3:23pm

AU
—

"Please, Kaiden! I said I'd go!" Roman begged, standing opposite the man he was currently having an argument with. It seemed even if he could cover up the bruising, Kaiden was still not happy with Roman leaving the house - the flamboyant man didn't know why. Was it because Kaiden was scared he'd get hurt? The makeup might rub off? Roman didn't know, or care, Kaiden was being too possessive for his liking.

"I don't care, cancel it, you're not leaving" Kaiden argued back, the expression on his face brook no argument. But, Roman was insistent, he really wanted to go, and have a fun day with his friends! It's bad enough they don't hang out for months at a time, Roman needed his friendship with them, he didn't want them to think he doesn't like them anymore.

"But I-"

"Roman" Kaiden spoke warningly, taking a step closer to him but he stood his ground, crossing his arms. "You can't keep me from going!" Roman yelled, finally noticing the stance he was in. It was the same one when he came home drunk, he was angry, and he might hurt him again...but Roman couldn't let himself be ruled by fear, his boyfriend isn't supposed to be like this!

"Shut up" Kaiden ordered, but it was useless, Roman was persistent. When he went to speak again, his mouth instead let out a yelp as he was pinned to the wall, for a few seconds Kaiden glared into Roman's eyes that suddenly widened in fear before his body was thrown around and his chest was painfully dug into the wall, Kaiden's hand gripping excruciatingly tight onto his waist that was sure to bruise.

"Kaiden! Let me go!" Roman shrieked, but his arms were clasped behind his back, all his struggling and writhing was useless - Kaiden was stronger than Roman in every way, so he waited until he stopped moving, panting heavily.

"You are not going anywhere, understand?" Kaiden snarled right next to his ear, his hand that once gripped his waist moving to his ass where he squeezed the flesh tightly. Roman whimpered, trying to pull away only to be forcefully pushed back against the wall.

He's never acted like this before, bar the choking, Kaiden has never laid a finger on Roman in means of hurting him. What happened? He wasn't drunk - was he still pissed that his friends pranked him? Roman didn't know the details of what they did but he'd be damned if he did this to his boyfriend if his friends were to hurt him.

Not really having much choice in the matter, Roman nodded, flinching as Kaiden pierced his skin with his nails around his wrists.

"You're mine, understand? If I say you're not going out, you're not" letting him go, Roman stumbled and gripped onto the doorway for support. Shaking in fear, he felt a kiss being pressed to his cheek. "I'm doing this because I love you" he murmured, letting Roman go upstairs into their bedroom where he closed the door and sat on his bed, rubbing his wrists as he tried to understand what just happened.

Was Kaiden really this possessive? Roman's never really thought about it before, but now he took a step back, and realised the only reason why he hadn't seen his friends when he wanted was because of him. It was hard to digest, but the proof was there, all Roman had to do was stop focusing on the part Kaiden said he "loved him" and focus on the part where Kaiden ordered him to stay home...

Roman assumed he was just worried, but now he realises that isn't the case at all - and he felt like an idiot. Kaiden is the first boy he's ever dated, and it's lasted two years, and only now does he realise what Kaiden is? Maybe everyone who ever called him an idiot was right, maybe Kaiden was just desperate enough to date Roman because he was single for so long.

He thought this relationship was going good - he hasn't had a good one before, most cheated on him or hurt him in the past but this...this was much worse. With a sharp pain digging at his heart, he wondered if bad relationships were all he was ever going to get. Slumping, his body crawled up the bed and he dove under the covers, hiding his body from the world as he laid in silence, wondering if he should try and leave again or just give up and stay home...

No, no! Roman would not give in! That wasn't who he was, he doesn't give up just because someone tells him no, he is his own person, and even if he loves Kaiden, he's acting way out of hand.

If Kaiden won't let him go, he guessed he would have to sneak out.

