Chapter Text
When Raffy told Rome he wanted to go to the fortune teller as their activity to celebrate the last days of holidays, Rome got hit with an extreme deja vu. Except that time Rome was in a much better place. He got his boyfriend, made new friends, and reconciled with the old. Arriving at the Fool Store was a little bit awkward, nonetheless. It reminded him of the journey he went on a couple months earlier. And while the outcome was amazing, Rome was still a bit shaken from all of it.
Rome held Raffy's hand when they went inside. It was his new favorite thing to do. Maybe a second favorite, right after calling Raffy ‘baby’. It started as a tease, but Rome quickly learned to love it. And he knew Raffy did as well.
Raffy looked around. His plan was ready to be set in motion.
Because Raffy came with a whole hidden agenda. He wanted to do something crazy, something that would celebrate them graduating, and made him fully ready for the life ahead of them.
And what was better than living a different life for a little bit?
He just hoped that Madame Razz would cooperate.
And that Rome won't get mad.
They’ve been together for three beautiful months and Raffy couldn't be happier. Rome helped him after the whole Pete fiasco. Raffy even found himself hanging out with Dean. When Dean apologized, Raffy's initial plan was to keep distance, but with Rome and Dean getting along, Raffy was forced to spend time with him. After a while he realized that Dean was not as bad as he painted him. Of course Raffy never said that out loud. With Raffy and Dean getting along better, Rome and Jack were also forced to work things out.
Rome was initially salty about not getting to punch Jack, but with their newly found friendship the feeling slowly disappeared.
Despite everything going well, Raffy's heart was yearning for something a little more dramatic, but in a way that won’t hurt anyone in the process. Raffy really learned from his mistakes and was sure to not make them again.
So he took Rome back to Madame Razz.
“Welcome to the Fool Store,” Madame Razz greeted them. “Another round for you?” she asked.
Raffy smiled, of course she would know his plans from the get go.
Meanwhile Rome looked utterly confused.
“This time I would like to go,” said Raffy.
Rome blinked rapidly. “Go? Where? Raffy?” He squeezed his boyfriend’s hand. “What are you planning? Why are we here?” His brain was producing too many thoughts.
“Well, I thought that we need to do something exciting, so I thought that maybe I could experience what you did a while back,” explained Raffy.
Rome went through all five stages of grief in a matter of seconds. “Oh.”
Raffy was prepared for a bigger reaction. “Oh?” It scared him. Did he mess up and upset Rome? That was not what he wanted.
“I mean… “Rome hesitated for a moment. “If you want to, why not. I wouldn't mind seeing Fang again. Are we sure it's a good idea to separate them again, though?” he asked. “They missed each other like crazy. I fear it might be unfair to them.”
Raffy got a little embarrassed, he didn't think about it at first. He felt bad for it. How could he forget about Tan crying about missing Fang? He realized that his wish wasn’t so easy to be granted.
Madame Razz nodded in approval. “You have truly learned a lot,” she praised Rome. “I can ask them for permission, if you want.”
Raffy and Rome looked at each other. Raffy loved the sound of that, it was reasonable and even if it meant Raffy not getting what he wanted, it didn’t cross it off completely. He much preferred a possible rejection over doing something against Tan and Fang’s will.
“Can you actually?” asked Raffy, glad his plan wasn't out of the picture completely.
“Yes, but I don't know how much time it will take to get an answer or if they would even agree,” she explained. “You'll have to wait.”
“Waiting is fine,” assured Raffy. Only then he looked at Rome. “Of course, only if you're fine with that,” he added, Rome’s opinion mattered the most for him.
Rome smiled. “If they agree, then I have no objections. But not for too long,” he said. “We don't want to be apart too long, right, baby?”
Raffy blushed. “Stop,” he huffed, but with no intention of actually stopping Rome.
“I believe in equality, so you would get two days, the way your lovebird did,” Madame Razz said to Raffy.
“Works for me,” he answered, looking at Rome, who nodded in agreement. “Do we–”
“No, I will contact you when I get the answer. Unless you want to be surprised,” she said.
Rome grinned, and Raffy got spooked. But instead, Rome just started laughing. “No, please, give him a heads up before he wakes up in a different world. It can be quite disturbing, when you do that without a warning.”
Raffy breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, please.”
Madame Razz nodded. “Fine, last time I had some really good fun with you two, so, your wish is my command. I’ll find you when the time comes.”
Raffy got excited. He was ready for the adventure.