Chapter Summary: The gladiators train with Nino and the next round of games is announced.
This story is illustrated! Please visit k8eroseg dot tumblr dot com/tagged/mbb2k17 to see k8eroseg's gorgeous artwork.
Marinette woke to the distant sound of someone chopping wood in the side yard. She stretched, feeling sore muscles release along her shoulders and spine. The previous day's workout had been harder than normal, pushing her to her limits in preparation for games at the end of the month. She yawned, drawing scabbed knuckles across her mouth, then rolled to sitting in her bed. It was still dark out.
Marinette swiveled her legs to the edge of her narrow cot and put her feet down on cold stones. She reached above the head of her bed with her left hand and pulled open one of the shutters of her narrow window. A desultory stream of gray, predawn light thinly illuminated her small dormitory. It was just enough to allow her to walk three steps to a wooden cabinet topped with a basin and a pitcher of water. She poured some out and splashed her face. The cold water woke her up and she shivered.
"Ugh, Tikki, I want to go back to bed…" she grumped. A high pitched giggle answered her.
"No chance of that, Marinette. You didn't have to work so hard yesterday; I could have helped you."
Tikki's tiny voice felt close to Marinette's ear and she turned her head to see the little goddess were perched on her shoulder. She smiled at the tiny figure. Tikki reminded her of a small red bird or bug when she did that.
"I know, but it's better for me to train on my own. I'll take help when I really need it, but I should be at my best at all times anyway, right?"
Marinette opened the trunk at the foot of her bed and rummaged around for something to wear. Her thin nightshirt wasn't much protection against the cold, although she had a thick woolen blanket on the bed. She drew out the mask she wore daily over her eyes and set it to one side, then tugged a woolen tunic loose from an untidy jumble of clothing at one end of the trunk. She shrugged into it and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders.
She pulled a comb through her dark hair and pinned it into two small buns at the nape of her neck. After strapping her leather shoes to her feet, she tied on her red mask - the last, but most important piece of her ensemble. With it, she became the person all Rome knew her to be: Ladybug, the city's fiercest gladiator.
"I'll talk to you later, Tikki. Have a good morning," Ladybug watched as the ethereal creature faded into a small red statuette stationed on a table next to her cot.
The smells of a fire and baking bread greeted Ladybug when she opened her door. Her room was set into the west wall of Ludus Magnus on the first floor. Ladybug crossed an open area at the southwest corner of the rectangular school, past a fountain situated in the shadow of a large, elliptical arena that took up the entire center of the Ludus Magnus..
She followed her nose to the warm kitchen and knocked at the entryway, smiling when she saw their cook Orania jump in surprise.
"Oh! Ladybug, you startled me! I should have expected you, though. You're always such an early riser," Orania said with a smile, waving the young woman in.
Ladybug came to a broad stone oven and put her hands close to warm them. "What can I say? I wake up hungry."
Ladybug lifted a wide wooden paddle with no effort and shoved it into the waist-high mouth of the oven, deftly slipping it underneath several round loaves of baking bread. She liberated them from the heated surface and swung the paddle around with a strong grip. She dumped the loaves unceremoniously on a wooden work table to cool, eyeing them greedily and touching one to see if it was too hot to handle.
"Well, as long as you're here and waiting for those to cool, help me knead this set."
Orania dragged a large ceramic bowl across the work surface. Ladybug dumped out a lump of dough and pushed it expertly down and away, turning it clockwise and working it over and over. Orania joined her with another large lump of dough and they worked in companionable silence.
"No one ever believes me that bakers have strong arms," Ladybug joked as Orania wielded the paddle and centered the loaves over the oven's heat.
"Well, compared to a gladiator, probably not," Orania conceded.
Ladybug snagged three cooled loaves, one more than she should have, and stacked them in both hands. Orania arched an eyebrow at Ladybug's brazen smile, glancing pointedly at the loaves in her grip.
"Ah, keep them," she relented, shooing the younger woman out of the kitchen. "Payment for doing a baker's work."
"Thank yoooou!" Ladybug sailed out of the kitchen with a wink.
In the communal hall, a few sleepy-eyed early risers were sitting at long, wooden tables that stretched across the open space. Ladybug didn't recognize them, but she recognized the apprehensive look of newly purchased gladiators. Nathalie, Ludus Magnus' lanista, had been to the slave auctions yesterday.
The two youths were handsome and well-built; Nathalie was highly keen on the showman side of gladiatorial combat and sought out good-looking men and women to fill the empty barracks of the ludus. Handsome faces sold more tickets and brought more favor.
