Chapter 16 – Casualties

Life couldn't be more perfect for Dean. He and Roman were a real couple now for over two weeks. Their sex was breathtaking. Just this morning Roman had grabbed him while he was vacuuming, put him over the couch and took him. His ass still hurt delightful.

For the first time in years he felt like his life was finally taking a turn for the better. After all the sorrow, hurt and times of hardship the universe seemed to try to give back to him.
He had a place to stay. He had a job he loved. And most of all he had a person in his life he truly loved. Roman was his savior, no doubt about it and he tried his hardest to pay him back in every way possible. He cheered Roman up when he was moody, they made sweet love and Dean invested a lot of time and energy in the Aiga like it was his restaurant. Supporting Roman just came natural to him. Like today.

He was in a really good mood and had offered to take over the food order so Roman could do some interviews with potential cooks.

Dean waited in front of the restaurant for the food truck whistling quietly when his eyes settled on a man that walked up to him. The whistle died down immediately and his smile vanished. The bright blue eyes clouded over and his face became hard.

Antonio Cesaro was not in his usual suit jacket and slacks but in some jeans and a tight fitting t-shirt. He was fit Dean could see his muscles working underneath the shirt. He was a pretty boy no doubt about it but he was an asshole. What good did it if one was beautiful when in that pretty shell lived an asshole really?

Tony took off the sunglasses and put them away.

"Just the man I have been looking for." he announced smiling cockily and Dean had a bad feeling about this. His neck prickled and he had the urge to rub it but he tried to look bored.

"Dean Ambrose. The young sous chef. The cooking prodigy. A guy Roman produced out of thin air." Tony snapped two fingers together to make his point. "A guy who could work in the highest paying restaurants all around the world. Yet where does he work? In a newly opened business as a sous chef nonetheless. How lucky was Roman to hire you, steal you away from your previous job, huh? Oh wait. Right. You had no job before this. You were out of work. And what else? Right...homeless. Roman hired a homeless man to work for him in his high class restaurant where he works to get his first star. A homeless..."

"Enough!" Dean barked and stepped closer to Tony until their feet were touching and their noses were just inches away.

"What do you want?" Dean pressed out. His hands were balled to fists because of Antonio and his arrogant grin. How much he wanted to punch this asshole in his pretty face, knock out a tooth or two, break that straight, European nose and rearrange the rest of that face as well.

Tony was oblivious to all those thoughts and pretended to think for a second.

"Let me see. I have it on good account that Roman is a candidate for a Michelin star. My review could tip the scale just to the right side. Of course it could tip into the other direction if I expose your little secret as well. What I want? Walk away Ambrose. Go back to the hole you crawled out of. You are so out of Romans league and you are just a stumbling block in his career. So walk out while you can so he can reach his dreams."

Dean took two steps back breathing heavily. So this is what it was all about. Tony was jealous. Dean doubted Tony really cared about Romans career. He wanted to get rid of Dean because he probably still had feelings for the Samoan. But no matter his intentions, his threat was real. He could cost Roman his well deserved star. Something he had worked so hard for. And all because of him. A homeless guy who never had reached his potential. Could he really do this to Roman? Cost him his career as well?

"What you say is if I walk out on him you will give him that review that will most likely get him his first star. And if I don't you will crush him?"

Tony smirked and Dean wanted to wipe that smirk off of his face so badly.

"I knew you would get it Ambrose." His European accent was thick while he replied cockily.

Dean pushed a hand through his shaggy hair mumbling something until he addressed Antonio once more.

"He would be heartbroken. He...I...we..."

Tony put a hand on Deans shoulder. "I will take care of him. In every way."

Grinding his teeth Dean stepped away from the contact.

"He gets the star?" he asked and his voice was breaking.

Antonio got serious.

"Yes. I will make sure of that."

Dean nodded. "Consider me gone."

He turned and walked back into the restaurants. His inside was completely numb. He ran into Damien and told him to take over the food. Once outside again he brushed a hand over his eyes and it came back wet.

"Fuck." Blindly Dean made his way back to Romans apartment and once inside he went into the office where most of his stuff was still stored away. He grabbed his shabby backpack and started to throw his stuff inside.

After a thought of consideration he walked into the bathroom and grabbed one of Romans wrapped up soap bars. He loved the smell so much by now. Putting the soap up to his nose he inhaled deeply and relaxed a little bit. He hated to steal anything from Roman even if it was just a bar of soap but he wanted to take this with him.

After storing it away in the backpack he heard the front door open and cursed.

"Dean? Where are you?" came Romans voice. Dean steeled himself to face his lover. He walked out of the office and closed the door a t-shirt in his hand.

"Hi Roman." he greeted him from afar.

"Hi. What's up with you? Damien told me you went home when I came into the restaurant to share the good news that I have found us a new cook."

Dean cringed inwardly. US. He wanted to cry out it hurt so much hearing Roman say those words.

"I felt sick. I just wanted to change and lay down for a bit. I will stop by later. I promise."

Roman closed the gap between them once he heard Dean felt sick. He put his hand to Deans forehead.

"No fever."

"Yeah. I just need an hour or two. I will be alright Roman. You can go back. I will catch up with you later."

Roman felt a little unsure. He wanted to take care of Dean but he was right. The restaurant called. They needed to start the dishes soon.

"Okay. Call me if anything changes, alright? Lie down and get better." Roman kissed Dean on the forehead lightly and turned around to leave.

"Roman?" Dean called after him and Roman stopped and turned around again.

"I..you know…I…" Dean ran up to him and pressed his lips to Romans in a desperate fashion.
He felt Romans knees buckle at the intensity of the kiss.
Dean tried to put everything into this one kiss that was left unspoken between them. His lips formed silent sentences.

Thank you for the chance.

Thank you for believing in me.

Goodbye.

And most of all.

I love you!

Romans eyes widened as if he had heard everything. He took his head back a little and gasped for air.

"Wow. That was something else. If you wouldn't feel sick…"

"I know. Go. Damien awaits you Roman."

Roman nodded but instead of turning around he grabbed Dean's face into his hands and kissed him again.

He felt it in his gut that something was wrong with his lover. Maybe he came really down with something.

"Sleep Dean. I will check in on you later."

It took all his will to turn around and leave Dean behind.

Dean waited for a couple of seconds after the door had closed behind Roman before he walked back into the office to finish packing his belongings.

Just as he was done he grabbed a piece of paper.

He scribbled a few lines on it and then he grabbed his backpack, put on his worn jacket and left the piece of paper along with his house key and the money that was left of his last paycheck on the kitchen table.

He shut the door behind himself, made sure that it was really shut and then he left the house and walked down the street into the opposite direction of the restaurant leaving it and his love behind further with each step.