Several days later ...
"The wrestling champion was found dead in an abyss on the outskirts of Utopia, wounded as if they had tried to skin him." Seth looked at the files.
"They obviously need big, strong men." Dean looked at the photos of the deceased men.
"Who does this and why?" Seth didn't understand.
"Well, there seems to be a bigger problem than the D-Xs." Dean sentenced.
"No problem is bigger than the D-Xs." Seth corrected.
Dean didn't want to argue with Seth, so he stood up and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?" Seth was surprised.
"I'm going to one of the Utopia MMA League shows." Dean said like nothing.
"You have never been there before." Seth was curious. "Why now?"
Because of Roman Reigns...
Dean couldn't say that. "I want to distract myself a bit."
Seth looked at him incredulously, as if he expected Dean to confess the truth. At that moment the auburn haired man realized that this was what Seth always did, he just looked at him and he ended up saying everything. He didn't like keeping secrets from who he considered his brother.
And Seth saw with surprise how this time, Dean just smiled and left without giving more details.
The place was huge. Dean was almost on time because Roman's fight was the first. The auburn-haired man stared at the octagon in amazement. Roman was already there, wearing nothing but black boxer shorts. Dean let his eyes roam the other man's body, reveling in the thick, tanned skin and those huge arms. Until he ended up in his handsome face and long shiny hair that was tied up in a high bun.
Only a blind man would not realize that Roman was gorgeous.
The match began and Dean watched almost mesmerized as Roman moved with a grace and agility inappropriate for his size. It was like seeing a huge panther attacking his prey.
Roman was the representation of tall, dark and handsome. Besides having that pride that made him look exotic. Dean thought that if such a strong and agile man had the advantages that he and Seth had, he would be indestructible. However, Roman had an idealistic spirit, he just wanted to help others.
Roman would be the perfect hero.
The fight ended and Roman was the winner. The fighter looked so happy, a beautiful smile adorned his sweaty face. There was something about Roman that called Dean like the moth to the flame, and it wasn't just about his beauty.
The blue-eyed man had never felt anything like this before. He was too focused on justice... or revenge. He satisfied his needs with cheap fucks here and there, nothing serious, no second times. No one even made him think of the idea of a date.
But all that changed that night in the seaport, where Roman's passion for helping others hit him like a derailed train. Where the fighter made him question his whole life, his fight, his motivations and if he was doing the right thing. As that thief said, Roman was the last good man in Utopia, and Dean wanted to know everything about him.
The auburn haired man walked quickly to the backstage. He had to talk to Roman, he had to...
It was then that he saw Triple H. The leader of the D-X was smartly dressed, as if he was not a criminal and murderer. Dean sighed, quickly called his brother.
"Seth, Triple H is here at the mma event."
Seth understood everything. "The main event is getting heavily promoted and there's a lot of money for the stakes. Wait for me at the top of the arena, I'll come get you and we'll catch that bastard."
Dean grunted, his plan to chase Roman would have to be put on hold. However, as he headed for the emergency stairs, he could see the object of his desire talking to a handsome blue eyed man.
And even though, he hardly knew Roman, Dean narrowed his eyes in annoyance at the other man who, from the way he touched Roman, seemed to be close to the fighter.
Dean hid behind the stairs and took his cell phone, typed a few times and the conversation of both men appeared on the screen.
"After the show we can go out, have a drink and repeat our last date." That man said in a honeyed voice.
"AJ, I really like you and you know it, but don't rush anything please." Roman said apologetically.
"It's because I work for Orton, right? That's why you don't trust me to think of anything serious with me."
There was a moment of silence between the two men, it was obvious that AJ had hit the mark.
"I told you I can't help it, no one else funds scientific projects. I know Orton is rubbish and I have no relationship with him except in the scientific field. I'm not like him, Roman. Just give me a chance to prove it. Come with me to another date, no expectations."
AJ's voice was almost pleading. Dean realized that it was obvious that the scientist really liked Roman and wanted something serious with him.
"Okay, but excuse me if I'm still suspicious. If I ever find out that you're lying to me and helping Orton, I would completely walk away from you."
