Victim Of Love [On-going]

Recognition

Roman was shaken. Seth was special to him. He loved him. He had done ever since they met in FCW and what had started out as an innocent need to protect the younger man had now turned into something else all together. He was in deep and seeing him so scared and helpless had affected him greatly. He made his way back to his room in a daze. He just couldn't get the image of Seth curled up on the bench, crying out of his head. In the seven years they had known each other, he had not once seen Seth cry.

''Hey bro''

Roman didn't hear Dean come in, he didn't even hear him knock

''Hello? Earth to Roman!'' Dean said, waving his hand in front of Roman's face.

''Oh hi'' Roman mumbled as he blinked

''OK, what's going on?'' Dean asked as he sat himself down next to Roman

''It's Seth''

Dean tensed up at the mention of his name. Roman had noticed that Dean hadn't exactly been Seth's biggest fan since he joined The Authority, but he didn't know how Dean was really feeling.

"What about him?" Dean finally asked.

''Something's going on with him'' Roman explained. ''He's acting really strange and from what I can tell it has something to do with Randy''

Dean's face scrunched up with confusion.''Wait, a second, what do you mean something is going on with him?''

Roman sighed. ''I've noticed that he's been acting strange since joining The Authority. At first I thought it was just because he was in character, but then I started to notice little things, like how he'd always look at the floor whenever Randy was around and how he always seemed to be with someone no matter what''

''So what are you trying to say?'' Dean asked

"I think Randy is hurting him'' Roman replied

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seth was more than used to being beaten, but it still hurt the same as it did the first time. Randy had been waiting for him to get back from the gym and it didn't take him long to work out that he hadn't even broken a sweat. Randy always knew what Seth was doing, even when he wasn't around, so of course he knew all about Roman going to the gym too and he didn't waste any time in showing Seth just how angry he was about it

''WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM!?'' Randy spat, his mouth pressed up against Seth's ear as he grabbed hold of his hair, pulling on it so tightly it made Seth's eyes water. ''ANSWER ME''

Seth stuttered, unable to get his words out. All he could process was pain.

''Look at you! You're fucking useless'' Randy taunted. ''I don't know why I put up with you. The only thing you're good for is laying on your back and taking dick like the bitch you are''

Sex had become one weapon of Randy's rage, and it was rough and brutal every time. Seth had quickly learnt not to cry out or protest, knowing that it would only spur Randy on even more, instead he just laid there and took it, drifting off into another place inside his head until Randy was satisfied. He'd think about the kind and funny Randy that he'd fallen in love with, the same Randy that sometimes made an appearance, even if it was brief. He lived for those rare appearances, prayed for another glimpse of the man he still [despite himself] loved.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dean was unsure what to make of Roman's admission, just the thought of someone hurting Seth made him angry and he hoped it wasn't true

"Are you 100% sure? I can't imagine Seth letting something like that happen to him''

''You didn't see him'' Roman explained ''You didn't see him curled up on that bench sobbing, he was completely broken''

Dean knew how Roman felt about Seth. He could see it in the way Roman looked at him, he recognized the signs because he was going through the same thing himself, but neither one of them had discussed it or admitted it to one another

"Look, if what you're saying is true, then I want to help in any way that I can, but first I need you to be completely honest with me about something.''

Roman turned his head to look at him. "Ok?''

''Do you like Seth as more than just a friend?''

Roman's face confirmed Dean's suspicions, but he wanted to hear him say it

''Yeah, I guess I do'' Roman replied "But why does that even matter?''

''It matters because I do too'' Dean admitted