Standing up, he ran a hand through his hair, picking up his phone from his pocket. His friends were supposed to pick him up from outside his house in five minutes, and if Roman didn't leave now Kaiden would see the car and stop him from going again - why was he so against him leaving? Roman couldn't understand.

Shaking the feeling away, he opened his window and looked down. He could use the tree to climb down, but he didn't want to disturb the nest of birds. Closing the window, he silently left the bedroom and headed down the stairs. He could see Kaiden sitting on the couch, watching tv while texting someone on his phone.

He was distracted, so Roman easily slid past and silently opened the back door, stepping into the outside world before closing the door behind him slowly. He waited a few moments, smiling in triumph when he realised he escaped. Walking around the side of the house, he avoided any windows and quickly rushed down the driveway, hiding behind his car to glance into the window. He couldn't see Kaiden looking out, meaning he got away without any detection.

He was good.

Smiling to himself, he headed down the street, waving down his friends car once he spotted it into the distance. He wanted to tell them what had happened to ask for their advice on the situation. Because of what Kaiden did, Roman doesn't even know if he wants to be with him anymore, but was he really going to throw two years down the drain? He really did love Kaiden.

"Hey, Kiddo!" Patton grinned, parking next to him so he could climb into the back next to Virgil. Closing the door, he pulled the seatbelt across his chest, smiling at each of his friends. "Greetings, all!" He giggled, Patton starting up the car to start driving to the zoo. "I must ask for your advice" Roman started up conversation, hands awkwardly resting on his lap.

"What's up?" Virgil replied back, turning his head to stare at Roman while he spoke.

"Well..." he cleared his throat, eyes focused on his house as they drove by. "Kaiden wouldn't let me go" he explained, ignoring the silence that suddenly settled. "I had to sneak out- but there must be a redeeming reason, right? He might've wanted to spend the day with me! And I...left" Roman furrowed his eyebrows, but Virgil quickly cut in before he would fall down the hole of only seeing Kaiden as a good guy.

"He's too possessive, can't you see that?" Roman stammered, chewing his lip harshly.

"I suppose it depends on the situation - if he explained the reason why he didn't want you to leave, rather than ordering you to stay home, he might be redeeming, but from your wording I assume he didn't. Am I correct?" Logan swirled around in his passenger seat to meet Roman's eyes, when the man slowly shook his head Logan set his lips into a tight line, feeling hate and anger towards the man who Roman seemed to love so much.

"Think about it, Kiddo...he doesn't seem like the best type of person" Patton said gently, turning into the parking lot for the zoo. Once the vehicle was parked, everyone turned to face Roman who shrunk in his seat, glancing at Virgil for help because he didn't know what to do. He would never discourage his friends from giving him the advice he needed, and if they truly didn't like Kaiden, then he guessed it was over between them...but that thought made him want to cry. He didn't want to be alone again.

"Just...stop thinking about it" Virgil reached over to place a hand on his, noticing Roman tensed up at the sudden human contact, but it went away immediately as he relaxed, seeming reassured by his friends touch. "We'll talk about it later, okay? You can stay over mine, and talk to Kaiden over the phone" Virgil offered, the idea made Roman smile a little and nod. That was probably best. He didn't want to be hurt by Kaiden again if he got too angry.

They all left the car and entered the zoo, throughout the day Roman periodically would stare into the distance and think, while his friends carried on their conversation. They wanted to say something to him, but they also knew the best thing for him would be to think about everything, and for him to decide what he wants. They can't force him to do anything, they just hope he'll make the right choice.

As the day came to an end, Roman washed his hands in the public restroom near the exit of the zoo - glancing at himself in the mirror for a few seconds. He could see the makeup wearing thin, and he didn't want his friends to notice, or question him - they might get the police involved and Roman was already overwhelmed and didn't need the extra stress.

