Simeon rubbed his head, shy. “So what?”
Tabia shrugged. “Nothing... just keep your hands to yourself.”
Simeon took Kyle’s hand. “Come, work with me.”
They went to gather cleaning supplies, and Kyle had to teach Simeon. He was a terrible cleaner, and the house looked a tip.
He had made him work hard, and by night-time, the floors sparkled, all the torches and lamps refreshed and polished. Simeon sweated profusely, smiling at Kyle when they were done, half-naked, their bodies glistening in the golden lamplight.
Tertullia walked in, her jaw dropping. “My... what have you done, boys?”
They smiled at her, Simeon walking close to her. “Like it, domina?”
Kyle watched a bit uneasily how close he stood to her, and she stroked his arm. “Yes, pet... I love it.” Her eyes drifted to Kyle. “Thank you. I think Simeon needs a teacher.”
He shifted at her tone but cleared his throat. “Sure, domina...”
Simeon skipped to him. “Let’s go and wash. Dinner needs to be served.”
He took him to the slave’s bath, a small room with a small pool. He stripped, utterly shameless, and Kyle followed him.
They washed, and Simeon eyed him. “You have a nice body.”
Kyle blushed. “Thanks... I guess.”
He laughed. “Domina likes you already. Will you sleep with us?”
Kyle froze, his eyes wide. “What...?”
Simeon didn’t notice, too busy washing his hair. “Yes, you know, as in her bed?”
He winked at him and Kyle swayed, vaguely dizzy. “I... I don’t think so...”, he moaned and tried to shut the pictures out of his mind.
Simeon walked up to him, patting his back. “Too fresh? You’re new. I forgot you just arrived this morning.” He grinned, and they went to serve dinner.
Kyle went straight to his room when it was time to retire, his heart heavy, his body thankfully exhausted, but the new place didn’t bring any sleep and his aching heart didn’t help either. He hugged his blanket tight, his tears flowing, his throbbing cheekbone reminding him of Marius. He cried himself to sleep eventually, the moon softly shining through the small window.
Marius looked at that large moon overlooking the terrace, its shape swaying. He was so drunk he could not move, so he just lay on his couch, shivering in the spring night, his tears spilling down his cheeks.
He chuckled, taking a large swig straight from the jug, his face dark, his blue eyes unfocused pools of sadness. “I miss you so much, pet... please don’t hate me...”
His whisper flew into the night, the moon’s face mocking him, and he threw the empty jug at it, the clay shuttering on the white marble.
I should go to bed... He tried to turn around but failed, his eyes drifting back to the moon... I’ll just sleep here then...
But sleep would not come in the cold night and he steeled himself and got up, going to his room, staggering, barely making it to the bed. He collapsed on it, face down, Kyle’s scent invading his senses and he clutched at the pillows, soaking in his smell. He could almost taste him on his tongue, and he cried, his face buried in the sheets.
XIII
Severalweekshadpassedsince that day when Kyle had moved out and Marius could not go to Clavius’ house, his family still doubtful, the city full of spies and Seraphina being her usual demanding self.
Marius busied himself with his child then, the little girl growing despite her mother still struggling to bond with her. He loved her and filled his emptiness with spending time with her, cradling her. Marius also went to the market with Sixtus to replace Kyle, and he left it to the old man to choose a gentle, middle-aged slave with a simple peasant mind somebody had named Paulus. He worked hard and made small wooden toys for the children, making them laugh. Marius buried himself into work too, but his eyes had grown dull, that fiery spark dead, his face dark under his black hair.
Kyle had adjusted well and Clavius and Tertullia had to admit he was a rare treasure. He had transformed their garden and kept the house sparkling. They had repainted with Simeon and cleaned the kitchen, earning an enormous bowl of broth and sloppy kisses from Tabia. They had not talked again about Kyle joining Simeon and Tertullia in bed, but he knew he was spending some nights with her when Clavius was out on his errands. He knew, of course, and couldn’t care less. But Clavius and Tertullia could also see how Kyle was fading away, his torn heart bleeding him dry, his grey eyes shining dully with that melancholic look on his face.
One day, Clavius walked up to Kyle, smiling. “I’m going to meet my huge brooding friend... any message for him?”
Kyle blanched, his heart clenching. He squared his jaw, though, closing his eyes. “No.”
