'where's the next chapter? it's been like 2 weeks'
What the fuck?! Dear guest without a face or a name - don't you have an account or is it simply that you don't have the guts to post a comment like this and put a name and an account behind it? It's fucking RUDE to use the review function to demand something you have no fucking right to demand! Let alone your choice of words and the tone of it! Who are you that it gives you the right to talk to me like that? My boss? I can't remember that I got a paycheck from you that gives you the fucking right to demand the next chapter from me within a week or two. Can you be any more disrespectful?
Also: 'Too bad you decided not to continue it.'
Is that so? I decided not to continue it? Oh well, good thing you told me 'cause obviously I forgot to inform myself about it. The last time I checked, I was still working on it.
I suggest you'll take a glimpse at the news section of my profile in the future before putting that in a review. I'm not posting news there because I'm bored. If I'd put the story on hiatus, I'd have made a note there.
I am pissed af. Really. I'm a 35 yrs old woman who has a LIFE and I'm done explaining and apologizing and justifying myself to disrespectful people why an update takes longer. And messages like 'where's the next chapter?' have happened more than annoyingly often since the last update. I have my reasons, that's all I have to say to this. I owe you nothing. Live with it or stay away. And stop using the review function for shit!
To all my other readers and reviewers: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR LOVELY CANDY WORDS AND YOUR PATIENCE! And thanks for coming back! I love you and I adore and appreciate each and every review!
I'm sorry that the first thing that greeted you in this update was the essay above but I had to get it off my chest.
Also: due to receiving guest comments like those above and also flame, I decided to moderate guest reviews from now on.
Means all you guest reviewers who have an actual review for me, please post it! It won't show up immediately though. It might take a few hours until I can approve it.
However, I WILL finish this story. There are reasons though that it might take little longer for the last few chapters.
Now, after this not so nice start I hope that you will enjoy the chapter! Have fun!
PS: Ignore spelling mistakes and stuff, gotta make a break and do the corrections later. I'm screen blind again.
His eyes wandered over his own reflection in the mirror, the bruises on full display as he stood there in only boxers. Dean was standing beside him, also only in his underwear. Scratches, cuts. Bruised and battered. They both. Still as he took in the image, seeing Dean like this hurt him ten times more than the damage his own body had suffered. But Dean was healing, physically and also... emotionally. Whatever had caused the winds of the storm that always seemed to rage within Dean to change, Roman wouldn't question it. The winds had changed and the storm was much quieter now.
Also it seemed that Dean was slowly adjusting to his new situation. He was walking about the house now a little more like being at home here. He seemed to be less tense in the way he moved, less as if he was expecting bad things to happen. He made progress in letting people touch him, seemed to seek any kind of touch from Roman's mother, including hugs. Even from his father, something he wouldn't have expected any time soon because after all it had been a man who'd made Dean's life a hell for so long.
Dean had been quiet during the dinner. Not in a bad way though, more lost in his thoughts. He'd probably been processing the day, Roman assumed, at least he'd been looking like that measured at the various expressions which had crossed his face, most of them being accompanied by a soft smile and once more Roman thought that it was almost a wonder how good Dean coped with all of it because good things or not, all of it was a heavy weight to carry. But he wasn't carrying it alone anymore and maybe it was what made it easier for him.
A hum at his side drew his attention away from his musing briefly. Rubbing his eyes, Dean moved to stand behind Roman, resting his forehead in the back of his neck while keeping on brushing his teeth. An arm circled Roman's waist from behind in a loose hold and the hand that settled flat on his belly wandered over it in slow circles. A gentle caress. Loving. And with a sigh Roman lifted a hand up to the blond mop of hair, running his fingers through it. It was so good, that being allowed to do this. The closeness. And the level, the quality of the closeness between the two of them had become a thing he didn't even have a word for.
Define a word for a closer closeness. Huh...
No, there was no word. Only this warm honey feeling of Dean being there under his skin and in his very core.
A sigh was breathed into his neck, a warm wave of air fleeting over his skin, tickling him in the sweetest way as that breath stirred the tiny hair there and the hand on his belly stilled, fingers splaying possessively.
Mine.
Yeah, yours.
It seemed as if Dean was trying to catch up with all the years he'd lacked being close to someone...