Drying his hands, he sent a polite smile to someone who walked by. He wasn't second guessing going over to Virgil's house - he would much rather be in a place where he is safe while having the conversation to Kaiden over the phone. He could feel his heart hurting and speeding up at the mere idea of ending things - how could love hurt him this much? He tried, he wanted it to work, he ignored all the signs, he didn't care of his slight possessiveness, or about..any of his bad qualities - Kaiden could be a good guy, and if he didn't have any of the issues he obviously possesses, Roman could see them spending their life together.

He hissed out in pain when the blow-drier burnt his hand, rubbing his red palm to coax away the pain. Depending on how the conversation would go down tonight would drive him to one of the two choices he had. Stay with him, or let him go.

He also had to think about where he would stay if he were to leave, as it was Kaiden's house. Virgil might let him stay for awhile but he needed to find a new place. He had a job, and enough money, he just hoped things would work out for the best. Finally, he pushed open the squeaky door to the toilets and strode towards his friends, smiling at all of them.

"You guys up for fast food?"

Later that evening, Roman sat on Virgil's couch, phone in hand, eyes staring at it intently. His thumb hovered over the call button, he had over twenty missed calls and too many text messages from Kaiden throughout the day. Roman knew he was pissed, and didn't know if he could talk to him, even over phone. Virgil's encouragement helped, but in the end all he could do was sit opposite Roman and wait in patient silence, informing Logan and Patton over text what was going on. With Roman's permission, of course.

Dragging a hand through his hair, Roman leaned back on the couch, glancing up at Virgil who was focused on his phone, chewing his nail. Roman thought he looked cute.

His thumb hit the green button, and the device was pressed to his ear, each ring making his heart thud faster and hand grip his hair tighter. Finally, the ringing stopped, and Kaiden spoke.

"Roman?"

"...hey" he forced out, sitting up. This caught Virgil's attention, he sat up too and watched Roman closely. Kaiden huffed on the other end, shuffling around until Roman heard a door close.

"What do you want?"

Roman stammered, furrowing his eyebrows. "I...wanted to talk" he explained quietly, chewing his lip while waiting for Kaiden's response. The silence was deafening.

"About what? You made it obvious you didn't want to be together anymore"

Roman gasped, shaking his head even if Kaiden couldn't see. "What? I-Kaiden, no! That's- I love you.."

Kaiden snorted, a piercing pain shooting through Roman's heart that dropped with each reply Kaiden gave. Maybe he wasn't such a good man after all. Roman's friends were right, he should've left him months ago. Instead, he didn't listen, and now this is the pay back he deserves.

"Whatever - you disobeyed me to hang out with your friends, they're pathetic idiots - especially Virgil" Kaiden really didn't want Roman anymore, he quickly realised Roman wouldn't be that easy to control, even if he was in love. Not only was he persistent, he can stand up for himself in a heartbeat, no matter the situation, he might be desperate but his friendship with Virgil, Logan and Patton was sacred to him, and if one were to be insulted, Roman would defend them with his life, it didn't matter who the insulter was.

"You take that back" Roman glowered, eyes darkening as they glared at the carpet. Kaiden let out a laugh, one that made Roman's blood boil and hands clench. Virgil was noting all of this, never once seeing Roman get angry with Kaiden. He really wanted to know what Kaiden was saying, but that would be too far.

"I'd rather not -"

"Kaiden, are you done?"

The female voice in the background called, Roman quickly realising the situation he couldn't see. He was being cheated on, yet again. His tense body eased, not with relief, but with the fleeting emotions that left him but a hollow shell. His eyes dropped close, voice falling too. "I'll get my stuff tomorrow" sounding defeated, he hung up and blocked his number, his phone landing on the coffee table after he threw it there carelessly.

"Roman-"

"Don't" he replied quietly, his tone low and tired. Standing up, he left to his guest bedroom without a word, leaving Virgil to text Logan and Patton of what happened, and to ask if they would come over tomorrow.

He closed the door, letting in and out long and deep breaths, slowly easing himself down onto the single bed.

What a naïve idiot he was.

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9:50pm