Twenty Nine

Roman had never been happier to shower at home.

The warm water cascading down on him with his new coconut orchid body wash was a welcomed change. While stress was slowly leaving him, the guilt of sleeping with Tom was still eating away at his heart.

Dean never brought it up since they returned home an hour ago, still looked at him the same way even. Sat him down and made him tea….

But how could Roman even look him in the eye after all that?

"Got room for one more?"

Dean was standing at the door with a huge smile, dimples on display. His boyfriend hugged him tight then before hungrily kissing him.

"I'm sorry, Dean," were the first things that tumbled out his mouth.

"Nothing to be sorry about, Roman," Dean assured him. "What? You think that's enough to get rid of me?"

"I don't want to get rid of you."

"Just a figure of speech, babe. I know you don't. We'll be fine. I promise." Dean nibbled at his earlobe; Roman closed his eyes in bliss. "Come on. Make love to me."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can. Roman, we haven't done-"

"I can't."

Dean stared at him. "Okay."

His boyfriend washed his hair and lathered his body again with body wash before washing it off. After gently towelling him dry from head to toe, Dean made him lie down before he joined him

"Let's see if I can still remember how it went…" Dean said softly.

"How what went?"

"Second time we made love."

"You mean second time you pounced on me."

"Can you blame me? You were gorgeous. Well now you're even more."

Roman held his breath when he felt his boyfriend massaging his butt cheek while seeking access to allow his tongue to enter the sweet warmth of his mouth. He moaned and Dean did not hesitate to do so, kissing him passionately.

It was an indescribable feeling to have Dean holding him this way. He had been bracing himself for not ever experiencing this again.

Dean kept provoking his tongue so he began to slowly move his too. Satisfied with that, he moved his lips to Roman's neck while he moved his right hand to lightly trace the Samoan's abs.

"Dean…" Roman panted.

"Ssshhh… it's okay, Roman." He stopped kissing his neck only to whisper in his ear. "If you forget everything else, always remember that I love you."

His body relaxed upon hearing that as Dean claimed his lips once again.

"You're so hot, Roman. But most of all, you're beautiful. You've got the most beautiful smile I have ever seen… the most beautiful heart."

"You're hot too, you know."

"Nah. I'm not. You, on the other hand-"

Roman refused to let him think that way about himself. He flipped Dean on his back, crashing his lips against his.

He could feel Dean smiling against him.

"Someone's happy…" Roman murmured, their lips inches from one another's.

"Of course I'm happy. I tricked you and it worked."

"Dean!"

Dean laughed. "I'm not sorry."

Roman sighed. The tease. "Are you ever going to make love to me?"

"Nope."

"Come on, Dean. I'm serious."

"Why do you want me to do it with you so badly?"

"Firstly because I love you and secondly, I want to feel you in me, Dean. It's been years."

"Nope. Unless you make love to me first."

"I'm not sure… I can't get that image of me and-"

"I know." His boyfriend kissed his nose. "We'll take it slow, okay?"

Dean Ambrose had to be the most perfect boyfriend, Roman thought at that moment.


"Oh this is wonderful," Hunter laughed as he stared at the chalice.

"What's wonderful?" Corey asked, walking in with Phil behind. "Oh by the way, we tossed Sika near the corner of some restaurant. Wiped his memory clean too."

Phil eyed the blood, licking his lips. "Give it to me, Sire! I need it!"

"Oh no you don't get to drink this." Hunter leaned forward. "I don't need you anymore, Phil. I have a much bigger fish. I have them where I want them. My plan worked."

"You're choosing that Samoan freak?!"

"He's not a freak! With his strength, his athleticism and his hidden aggression, we can do so much more. I can help him unleash."

Hunter sat down on his chair as the priest walked in.

"You wanted to see me, Sire?" the priest, Michael Cole, said.

"Yes," Hunter smirked. "Actually, Cole, there is something you can do for me. Take some of the blood from the chalice with Tom's blood."

"Are you-"

"Yes. We're going to bond them by blood. Let's see Dean try to top that. One way or another, I will have Roman, Cole. Just try to stop me and see.."


Roman was burning up the next morning and it made Dean worried, particularly because he was moaning and sweating, his eyes closed.

"Babe, I'm going to sponge you with cold water," Dean informed him. "It'll be okay."

"T-Tom…"

Tom? What the hell?

Leakee walked into the bedroom. "How is he?" the Samoan warrior asked.

"He's still the same even after I gave him the medicines the doctor prescribed when he had a fever too back in New York where we used to live."

