Marius and Clavius arrived back at his room in a good mood. They had trained hard with the men and had meetings then, discussing how they would proceed with the neighboring tribes and villages. Rebels were nowhere in sight and this mission started to look less threatening. They stepped in and Marius noticed, surprised, that the room was empty.
Clavius sat down, his eyebrows arched. “Your lover boy?”
“I have no idea... he probably left to get something to eat.”
“Talking of which, I am starving...”
As on cue, Kyle entered and momentarily froze when he saw them, but then, he quickly composed himself and put the basket down to lay the table. Marius was too lost, replaying the various scenarios in his head, to notice how pale Kyle was, his hands slightly shaking.
“Maybe we should meet with the village leaders first?”
Clavius smiled, drinking a deep gulp of watered wine. “What a success it’s going to be, especially now that one of them has his daughter working as a camp whore.”
Marius shrugged. “She was the general’s cherished favorite for a while, or so they say, decent first night and all the rest of it... I am not sure that’s a bad thing?”
Kyle’s head swooned at his words.You have no idea...
“Well, yes...in that case, maybe. It will not hurt, provided they cooperate...” Kyle served the food and Clavius sat up straighter. “Is this Tabia’s cooking I smell? Boy, don’t tell me you can cook like her...”
Marius smiled at Kyle. “Hidden talents?” He took his hand, but Kyle slipped it out, refilling their drinks, and it made Marius frown, his blue eyes following the slave.
Clavius raved. “This is excellent! I can’t believe you learnt how to cook her stuff... if anything, this is going to make us survive this shithole place!”
Marius didn’t comment, his annoyance growing each time Kyle evaded his touch. His anger flared, and he looked at him, his voice like ice. “Come here and kneel.” He pointed at the floor next to him and Kyle swallowed, obeying the command automatically, not thinking.
Clavius raised his head. “What the fuck are you two playing?”
Marius didn’t answer and looked down at the slave, his bowed head and heaving shoulders. He put his hand on Kyle's back and felt him shrink away. Marius' face darkened, but he went back to eating, leaving him kneeling.
A while later, Marius gently tipped Kyle's head up. “Food?”
Kyle shook his head and lowered it again. He had seen the glint of anger in Marius’ eyes, the hurt, and his heart beat faster when realization hit him that this was now his life and that Marius had been the only solid anchor point so far, the only one who really cared.And I’m treating him like the others... like those soldiers...His head swam with his torn wounds, long buried memories and emotions washing over him like crashing waves. Marius loved him and was the only one left to protect him... He felt the Roman’s heat radiating from his skin, his bare thigh close to him as he kneeled, Marius having resumed eating and ignoring him. Overcome with remorse and drained, Kyle rested his head on Marius’ bare thigh, the familiar warmth of his body comforting, his scent. He closed his eyes, close to tears.
Marius blinked down in surprise when he felt Kyle’s head on his thigh, watching him close his eyes. He momentarily stopped chewing, slowly swallowing, his brows furrowed in confusion. He noticed then how pale Kyle was, and his hand went to caress his hair, his strong fingers gently stroking, soothing, almost anticipating him pulling away.
Kyle felt Marius’ hand in his hair, his fingers gliding into it, massaging his scalp, and he sighed softly, pressing his face closer to his skin.
Clavius looked at them, slightly concerned. “I don’t even know what kind of fucked up shit this is...”
Marius’ face stayed calm. “Something’s off...”
Clavius rose. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Marius just nodded and waited until he’d left, slowly continuing his caresses, Kyle’s tears flowing down his leg. He stopped and tried to pull him up, but he couldn’t move him, so he had to cup his chin and force Kyle's head up, Marius' blue eyes mildly alarmed. “What’s wrong?”
Kyle’s eyes swam in tears. “We are in a fort...” He stopped and looked into Marius’ eyes...Please understand, please, please...
He watched as Marius’ lips fell loose, his eyes widening. “Oh, fuck...” He rose then, his strong arms pulling him up, dragging him to the bed. He lay Kyle down gently, lying next to him, spooning him, his arms locking him in place. Kyle sighed, slightly unnerved, wanting to move away but he couldn’t, not from him...
“Talk to me...?”
Kyle sighed. “No... it’s too painful...”
Marius made him face him, turning him around, his brows furrowed. “What happened? You were hurt?”
Kyle shook his head. “Not now... but this place, the soldiers, they brought back memories of that day... when I was captured...”
Marius stroked his face. “You can tell me...”