People had looked at Dean, seeing nothing but a battered street dog who only spelled trouble without seeing what was there behind the armor he'd been wearing. All it had taken was a little time and trust... and love... It had been what Dean needed, someone being there for him but people just don't bothered. The horror could have been over for Dean already years ago if only someone had bothered to listen and look closer.
Not much later they were done with brushing their teeth and Roman was just straightening up from rinsing his mouth as arms wrapped around his waist and lips touched his own in a little kiss, just a touch of lips, as Dean pressed up against him. Automatically his own arms came up around the leaner frame.
"Someone's being cuddly tonight," he chuckled lightly against those sweet lips.
"Am not cuddly," was the reply, a smile trickling into it.
"Aah, so you stumbled and fell on my lips?"
The only reply was a faint hum and because he could, Roman ran his tongue over Dean's lips, asking for entrance he was granted only a heartbeat later. It was a lazy kiss yet somehow there was a certain neediness from Dean's side in the way he pressed against him and breathed those barely audible and oh so tiny sounds that Roman swallowed down because they were so infinitely sweet. There was the taste of mint but also Dean, just as sweet as those little sounds he was gracing him with.
It was Dean who broke the kiss eventually, murmuring: "You need..." Peck. "... to rest..." Peck. "... you dented..." Peck. Peck. "... Superman, you."
A part of Roman wanted to protest because he knew that once they'd be lying in bed, that he would be asleep in no time. But Dean was right, he needed some rest. He was tired, exhausted to be honest and his whole body hurt. His battered side complained loudly, burning like hell and depending on how he moved, even breathing was more difficult than would have admitted to Dean.
"Ain't no superman," Roman complained weakly, following the lips which moved away from him and no, he didn't like it the least bit.
Delivering a last little kiss, Dean stepped back and took his hand to lead him out of the bathroom.
"Shut up," Dean grinned softly, the sight going straight to Roman's heart, taking residence there.
Dean grinned. He grinned softly. All those smiles he'd seen there on the handsome face lately... this was how it should be. And while he smiled back at his his friend, Roman swore silently that he would do anything it took to make sure that Dean would never stop smiling again.
Following like a good boy, Roman smiled once more as their way didn't lead to Dean's but to his own room and almost as if he'd smiled too loud, Dean glanced over to him, the grin replaced by a shy little smile.
"M'sleeping better in your bed," he explained quietly.
There were dimmed sounds of the TV coming from downstairs and the voices of his parents, talking quietly. The light laughter of his mother and the low and gentle one of his father and he noticed how Dean's gaze swept over to the stairs, a gleam showing up in the baby blues. A happy one.
There was no substitute for a love that welcomed you no matter who you were, no matter what was wrong.
And that gleam there in the sky blue orbs told Roman that slowly Dean accepted that a love like that was given to him.
The faint sounds were cut off as Roman closed the door of his room behind them, tugging Dean closer by his hand, once more sealing their lips in a sweet kiss, feeling him drop into that kiss willingly. Wrapping an arm around the lean waist, he held him as close as possible without irritating both their bruises, brought his free hand up to the blond hair he loved to touch and slowly steered Dean backwards towards the bed. There was a tiny gasp of surprise from Dean as the back of his legs connected with the mattress, making him end up lying on it and while watching him scooting further up the bed, Roman climbed onto the mattress. Roman's eyes were never leaving the baby blues as he followed him until he was hovering over the leaner frame, settled between Dean's legs and with his arms framing his friend's head. Once more his fingers found blond strands to lovingly play with them while he felt hands settle on his sides and thumbs brushing lightly over his skin and for long seconds they just gazed at each other.
Blue. Blue depths and a glow lying in them. Warmth. Dean looked peaceful, he noticed. Calm. It was good. This… it was right.
"How are you feeling?" he said just above a whisper, his eyes roaming the face he'd come to love so much briefly.
No lines of sorrow for once. Just smooth features, matching the peace he saw there in those baby blues.
"Good," Dean replied. "M'feeling good."
"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better than good?" he asked then, tilting his head a little to the side in question.