"How to make you trust me enough to open your heart, Roman? I like you so much and I want something real with you." AJ let out a frustrated sigh. "But at least I know you like me, I'll have all the patience in the world with you, it will be worth it."
Dean was unable to keep eavesdroping on the conversation because he received a message from Seth. He had already arrived at the arena and couldn't find Dean.
"I haven't even been able to get close to you and you're already complicating my mission, Roman." Dean left the place.
Seth and Dean were on the roof of the arena. Both in their Hounds of Justice suits. Their vests had a hood, in addition to the mask that covered their nose and mouth.
"We should make a grand entrance in the middle of the crowd." Dean grinned.
Seth rolled his eyes. They located Triple H, he was in the front row, surrounded by a large group of his henchmen. The hounds of justice went separate ways.
"We have waited almost an hour and he doesn't move." Dean said annoyed.
"If he doesn't move, we will attack him wherever he is." Seth answered on his intercom.
"Are you crazy?" Dean complained. "There is a big crowd here and the D-X are murderers. They will kill people if necessary to escape."
"And if we stop Triple H, this will be the last time they'll do something like that." Seth sentenced.
The end justifies the means...
...Does it really justifies them?
It was time to attack. Seth was in the ceiling lights. He dropped a huge luminary that separated the audience from the ring and everyone who was in the same location as Triple H. The crowd began to scream and run desperately. The wrestlers who were still in the ring were stunned.
Both Hounds of Justice were closing in on Triple H. Dean noticed that Seth's eyes were shining, he would finally have revenge against Triple H. Maybe this was a good thing, if Seth destroyed Triple H, he could get on with his life and maybe both of them could be the heroes this city needed.
Instead of the punishers no one asked for.
Triple H smiled and waved his hands, at that signal many men who were at different spots in the arena, heavily armed, pointed their huge weapons at the roof of the place. Triple H was so powerful that he had managed to introduce weapons inside the place, no doubt the leader of the D-X was very well connected.
At that moment the D-X fired, causing a part of the ceiling to fall on a large part of the spectators, very close to where Dean was.
People were screaming in terror, several onlookers were injured and at that moment Dean realized that Roman as always was trying to help people who were crushed under the huge structure. But what could one man do?
In that moment, Dean was questioning whether to go save people or help catch Triple H. This was the moment he had been waiting for, since he was a child, they had Triple H there and now they were not helpless kids. Dean knew that Seth couldn't do it alone even if he wanted to, because of the large number of people surrounding Triple H and running in terror.
And as if lured by fate, Roman was again standing next to him.
"Help them, I can't get them out of there by myself." Roman begged.
Dean was stunned, he couldn't believe what was happening. The D-X fired their weapons and people ran aimlessly. Triple H was running away and Seth couldn't reach him in the middle of all that mess. But there were too many people under the roof of the arena.
Dean nodded and followed Roman. Being much stronger than an ordinary human was advantageous. Dean began to move the structure but despite being very strong, the roof was very heavy so he could only lift it a little. Roman took advantage of that to get the wounded people out. Some of those who were trapped under the structure, but were not injured, stopped to help Roman, others simply ran.
Seth realized that Dean was not helping with the plan. "What are you doing? Come help me or Triple H is going to get away!" he said through the communicator.
"Sorry, I'm not going to do it. I have to help these people." Dean said as he held the roof with all his strenght and saw Roman along with other people helping the injured.
A pregnant woman approached Dean, she smiled at him, pure gratitutde in her eyes. "Thank you, thank you so much."
And watching her leaving this place safe and alive, Dean had the feeling of being a hero and helping others. This gave him true happiness, he had done something good and although this was going to bring him a lot of problems with Seth, at this moment he could only think of this new feeling. This was what he really wanted, he wanted to help others.
Seth always said these abilities were a curse. But maybe, he could transform the curse in a blessing in disguise.
Then, Dean understood why he was so attracted to Roman. The mma fighter was everything Dean had always wanted to be and despite being just a man with no special abilities, he was there trying to change the world step by step.
