"This is the only place where nobody asked for my id or any other document." Roman shrugged, while he had a hot drink that Seth had brought him. "And they pay me as soon as my shift is over. That's why I keep coming back."
It was still night, Seth was looking around, it was the seaport. Roman was lifting boxes with fish and other shellfish from large containers, to deliver to the local market and restaurants. It was quite heavy work, almost no time to rest, the night was so cold.
Seth couldn't imagine doing something like this.
"Go home, Seth, it's too cold in here." Roman smiled at the younger man. "Besides, I have to come back now, I don't want to be fired on my third day at work."
"You came back very late at night." Seth said quietly. "You were so tired and you woke up a few hours later to come here. You have hardly slept."
"Don't worry, I already told you that my life was always like this. This is nothing compared to how I had to go through my teens, so I'll be fine. Go home Seth." Roman insisted.
Roman worked a couple more hours, just when the sun appeared, he got paid. At least it was decent pay that would help defray the expenses he and Seth now had. He walked just a bit and saw Seth's car parked outside the harbor.
Roman walked to the vehicle and there was Seth, asleep, covered with a blanket.
The Samoan just sighed. Seth had stayed there, waiting for him. The boy had done this every day since Roman started doing miscellaneous jobs.
Roman knocked the glass of the window. "Hey, sleeping beauty."
Seth woke up and shortly after they were both on their way to E's house.
"I got more fish for lunch." Roman said drowsily.
"We are going to develop scales at this rate." Seth joked.
And he noticed that Roman was asleep.
"Listen Seth, I'm not asking you for the rent." E was trying to reassure his friend. "So focus at least on finishing this period in college. Fortunately, your mom had paid that in advance. And Roman is getting money for both of your expenses. I think you will be fine."
"But I have to help Roman. Just look at how he's doing." Seth sighed watching the Samoan sleep soundly. "He doesn't want me to neglect my studies either."
"It's the best you can do for now. Also, Roman looks pretty strong. He's going to put up with all of this." Xavier tried to be optimistic. "I would have given all my savings to see your mom's face and the gold digger's when you turned them down. That was a big step."
"I couldn't bear to see Roman being treated so ill." Seth's gaze reflected true anger as he remembered that incident.
"Because you love Roman." Xavier said innocently.
"Because I love Roman… no what?" Seth looked accusingly at Xavier.
The boys began to laugh softly so as not to wake Roman.
"We already told you that we like Roman. Besides, he is big and strong as you like them." Kofi scoffed. "I don't see why you couldn't be together."
"They're almost together," E nodded. "They live together, they sleep together, and everyone thinks he's your boyfriend. Only an idiot wouldn't notice that the guy is crazy about you."
"What are you talking about?" And when asking this Seth looked genuinely puzzled.
"Haven't you noticed?" E said incredulously, until he realized that Seth hadn't really noticed anything.
"You are confusing everything." Seth couldn't tell his friends about Dean, that was something Roman had confided only to him. "Seriously, Roman is just a nice guy. He feels nothing for me, beyond gratitude and maybe affection."
"You're both blind." Kofi pursed his lips. "Roman follows you everywhere, like a loyal puppy. He fights to keep you safe, he's enslaving himself in various jobs to try to prevent you from suffering, because of the change that your life has been giving since your mother took away the financial support. And God! the way he looks at you when he thinks no one notices."
"I was just going to mention that last one." E nodded. "Roman looks at you as if you are the reason for his existence, something that rivals only how you look at him, as if he is your hero."
Xavier started laughing. "I can't believe how clueless you've been. Neither of you has noticed your own feelings."
"You are seriously confusing everything." Seth insisted.
"Yep, you are both totally clueless." Xavier explained to the others. "Very weird, but it's kind of cute if you ask me. Well guys, let's leave them alone, if they are both falling in love, let it be at their own pace. The important thing is that Drew begins to fade in our Captain's heart."
"I agree." Kofi nodded. "Now take good care of your man, it's our turn to go out to work."
"At least, this is not an unrequited feeling." E whispered to Seth. "Roman feels the same."
The boys got out and Seth now shifted his gaze to the sleeping man in his bed.
No, the boys were confused, they didn't know about Dean.
Seth closed his eyes remembering the moments lived with Roman in the garden of the mansion, the way he looked at him, how he made him feel the caress on his face, how for a moment, he thought that maybe Roman was going to...
Seth shook his head, he couldn't let his mind go that way. Besides, they really hadn't known each other that long, so why did he feel such a deep connection to Roman? Still, something told him that Roman felt the same way.
But it was just gratitude from both of them. A genuine affection for someone who was having a hard time and needed support and faith in himself. It could not be anything else.
It was then that Seth noticed that he was stroking the Samoan's black hair. He immediately removed his hand.
Seth stood up and closed his eyes trying to calm himself. He left the room.
"It is a very huge investment." Jane was reviewing the documentation.
"But it's an amazing opportunity. I've been researching the market you're targeting." Drew looked at Dolph who was preparing the presentation.
"Your fortune has been established in real estate. And it is a good line of business, but technology is the future." Dolph sounded sure of himself. "Even Seth is studying Mechanical Engineering. It would be a good way to leave a legacy that your own blood can manage. I don't think Seth is going to continue the real estate business."
"In addition, we also have Dolph, this is his field of expertise." Drew indicated.