Rolling his head lightly against the pillow in an unspoken no, Dean whispered: "I got all I need." The hands on his sides wandered up as arms wrapped around his back, mindful of his sore body. "Got all I want…"
Leaning in, Roman breathed a kiss to Dean's forehead, allowing his lips to linger there for a moment. There was an ache in his chest, maybe because this was so very perfect… them being together finally against all odds, something he'd never believed would happen and there was this stubborn part that still didn't believe that this wasn't just a dream. It was a sweet ache though, one that he embraced because it made every second he was holding Dean somehow even more real. If that made any sense…
And fuck, he wanted to feel Dean…in every way possible.
Shifting a bit, he dropped a kiss to Dean's nose, to his lips that willingly parted for him, welcomed him and he took his time there as he claimed those lips for a slow and loving kiss. Dean… he tasted Dean. Breathed him. Bracing on one arm, he let his free hand wander down the lean body, feeling a shiver run through Dean as his nails scraped ever so lightly over smooth skin, his fingers travelling over a quivering side and further down. Never breaking the kiss he bent a leg, gently sliding his knee under Dean's thigh while his hand arrived there, too, softly urging Dean to wrap his leg around his waist while pressing closer…
… and Dean tensed.
Roman noticed it immediately, even if it was obvious that Dean tried to stop himself yet the way the body underneath him didn't feel as pliant anymore was unmistakable.
Drawing back to seek the baby blues, he whispered: "I'm sorry."
Embarrassment was what he found there and fuck, it shouldn't be there.
"It's just…" Dean began, briefly closing his eyes while taking a deep breath that sounded a bit shaky as it passed his lips again. "I'm not, you know, ready… for that… I guess…"
Oh.
Shit. He'd never even given it a thought if Dean was okay with being the catcher… or doing other things than a hand job at all.
"I didn't mean to… shit, I'm sorry. I didn't think," he muttered, cursing himself inwardly for being too pushy. He really hadn't thought, being carried away by the moment. "You got all the time you need. Just tell me what you want and what makes you feel uncomfortable. We're going your pace, okay?"
A tiny nod. And a soft little smile. And when Dean spoke again, it was barely more than a whisper. Shy and still embarrassed and even in the half-light in here he could see a blush spreading over his cheeks. Too. Damn. Cute.
"Have you ever, uhm… allowed someone to, you know… have you?"
Truth time. At least Dean didn't shove the topic into a drawer to lock it away.
"No, never."
"Oh uhm… okay…"
Dean's bottom lip got caught between his teeth. Again a tiny nod and those baby blues swept over to a random spot at the ceiling but Roman could still read in them what was going on in his friend's mind. Dean was turning the thought of being the one who would be having a dick up his ass back and forth. And it obviously made him uncomfortable. With an inaudible sigh he leaned in, freeing the caught bottom lip.
"Hey, c'mon, look at me," Roman breathed as he drew back and after a hesitant second the blue eyes met his own again. "I've never allowed anyone to have me but… you're not anyone, are you?"
It took a few heartbeats until the message sunk in and he could see the very second Dean understood.
I give myself to you.
The baby blues widened a bit. His name left those addictive lips, carried by a mere breath. Yeah, message received.
Shifting, he brought his arm around Dean's middle and turned over onto his back, swallowing down a hiss as his side briefly complained loudly. Dean was lying on top of him now and while reaching for the duvet, he entangled their legs.
"Your ribs, you idiot," Dean chided him quietly, moving to get off of him but a broad arm held him in place. "Let go, I'm too heavy, you…"
"Don't be silly," he cut him off, waiting until the body in his arms stilled before letting go to tuck them both in. "You're not too heavy."
His arms found back around Dean who, reluctantly though, settled against him after another moment, putting his head on Roman's chest, one of his hands returning to the ribs while the other joined his head on the broad chest. A muttered idiot reached Roman's ear.
"Maybe, but I'm your idiot, ain't I?" he smiled, dropping a kiss to the blond mop. The yeah he received sounded happy and content though. "You comfy?"
"Yeah, I am," he heard him sigh, felt fingers caress his sore side. It was almost funny that he already could tell a chance in Dean's mood just by holding him. Not that he could put in words how he actually felt it… he just did. Like right now. "When I saw you and those goons, I… ah, fuck. Fuck it…" Dean murmured, turning his face a little more towards Roman's chest. Warm breath fleeted over his skin, causing goose bumps to flare. "I was so angry and… I was scared that you're, you know, seriously hurt…"
His mind replayed the moment Dean had knocked chief goon off his feet like a nemesis, landing punch after punch dead on target. It had been a good thing that Seth had dragged him away from the already badly bleeding guy, no matter how much satisfaction every sickening sound of a fist landing in chief goon's face had brought along.