"T-Tom…" Roman mumbled again.

Dean was perplexed. "I don't understand why he's calling out for Tom."

"Who's Tom?" Leakee asked.

"Tom's Hunter's son. He helped me out to collect the blood from Roman and-"

"Collect Roman's blood?!" Leakee's jaw dropped. "Hunter has Roman's blood?"

"Yeah."

"Dean, you… you should not have done that!"

"Ummm okay why? The faster I draw him out, the faster I can whoop his ass."

"Oh Dean. It is more than that. It is about what he can do with Roman's blood. He can bring him over to the dark side."

"But he can't do that. Roman's too pure for that. Between the two of us, he's got a bigger heart."

"Which is why they can easily…" Leakee was now distressed. "Oh Dean."

"Dude, you're really freaking me out now… ummm making me worried."

"There is also something else he can do. He can bond Roman's blood with his son's. That is why I never gave my blood to Hunter."

"That was not in the book!"

"Did you read the whole book?"

"...No." Dean hadn't counted on that. "Explain to me this blood bond thing."

"Basically it means that Roman has to choose between you both but it is not as easy as it sounds. His body will yearn for Tom but his soul will doing that for you. It's a battle between the two."

Dean felt stumped. "Please tell me you're joking. And his mind? His mind has to be reflecting on-"

"His mind is like Switzerland in this. He's fighting a war within himself. I should have told you this earlier. I had no notion that you would ever do this. If it were as easy as giving blood and unleashing hell on Hunter when he arises with the Higher Power, I would have done so a long time ago."

"But the vows he made to me-"

"Tom may not be able to marry Roman… but with this blood bonding, should Roman pick him, they could be together."

"You mean like lovers?"

"Yes."

"Is there any way to reverse this?"

"The elders would say it is entirely up to Roman to choose but I do not believe so. I will find a way for you, Dean. I will not allow my descendant to be part of a family with an evil, vile creature like Hunter." He put his hand on Dean's shoulder. "Remember what I told you: if two souls aren't meant for one another, then nothing on this earth can keep them together. If two souls are meant for one another, then nothing on this earth can keep them apart. Have faith."

"I've screwed things up for us… I mean I've made things worse," Dean groaned.

"Do not say that. You could not have known. Hunter will not be so eager to come up now. This is all a game to him. He wants you to suffer watching Roman choose them."

"So what do I do now?"

"Take care of Roman. Jon and me will help you see if there is anything we can do."

When the door closed, Dean flopped down beside a now sleeping Roman and held him tight. "I'm so sorry, babe. I'm so sorry," he cried.


Roman woke up feeling groggy. He found Dean snuggled against him, breathing softly and held him tighter.

The strangest thing happened with him dreaming in his feverish haze about Tom.

Tom.

Desire shook through him thinking about the man but something in him was holding him back, almost as if it were pulling him to pay attention to Dean.

"Dean."

His boyfriend's eyelashes fluttered upon that. Staring into Dean's eyes, Roman felt at home. "How are you feeling?"

"A bit better," Roman replied.

"Roman, I have to tell you something. It's about what I've done…"

"Done?"

"The blood I gave Hunter?"

"Yeah?"

"He bonded it with Tom's blood."

Roman sat up. "What do you mean?" When Dean explained to him what Hunter had done and briefly how it worked, the Samoan man was furious. "Dean!"

"I'm sorry, babe," his boyfriend apologised profusely. "I had no idea."

"So what am I supposed to do? Go and find him?"

"No. You have to choose. I'm not sure when but-"

Suddenly, Roman felt light headed so he lied back down. "Dean, can you get me so water?"

"Sure," Dean replied before pressing a kiss to his lips.

So this was what he had been feeling. That dream wasn't entirely a dream. Roman knew that this wasn't on Dean. There was no way both of them could have known this would have happened.

Of course he wondered if Tom had known...

"Do you feel well enough to go out?" Dean asked when he returned with the glass of water. "Your family is eager to see you."

"Might as well get this over and done with, right?"


They went out for lunch with their families at Kenny's Lodge, a family restaurant.

Roman wasn't hungry but Dean insisted he ate. Before they came here, his boyfriend had literally shoved him into the bathroom to shower and picked his clothes out for him even though the Samoan man had not much energy after spending most of the night before tossing and turning all night, dreaming of his time with Tom.

"Let's be normal for once, okay?" Dean had said.

So here they were eating brunch and whatnot.