"But it's not mine at all." Jane kept looking at the documents. "And I don't like doing business that I don't understand well."
"That's why, I insist that we should consult Seth. He can validate this. Or an independent firm if you wish." Dolph began the presentation. "Still, it's good for you to watch the proposal, as your doubts will be cleared. And then you can validate the project with whoever you want."
"Seth would be fine by me. I will convince him to do the right thing, what he must do to continue our family's legacy." Jane nodded. "Show me the project."
"Although I was there, watching how Sami assembled this watch, step by step, listening to every explanation about it. I can't figure out how to fix it." Roman stared at his watch, feeling frustration invading every pore of his being. He had been there for four hours and had no idea what to do. "Dean could have solve this. He was so smart and besides, he was able to get an education. I barely learned how to read."
Roman put his forehead on the table. "That bastard was always right, I am nothing but muscles, the only way I can solve my problems is by fighting battles. I am a bloody failure... Who should have died that night, it was me."
"But what are you saying!"
Seth's voice made him look up. "I thought you were in college."
"It is 7 o'clock." Seth pointed.
"Oh, my God!" Roman stood up, putting his watch back on. "I must go to the bar. I can't believe I lost track of time."
Roman almost ran out of the house and had barely taken a few steps to the sidewalk
"No, wait!" Seth stopped Roman. "You barely rested today. Yesterday you worked all afternoon until night carrying those heavy boxes. And you only came to eat to go back out to carry more things. Plus…"
"We already talked about this and seriously, it's really nice that you care about me." Roman smiled at him. "But like I told you, you shouldn't do it. Here it is beautiful compared to how my life was and…"
"Plus... I don't want to pretend I didn't hear you say what you said." Seth shook his head. "If you had died, you would not be here with me."
And with that said the boy hugged Roman tightly, the Samoan calmed down a bit. Hugging Seth back. The cold of winter was feeling stronger, the body heat of both was comforting.
Roman was conflicted. He hadn't known Seth for long and even thought, he could no longer conceive a life where Seth wasn't part of. But all this had happened because of a horrible disgrace and a lot of bad luck in his time travel.
"Sorry." Roman tightened the hug even more. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"Besides, don't say such things. In fact, I want to help you. I was thinking maybe you could go to college with me tomorrow. I want to check that watch in the lab." Seth sighed and put his face on Roman's chest. "You know, Roman? There is nothing wrong with being a soldier, there is nothing wrong with not being able to repair that watch. You are not stupid or useless for that. You were always at a disadvantage, you still are. But if my education is of any use, I am going to help you repair that device."
"Thanks." Roman smiled at Seth.
Seth looked up and just like in the garden of the mansion, time stopped. They were both mesmerized by each other's gaze. The words of his friends repeated in Seth's mind.
Roman looks at you as if you are the reason for his existence, something that only rivals how you look at him, as if he is your hero…
"Because you are my hero."
"I don't know what kind of hero I am. I've trying to help you, but I have only complicated your life." Roman sighed. "But I swear I'm going to keep trying. There's no way I'm giving up on you."
Seth's face was very red when he realized that he had thought that out loud, and even more so at Roman's words.
"Then there's no doubt that you will be able to help me. I trust you so much that I could put my life as a guarantee that you will be successful."
Roman closed his eyes. It felt so good holding Seth like this. And maybe it was because he felt so lonely, because he had become fond of this boy... Or because, even though he didn't want to admit it, he was attracted to him.
And this was the worst part, Roman knew well that his closeness to Seth was a double-edged sword. That he should focus on what he really came to this city for, but… things always ended up like this, and he could no longer pretend that nothing was happening between them.
He had to keep Seth as what he was, a friend. And this… the constant contact, the unnecessary closeness, everything was out of control and yet he couldn't stop it. His body, his mind, everything worked automatically when he was around Seth.
Roman felt guilty, he was here to make sure he got the person he loved back.
So, why wasn't he able to let go of Seth?
He looked the younger boy in the eye, they were two sparkling gems, full of trust, admiration and deep affection.
He couldn't get away from Seth, didn't want to get away from him. He wasn't going to do it. Roman just had to keep everything under control. Do not deviate from his mission, do not confuse things. They were going to be fine.
"If you have faith in me, then we are going to make it." Roman just smiled, he was going to keep everything under control. "Everything is going to be fine for both of us."
"It's what I want the most."
"You said you didn't think Seth had a thing for that Roman guy, but just look at them." Dolph was pointing to the two boys hugging each other on the sidewalk in front of E's house.
Drew grunted, he was in his car, spying on Seth. The boy had given no sign of life or that he wanted to speak to Jane. And now he found him like this.
"Only a blind man would not see how in love they both are." Dolph continued his tirade. "It seems you lost one of your victims."
"Seth is not one of my victims. Seth is mine, we're destined. But I still need Jane to complete my plans. When everything is ready, Jane will cease to be an obstacle." Drew clenched his fists.
"Well, the obstacle now, is that guy." Dolph pointed at Roman. "If Seth stops loving you, as he obviously will, Jane will be your only available card in this deck."
"That's not going to happen." Drew was very angry. "We are going to find out everything about Roman Reigns. There's something weird about this guy, and I'm going to find out what it is and we'll get rid of him. That homeless bastard is not going to destroy what I have built with so much work."
"Well, you will have to do something drastic, then." Dolph kept looking at the boys. "Because Seth is definitely crazy about him."