And also… seeing Dean lose it like that because of him being in trouble… well… it said a lot.
"I made sure those assholes won't touch you or me or Seth again." Because Roman was sure that Seth would have been the next target. "They'll stay far away from us."
"How can you know?" Dean mumbled, nuzzling face against him.
"I told the right people about it," Roman stated, a grim smile flashing on his lips briefly.
On their ride back home from the shop he'd been messaging one of his teammates, informing him that he would have to pause training for a while. He was getting along with everyone of the team but with some of them he was friends. And his message had been directed to the one of his friends who was the lemme take care of the problem kind of guy.
"The right people?"
"Yeah. My teammates. I texted one of them and told him that I have to pause training because I've been beaten up," he explained quietly, his fingertips roaming Dean's back absentmindedly while his gaze wandered over to the window. The faint, pale moonlight painted silhouettes the darkness out there. Some might have said that it looked eerily but for Roman it just looked calming. Peaceful. "He asked who it was and I told him. The last thing he let me know was that we won't have to worry about those assholes from now on and I didn't ask any further."
Pensive seconds of quietness followed.
Then: "You knew that they would take care of the matter, didn't you?"
His gaze swept back to the unruly locks which showed a golden shimmer here from the small bedside lamp and a faint silver one there from the pale moonlight that crept through the window, touching them with soft fingers.
"Let's say I hoped they would."
"S'not your style, Ro," Dean said hushed.
"Maybe not," Roman shrugged. "But this way I can be sure that we won't hear from those assholes again."
Carefully Dean shifted against him, cuddling up to him even more as if he wanted to slip right under Roman's skin.
"Your mom was shocked as fuck the moment she saw you," he heard Dean murmur and immediately his mind showed him the face of his mother the very moment she'd seen the damage. That she had been paling would have been an understatement. White as a sheet was more accurate. "She's worried about you."
He snorted softly.
"She always is. She's a nervous wreck already every time she comes watching one of my games. Can be pretty embarrassing when your mom comes down to the gridiron and treats you like her little boy right in front of the whole team."
"Be happy that she, you know, that she cares for you. Having a mother who gives a shit if you're okay or not is nothing you want, trust me on that."
A pang of guilt rang through Roman. Here he was complaining about a mom who cared too much in front of Dean whose mother had given a flying fuck about her son.
Inconsiderate much, Reigns?
What could be annoying for him was one of the things Dean had sorely lacked in all those years but now that Dean was here, the motherly attention of Patricia 'Mother Hen' Reigns would apportioned between 'old' son and 'new' son. Maybe her attention would focus even more on Dean and that was okay since Dean needed that attention. Much. There was a void of almost 18 years that yearned to be filled with motherly love.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think..."
A kiss was breathed to his skin, a silent it's okay.
During the dinnner his mother had tried to act normally but Roman had caught the worried glances she had given him because although he'd suffered injuries during trainings and games in the past, he'd never been beaten up. Behind her worry was hidden more than just the shock about the bruises and cuts. It was the fact that it happened at all. That someone laid hand on her son like that.
After they'd been done with dinner, Dean had helped to clear the table like a good boy, carrying the plates and stuff to the kitchen, putting them into the dishwasher while chatting with Roman's mother. He'd been standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame while watching them with a smile because the scene that unfolded in front of him was like it had never been not like that. Dean and Patricia Reigns being mother and son. And they where talking and Dean was laughing, one of the most beautiful sounds Roman had ever heard, and then...
"Thanks for your help," Patricia said as she handed the last plate to Dean to put it into the dishwasher. "Oh and baby, I forgot to bring a few things from the grocery store and I thougt you could come with me tomorrow morning and help me carry?"
Closing the dishwasher while standing up, Dean replied: "Sure, mom."
And then he froze. Roman could tell the exact moment the realization sunk in that he'd just called Roman's mother... mom. It was when the baby blues widened a little and he swallowed hard.
"I'm sorry," he apologized quietly.
Gnawing at his lips, he looked over to Patricia, obviously afraid that he'd overstepped a line here but she only stepped closer to him, reaching up to cup a cheek while leaning in to kiss the other.
