Mox is a huge part of our lives, we all love him and wish the best for him. He's going to get through this, and he's going to come back better and stronger. So we just have to keep supporting him. And sending the best vibes and wishes towards him.
They were in a small local restaurant. The language was the same as the symbols on the map and Roman didn't understand anything.
"Back to learning how to ask for food in another language." Roman sighed.
"Next time we will go to Samoa so you can stop complaining about not knowing the local languages." Finn grinned.
Roman just rolled his eyes. The waitress arrived and batted her eyelashes at the Samoan. She was a very pretty girl with big eyes, black hair adorned with flowers and a deep neckline in her blouse.
Roman looked at her and smirked. "I don't care about the language. I like people in this place."
It was obvious that she did not understand anything, so she went to a man who was also serving and pointed towards the table of the guys.
The young man approached them. "How can I help you?"
"You're American." Roman smiled surprised. "You don't have the local accent."
And Finn noticed that for how flirtatious Roman was with almost everything that breathed, now he was genuinely smiling at this man. Who instead seemed in awe of seeing the Samoan. Perhaps being American he had recognized him.
"I can't believe it." The young man actually sat at the table next to them, took out his cell phone and started texting. "But I guess you're going to explain it to me right now. Since he..." he pointed at Finn. "came here to see me."
Finn received a notification on the phone from him. The Irishman read the message and looked at the boy in question.
"Mustafa Ali?" Finn was surprised.
Shortly after they were in the basement of that restaurant. Which, for a rustic place, was quite well equipped.
The place had several computers distributed in different cubicles, filing cabinets with varied documentation. The boy led them to one of the cubicles.
"I'm going to ask the obvious." Mustafa looked Roman from head to toe. "How is he alive? Are those contact lenses?"
"Look, that's a complicated explanation." Finn didn't want to, nor could he go into the details of how this situation had come about. "But now that you know we have a super soldier..."
"The most powerful of the three that still exist." Roman reminded him.
"Of course." Finn almost rolled his eyes. "Now that you know we have a super soldier on our team, we may have more cards in our deck."
"Maybe." Mustafa showed several files on the computer. Finn and Roman watched closely.
"Drew McIntyre is partnering with the leader of this island to build weaponry from an alloy of metals that occur naturally here." Mustafa explained. "I hacked a few files. It's just blueprints, with very brief explanations. For obvious reasons, Drew is not going to send complete information so that technology can be stolen."
"Drew is in the oil business." Roman was confused. "How does he have the resources and knowledge to make this kind of weaponry?"
"Unless Seth is into this." Finn closed his eyes increasingly frustrated by Seth's actions. "There's no way this is Drew's doing alone."
"Well, there is no trace of Seth in any of these negotiations, but perhaps Drew is covering it up so as not to damage his reputation in America." Mustafa explained. "In any case, the complete project is supposed to be presented at a meeting tonight, so we will have to infiltrate."
"Or invade that meeting." Roman said confidently.
"I like your style." Mustafa smiled at Roman. "But I think we should be subtle."
"Subtlety is not one of his qualities." Finn said pointing to Roman
"Don't be fooled." Roman told Mustafa, "I have many other qualities to make up for my lack of subtlety."
Mustafa genuinely giggled. He was going to say something, but someone outside was yelling, words Roman didn't understand. Mustafa excused himself and went to talk to whoever was calling him.
Finn whispered to his friend. "You could pay attention to these blueprints instead of his butt."
"His butt is the most interesting thing I've seen so far." Roman defended himself. "Besides, can you just chill? You talk like you were my father."
"This is important, and you are diverting your attention." Finn complained. "Besides, I find it unbelievable that you walk around trying to get under everyone's clothes, but you refuse to…"
"Not again." Roman didn't even let him finish. "You have spent a year repeating the story of the great love between the Roman you knew and the other super soldier. And I don't know what part of my lack of interest in all that is not clear to you. You live clinging to the memory of someone who besides being a villain, sleeps with the guy we came to fight. And you want me to also hold onto the memory of someone I don't even remember. Maybe the only one faithful to a memory here is you and this Dean guy has one or more lovers and he's enjoying his life like I try to do, like you should. If Dean did that, I wouldn't blame him, after all, his fucking boyfriend is dead."