Roman was like Jon, like Dean's father.
Triple H, helped by his henchmen was shooting everywhere and could finally left the arena. Seth pushed the people running around him trying to get out of that pandemonium, it really made it very difficult to get to the exit of the place. As he got out of it, he saw Triple H climbing into his car and hastily escape, followed by his bodyguards in fully armed vehicles.
Seth grabbed a passerby and took the motorcycle away from him, he quickly started chasing Triple H. This would be a lot easier if he had Dean's help, but he wasn't around and he didn't seem to want to help.
Seth tried one more time and called Dean on the intercom. "I need you, I can't catch him alone. We still have a chance to do it!"
"This is much more difficult than it sounds, there are still a lot of people here who need help. I'm sorry, but I can't leave them." Dean said with conviction.
Seth kept yelling all kinds of things, he was fuming. Dean grabbed the intercom and destroyed it, he didn't want to keep hearing complaints.
Finally all the people came out from under the roof. Several ambulances began to arrive at the scene, Dean and Roman looked up to the top of the arena and there was a young man screaming.
"He's one of the guys on the cleaning staff!" Dean saw how one of the boy's legs was stuck, he couldn't leave and that place was about to collapse.
"We need to do something." Roman said and started climbing over the rubble to help the man.
Dean ran to the Samoan and stated the obvious. "You can't make it on time, and even if you do, you won't be able to help him."
"Witness me!" Roman was stubborn.
But he really couldn't walk too much, because Dean grabbed him by the waist. "Come with me, let's fly."
"You can't fly..." Roman narrowed his eyes.
"Just trust me, Big Dog."
Roman's face showed that he didn't do that at all.
Dean didn't wait for an answer, he just grabbed Roman tightly. Quick and agile, the auburn haired man climbed up to where the young man was. When he arrived, he left Roman in a safe place.
"What are you doing?" Roman didn't understand the Hound's actions.
"This is the only way to stop you. No offence, I know you want to help but you have to admit this is out of your league." Dean explained.
Dean left Roman and went to help the worker. "I'm going to get you out of here."
The man nodded because he could no longer speak due to the pain in his leg. Dean released the young man's leg and led him to the street where his co-workers were happy to know that he was okay and ambulances were arriving and could attend to him.
Several people photographed them with their cell phones.
The police began to dispel people and Dean took advantage of the moment to return immediately to Roman.
"I was going down on my own." Roman narrowed his eyes.
"You know you can't." Dean said. "I'll get you out of here."
"It's the least you can do, you put me here first." Roman nodded.
Dean grabbed the MMA fighter and took him out of the arena, to the terrace of a building that was near that place. From there, they both watched the ambulances arriving and the paramedics helping the wounded. With a little luck there would be no deaths.
In the middle of the night atop the terrace, Dean watched in awe as Roman's hair swayed in the wind. His eyes gazing at him with intensity, Dean realized that he had never met someone like the samoan.
The Mma fighter was strong, brave, and despite not having all the skills that Deabn possessed, Roman was trying to help others. At that moment, Dean realized that he was hopelessly attracted to the raven-haired man.
Dean sat on the edge of the terrace, after how they had met this situation was weird.
"You were right, I am not a heroe, I never was."
Roman was speechless... he didn't expect such an admission from this powerful man.
"It is never too late to start doing the right thing." Roman remained in place, his voice no longer carried that hint of resentment or distrust.
"I want to try, you know, help. I want to be a..." And Dean couldn't say it, he no longer considered himself worthy of calling himself such.
"Hero..." Roman finished the sentence for him. "You have the potential it's just... I think you're disoriented."
Dean looked at Roman wide eyed, "It's weird now you're the one cheering me on."
"I guess, I can be an asshole too when I put my mind to it." Roman's voice sounded almost friendly. "In my defense, that night on the seaport, you deserved what I told you."
Dean smiled behind the mask, and just nodded.
"But tonight you don't deserve that. Tonight you were raelly a hero." Roman walked over to Dean and sat next to him. He watched at the horizon.