"It's okay, baby," she reassured him. "You're like a son to me," she added then as she pulled back, giving him her most motherly smile. "You can call me mom if you want to. I'd love it if you do that."
Roman wasn't sure what made his heart ache more: the way Dean's eyes teared up that very moment or the almost desperate way he wrapped his arms around her and hid his face against her shoulder. But it was probably right that, Dean holding on to her so very desperately, absorbing any affection Patricia was giving him and it made Roman aware of how much he still hurt for and with Dean over that dark past.
"Oh baby..." she murmured, bringing a hand up to the blond locks, smoothing over it soothingly. "Baby, it's okay."
And suddenly Roman felt as if he was witnessing something that shouldn't have any watchers because it was a moment between his mother and Dean. As he left the kitchen, the ache in his heart dimmed as his ears caught Dean, his voice barely more than a whisper but still it sounded utterly happy.
Thanks, mom...
"Any plans for your birthday?" Roman asked, letting a strand of blond hair glide through his fingers.
Dean lifted his head a little at the question, frowning at him in question and maybe a bit in confusion.
"What?" he asked.
"Your birthday," Roman repeated, smiling softly at him. Even in the half-light those eyes were so very blue. "Any plans? Mom asked. And she also asked me what you would want for your birthday."
Dean blinked, the frown deepening briefly as he rested his chin on Roman's chest, holding his gaze.
"The last time I thought about my birthday, my plan was to, you know, pack my things and get away from my stepfather," he replied lowly. "That uh, that was before he beat the shit outta me. Ever since I, you know... it isn't important anymore."
Because I don't need to run away anymore.
Shooting Dean a raised brow, Roman chided him softly: "It's your birthday and your eighteenth, too, that is important. So, how would you like to celebrate it? Wanna go out? Wanna spend a weekend at a lake, fishing?" That last suggestion earned him a snort. "What?"
"Sounds like you wanna reenact Brokeback Mountain," Dean grinned, the hand on Roman's chest crawling up, travelling along the thick neck and up to the plush lips were he ran his index finger over Roman's bottom lip.
And Roman breathed a kiss to its tip.
"Wouldn't mind," he whispered, flicking his tongue over the fingertip he'd just kissed. "But our story has a happy ending."
"Yeah..." Dean murmured, a grin spreading over his face as he brought his index finger to his own mouth, his lips wrapping around it... suckling a little at it, as if he wanted to taste Roman... before he released it again with a smack. And Roman managed just so to bite back a groan as he felt a certain tingling in his belly at the sight and swallowed the fond bastard that was lying on his tongue down, but the broadening grin told him that Dean knew anyway. "You'd have to teach me how to ride, too."
And now a grin grew on Roman's face. A very broad one because images invaded his mind and they did not include horses.
It earned him a snort again, a smack on his chest and a chiding: "You've got a dirty mind, Reigns."
With that Dean nuzzled his face against Roman's chest again, resuming his position from earlier.
"S'all your fault, Ambrose," he chuckled. "But really, how would you want to celebrate?"
For a long moment there was silence and Dean's hand found back to his chest, fingers brushing back and forth in a light caress. Then... a sigh.
"I uhm... I want to celebrate here with you and your parents and Seth," Dean said eventually, sounding a bit absentminded as he spoke. "With my... uhm, with my family..." And once again Roman's heart ached. Yet there was a smile ghosting on his lips nevertheless. Dean had called them his family, including Seth. Another important step on his way to heal. "You know, I uh, I can't remember when the last time was that I, you know, celebrated my birthday. If ever."
Dean closed his eyes as Roman combed his fingers through his hair and wasn't there the faintest of shivers running through him? Untangling their legs, Roman pulled his legs up to frame his... lover... it would take some time until he'd be used to call Dean that... he pulled his legs up to frame his lover because he couldn't help the constant urge to protect him. Even now when there was no reason. Enfold him and protect him. Make sure he was safe and felt good because...
... I love you...
He kept it unspoken. For now. The right moment to speak it out would come and until then he'd do his very best to show it to Dean.
"Okay, so a birthday party at home with your family it'll be," he murmured, feeling another shiver running through the body that was resting against him as he kept combing his fingers through the soft hair. "And what do you want for your birthday?"
The answer was immediate.
