Part 5: Caving In to New Feelings
Welcome to another update for 'The Road Trip', we're officially halfway done with the story. We're also on Day 2 of the 3-day trip. Let's see what happens with the three families on this road trip, shall we?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Lab Rats, Mighty Med, Lab Rats: Elite Force, or Johan and Julie from Waktu Rehat. I only own my Original Characters. With that being said, enjoy this chaotic story.
Day 2, Morning
The next morning, the Chimokuri family, the Andrews family and the Kingsley mother-daughter (plus one Great Defender) went on the early Nature Walk for the cave tour.
Or as Ricky has silently dubbed "the next massive joint family", he did mention that the road trip would have been merrier (and extra chaotic) if the Leighton family could join.
Regina just retorted how Ricky only wants the Leighton's over just so he could spend more time with their youngest daughter Louise (whom Ricky has a crush on). Or for Remus and Romulus to flirt with their girlfriends: Sora and Sara Leighton. (yes, Regina is mentally prepared for a triple-wedding in the distant future)
"Come on kids, we're gonna miss out on the Nature Walk!" Frank called out eagerly.
"Race ya, Spinster!" Jamie was already dashing past the rest of the family to get a headstart.
"Hey, no fair!" Spin followed after her.
"Coming, dad!" Jones replied, tagging after his parents and youngest brother.
"Kids, slow down!" Bernice followed behind her daughter and her friends.
So far it seemed like a good morning, the scenery was fantastic! Mom dragged all the kids for a group photo (much to Tracy's dismay). Even a bird swooped down and stole Riker's sandwich when he was eating earlier.
All that came to a halt when the families ventured deeper into the cave.
"Mom, Dad, you didn't tell me this place is tall." Tracy gulped. She was never one fond of tall heights…or darkness. This is totally ironic because shapeshifters 'tend to dwell in dark, cavernous places'.
Jones refuted that stereotypical statement by exclaiming, "That's like saying you can only find Asians explicitly in Chinatown."
"Yeah, I don't think I can go any further than here." Tracy grimaced as she and Bob came to a stop. The sight of the stairs going further and higher made them nervous.
"I could stay back if you want?" Doris looked at her daughter in concern.
"You don't really have to. You can just continue the hike without me." Tracy shook her head, she didn't want to come off as a wet blanket for this big road trip.
"I'm staying too, I'm scared of heights." Bob raised a hand, which his sister gave him a side-five.
"Acrophobia has to run in the family somehow." Tracy cracked a light joke, earning a smile from the blond boy.
"Are you sure? You're missing out on some of the best views." Rodissius pointed out.
"Yeah, I am deathly scared of heights, so I think Bob and I are just gonna chill here." Tracy nodded, her knees shaking at the mere thought of tall heights. Or pitch darkness.
"I'll stay back too, in case Bob wants to go back to the RV." Roman raised his hand. Riker's eyebrows raised at his twin's declaration.
"Stay back as long as you want." Riker is making finger guns at his twin.
"Stop making things weird, Riker." Frank frowned, "it's still their choice and free will."
Tracy mouthed a grateful 'thanks' to her dad. She could always count on her dad to back her up when the Andrews siblings keep messing with her.
"Ro, you don't have to stay back. I can take care of myself and Bob." Tracy tried to persuade her friend to follow the rest of their families to go on the cave tour.
"But I insist." When Roman sets his mind on something, it is nearly impossible to talk him out of it. He's THAT stubborn.
Bob felt sleepy halfway so his sister offered him to use her lap as a pillow and rest.
"He's so cute." Tracy giggled, the blond boy's head rested on her lap.
"Yeah, you are." Roman murmured, looking at her with a fond expression. She's always had a soft spot on little kids…
"Did you say something?" Tracy looked up and met his gaze.
Crap, did she hear him? Sure, he's always thought she's cute. It doesn't have to mean anything, right?
"I'm uh gonna go check out that area to get some pictures." he cleared his throat, motioning to the other side of the cave nearby.