"Why do you talk like you and Roman are different people?" Finn put away what he was doing and was now staring at the Samoan. He was already fed up with his attitude and if they were going to do this, better resolve their conflicts now and not drag them further.
"Because we are. You wanted to bring back the Roman you knew, to make him live his shitty life again. But, surprise! Things didn't turn out as planned and who you brought into this world was me. And I don't know, but I feel like that Roman you always talk about isn't me. I don't feel like I'm the guy you describe and I don't want to be that guy. I'm trying to be myself, be my own damn person, and it's not easy because I don't have a damn life to remember, I have nothing Finn. I have a damn identity crisis, and added to all that, you are trying to impose the memories and the life of the dead super soldier on me."
Roman was not only angry but also frustrated. And he was saying what he evidently had bottled for a year.
"You're doing the same thing that Randy Orton did to the Roman you knew. Trying to turn him into a puppet that fitted what they wanted. Don't you like the way I am? I'm so sorry, I'm not going to become another person to make you feel that you weren't wrong to bring me back from the dead. After all, I didn't ask you to do it."
Finn was speechless, and he couldn't really refute Roman's words. He had never put himself in the shoes of the Samoan. Living a life without identity, without memories, and without the right to have his own personality because Finn tried to impose the life of the Roman that died in Utopia. This whole situation was getting out of hand and this was the worst time for this to happen.
They both fell silent and it was Roman who heard Mustafa's footsteps returning to the basement. The Samoan took a breath and smirked as the door opened. It was obvious that Roman was ending this discussion, there was no point in continuing with it. Roman had already won and Finn knew it. They had to continue with the plan.
"We must enter the palace, and this is the night for it. My colleages are working on that so we have to wait. Today the national holidays are celebrated. Everything becomes chaotic and we must take advantage of that." Mustafa continued with his explanation. "We will enter in when they organize the fight club. I don't see any other possible way."
"Fight Club?" Roman raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"This place is amazing. Love it!" Becky looked at the decorations on the streets, like a child arriving at Disneyland for the first time.
"Do you think someone here speaks our language?" Tony asked. "I don't know how we're going to get back to the hotel if we get lost. That must be why Chris told us not to go out until after the show."
"Becky is right." Mox nodded. "The whole city is throwing a huge party and you want us to stay locked up. I don't think you just came to spoil the fun..."
"I'm the league's official doctor. When this league swims in dirty and corrupt money from the murderous millionaires. I suppose this will turn into profitable work." Tony explained. "But I think you know very well, why I'm actually here."
Mox sighed. He had to aknowledge Tony's perseverance.
"Hey Mox! You more than anyone, must have a lot of fun on this trip." Becky said happily. "Even if it's just for tonight, on the other side of the world. After this trip, maybe everything will go to shit."
"What do you mean with that?" Tony didn't understand.
Mox gave Becky a scowl look. After this trip, Mox had planned to return to America and go for Seth Rollins, something that could end very badly for him. But Tony didn't have to know any of that, and to avoid the questions that the young doctor would start to ask, Mox decided to smile and took Tony's hand, mingling with the crowd to enjoy the celebration.
"Those prototypes will be disassembled on the first try." Akira was showing his boss some blueprints.
"That's the idea. I just need Drew to come with those metals, and we will work to put them to the correct use." Seth was looking at the designs. "The jerk thinks he's fooled me."
"Boss, if something goes wrong, if they find out that the prototypes aren't functional and the shipment doesn't happen, the whole plan will fall apart." Akira insisted. "Perhaps you should have made that negotiation personally, or through someone you absolutely trust."
"There is no one I absolutely trust." Seth smirked at Akira. "And why risk my reputation going there? if I can get Drew to do that dirty work for me."
"It's always good to have a plan B." Akira shrugged.
"This is my plan B, since plan A" Seth stared impassively at the wheelchair where AJ was, "Doesn't want to open his damn mouth."
