Dean was considering and reconsidering his options. He wasn't happy with either of them. When he looked at Renee, he noticed that she's been probably watching him the whole time. How he wished to be able to talk to her alone. To have just a minute to discuss what they could do. But even when the telepathic communication had failed, he knew her opinion. For days, even weeks, she had been telling him to stop hiding. There was no point in pretending that their relationship wasn't happening. Why not to admit it? She asked. He had never given her a meaningful answer.
This became entirely his choice. She had the right to say it instead of him, but she didn't. He was the one to make that decision. Why not to admit it? He asked himself. Now there was no escape. She was right. Probably. And Dean was sure that telling the truth was what Renee wanted. Her eyes were asking him to stop playing games and be serious for once. But he knew he would find support in her even if he decided to postpone the final decision. Renee was always on his side; that was what being in a relationship meant to her.
But what did it mean to him? She was supposed to be the most important thing in his life, the center of his universe, wasn't she? He tried, one had to give him that. But still it seemed that he prioritized getting his teammates mad, refusing to tell them what they wanted to know, instead of focusing on what Renee wanted. Dean was struggling. Being honest did not come naturally to him. In his eyes it was a weakness. His animal instincts guided him to victory. Winning all those small battles was important to him. Admitting that Renee was his girlfriend, admitting that Seth and Roman's assumptions were right meant giving up. It would mean that he had tried for nothing. All that time he had spent denying would go to waste. But wouldn't it come to that eventually anyway? There was no chance he could live the rest of his life without ever acknowledging his relationship with Renee.
The most important question was if he meant to be serious with her. Could he imagine the future with her or was she just another fling? Renee had never asked him what his plans were. Had he ever thought about to what their relationship could lead? It was too soon, sure. They only started dating and there could be no serious discussion yet. But that didn't mean they had never thought about it. Renee had. Dean? Maybe somewhere on the edge of his mind there had appeared an idea of spending the rest of his life with Renee. Thoughts concerning spending his days off with Renee, living with her, even starting a family with her one day did occasionally come and go, but until now Dean had always successfully fought them away. He wasn't ready to deal with them yet.
Now he was standing in front a big decision. It may have appeared as something unimportant to others, but it was a big deal for him. It wasn't just letting go of his games and accepting Roman's victory. For him the question of what his relationship with Renee meant was at stake. Once he admits the reality, there is no going back. More importantly, by telling Roman, and Seth too as Dean had noticed him lurking, he wasn't even trying to pretend he wasn't listening, by telling them, Dean would invite them into his relationship. They would know everything. It wouldn't be difficult for them to learn how Dean treats Renee, and when she tells them about the thoughtful gestures and their romantic dates, Roman and Seth would use that new information to their advantage. Dean could already hear them make fun of him. He could hear them calling him weak. Dean would no longer be the one making jokes, he would be at the other end.
This all was at stake. But as much as Dean's mind was inclined to refuse any attacks on his intentions and keep lying to his best friends, one long look at Renee had changed everything. This struggle wasn't about him. The consequences of his decision wouldn't concern him only. Sure, continuing with denial would make life easier for him, but what about her? How would it make her feel if he wasn't willing to introduce her as his girlfriend? Dean realized that escape meant hurting her. His victory was her loss. In this battle, Renee was on Roman's side.
So it came down to Dean's pride or Renee's happiness. Compromise wouldn't work in this case. If he decided to be selfish, she would probably pretend to be all right with the choice he had made. She would be hurt on the inside, but on the outside it would be difficult to spot her disillusion. On the other hand, if Dean decided to do what Renee wanted him to, it wouldn't be the end of the world for him. He could live with people knowing. He could even accept Roman and Seth's jokes about the lack of his masculinity. What mattered was that Renee would appreciate Dean's honesty; he would rise in her eyes. He had the ultimate chance to prove to her that she didn't make a mistake falling in love with him.
Renee looked at him; she wondered what was going through his mind. She searched for a clue to what his final decision would be but he was too good at keeping it to himself. But he appeared calmer, much calmer than before. Jealousy seemed to have disappeared. Confusion was on its way to leave, too. Had he made a choice yet? Why was he looking at Renee and didn't even glance at Roman? Renee seemed to be anticipating Dean's decision more than the hounds. But she wasn't as excited as them. And she wasn't calm as Dean either. She was curious, but in some way, scared, too. She wished she knew what Dean would do. Nobody did. It was as if there were firm walls, strong defense system protecting him from possible thieves. His thoughts were safe. Not even Renee was allowed to enter and see if he had a plan.