"Nothing. I've got all I need and more," Dean replied. "Your parents have done so much for me already and..."
"What do you want?" Roman cut him off gently. "It's you birthday, your eighteenth and you don't really expect us not to give you any presents, do you?"
"I... Ro, I... your father already said they'll pay the my driver's licence and... I... shit..."
"And what has the driver's licence to do with your birthday presents?"
"I can't accept all that," Dean sighed unhappily.
"Don't be silly, sure you can."
"I... no..." Dean's right shoulder began to twitch and Roman's hand left Dean's hair to settle on the nervous shoulder. It stilled under his touch... almost. "No, I can't. You know, I'm... fuck, I'm afraid that your parents give me so much and that I'll disappoint them..."
"Okay, now you're really being silly," Roman said quietly, rubbing calming circles on Dean's still slightly nervous shoulder. "And you're thinking too much again, Captain Solo. Just say yes to what they give you, it's alright, you know? You could only disappoint them if you lied to them or ran away."
For a heartbeat Roman thought Dean would draw away as he felt him move suddenly but instead of doing that, Dean's hand sneaked between the mattress and Roman's shoulders to pull himself closer to Roman although it was barely possible to get any closer at all. It was a little desperate, the way Dean clung to him, just like the way he'd been holding on to his mother.
"S'not gonna happen," Dean promised. "Never. Not when I finally have a family... and you."
"Good, because I don't know what I'd do if you left me." And yes, it was as close to saying that he loved him as he could get without actually saying those three words. "I don't even want to think about it."
Again Dean moved, stretching up to steal a kiss from him, a demanding kiss that was all shiny possessive yet full of sweet promises. It created a tingling in his belly and sent a shiver down his spine. It didn't last long, that kiss, but still long enough to make his body hum, tuned in on the man in his arms.
"Mine," Dean breathed against his lips.
"Yeah, yours," Roman whispered, flicking his tongue over Dean's bottom lip. And because he couldn't get enough, he sealed their lips again in a tame but sweet kiss. "And mine," he added as he broke the kiss all too soon.
"Yours," Dean affirmed.
A peck. And another.
"Your lips are bleeding again," Dean mumbled, his tongue sliding over them.
And yeah, the cuts in Roman's lips stung from the kissing but no, that didn't stop him from kissing Dean.
"Don't care," he mumbled back while his hand roamed Dean's back, coloring the map his finger had drawn in black and white in his mind earlier this day.
Though still new, it felt so familiar already. The situation. The way he touched Dean now. The being touched.
And another sweet kiss followed that ended with lips slightly parted and touching, with breaths mingling and barely audible, high pitched almost moans fusing with short-winded hums as the big hands kept their exploration up and Dean pressed even closer, creating a friction in their southern region that was weak but there nonetheless.
Not enough. Never enough. But for tonight it would have to be more than enough. They had time. All the time they needed, there was no need to rush things and to be honest, he was hurting more than he wanted to admit and going for a hot ride now probably wasn't the best idea. He wanted their first time to be mindblowing good.
Time... so much time. A whole life together. Maybe some people would have called him naive that he didn't even doubt that they'd spent their life together till the last day because they were still so young but his heart was sure. And because his heart was sure, his mind was already making plans for their future. Like moving out here and in an apartment or a nice little house together when they both we're of full age. House or apartment... depending on what Dean would prefer.
His father had told him about a family in their direct neighborhood that was planning to sell their house within the next months. He knew that house, it wasn't as big as this here but it had nice little yard. Actually... it would be perfect for them...
"I don't even know if Dean would want to live in a house later..."
"Well, if the two of you decide to live in an apartment, then your mom and I will keep the house as a financial investment, rent it out, you know?"
A few seconds Roman just gazed at his father, listening to the sounds of his mother and Dean being busy in the kitchen. Wasn't it funny that his father was as sure as he was that this between him and Dean was the real thing?
"It's funny, dad," he continued after a moment. "I mean, aren't parents usually supposed to be like, kid, this is your first real relationship and you're still so young and who knows if you'll still be together in a month?"
There was a smile tugging at his father's lips, shining in his eyes, too, as he nodded lightly.