"When Drew realizes what you're doing, he's going to get so furious, he's going to expose you." AJ said disinterestedly.
"To the masses, Drew is the next Randy Orton, a bloody capitalist villain, his word is worthless. Instead, I am the hero and savior of Utopia." Seth pointed to himself. "This nation adores me, I speak and they follow me like little lambs. I am their leader, their messiah. I will never be exposed. Because even in presenting evidence, my followers will refuse to believe it."
"For all that garbage you talk, it's obvious that you do care about your image and you think it can be tarnished. That's why you don't go there, so no one will associate you with that people." AJ said knowingly. "What is your purpose? World domination?"
"My only purpose is and always will be justice, AJ." Seth sentenced.
"More like your version of it." AJ seemed to be the only one to pierce the hard shell Seth had tried to build "Your justice only benefits yourself."
"My justice benefits everyone. That is why I ended Randy Orton and his abominations. Yes, I know that you and Dean loved one of them, but, that did not change their nature. They were too powerful, I could not allow them to exist and they were getting out of control. I'll take care that no one else can ever be a threat."
"You will become the most powerful man, a megalomaniac." AJ scoffed. "To have everyone under your rule and that no one can defeat you."
"And when I get it, I'm not going to care about the fucking formula in your head." Seth smirked at AJ. "I will finally send you in search of your beloved Roman. Although as happened a year ago, it will not last long because, when I have all the power I need, I will deal with the only threat that could destroy me."
"Dean…" AJ clenched his fists.
"When I send him to the other world, he will take Roman away from you, there too."
Seth began to laugh out loud, his trademark nasal laugh.
AJ was staring at Akira, the other scientist couldn't hold his gaze, he just diverted his gaze and continued checking the blueprints.
"Omg! These people are so beautiful. I love how they dance. It's like a choreography, the songs sound super rhythmic, let's try to dance like them!" Becky said happy.
One of the girls made a gesture to her and she was trying to imitate the dance.
"A monkey dances more graceful than her. But she looks so happy." Mox laughed.
"This place is a fucking prison for these people, but they try to be happy with what little they can. It's beautiful and sad at the same time." Tony nodded. "But if I can say something good about this island, it is that you look relaxed. Maybe we should try dancing and enjoying ourselves like Becky does. We can't do worse than her."
"Maybe you are right." Mox was finally smiling at Tony.
Maybe I can leave you a good memory of me before going back to America and not seeing eachother again.
And Tony gave him a little kiss and took his hands. The improvised orchestra was playing a song that no one understood, but it was very catchy and they tried to imitate the way people danced.
The young doctor was in heaven. Finally, he could see something different from the heartless guy he had met in the league, it was as if inside Mox there was another person, someone different trying to flourish. Someone Mox kept hidden.
People were pressed against each other, the streets were very crowded. People were singing in the local language. One of the servers at a local restaurant passed by delivering drinks and Tony wandered off from Mox to buy some drinks.
Before returning to Mox, Tony bumped into someone and the drinks spilled.
"I am so sorry." The young man apologized. "But don't worry. I work here too, I'll tell the boys to give you two more, my treat."
"No problem." Tony nodded.
The man gave the indication to the waitress and the girl went to attend to Tony. Mox moved closer.
"This place is crazy, man." Mox said receiving his drink.
There were more and more people, that's when Mox looked towards the entrance of the restaurant. There was the boy who bumped into Tony, showing something on his cell phone to another man. This other guy was tall, he had a piece of fabric, like a scarf, covering his mouth and nose, but his hair, his hair was black, shiny and very long, it was tied in a high ponytail.
That guy reminded him too much of...
"What the hell?" Mox muttered.
Mox noticed that man had blue eyes. Roman obviously hadn't. But everything else, that guy was so freaking similar to Roman.
"Come on Mox, we must keep dancing." Tony gently pulled his face, forcing him to look at him.
More people came between them and the guy was much further away now.
Mox just shook his head, this was absurd. He was about to turn his attention back to Tony, and that's when a kid pulled the fabric covering that guy's face.
Mox's glass fell to the ground.
