A/N
In Ancient Rome, there's no promise of tomorrow when you are a gladiator or a slave. Even knowing this, when Varro and Cassia meet after she's summoned to treat his wounds, they find themselves drawn to each other, despite the risks and watchful eyes within the Ludis. This is a story where everyone wants something but everything has a price.
Varro isn't my creation but this story, including the OFC-Cassia and the plot is. Several themes of this story are based off of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The series timeline has been altered.
Feel free to leave me comments here or you can find me on tumblr under the username of FrecklefaceB
Varro lets out a shout and shakes his shackles in frustration.
He can't believe he allowed Ashur to get into his head. Everyone knew Ashur was scum, but Varro had lost all restraint when he swore he didn't find Aurelia or his son, the only blood in their modest dwelling. He knew better than to listen to him and now Varro found himself chained to a wall after being blinded by rage and attacking the messenger.
Disgusted with himself, Varro slides down the wall to sit on the cold hard dirt.
"I deserve to sit on the ground like a common dog." He says to no one. Leaning his head against the stone with his arms dangling from the chains and shackles above, he attempts to occupy his thoughts by imagining what it will be like to return to life outside the ludus walls.
The shuffling of feet wakes Varro from a light slumber, and he sees one of the slave girls being ushered into the room by a guard. She offers a small smile as the heavy door makes a loud clank behind her.
"I've been sent to tend to you."
"I'd rather suffer." He mutters.
"It's Varro, right? I'm Cassia but I don't expect you to know my name since I'm just a slave girl." The woman attempts to make small talk with the gladiator.
"I deserve no such treatment, Cassia." Varro softly replies while staring at his feet. Cassia scoffs at his response.
"An honorable man deserves to be treated with respect. You are an honorable man, Varro." Cassia kneels down next to the gladiator and offers him a cup of water. "I've heard about you. How you willingly became a gladiator to pay off debts and do right by your family. Many men would have ran, but not you."
"Well, it hasn't done much good since there's no honor here."
"We're all hoping for a better tomorrow and our freedom, and sometimes we falter from that path." Cassia offers Varro with a sweet smile. His blue eyes search her green eyes for a moment before he exhales deeply and swiftly glances away.
"Let me clean your face." Cassia insists even though Varro sends her a look of annoyance. She dips a rag into the pitcher then gently dabs his brow. Varro slightly relaxes with the sensation of the cool water against his warm skin. Cassia wets the rag again and gently touches his bloodied nose. Varro flinches and hisses at her touch.
"I'm sorry." Cassia offers but Varro remains quiet.
With one more wipe of the rag on his cheek, she moves to his broad chest and Cassia nervously bites her lip before she strokes his pectoral muscles. She had seen him from afar several times but seeing him up close was nothing short of breathtaking. His bronzed skin glistening with sweat and his full pink lips that looked like pillows, she'd stare and wonder what it would be like to kiss them.
Varro's eyes narrow when he realizes Cassia is gawking at him. Clearing his throat, she faintly jumps and resumes wiping his chest. He watches her tender and deliberate strokes. There's something graceful about her movements. Cassia is unquestionably beautiful with ivory skin and auburn hair. He quickly pushes the thought out of his head and turns his face away as she continues working.
"Okay, it looks like I've gotten most of it." Varro simply nods while remaining turned away. Leaning closer for a better look, Cassia realizes there is blood caked into his hair. She mildly pulls his chin forward and he leisurely raises his eyes to catch her soft gaze. "Actually, I missed your hair."
Varro nods in response, beckoning for this to be over so he can sulk in peace.
Cassia reaches for the second pitcher of water before dunking the rag and gently working his curly strands of hair through the cloth. It only takes a few strokes for the blood to wash away.
After working her fingers through his curly locks, Cassia offers Varro a small smile while she's double checking her work.
"You are all clean. I wish there were something I could do for your eye. Its swollen and I suspect it to worsen." She speaks in a soft voice.