"Yeah, I guess that's what parents usually react like," he replied as he leaned back in his chair, his hands still resting on the table as he folded and unfolded a table napkin. "I have eyes and when I see you and Dean together, I'm sure that the two of you are supposed to be. You've always been more mature than kids at your age usually are, junior. If you're sure about your relationship with Dean, your mom and I are, too."
Laughter fleeted into the room. Happy laughter. Dean. It brought a smile to Roman's lips, one that was as happy as that sound.
"Dad, I can't tell you how happy I am that you and mom accept Dean like that," he said quietly. "Thanks. For everything."
Putting the napkin aside, his father leaned forward again, bracing his forarms on the table and folding his hands.
"He's making it easy for us," he explained, tilting his head a little to the side while his eyes sought out the doorway to the kitchen. "He's polite, attentive and as your mother likes to put it, he'a amiable. And also..."
"... he's into cars," Roman finished the sentence for his father, snorting lightly. "Still, he's right when he says that it's not to be taken for granted that you let him live here and welcomed him in our family like you did."
"Maybe, but as I said, your mom adopted him that first night already when he was here for dinner and in those few days he's here now, I can only say that I feel about him as if he's my own son." The smile on his father's lips broadened. "The shop will be a family-run concern then. You'll be in the back-office, I'll do the sales and Dean will be the boss in the repair."
Shooting his father an in amusement raised brow, Roman chuckled: "I see, you've totally planned it all out."
"Well, yeah," his father smirked. "And when the day comes that I'll retire, I know the shop couldn't be in better hands than yours and Dean's." With that Sika got up, walking around the table to his son where he laid a hand on Roman's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "Think about the house."
A pat on his shoulder. And then he was alone, sitting at the table with a silly little grin stretching his lips as he turned the idea of him and Dean living on their own in that nice little house. Their own home...
"... Ro?"
"What?" he mumbled, his name being muttered in question shaking him out of his thoughts.
Blue eyes were roaming his face. A kis was placed to the tip of his nose.
"Where are you?" Dean asked, smiling softly.
A lot of smiling today. And he hoped it was only the start to even more smiling.
"Was thinking," he murmured.
"Well, duh. About what?"
Should he ask him? Wasn't it a bit... bold? To ask Dean such a question now? Too soon?
"Would you rather want to live in an apartment or a house?" he asked after a moment, deciding to approach the topic slowly.
"What?" he heard Dean snort. "Uhm... well, I've always wanted to live in a house with a yard and a dog. Why are you asking?"
Shrugging lightly, Roman brought a hand back to Dean's hair. He could not not. He had to touch it.
"Dad and I, we've been talking tonight about houses and apartments," he explained, twirling a lock around his finger. "A dog, huh? What breed?"
"I'd want a shaggy mutt from the animal shelter." And Roman already knew what was about to come. "You know, giving a street dog like myself a second chance."
"Dean," he chided him, his hands halting in their caressing briefly. "Stop saying things like that, will ya. Stop comparing yourself to things people throw away. And you're not a street dog."
He felt the hum Dean breathed more than he actually heard it, felt him nuzzle his face against his chest. Felt him press closer again.
"S'is not that easy, Ro."
"I know," he whispered. "I know." Angling his head he planted a kiss to the blond mop on his chest. "How 'bout we'll grab some sleep, my li'l shaggy mutt?"
"Mmh... sounds like a plan..."
Dean moved, probably to lay down beside him, but Roman didn't want to let go, no matter if his body slowl started complaining about the weight, and so he wrapped his arms around the leaner frame, stopping him.
"Can we stay like this a little longer?" he asked hushed, repeating the words Dean had asked him a couple of times already.
Settling back down without hesitation, Dean said: "Sure. As long as you want."
There was a gentle, calming note lying in the low and rough voice. Funny, their roles had been reversed so often today... it meant that the you and I was becoming an us. Reaching over, Roman switched the bedside lamp off and shifted a little to get a bit more comfortable, holding the man in his arms as close as his side allowed him to. The absence of light allowed the nightly mood to flood the room, the pale moonlight weakly trickling into it. With it the quietness came. The smile on his lips remained as he closed his eyes, making notes to himself that he had to talk to his dad about the house again and a dog.
It was the image of Dean and him sitting on the patio of their own little house, watching their dog play in the yard that accompanied him as eventually sleep found him.
- tbc -
So, well. I hope it was okay and the writer's block didn't affect the chapter all too much.
Let me know what you think :)