"This thing is so weird. Now that I think about it, it doesn't look like a watch." Kofi studied the device carefully.
"It is, it just measures time differently." Roman indicated.
"And what is it for?" Seth also looked at the device carefully. "It may be a watch, but it doesn't look like a normal one."
They were in the kitchen of the house shared by the four men. Roman learned then that the house belonged to Big E's parents, who passed away a few years ago. The young man rented rooms to his friends to help himself financially.
Kofi and Seth seemed to be the nerds of the group. They all seemed to be big fans of 90s pop culture though, from the decor in the house.
Seth and Kofi were examining the device, and for a moment these guys reminded Roman of Sami, always looking for a way to repair or create things.
Suddenly the watch glowed with an intense bluish light and began to spin rapidly on the table where it was held.
Kofi jumped away from the table, but Seth was totally mesmerized watching the little device spinning.
Roman pulled Seth against his body, to keep the light from touching him.
The light did not last long and the watch stopped.
"You're going to explain what that is, because from the way you're holding Seth, it looks like those lights scared you." Xavier asked Roman.
The raven haired man realized then, that he had Seth pressed against his body. The boy blushed.
Roman sighed. These guys weren't going to believe him anyway, so why tell the truth? However, lying was also a dangerous option because he needed to fix the watch, and these guys were his only option. A year was too long to wait.
On the other hand, one might think: what if one of them is The Chosen One? But Roman dismissed that thought since three of them were people of color and that minority no longer existed in his time. At least not in this part of the world.
And for some reason, Roman trusted the other boy. It was just a feeling but, to Roman, Seth was absolutely harmless.
It was then that he realized that he was still holding Seth against his body. The raven-haired man released the younger man and took the watch from him. He put it on his wrist.
"This is the technology from the future, my friend Sami will design it in 31 years."
Seth and the others blinked incessantly.
"He created it for me to go back 30 years and kill a very bad guy who will appear in this city in a year." Roman followed his explanation, knowing those guys weren't going to believe anything.
Big E, Kofi, and Xavier laughed. Roman knew this would happen. However, Seth didn't laugh, the boy nodded in complete seriousness.
"That's why you said you arrived a year earlier than expected." Seth was thoughtful. "You were supposed to arrive next year."
Roman nodded. Maybe that's why he trusted that boy, he seemed to be the only one who believed him.
"Are you talking seriously?" Xavier looked at Seth carefully. "Do you believe him?"
"Explain to me then, what that watch is?" Seth said softly.
"Can be anything." Big E scoffed.
Roman pursed his lips. There was another way to show that he wasn't lying. He pulled a small gun from one of his pants pockets.
The boys looked at it absorbed, that thing looked like a toy, it was very small. However, it was still a weapon, a very rare one.
Roman knew that he could not use all the ammunition since that was the weapon with which he had to fulfill his mission.
"What the hell is that?" Kofi said curiously.
Roman pointed the gun at Kofi.
"Wait, we believe you, okay, put that thing down." Xavier insisted.
Roman smirked. "This is also technology from the future."
Roman fired the gun and the boys screamed. To everyone's surprise, the weapon made no sound.
Kofi was shaking. But he was unhurt.
"I didn't shoot you." Roman was pointing up.
"Are you crazy!" Big E approached Roman in a threatening manner but was stopped by Seth.
"Look where his gun is pointing." Seth pointed.
There was a small hole, perfectly made. A clean hole that cut the ceiling lamp through the floor and even the ceiling of the upper floor.
They could see the moonlight filtering through.
"I hope it doesn't rain". Roman said putting his gun in his pocket.
"But that little thing looks like a toy." Big E was in awe.
"That little thing's bullet pierced everything cleanly, what kind of weapon is that?" Kofi was also looking at the hole.
"Wow!" Xavier said excitedly. "Maybe he's telling the truth."
"I want to check that thing". Kofi looked at the watch. "You have an idea how we can fix it?"
"A little." Roman admitted. "I am a soldier, my friend Sami is a scientist, he was the one who created this device."
"A soldier." Seth looked at Roman closely. He was wearing a vest, pants, and boots. "That explains your clothes, but if you arrived a year earlier, that means you have to stay here the whole time. You can't walk outside wearing that."
"Also, if you're from the future, you don't exist in the system. Do you have any ID?" Xavier asked.
Roman showed a small barcode on his untattooed wrist.
Everyone was shocked.
"Do you have money from your time?" Big E wanted to know.
