Marius’ eyes lit up, and he repeated the name. “Brandan.”
The small boy stayed very still and clutched Kyle tighter, but he just whispered in his ear. “Chan eil eagal sam bith ort.”
By the time they got home, Brandan had fallen asleep, and Kyle’s arms were trembling with his dead weight. Still, he clenched his jaws and managed the remainder of the trip to their house. Sixtus eyed them curiously, concerned at the bony little boy slouched on Kyle’s shoulder, a thin stream of drool sliding down on the slave’s smooth skin.
Marius gestured towards the boy. “This is Brandan, I just bought him. He doesn’t speak Latin for now, only Celtic... Go and get Melissa. She can take care of him too, along with her daughter.”
Brianna was already there, looking up at Kyle, her eyes shining. Sixtus came back with Melissa, the woman’s face concerned when she saw the sleeping little boy.
Marius turned to her. “This is Brandan. Take care of him, he’ll need it. He only speaks Celtic for now.”
Melissa nodded, and Marius turned to Brianna with a smile. “You can teach him Latin. I’m sure he’ll learn fast.”
Their talking woke the little boy up, and he didn’t move, only his eyes opening wide, watching them.
Brianna tugged at his leg and his eyes drifted to her, curious. “Hi, I’m Brianna. Climb down? We can play.” She beamed a smile at him, but Brandan just clutched Kyle tighter.
The young man slowly pried him off, gently soothing him, and Melissa smiled at the boy, extending her hand. “Thig còmhla rium. Tha thu a-nis aig an taigh.” Brandan looked at Kyle and he nodded, letting him slip into Melissa’s arms, crying again in her neck. She left then and Bri followed her, reaching up to hold Brandan’s hand.
Marius watched them go and then reached for Kyle’s hand, feeling the slave tremble, the emotions and physical strain of the past hours getting at him. “Come...” He tugged at him, and Kyle followed Marius to the bath, letting him strip their clothes, his mind numb. Marius pulled him in the hot water and held him against his chest, cradling him in his arms and Kyle’s eyes closed, his tears softly flowing, his head resting on the Roman’s shoulder.
Marius’ lips brushed his cheek. “Talk to me?”
Kyle swallowed the lump in his throat, but couldn’t speak.
Marius sighed, stroking his arm. “You were very brave today... I am sorry you had to live through this. I had no idea...”
Live through this... yes, you have no idea... no idea what it feels like to lose your freedom, your family, and friends, to forget who you were to become somebody else, to be shaped by fear and pain until there’s nothing left but this fear, the fear of pain... your will gone to serve your people’s murderers until you die... to love you when there should only be hate...
Kyle shuddered, and Marius held him tighter, worried sick that he might lose him, his mind playing back Clavius’ words, somehow sensing the young man’s struggle.Fucked up world.“You have the right to hate me, you know, or be mad at me... I would understand...”
His pained voice made Kyle turn to look at him, his sad, grey eyes meeting his tortured blue ones, his damp, black hair falling into them. Slowly, his voice found its way out, softly. “I don’t hate you...” Marius waited, secretly relieved that he was talking, “... because you’re good to me... there’s less fear now...”
Marius’ heart sank, desperation creeping into his voice. “I love you... you should not be afraid.”
Kyle’s smile was tainted with sadness. “Patience, dominus... fear needs time to go away when it’s been part of my life for so long...” Marius’ chest heaved with his anger, shadows dancing on his handsome face, a crease between his brows, but Kyle reached up to his face, gently laying his palm on his cheek. “Your anger will not make the past disappear...”
He leaned into his touch. “I know... still, I don’t know exactly what they did to you, but...”
Kyle stroked his jawline. “Better this way...”
“I don’t want to lose you...”
Kyle smiled bitterly. “I'm not going anywhere...”
The meaning of his words was not lost on Marius, and he paled slightly, his face contorting in pain, but before he could speak, Kyle pulled him down into a kiss. He didn’t want to hear what Marius had to say. This was already too painful, and Marius’ distress made him anxious. They kissed deeply, their tongues fighting a raging battle, and soon they were both out of breath, hugging so tight that it hurt.
Kyle turned to face him, wiggling out of his arms and he pulled Marius out of the water, wordlessly leading him to their room where he pushed Marius on the bed, crawling above him.
Marius watched him, his pale face, the dark circles around his eyes, and as much as his tormented being wanted him, he didn’t want to love him out of despair. He reached up and pulled Kyle down, rolling him over, flinging the blanket on top of them.
He pinned the young man down with his leg over his thigh and gently brushed his face with his knuckles. “Just rest for now...you need it...”
Kyle tried to protest but his words died in Marius’ mouth, the Roman caressing him with his tongue, letting his warmth invade him under the sheets. Soon, he felt sleepy and, despite his struggle, plummeted into a deep sleep. Marius watched him for a while before dozing off, his arms pinned around the slave’s chest.
VIII
Theywokemuchlater,Kyle trying to push Marius off who all but lay on him, squashing him in the mattress.