"So any vacation planned?" Uncle Afa asked.

Dean shrugged. "Not sure. It's been a while. Maybe somewhere near like LA or something."

Roman watched Leakee and Jon giggling between themselves and his heart sank. Maybe being together for them was okay but what if it wasn't for Dean and him?

And Tom.

After breakfast, he walked outside to take some fresh air. Some of the kids were playing at the indoor playground.

Leakee and Jon were being disgustingly sweet.

Uncle Rodney spoke to him while Dean was entertaining Tamina's kids. "So uh… making a deal with Hunter, Roman?" his uncle said. "Not exactly the wisest thing to do."

"You've got to be kidding me," Roman scolded him lightly. "So many of you were in trouble. Was I supposed to shrug my shoulders and move on?"

"No. You were supposed to just let it be. Uncle Afa would have found a way."

"Dean would have been dead. I doubt Uncle Afa can fix that."

"But agreeing to it without trying to fight, Roman? That's not how we do things, Uce."

The same thing Dean had said.

Roman exhaled and excused himself walking over to Dean who was teaching the kids how to use nunchucks. "Dean, I… uh… I'm leaving. I need to get out of here."

"Where do you want to go?"

"I'm not sure. Just me alone though."

Dean's blue eyes widened. "No, Roman. You're not going anywhere alone."

"He's got my blood already. I'll be fine."

"No!" Dean took a deep breath. "Sorry if it's harsh but Roman, at this point, we shouldn't be far away from one another."

"Can I go to the park near our home?" When Dean didn't reply, he implored, "Please."

"Ok," his boyfriend relented. "Two hours max. If you're late, I'm going out to find you and then you're really getting it…"

The park was full of people enjoying the sun: people who were feeding ducks, people who were cycling or walking their pets.

Roman saw some couples being lovey dovey; he felt a bit jealous of them. They didn't have the same worries Dean and him had.

Now he had to fight off his desire for Tom while trying to focus on Dean…

Dean.

Maybe he could spare Dean all this warfare business. His boyfriend never asked for any of this. It was not his blood they wanted. The Samoans were whom they were after; Dean was only there because of how easily he would sacrifice himself.

If Roman relieved him of his duties as a knight, he didn't have to be involved in any battle.

As if he'd listen to you, his conscience mocked him.

When Roman came back home, his family had all started training.

Leakee was showing them how to use their powers - to maximise it - for the war, having only approximately six days now that Hunter had Roman's blood. Dean, to Roman's surprise, was watching Jon used the sword he had mentioned in the book.

His ancestor was teaching them how to use a spear - an actual spear - as a weapon but Roman felt a sudden need to see Tom.

Badly.

To hold him, kiss him and be with him in every way-

"Roman, you're not concentrating!" Jimmy pointed out.

Dean shot his cousin a warning look before bring him aside. "You okay, babe?"

"Just can't concentrate," Roman answered.

"It's not a physical thing, Roman. It's a mental thing. You get knocked down, you get up and you keep moving forward."

His cheeks burned. Dean was prep talking him like it wasn't something he didn't know.

"You look a little uptight. You look a little tensed. Hunter get inside your head?"

"Stop it with this crap," Roman muttered.

"Making you a little upset? Make you angry? Come on, babe. I like my Roman Reigns angry! I like my Roman Reigns upset! That guy who used to not let anyone push him around? That's who I want on that field!"

"I've been roughed up; I'm feeling bent out of shape."

"You're stronger than this, Roman. I know you are." Dean gave him a quick kiss. "Try again?"

"Okay," he agreed reluctantly.


Dean watched Roman showering later that night and smiled to himself, admiring his boyfriend's physique quietly. He lit the Leaves candle by the side table and lied down on his side of their bed.

So far Leakee couldn't find anything but he promised Dean he would leave no stone unturned.

When Roman came out with just a towel around his waist, Dean whistled. "Can we lose the towel?"

"Maybe," Roman replied as he sat down.

"You know, babe, maybe we should really go to LA for our vacation or something," Dean murmured before he started to plant soft kisses on Roman's neck. "We could visit shop at Rodeo Drive, sightsee in Hollywood, make love on Venice Beach…"

Roman turned around and their lips finally met.

Dean gingerly positioned himself on top of his boyfriend, his hands roaming near the towel which he yanked open. "Hi," he greeted his boyfriend.

A warm smile graced his face. "Hi."

"If it hurts-"

"I know. Make love to me, Dean. It's been so long."

