Kyle rose then and helped him put on his armor, buckling the straps tight.
Marius watched him, feeling so full he thought he’d be sick. “I’ll pay you back for this breakfast...”
Kyle just smiled mockingly at him, playfully wiping a crumb off his lip. “Yes? I can hardly wait.”
Marius’ eyes darkened, but then Clavius stormed in. “Oh... am I interrupting?”
Kyle left him, smiling, and started packing. Marius turned to Clavius. “No...”
“Good! Let’s go and have a meeting before we set off.”
He eyed Marius as they walked through the still dark camp, Marius’ strides a bit more secure, his face a bit less pasty. “Had a good night?”
His lips curled into a smile. “You can say that, yes.” He stopped, and Clavius turned to him. “Clavius... I...”
“Shut it, I don’t need your pathetic thanking. Just make sure we survive this shit.” He grinned and strode off, Marius following.
They marched all next day and set the camp up again for the night.
Marius turned to Clavius in front of his tent. “Dine with me tonight?”
“Don’t you want some privacy?”
Marius smiled. “I’ll have that later. Just come and eat with us.”
“Sure, sure... let me shed my armor and I’m all yours.”
Kyle was already in his tent, waiting for him, rearranging the last bits of furniture.
He turned when Marius entered and walked to him to take off his armor. “Your bath is ready.”
“Great...” He felt drained, his body screaming from hours of riding. Truth was he had neglected his training during weeks, let alone riding his horse. Marius lowered himself into the tub and hissed at the scalding water. “You want to burn my skin off?” Kyle didn’t comment and handed a cup to him. He drank deeply and grimaced. “Water?”
The slave raised his eyebrows. “You’d prefer that awful beverage your soldiers drink?”
Marius laughed. “It’s called posca and is quite potent.”
Kyle shrugged. “Do you want some?”
“How about wine?”
“I don’t think you should drink wine.”
They looked at each other, and Kyle’s heart beat faster, but he kept his face still.
“I don’t think that’s your decision to make.” Marius’ voice was clipped, on the verge of anger, but Kyle didn’t want to give up.
“You will get drunk....” He walked closer to him and pushed him forward, starting to soap his back, his hands gliding on his muscles. “... and you’re not nice when you’re drunk...”
Marius closed his eyes, his anger dwindling. “I won’t get drunk...”, but he was not sure, knowing how much he’d drunk the last couple of months.
Kyle leant down to run his tongue along his neck. “... and if you get drunk, you can’t make me pay for breakfast...”
Marius moaned, reaching up to pull him in the tub when Clavius entered. “I’m here! Haul your ass out of the tub, Commander, and let’s eat!”
Kyle helped him out and disappeared to get their dinner, Marius slipping on a light tunic.
Clavius shook his head. “You look like shit...”
