Even Seth got scared at the sound of the handgun being loaded – although he knew there were no bullets in it – and Roman's creepily persuasive voice that followed made the situation tenser and appearing as though the blackmailing was real. It made sense for Dean to feel the same way Seth did in that immediate moment. But has the act really had the same impact on Dean?
Neither Roman nor Seth could tell. Dean was great at handling his emotions and making them as hidden for the crowd as they could be. Or else, he faked them. But in this particular moment, after the tense minute past, he showed his true face.
"You have nothing to threaten me with," Dean argued. The courage that he appeared to have was hard to understand. Didn't Roman just show that he had a gun that he was ready and willing to use? Didn't he mention that he had already taken care of the rest of the people that participated in this psycho trip? What was it that made Dean stand tall, proud and confident?
Roman's eyes found their way to Seth. He was losing and needed a back-up plan. Another one. Pretending to be threatening Dean did not work. But he couldn't take it very far. They were friends and this was not real – it would never get too real – in no way he was actually going to hurt him. But what was there left to do? He couldn't talk much either because at any moment Dean could realize it was him, that the voice belonged to Roman, even though it sounded a bit, or a lot, differently. He searched for reassurance in Seth . . . who couldn't speak up even if he had something that could help him. Roman was on his own. But he wouldn't give up just yet.
Calmly, in a steady voice, Dean broke the silence. "Why don't you let me see your face?" he asked. And added a reason for it, too. "If you were going to kill me, which appears to me is what you're trying to make me believe will happen, there's no danger in showing me who you really are." The real danger here, though, was Dean's logic. Even in this life-threatening situation, Dean was calm and able to think.
Feeling cornered, Roman acted spontaneously and decided to go with the first idea that popped into his head. He pulled the trigger. There was a sigh of relief as Dean jerked and shivered. Now that was a reaction that Roman wanted to see. He smiled and did not notice Seth's frightened face watching him. When Seth heard the sound he totally forgot that nothing would happen because the gun was already without any cartridge. It was as real to him as to Dean. For that second that lasted longer than usual.
"Now that one was empty, but how about the next one?"
Dean swallowed loudly. He did not feel like provoking the person with the weapon anymore. "What do you want from me?" he asked. His voice did not sound very confident.
"Nothing," Roman replied. To make sure Dean's fear would not disappear he got the knife that he previously took from Dean and started moving it slowly on Dean's neck. "Actually, I might have here something that you could do for me."
"If I do, will you free me?"
"I might."
"That's not good enough," Dean protested.
"Do you think you're in position to argue with me?"
Dean unhappily sighed. The anger was building up in him but he couldn't do anything. He was threatened with a handgun and a knife now, too. His view was obstructed, legs were tied up, and his arms . . . they were no longer tied with a tape. Sure, Roman had them under control but only to a certain point. It wasn't impossible for Dean to do something about it. Especially when Roman couldn't hold that position forever. He would get uncomfortable, and when he does Dean gets a chance to fight for his life.
For now Dean decided to accede to Roman's conditions. "So what is it that I could do that may or may not set me free?"
"You see," Roman started talking while getting the rope and working on tying Dean's arms again, preventing Dean from realizing his great escape plan. "I've been working on the plan to get rid of you and your former partners for a long time."
"Where are they?"
Roman patted Dean's head. "Shh. That doesn't really matter, does it?"
Dean's anger rose. He wanted to get the answers. And, not of any lesser importance, his hands were back to being safely kept behind his back and there was no way he could get out of there.
"Just tell me if they are still alive," Dean demanded.
The answer did not come immediately but came. "Yes. I haven't killed them. Yet. But whether they survive or not depends on you."
Fortunately enough, Dean did not question the whole idea of Roman's demands. He noticed the flaws like formerly he didn't want anything from Dean, now he were going to ask him a favor, before he said that he had got rid of Seth and himself but now he claims they're still alive. Well, this was Roman's first time as a kidnapper so, with a little practice, he would get better at this. Right now he was glad that Dean's logical thinking had diminished.
"So as I was saying," Roman continued, feeling a little uneasy with the fact that he talked more than he'd like. But he had to. There was no other way. "I've been working on the plan to get rid of you and your former allies for a long time," he repeated, "therefore I've been too busy to . . . you know. . . . Let's just say, I've been single for a while. And . . ." Roman made a significant pause. "Do you see where I'm going with this?"
Dean's facial expression revealed he had an idea.
Seth had his hand on the mouth and sparkle in his eyes. It suddenly became difficult not to uncover his presence. Holding back the laughter was the only goal he had at the moment.
"It doesn't matter if you don't have any experience in this area . . . or do you?" Roman asked, now starting smiling as well.
Dean remained silent. But it wasn't hard to tell that he felt really uncomfortable.
"Having tape over your eyes will be to your advantage. You don't have to see anything; you just do it." Roman added, "If you want your friends to live." Roman started unzipping his fly to persuade Dean – if he had any doubts – that he meant his words. "I want you to think of your friends when you do it."
"No," Dean refused, turning his head.
"Come on, you might enjoy it as well."
"Will. Not. Happen."
Roman continued; he believed he could make him say yes. How awesome that would be. He could make fun of Dean because of this forever. All that was needed to do was to persuade him. Threaten him or lure him; the means don't matter.
He got the knife again. But this time the strategy was a bit different. He started at the neck, as before, but he continued south.
"Please," Roman turned to begging. "I may even repay you," he proposed. A thought struck his mind that this might be used against him in the future, but it's not like it's actually gonna happen. And Roman knew this wasn't real. On the other hand, if Dean said yes, all three guys would know he meant it and he was willing to do the job that was required of him. That it was to save his and his friends' lives would be omitted in any future storytelling.
"How about if you touch it first? To know what it feels like?" Roman suggested.
Seth was biting his lips. This was too good to be true. He became impatient anticipating Dean's surrender. Would he reach for it? His changing facial expression may be saying that he might.
"Come on, you know you want it," Roman kept encouraging Dean.
But Seth started wondering if Roman wasn't one that wanted it too. Especially when he noticed a bulge in his pants. That was something Seth couldn't handle. He burst out laughing.