Roman blinked several times. "Money?"
Roman spent the rest of the night answering questions from the most absurd to the most mundane. As well as telling about the horrible future that awaited them if he didn't kill that guy.
"Did you never see us hanging around there?" Kofi asked. "In 31 years we should still be alive."
Well, this was hard to explain, specially to Seth's friends. Roman couldn't reveal the whole truth to them, it was too sad and cruel. He was going to give them the edited explanation. "There is no much middle aged people in my time, just him and his associates, and even them, they're younger than you'll be in 31 years. The most of people this time were killed by that guy."
"How old are you?" Xavier asked.
"Twenty-five." Roman whispered.
There was a moment of silence.
"Then you must fulfill your mission." It was Big E who spoke. "I want to live a long life."
At midnight, the raven haired man showered and had to wear Big E's clothes while Seth put Roman's clothes in a washing machine.
"Why don't we have a visitor sofa?" Seth complained.
"Because nobody ever visits us." Big E replied. "Well, just your mom and that bastard, but neither of them are welcomed here."
Roman narrowed his eyes at that and Xavier noticed.
"You'll meet the bastard soon. Seth always lets him in, even though he knows he should kick him out." Xavier explained.
Obviously, Seth was embarrassed. Roman noticed it, and maybe because the boy was the only one who believed him 100%, he felt a lot of empathy for him.
"I will sleep on the floor, I am a soldier, I can sleep anywhere." Roman shrugged.
All three boys noticed the way Seth was looking at Roman.
"No, Roman" Kofi smiled. "You will sleep with Sethie."
"What?" Seth almost screamed.
"He will sleep in your room, we will make him a comfortable bed with those horrible quilts that E inherited from his mother." Kofi explained. "You know that I share my room with Xavier and E is the owner of this house, so he has a room just for him. And besides, your mom pays for the biggest room in this house for you, so you're the only one who has space for another person."
"Hey, that guy has a weapon that could disintegrate us. Are we going to let him stay here?" Xavier asked.
"If this guy wanted to kill us, he would have done it by now." Kofi almost rolled his eyes. "In fact, he's trusting us even though he's the one who has the most to lose here."
Big E and Seth nodded.
Kofi almost pushed Roman and Seth into the room, handing them everything they needed to sleep and leaving them alone. Seth knew what his roommates were doing and he felt very sad. He understood their concern and felt bad for dragging Roman into his personal problems.
"I really appreciate your help." Roman interrupted Seth's mental tirade. "I know it's stupid to believe what I have told you and I also know that the only one who believes me 100% is you."
Seth looked at him empathetically.
"But you look annoyed, if my presence bothers you I can go to the living room." Roman suggested.
"No!" Seth replied. "Excuse me, I didn't want to give you that impression. Can I ask you something?"
Roman smiled at him, he liked Seth. He hadn't felt genuine empathy for someone so quickly since he met... Dean.
"Sure, ask whatever you want." Roman sat down on the comforters.
"Why do you want to kill that guy?" Seth sat up on the bed. "I understand the story you told us. What you and your people have suffered is horrible, but... there is something else, right?"
"You are quite intuitive." Roman lay down and covered himself with a blanket. "That guy killed my boyfriend... in front of me."
Seth was speechless. The room was profoundly silent for several minutes. Seth mimicked Roman covering himself with a blanket. They looked at each other, barely lit by the light from the bedside lamp.
"You're doing all this that you didn't even know if it would work... for love..." Seth was finally able to speak.
"Yeah..." Roman admitted.
"Wow." Seth smiled sadly at him. "I don't condone murdering others, but... I don't blame you."
"Thanks." Roman whispered. "Even if I can't go back to my time, I'm going to fulfill my mission, maybe I will get Dean to have a happy life. One in which I am not with him, but he will stay alive in a future, without a dictator to make his life miserable."
A tear rolled down Seth's cheek, that was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. Roman was genuine and he was a good man. If only all men were like him... That Dean guy was lucky.
Roman noticed that Seth was really sad for him. Now he liked Seth even more.
"You will achieve it and you will go back to the future. You will find your Dean again and you will both be happy." Seth said confidently.
"How can you be so sure, when even I am not?" Roman asked.
"Because no one who makes such a great sacrifice for love can fail." Seth yawned adorably.
Roman smiled at him with genuine empathy and Seth returned the gesture.
"Sweet dreams, Seth. I am very happy I met you." Roman muttered.
"I'm happy too. Sweet dreams for you too, Roman."