More people crossed between Tony and Mox, Becky was getting closer and she noticed Mox's expression, the redhead was startled to see her friend's mood. The supersoldier began to push his way through the crowd, without Tony being able to do anything. Mox was trying to reach the man whose face had just been revealed. Becky was trying to go after Mox, amid the chaos and people, and a clueless Tony.
"These are clandestine fights, with a lot of blood, objects that hurt in horrible ways. No wonder why this evil millionaires love to watch this." Mustafa showed Roman footages of those fights on his cell phone.
The night was falling.
Both were in the streets of that place, watching how the locals prepared parades and adorned the sidewalks, in the only celebration that was allowed for them to enjoy. Finn was still in the basement of the restaurant reviewing the documents, they had to wait for Mustafa's colleagues who were investigating as well.
Roman had half of his face covered with a fabric. If Mustafa had already recognized him, perhaps someone else might do it. Only then, he dare to leave, and also because of Mustafa's insistence.
"Finn told me that I had fan, that was also his contact in this place." Roman stared at the other guy.
"You caught me. In fact, I also come from Utopia." Mustafa explained. "I have lived there for as long as I can remember and I liked the MMA league, it was not the most fair, but many of you were really good athletes. Well, you were my favorite."
"It's good to know that someone who knows my past, still likes me."
"If everyone knew that you were actually manipulated, if they knew that it was you who actually saved them. There would be many people like me."
"I don't think there are others like you." And boy, Roman gaze was piercing.
And for a moment, Mustafa was speechless. Roman just chuckled.
But the moment was interrupted by a kid pulling the fabric from Roman's face.
Roman just smiled at the boy and took the fabric back.
They both stepped away from the ruckus, to avoid more such incidents. Now they were sitting, facing each other, under a tree by the side of a road.
"Why come from Utopia to here?" Roman asked.
Mustafa smiled a little sadly and sighed. "I... actually, I was born here."
"Did you run away before they took this place?"
"I am the last son of the King who was murdered 20 years ago, the royal guard managed to get me out of the palace before the massacre and they sent me away. I was 6 years old at the time and although at that age I should already remember what happened, I don't remember anything." Mustafa seemed troubled by this situation.
And boy did Roman understand that feeling. The Samoan genuinely smiled at the boy.
"But, even if I don't remember anything, I know that I belong here. That this place is my past and my origin. Even if I had to relearn the language. Even if I don't fully know their customs, I belong here. I have to help someway. In the end we cannot disappear what we are."
Mustafa realized that he was talking too much. "I'm sorry…"
Roman took him by the hands. "I actually, understand how you feel."
Mustafa looked at him puzzled.
"After what happened in Utopia... I lost my memory... completely." Well, that wasn't how it happened, but Roman wasn't going to tell this boy that he was dead… that so many times he felt that he still was.
"That doesn't change who you are." Mustafa tightened his grip on his hands.
"I'm still trying to figure out who or what I am."
"You know... I was also obsessed with the past that I didn't remember, until I stopped." Mustafa smiled at him. "You have a whole life ahead of you and we are going to prove your innocence. When you can be free, you can choose the life you want, be who you want to be. Perhaps it's best to leave behind who you were, and focus yourself in who you are now."
And boy, did Roman like this guy. Something that hadn't happened in the only year of life that he remembered.
"Seemed like I was a perfect angel, doing good deeds, full of love and compassion. Difficult to top that on people's minds."
"After what you did, you have nothing to prove to anyone." Mustafa was watching at Roman intently. "I didn't have the chance to met the other you... but I really really like this one so far, if that works for you."
"Tell me if I'm misinterpreting the signals..." Roman warned. "Maybe this is not the best time."
"We could die on this mission." Mustafa nodded. "This is the only time we have."
They both brought their faces closer and kissed. It was soft at first, but increasing his passion. Ali just got carried away and soon they were both passionately kissing under the tree.
So caught up in this new feeling were they that they didn't feel someone approaching them. Until he was right next to them.
Roman and Ali parted and saw the face of horror and surprise of the one who interrupted them.
"You are alive!"