"Cool, enjoy." Tracy responded with a thumb up.
It only took 10 minutes of sweet silence until Roman's day was interrupted.
"Hey," A group of stunning girls approached Roman. Makes sense, he's an attractive guy and has that 'dark, brooding, Leather jacket cladded bad boy' energy.
"Are you single?" And here comes the flirting. At least they're quite straightforward about it.
"Sorry, I have a girlfriend." Roman turned them down, immediately planning his exit routes by heading over to Tracy.
"Hey babe." Roman quickly sat next to Tracy on the bench and put his arm around her shoulder. He knows it's pretend, but something just feels…right about the way they're next to each other.
Roman has this look on his face that says 'play along'. Tracy noticed a few pretty girls staring at him (and glaring at her).
"Hi sweetie, did you get any good pictures for my brother just now?" She played along, leaning onto his touch (and secretly enjoyed it more than she should have).
Roman has surprisingly strong arms. Makes sense, he's got a tough workout regime but now is not the time to think about her (handsome athletic) friend.
Yikes, it seems like Roman's admirers are still not fully believing in his lie. Time to bring out the big guns.
"Ro, do you trust me?" She looked at him.
"Yes, but why? Why are you looking at me like that?" Roman gulped a little before his friend reached both her hands out and pulled his face towards hers.
She pressed her thumbs on his lips and leaned forward. His eyes widened at the sudden action.
The good news is Roman's back is facing all the other admirers, so all they could really see was the lovebirds kissing on a bench...with a boy napping beside them.
A few minutes later
Once the girls were out of earshot (mostly ran out), Tracy pulled away.
"Did you just-?" Roman stammered out, covering his mouth with a hand. His heart hammering in his chest. Why was he stuttering? He's usually more articulated than this!
"I thought blocking a kiss is the most convincing way to get them out of your hair." Tracy mumbled, looking away to hide her blushing face.
"Thanks for pretending to be my girlfriend." Roman thanked her. His eyes somehow kept glancing at her lips and silently wondered what it'd be like to actually kiss her-HOLD UP, NOPE!
"Not the first time it happened." Tracy smiled wryly. When Caitlin had an obsessive crush on Chase a while back, he went to her for help. "I'm basically the Practice Girl when it comes to dating at this point."
Roman could sense that dating is a sore subject for his friend, so he diverted her attention.
"Uh wanna continue 20 Questions?" He suggested.
"You're so on." Tracy seemed to like the idea, "Question 1: if you were to be stuck as an animal for all eternity, which would you be and why?"
"A crow," Roman answered. Crows have always been his favorite birds. "Mostly because I like flying, it's freeing and the view from above is breathtaking."
"Not a surprise. Your middle name is literally Crowley." Tracy smirked teasingly at him.
"Your turn. Do you prefer guys with long hair or short hair?" He asked another question.
"I can't choose so I'm gonna say both. Short-haired guys are fine but also common." Tracy thought for a while (quietly blushing at the image of Chase when she thought of attractive short-haired guys) before she continued, "On the other hand, guys with longer hair have this magnetic allure to them that I can't look away."
Roman finds himself subconsciously running his hand through his hair at that comment.
"Like yours." Tracy whispered, flashing him a tiny smile.
Roman's mouth dropped slightly, but closed it. He kept in mind that she specifically said that she likes the way his hair looks. He was also 99.999% certain that he is blushing right now.
There is this sudden shift within their dynamic, and it almost felt like they were…flirting?
Roman has had others flirting with him before, but he's never really shown any interest or reciprocated the way his other siblings would. But why is it so different now?
What if Tracy is flirting with him right now? Or is this just platonic compliments? Is it bad for him to secretly like their semi-flirty banter?
There is something…cute about the way she's smiling at him right now.
'This is payback for making me blush yesterday!' Tracy cursed internally under her smile.
Meanwhile, Roman could hear 13 little voices from the back of his head that sounded like all his siblings AND his dad (this is getting concerning) screaming, 'FLIRT BACK, YOU COWARD!'