Dean stared into his lover's grey eyes. It was true; it had been so long but he wasn't ready yet. Every time he thought it was ready, he chickened out.

Those words were still haunting him.

"Let's start with something small. How about a blowjob?"

Roman seemed disappointed but he quickly masked it with a smile. "Sure."


The next day during training, Roman watched Dean effortlessly used the sword before fooling about with the nunchucks.

Last night's dreams of Tom again made him restless. Was this how it would be for all time? When was he supposed to choose? It was a no brainer to choose Dean, wasn't it?

Wasn't it?

Dean was his soulmate. How could he argue against that?

Leakee showed him how to channel his powers, how to tap into it and use it to his advantage. "You have incredible strength but your heart and mind aren't connected. This blood bond between Hunter's son and you-"

"How does this battle work?" Roman asked, not wanting to get into it. "Do we wait on a field or something?"

Most of the gang had gathered. "Yeah, Leakee," Tamina added. "We never really got into how we were going to attack them."

"It most likely will be at the giant field near the cliff. That was where we had fought and believe me when I say that they know the area well."

"So we go from the back to attack them?" Roman asked.

Dean shook his head. "Nah. Gotta attack them by the side. They'd know we would attack from the front and back."

"Dean's right," Leakee agreed. "That seems like a better one. They'll go for Roman first so he ought to come the last while the rest of you try to fend them off."

Roman was horrified at the idea of everyone dying because of him. "They'd be dead!"

"It's okay, Roman." Dean rubbed some circles on his back. "It's a war. We're all going to have be prepared for that. Chin up. If we work together, they can't stop us."

Surprisingly, Jimmy agreed. "Teamwork, Uce. We're there all the way."

"Dean, maybe you and I can draw up the battle plan," Jey said, "I do have experience in the boy scouts and I am good at tactical planning."

Dean shrugged. "Sounds good to me. I'll get some papers." He ran into the house

"The rest of us can concentrate on using our powers," Jey continued. "Now I know why our folks sent us to those limalama classes."

Roman's parents never sent him to those; they were content sending him to enrichment classes like speech and drama instead.

"I think Dean should lead this one," Jimmy said. "I mean he basically is the only who has fought regularly."

Wait a minute… "What about me?" Roman asked. "Shouldn't I lead the group?"

Uncle Rodney shook his head. "I think we'll let your boyfriend handle this with Jey for now."

Leakee placed his hand on Roman's shoulder. "I'll teach you more, Roman."

Reluctantly once more, he agreed. Inside he was torn that he could be easily be dismissed like that. He watched Jey sit down Dean, discussing near the lounge chair.

Leakee called for him and he followed behind his ancestor slowly.


Roman enjoyed the sound of crickets as he sat on the porch with the hot apple cider he had made on the side table while Dean was upstairs showering.

He hated feeling like this.

When he had tried to help out with the planning, Dean - perhaps unknowingly - had turned his suggestions down, picking Tama's suggestion over his. Jey was no better insisting that Dean and him "got this".

"Nice night, isn't it?"

Hunter appeared before him with a broad smile dressed in a dark grey suit and blue tie.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Roman growled, standing up.

"I wouldn't beat me up if I were you. I'd thank me instead."

"Why should I be thanking you? For trying to destroy Lakeview? For trying to tear Dean and me apart?"

"Aaah yes. Dean. Of course we have to talk about Dean. Loyal boyfriend you have there, Roman. It was Leakee who led the army against me. Jon was merely by his side… his sidekick. Kind of funny how things have turned out, huh? You're not even Dean's sidekick. You're just the muscle of the group, the enforcer."

"What the hell do you want, Hunter? Aside from my blood."

"You." Hunter stood in front of him face to face. "All your life, you've played second fiddle to Dean. Admit it. Even though it's the Samoans against us, it's apparently all about Dean. No one talks about your quiet strength and your incredible athleticism. What happened today is just the start. But what if all those things can be changed? What if I can change it, Roman? You'll have everything: the admiration, respect… not being second place to Dean. You'll have people building monuments in your honor. I am offering you a chance to join us, to embrace your true destiny which is holding this damn place in the palm of your hands."

Roman stared at him.

"You have dug and scratched and clawed to save your family and Dean. And you have met with wall after wall after wall. And for what? To have your so called soulmate try to take your place? Get the recognition that is meant for you? I can make those walls go away, Roman. Join me. Choose Tom; be our man. Take down your family and I will make you the king of this place."

A/N It's all about the game and how you play it...