Work Text:
“Look I get it. You wanted to work with Dean but now you have to do this with me but-” Raffy was trying to smooth things over with Arnold so that he could at least make it through this rehearsal. So far it’d been every second of hell. It was clear that Arnold, like Dean, didn't want him to have the role of the other alternate Romeo. Deep down Raffy couldn’t blame but right now that’s what the sponsors needed to keep this production afloat. However it was clear that something else was unfolding as he stopped talking in favor of sighing. He looked over at Jack to get some assistance on having Arnold attempt to suffer through this with him when he realized that the rest of the production team were gaping as they looked between him and their phones. His own had buzzed while he was trying to get through the scene but he’d been professional enough to ignore it.
A pit formed in his stomach then a lightening strike of horror shook him as he saw a video playing of him and Rome in the car. It was clear that they’d arrived as soon as he’d climbed into Rome’s lap after Rome had gotten his mouth on him. Though the angle was careful not to show Rome. It was all Raffy.
“And here you thought me being a host was good gossip.” Dean snickered.
“Raffy…” Jack looked at him in disappointment and well that wasn’t what he needed from someone who claimed they cared for him as a friend.
Raffy felt violated and disgusted in more ways than one. “No.” He stopped the man from continuing whatever bullshit that was going to come out of his mouth.
“No? You can dish it out to others but not take it?” Dean stomped towards him.
“You better get a hold of him or his mouth is going to write a check you can’t cash Jack!” Raffy ignored Dean, retreating. He felt like he was about to vibrate right out of his skin. He felt like he wanted to vomit and by the heaven’s…fucking cry and there was no way in hell he was going to do that in front those assholes. The only one that he knew wanted to hurt him was Dean. He’d been there with Jack that night so it made sense.. He’d just left the theatre building when Rome was there.
“Raffy!” Rome approached him quickly, looking upset. Like this was Raffy’s fault even though it was him that was exposed. Rome reached out to spin him back around to face him so they could try to hash this out in the courtyard. A place where this absolutely didn’t need to be happen.“How coul-”
“No.” Raffy shut that down to his as he felt the sting to his eyes. He was going to cry especially if th next thing out of Rome’s mouth was how could you. Didn’t people get tired of blaming him even when it brought pain to himself? Not that anyone listened. “You don’t get to blame me when you’re not the focus!”
“Raffy, is that what you think? That I…you-” Rome tried to cut him off while grabbing Raffy’s biceps.
“You’re you but I’m her son!” Raffy gave back, slapping his hands away. “You-” His phone started ringing, driving his attention to the ringtone. It was the one that he’d set for his mother’s assistant. He felt light headed.
“Just listen to me, Raf-” Rome tried again.
“I don’t have time for you.” Raffy couldn’t take this anymore. He had to answer the call or his life was going to seep into another level of hell he didn’t want to live in.
Come get your shit. That’d been the text that Jack had received the moment Rome had went to ask Jack if he’d heard from Raffy. It’d been almost a week with no sight or sound of him since he’d stormed off. Rome had hated that’s how they’d left things. So much hadn’t been said and he hated that he’d been so caught up in himself that he’d let Raffy believe he blamed him for what happened with the video. No it’d been the asshole’s fault that’d filmed them.
“He could have just brought it to you at school. This is so dramatic.” Dean sighed as he leaned against the wall of the elevator. Clearly he wasn’t impressed with the apartment complex.
“Yeah like you enjoyed waltzing around campus after your non-explicit video of you working as a host.” Rome gave back eyeing Dean sharply. “You could have stayed in the car.”
“Not a chance.” Dean muttered as he rolled his eyes.
“Stop it both of you.” Jack sighed, not wanting any confrontation. It was already stressful that half his play was behind due to Raffy not showing up.
“He should have stayed in the car, you know how he agitates Raffy.” Rome told his brother, “And this is home. Not the place for the two of them to be butting heads.” The doors opened before the older man could answer. Rome stepped off first, knowing the way and not caring what his brother thought.
Rome pressed the doorbell when they were close enough that the door camera could see them all. There was some shuffling then the door opened. Rome had practiced what he wanted to say but the words caught in his throat at the state of Raffy. They’d expected his beautiful bratty face with a pout but that wasn’t present. What was before them was a heavily beaten man in a black silk robe. His right eye was swollen shut with a busted lip and nose. Besides that the robe’s collar rested over his collarbones which revealed his entire neck that had a deep violet-black imprint of a hand.
“What the fu…uck.” Dean cursed as he stumbled to a stop behind Jack who looked equally as stunned.
“Why the fuck are you here at my house?” Raffy cursed, a scowl forming on his lips since his face wasn’t cooperating at the moment.
“Raffy.” Rome swiftly recovered, knowing he didn’t want there to be any further misunderstanding, “Who did this to you.”
“I don’t have time for this. Whatever this is..” Raffy flinched away as Rome had instinctually reached out to most likely cup his cheek but then realized it would probably hurt and dropped his arm. Honestly, he was just too sore to bother thinking about anything but himself. He refocused on Jack after stepping back, he had grabbed the script, badge that unlocked the theatre rehearsal rooms, and the staff t-shirt that’d been given to him. He stepped forward, shoving them at Jack. “Here’s your shit and it won’t be a surprise that I’m not doing the damn play. Trying to be the friend you needed has blown up in my face…literally. .”
“Look Raffy something clearly happened.” Jack didn’t know what to think of how Raffy refused to let Rome touch him.
“You don’t deserve to know.” Raffy shot back.
“Then why not just bring it or ask someone else?” Dean recovered from his earlier shock at seeing the man in this state.
“Because despite being a shitty friend, he is in fact a friend.” Raffy jabbed as Jack twisted to shoot Dean a warning look with Rome. “And I had wanted him to find out before I posted that I was done.”
“You-”
“I’ve done it so leave that’s all I wanted from Jack.” Raffy ignored the looks to Rome in favor of heading inside.
“We need to talk Raffy.” Rome moved to follow him but Raffy put up his hand as Jack and Dean understood the clear dismissal, leaving Rome there at the door with Raffy. “
“No we don’t. We’re just as done. I won’t be blamed for leaking that video of us when I didn’t do it.” Raffy despite the pain shook his head. There was a pain in his chest. His mother hadn’t taken it well that whomever leaked the video had sent the video directly to her after sending it to everyone in the play production. He’d been punished by the thugs that worked for her assistant and told that he was confined to his apartment until they figured out how to control the situation.“I only sent the video to Jack about Dean’s hosting but somehow it got out and I got blamed for that. No one cared that I didn’t do it. But this? This was done to not just hurt me but ruin me. Well the joke is on you and your beloved bestie, Dean. I might be a nepo baby but I’m not a stupid one.”
Rome’s stomach dropped. Did Raffy think he and Dean…did this? “Dean and I didn’t do this. We will …No, I will find out who did this to you. Do you trust me that much?”
“No.” Raffy shook his head. “I gave you my body and pieces of me that you called what was the word…cheap? Well even someone this cheap isn’t someone you can afford.” At that he slipped inside, shutting the door in the others face.