed Dean to pick up Dirty Deeds - a red Ducati Monster 1200 according to his boyfriend - from Skullcrusher Garage later that evening before they rode to the Harley tracks just off the outskirts of Bolton Road.
It was a long abandoned stretch of sandy road where various racers had gathered. Dean couldn't seem to stop smiling; clearly racing thrilled him.
He parked his bike near a corner. Roman could feel the excitement buzzing from the crowd. His blue eyed boyfriend wasn't the only one who brought someone along. Lots of other racers had brought friends or their significant others as well.
"What time is your race?" he asked.
"In about fifteen minutes," Dean replied. "But I have to be near the starting line soon for bike inspection."
Roman's eyes scanned the crowd. "So I can stand near the finishing line? Where is it?"
"Actually the finishing line is the starting line. It's a circular road."
Someone called out to Dean then. "Yo Ambrose," the brunette shouted out. "It's time!"
"Sure!" Dean shouted before turning to Roman. "Well gotta go. Enjoy the race."
"Stay safe," Roman said. "I love you."
Dean gave him a quick peck. "I love you too."
It was said on a normal day with no birds chirping or symphonic melody in the background yet it felt like it was. He smiled as he watched Dean hop on his bike. "What did you say?"
"I said I love you too."
And Roman couldn't help himself but throw his arms around his boyfriend's neck, claiming his lips again.
"I gotta go now, babe," Dean informed him softly.
"Okay."
"See you at the finishing line later." And Dean started his engine before riding off.
"Stay safe, baby boy," he wished quietly, an unexplained feeling of worry overcoming him.
A/N I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for the well wishes, patience and reviews :-)