But this wasn't the time where he could take as long as needed to come up with a plan. Maybe spontaneity wouldn't be the best choice either, but what it mattered? In the end, they all knew what he would do. The process wasn't important, the results were. But if he was to finally end the hiding, he chose to at least make it interesting.
His eyes were still set on Renee. Roman may have been standing right next to Dean, watching him closely, but as far as Dean was concerned, Roman could catch on fire and Dean wouldn't still look at him. Roman may have been the one to organize this parade, but he was the least important person in it right now. Dean was the director. Renee was playing the leading role. But in a way she was above him; she was the one directing him, showing him the way. She was his muse. She gave him strength to do what otherwise he wouldn't even consider doing. Now he wasn't afraid.
He reached for her hand and crossed his fingers with hers. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She liked where it was going. Dean took a step to be close enough to her. Close enough to kiss her.
Roman and Seth's jaws dropped. They expected Dean to eventually admit he was in a relationship with their favorite interviewer, but they didn't see this coming. Not with people around. There weren't many but those who were in the room immediately stopped whatever they had been doing and gasped in surprise. What the hell was going on? Dean and Renee? Roman's half-naked body wasn't the most interesting thing in the room anymore.
Seth looked around to see people's reactions. They were as puzzled as him; and he had seen those two kissing before. He wondered what his coworkers were thinking. Then he shared a look with Roman. Roman was smiling; he achieved what he wanted. His plan worked, even better than he anticipated. Seth finally came closer to him and those two "we don't give a fuck who sees us."
"So," Seth spoke to Roman, "are they ever gonna stop kissing?"
It took longer than an average kiss. Seth thought that maybe Dean didn't know what to do afterwards, he was too scared to face the consequences of his sudden action, so he prolonged the kiss. Seth was wrong. Dean wasn't scared. He just liked it took much to stop. And so did Renee.
As a reaction to Seth's question, which Dean heard even when he was too busy making out with his girlfriend, Dean showed him a middle finger. Roman laughed. However romantic Dean may have appeared at that moment, it was still that egocentric, competitive bastard that Roman loved. But it was a good thing Renee couldn't see Dean's multitasking.
When the kiss was finally over, Dean victoriously looked at Roman and then at Seth, too. While Roman did all this to lower Dean's confidence, Dean made his loss his victory. He took all that was against him to his advantage. He didn't lose power; he was still in control.
"She's mine," Dean said.
Renee knew she wasn't supposed be okay with the way Dean pronounced it, as if she was his property, and she certainly wasn't supposed to like, but she couldn't help herself, she really did like it. It was an acknowledgment of their relationship after all, not a typical one but it was good enough.
"Wow," Roman exclaimed. "So I guess Dean Ambrose is not afraid of commitment anymore."
Dean didn't answer. It wasn't that simple. He was still terrified, but he made a huge step forward today. They couldn't expect him to feel comfortable dealing with daily relationship tasks. And there could be no discussion about important, far-reaching decisions. Maybe at some point in the future he would be able to make those, but that day seemed distant. For now it was enough that he accepted responsibility for being in a couple.
Roman was happy he made Dean confess. Although, he didn't actually say it. "Say it," Roman demanded.
"Say what?"
"Say that she's your girlfriend," Seth joined the conversation. His eyes were sparkling. He was so excited.
Dean wasn't. He wasn't happy to give them what they wanted. He saw what they were doing. They were trying to win.
Dean looked at Renee. They tried to communicate without words. They weren't good at it. Then Renee smiled. She shook her head. No, she didn't need Dean to say it. In her eyes, what he did sufficed. And it had to be clear to Seth and Roman too. Of course Dean wouldn't say "Roman, Seth, this is Renee, my girlfriend." How about kissing in public? Isn't that enough of an evidence? Even threatening them by saying "she's mine" was a form of acknowledgment of their relationship. Those two were stupid if they thought they could get more out of Dean. If they wanted Dean to be an adult about it, their actions should present an example for him. Renee wouldn't support their childish behavior.
She showed Roman and Seth that she disapproved of how they were taking advantage of Dean being a gentleman near her, and also made sure that Dean knew he didn't have to do anything they wanted him to. This didn't concern them after all. They got what they wanted; now they should let go.
Renee whispered something into Dean's ear; Roman and Seth had no chance to hear it. They only saw Dean smiling afterwards. Now it was clear to them he wouldn't give his victory away. The possibility of him saying the sentence they wished to hear, the one that existed just a moment ago, was not gone.
Dean and Renee left. But although they entered the room as strangers, they left it as a couple. The secret was out. Roman believed his successful mission was the reason behind it. Seth thought Roman played his part, but the ultimate factor that helped Dean make the decision and tell the truth had nothing to do with Roman. He was right.