"Aren't you afraid of falling?" Dean instaead was staring at Roman. They were finally having a peaceful, almost friendly dialogue.
"Why would I be?" And for the first time Roman smiled at him. "Now you are a hero... this time you would not abandon me, this time you would stay to save me."
Dean smiled back. "I would save you from now on, and everytime if you wish."
Roman giggled. "Are you flirting with me?"
"Is there anyone who doesn't?" Dean felt like the environment around them was changing. "I also like heroes."
Roman reached out one of his hands and moved the hoodie from Dean's head and he could see his unruly hair swaying in the wind. Dean's hair had a much darker color than his usual tone, it was something that he took care of, so as not to be recognized.
Roman ran his fingers through the soft hair. It was then that Roman smiled sweetly.
"You could have gone after the DXs like your partner did, but you stayed to help them all. You did what a hero should do. I'm sorry I treated you so bad the first time we met."
There was so much honesty in Roman's gaze that Dean was mesmerized. Everything that came out of Roman's mouth, made Dean discover a new world of things that he had not known before and that now that he had them in front of him, he could not let go.
"I'm going to tell you a secret." Dean whispered. "This all happened because of what you told me on the dock. You really changed my perspective on a lot of things, Roman Reigns."
Dean noticed that Roman was surprised to hear his name.
"I've been doing some research on you and I must say that I really liked everything I found."
Roman's eyes were wide. "If it's useful to you, I also really liked what I saw you doing tonight."
They both stared at each other intently. Roman got even closer to Dean and gently kissed him on the forehead.
And that was it, in that moment Dean knew that he couldn't let go of Roman, that his ways were destined to meet again and again. And he would be damned if he let this man go.
Maybe for now, like Dean Ambrose, he couldn't get close to Roman, he still had some things to sort out between them. But at least as one of the Hounds of Justice, Dean had managed to clear his name and, to his satisfaction, the mma fighter seemed totally in awe of his heroic action.
Of course, being an idealist, Roman was always looking to help others and it was obvious that finding someone who would do the same would be attractive to him.
"I'm going to tell you a secret too." Roman murmured softly. "I'd like to see you again. Even if you don't let me see your face."
Dean felt his heart beating very fast.
"If you don't mind that I can't show you my face, if that's not a problem for you... I'll find you." Dean said sincerely.
"I'm going to trust you. I hope you don't let me down." Roman smiled.
"I won't. It's a promise. But right now, I have to go." Dean sighed, he didn't want this night to ever end, but he had to fulfill his responsibilities.
The Hound of Justice stood looking out over the city skyline.
"You just going to leave like that." Roman was smiling genuinely at him.
"What did you expect... a goodbye kiss." Dean said it jokingly but Roman was smiling so divinely that the auburn haired man just got carried away by whatever was going on between them.
Dean couldn't take it anymore, he pulled out a black handkerchief from one of his suit pockets while looking at Roman intently. "Are you sure you trust me?"
Roman stood up too and nodded. "I'm serious, I do. What are you going to do with that?"
Dean blindfolded Roman with the handkerchief. "I'm trying to test your trust in me."
"I cannot see anything and yet when I hear your voice I feel that you are sincere. I know that you are not going to throw me off the terrace." Roman joked.
Dean removed the mask that covered his nose and mouth and took Roman's hand and brought it to his face. With his fingertips, Roman began to outline the features of Dean's face. The nose, the thin lips, the chubby cheeks and this made the mma fighter smile. Roman brought both hands to Dean's face and for a long moment ran his fingers over his smooth skin.
"You are so handsome." Roman whispered. "I don't need to see you to know it." Then Roman brought one of his hands to Dean's chest and felt his heart. "I need you to show me that you are just as beautiful here. I know that now it will be more difficult for you because, now you have decided to be a hero and this probably won't give you a good name. But at the end of the day you will feel it here, and you will know that it will all have been worth it."
Dean closed his eyes, Roman was right because he could already feel it. This moment was something Dean had never experienced before. The auburn haired man was so happy to hear Roman's words that he couldn't help himself.