"Next question!" Tracy cleared her throat after a moment of silence (probably to let both parties process the new feelings), "If you could have any superpower outside of the ones you have, what would it be?"
"To make any wish come true." Roman answered, as if he's given it some thought.
"Oh, do you still believe in that dream?" Her head tilted slightly. It seemed unlike him to have this kind of dream when he's usually the serious and tactical one.
When Roman was younger, wish-granting was actually the ideal superpower he wanted to have. She just didn't expect him to still remember that dream till this day.
"You're sitting in front of me right now," Roman winked at her. "My wish sure came true."
Tracy stared back at him, rendered speechless at his reply. She had not expected him to have such a smooth comeback.
Yup, this was DEFINITELY flirting!
Shoot, what do you do now? Where's that dang magazine advice when you need it?
Bob peeked an eye open, he noticed how his big sister and Roman seemed to get along fine. He mostly felt annoyed that neither of the teens were unaware they were flirting with each other. He peaked over and saw a group of pretty girls staring at Roman. (He'd levitate to fawn over them, but it'd be a dead giveaway he was eavesdropping his sister and her friend)
"Ro, do you trust me?" He heard Tracy's voice.
"Yes, but why? Why are you looking at me like that?" Roman responded but got silenced.
Wait, is Tracy kissing Roman?! He can't wait to tell Jenny later on! (He'd tell Spin and Jamie, but they find romance an icky subject at the moment)
Oh, to find that kind of love someday…
Unmasked's Road Trip arc is really shoving in as many ship tropes as possible, I'm unashamed to admit it. This involves Fake Dating and 'Fake Out Make Out' trope. We are now officially halfway done with the story and it's building up to the realization of feelings.
Chapter Talk: -
(1.) Yes, Jones will constantly voice his disdain to 'Shapeshifters' stereotypes, because I'm throwing that worldbuilding lore myself. I have some beef with how in Elite Force, the team just calls Roman and Riker 'Shapeshifters'. Call 'em by their names instead, you're putting all shapeshifters (Alan, Jamie, the Chimokuri family) in a bad category
(2.) Roman Crowley Andrews (yes Crowley is now his middle name) is aware when people flirt with him, but is disinterested in their advances. Interestingly, his first instincts when Tracy 'flirted' with him is to flirt back. Hhm, I wonder why...
(3.) Rocy also has a Fake Dating trope in Unmasked. Yes, Tracy (fake) kissed him to scare his fans away. Yes, Tracy secretly finds Roman very attractive. And yes, Roman's now extra flustered/aware of his VERY platonic attraction towards her. It's TOTALLY normal and platonic to make each other blush!
(4.) Who else laughed/screamed during the 20 questions reprised? The inner thoughts segment was added last-minute but I laughed at the mental image of Roman's inner thoughts demanding him to flirt back. Originally Ro's inside voice is supposed to be Riker, but I figured it'd be funnier if his inside voice consists of his siblings AND his dad because they're always on his mind.
(5.) So, fun fact: the bit about Roman's ideal superpower as a Wish Granter is actually based on an interview by Booboo Stewart. It's gotta manifest its way into Rocy for that smooth flirting.
Sidenote, THIS was the alternative version of Roman's inner thoughts.
— — — —
Roman (thinking): Oh boy, I think Tracy might be flirting with me.
Tracy: so, if you have any superpower outside of the ones you have, what would it be?
Roman (Thinking and making a split-second decision): Quick! I need to reply with a smooth comeback. What would Riker say?
Riker's voice: Will you be the moon to my cake?
Roman: Scratch that! What would dad say?
Rodissiuss's voice: just marry her already! I DEMAND GRANDKIDS! I'm not getting any younger, son!
Roman: Heck no! I'm not ready for that commitment yet, dad! What would Reese say?!
Reese's voice: Wish granting, duh! Because seeing her face is a 'dream come true'.
— — — —
And that is all for this chapter. Hope you've enjoyed it, feel free to leave a comment down below and let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading, and have a fantastic day!