He huffs, "You don't say." Varro regrets his comment immediately when he sees the flash of hurt in her eyes. He briefly forgets his situation and tries to reach for her, but the shackles restrain him. Cassia turns and carefully gathers the supplies, swallowing back the disappointment she feels from Varro's comment. Feeling like a fool to expect something more from him, Cassia rises from her spot on the dirt floor.
"Cassia… wait." She gradually turns to Varro who is now standing. "Please accept my sincerest of apologies. Jupiter should strike me for being so ungrateful."
Even though she gives a faint smile, Varro can tell the girl is still wounded from his words. "Another drink of water would be nice and so would the company." He says while searching her face for approval.
The guard's footsteps are heard in the hall making rounds. Not wanting to leave yet, Cassia tilts the cup to his lips and watches him eagerly drink the water. A few drops escape down his mouth and Cassia's eyes follow his tongue as he roughly licks the corner and his bottom lip. When she forces her gaze back to his, Varro is already studying her face. She drops the cup and hesitantly rubs her thumb along Varro's plump bottom lip, making sure to slightly tug on it before releasing it. Varro's breathing hitches when she weaves her fingers through his hair before grasping his chiseled jaw; Varro nudges her hand in encouragement.
While slightly resenting the feeling, Varro silently admits that the human contact feels nice and is a welcomed distraction. Cassia pulls his face to hers, pausing before their lips can collide.
"Don't stop." He whispers before lurching forward and connecting to her lips. She cradles his head as she greedily assaults his mouth. Varro suddenly pulls at her bottom lip and when she gasps, he slips his tongue past her lips. The two freely explore each other mouths until they are out of breath. Varro rests his forehead against hers, while struggling to breathe.
Cassia drops her hands from his face, slowly tracing them down his shoulders to his chest. Goosebumps form on his skin as she rakes her nails down his abs, stopping short of his loincloth.
"I just want to make you feel good." Cassia murmurs as she sinks to her knees. Varro watches her run her hands up his thighs. He tilts his head to the stone wall with a grunt as he relishes the sensation. Varro groans when Cassia begins to rub his erection through the loincloth. He looks down to find her staring, as if asking for approval to go further. While maintaining eye contact, Cassia licks and kisses his inner thigh. Varro bites back his lip as he tries to suppress another groan. Her fingers tug at the cloth and it pools at his feet. Knowing his knees will likely give out; he slides down the wall before her. Cassia smirks, leaning forward and claiming his lips in another passionate kiss. He moves to her neck, sucking and nipping the delicate skin as her hands work to free his erection. A low grunt fills the cell when she grabs his erection, slowly working her hand up and down the shaft. Her thumb spreads the pre cum that has leaked from his head as she kisses him again.
"Fuck… that feels good." He sputters.
"I want to taste you." She whispers and Varro drags his tongue along her lip, biting it before she lowers herself to his cock. Cassia rubs her tongue over the tip then sucks on it gently. She smiles before running her tongue underneath the shaft back up to the tip and down again. While pumping, Cassia flicks the tip with her tongue before taking him all into her mouth. Varro groans when she teasingly releases his cock from her mouth and then encircles her tongue around the head. She moans and slowly inserts the shaft back into her mouth, sucking on him harder.
His breathing picks up as she continues to work his member. He hisses each time she pulls him out of her mouth, but emits a satisfied grunt when her tongue travels down the shaft and back. Stroking him faster, Cassia flicks the tip with her tongue before taking him all in once more. Varro's breathing becomes erratic as Cassia's mouth and hands fall into a rhythm. His hips begin to buck forward and a primal groan fills the cell as Cassia swallows every drop of his cum, licking his him clean before sitting up.
"Come here so I can kiss you." He mutters. She leans forward and slips her tongue into his mouth.
"Are you two done yet?" The guard's voice startles the both of them. Cassia sheepishly gathers her belongings while Varro looks at her helplessly. She realizes he can't pull his pants up and rushes to aid him before dashing out of the cell.
She smirks to herself as she walks up the stairs to her quarters. Knowing nothing will ever come of the encounter between herself and the gladiator, Cassia can't help but feel a fleeting sense of power. She'll always remember the evening she brought a Roman gladiator to his knees.