"Do you really want that kiss goodbye?" Dean asked with his face millimeters from Roman's.
"I can't see anything, all I can do is feel. And I tell you that there is nothing in this world that I want more than that kiss."
And that was it, Dean took the other man's face in his hands and brought his lips to Roman's, sealing that moment with a soft kiss.
Dean moaned when he felt the softness of Roman's lips and although for a moment, the mma fighter was very still, little by little could feel how Roman kissed him back.
Roman had never felt anything like this in any of his previous relationships. This was so new and intense that he felt he was on fire, as cliche as that sounds. In that moment, feeling Dean's lips, Roman knew that even if he couldn't see him, if he couldn't even know his name, their fates were sealed and that somehow the two of them would find a way to be together.
It was a soft and sweet kiss, both men explored each other's lips, their tongues softly acknowledging the wetness and warmth. It was wonderful and Roman squeezed Dean's waist who wrapped his arms around Roman's neck deepening the kiss. They both totally surrendered to the sensations.
Finally the kiss ended, but they both knew they couldn't forget it. Dean put the mask back on his face and removed the blindfold from Roman and to his satisfaction he saw that the mma fighter continued with his eyes closed, Roman had completely given himself in that kiss.
The raven haired man slowly opened his eyes and smiled when he saw Dean standing in front of him and once again wearing his mask and hood.
"That was incredible." Roman looked at him intently. "You're going to come back to me, right?"
Dean looked at him with conviction. "That I will come back to you is the only certainty I have now."
Roman smiled. "And I'll be waiting for you, that must be your second certainty."
Dean grabbed Roman and with incredible speed, strength and agility led the mma fighter onto a street next to the arena. They both looked at each other for a moment and Dean hurried out of the place.
Soon after, Roman walked to the outskirts of the arena. Paramedics were already helping most of the injured. And to Roman's surprise, AJ was still there, he had completely forgotten about the scientist. A few meters away was Elias, Roman had found him a job at the arena as one of the people who put together the Octagon.
AJ walked over to Roman. "I was so worried! Where were you? I thought something bad had happened to you!"
"I got lost in the crowd. I just found the back exit." Roman dismissed AJ's concern.
Elias approached Roman. "I saw you helping the wounded. One of these days, that idealistic heart of yours is going to get you in a lot of trouble."
"You're overreacting." Roman smiled looking down the alley. "In fact, this idealistic heart of mine has made me find my true path."
AJ and Elias looked at each other no understanding anything. Roman just shrugged.
Dean arrived at the Rollins mansion and hoped to have good news, perhaps Seth had managed to reach and capture Triple H. But when he saw the face of his friend who was livid, he realized that he had failed in the mission.
"Why did you do this?" Seth yelled angrily. "This could have ended tonight. We almost had Triple H. You should have helped me catch him!"
"At least 200 people could have died if I didn't help them!" Dean justified himself. "There are two of us, Seth. If you want, you can go after the D-X and kill them, but if I see people who need my help, I'm going to save them whether you like it or not!"
Seth was amazed. It was the first time that Dean challenged him.
"And for the record," Dean continued. "This is how our work will be divided from now on. You can seek your revenge and I will help you if I can. But if I see people in danger, I will go for them first. There are two of us, so we can split our work."
Seth narrowed his eyes. "Triple H killed your father in front of your eyes. But I think Jon's memory matters more to me than it does to you!"
Dean was wide-eyed. "How can you say that!"
"You proved that tonight!" Seth screamed. "But at least your father can rest in peace knowing that the child he loved as his own son, will do what his blood related kid does not want. My parents could never compare to Jon! And still you cannot value that!"
Seth left the place leaving Dean with many words stuck in his throat and making him feel like a traitor.
The night had been perfect, saving all those people had been such a huge satisfaction for Dean and getting close to Roman had been the icing on the cake. But now all of that collapsed in front of his eyes when he remembered that Triple H had killed his father and that he had let him get away.
Dean punched the wall, making a dent. He closed his eyes and sighed so frustrated.