Looking at their haunted eyes, Ladybug remembered her first day after being forced to sign her school contract. She sighed and made her way through the tables and benches, dropping two of her loaves in front of the young men. The pair startled out of their sleepy daydreaming and looked up at her.
"Eat. You'll need it on the training field," she instructed, giving a tight, insincere smile.
A modicum of kindness, and no sympathy, she reminded herself.
The men stared at her red mask, unsure. Ladybug walked away before either could manage a word, leaving the loaves with them. She knew this would likely be the nicest thing anyone did for them today; hopefully it was just nice enough to keep up their spirits in the practice arena, but not enough for them to try and make friends. She felt a little foolish, taking such precautions, but she'd befriended new gladiators before, only to have them die weeks or months later.
Ladybug grabbed a ceramic cup from a stack set against one table, then paused. A round serving bowl was piled high with fresh, hard boiled eggs. This definitely made up for giving away her extra loaves. She took a red clay bowl from a stack next to the cups and dumped her bread in it, then added three eggs to the top.
Satisfied with the food she'd gathered, she returned to her room. She stopped at the southwest fountain to dip her cup in, then hurried to her dormitory, breath puffing out in a cloud ahead of her. She shut her door behind her and set the breakfast down on her small table, taking a seat in the chair that went with it.
"Eggs, Tikki!" she called out before cheerfully rolling the shells against the wood and peeling them. She ate two of the eggs, then consumed all but one wedge of her bread loaf. She gulped down her water and sat back with a sigh. "That's good."
A burp popped out, causing her to clap a hand over her mouth. She's been among the Romans far too long; their barbaric 'etiquette' was corrupting her. Oh, well, at least no one could hear - no one besides Tikki. Ladybug collected the pieces of breakfast she had set aside, put them in the red bowl, and set it in front of Tikki's tiny figurine.
"Mistress Tikki, protector of my people, I make this offering in gratitude for your patronage," she said formally.
Tikki appeared from behind the statue and rather adorably pretended nonchalance before digging into the food. She finished as quickly as Ladybug had, then popped back out of view with a whispered thanks just as a knock sounded at the door.
What is he doing, knocking so early? Ladybug thought. She felt the bracing cold as she pulled her door open to admit Adrien, another gladiator of the ludus.
"Good morning, Ladybug. Bit chilly, isn't it?" Her tall partner shuffled into the room with his blanket wrapped around him. Over his shoulders, she could see the sky lighten with the impending dawn.
"You better get your breakfast. There are eggs today; that won't last long."
Adrien's eyes lit up at the mention of eggs. "We should get moving then," he urged, and Ladybug laughed.
"You forget something?" she pointed.
He looked down at himself, noticing the blanket, and a grin danced across his handsome visage. He shrugged it off and threw it across Ladybug's bed, ignoring her protests.
"I'll be back here later, anyway," he said, tugging Ladybug's arm in the direction of the door.
She followed, laughing, and quickly found herself back in the dining hall. She dumped her used dishes in a basket set next to the kitchen door, then caught up with Adrien just as he popped the first of several peeled eggs in his mouth whole. He managed to close his lips around it, causing his cheeks to puff out comically. Ladybug stifled her giggle, knowing from experience Adrien couldn't help but join in. Sure enough, his cheeks tightened and a crack in the seam of his lips appeared, spilling a crumb of half-chewed egg yolk onto the floor.
"You are so gross," Ladybug admonished.
He responded by stuffing a second peeled egg in with the first. Amazingly, Adrien managed to masticate the entire mess and accomplish a few swallows, clearing just enough of his mouth to choke out a request for water.
Ladybug shook her head, torn between disgust and amusement, and took a fresh cup out to the fountain. She returned to the hall and he grabbed the cup gratefully, sloshing drops down his tunic as he downed the entire drink.
"You eat like an animal, Adrien. It's going to mess with your digestion," Ladybug chided.
Adrien ignored her, grabbing his bread ration and two more eggs. "Come on; we have to get out to the arena."
They walked side by side out of the dining hall and crossed ten feet to the enormous elliptical area that took up most of the school's square footage. Surprisingly, there were a few children and even some adults already in the seats, high above the ground. Ladybug shook her head. It still confused her that anyone would get up before the dawn on a day when they didn't have to work, just to come down and see gladiators spar and beat each other up.
Compared to a real game, there was very little blood, a sight these Romans always seemed to enjoy. Just looking up into the seats, empty as they were, set her ears back with the remembered roars of multitudes who cheered for her, cheered for the other guy, or just plain cheered for the sake of brutal blood sport.
Adrien let out a soft sigh next to her. She glanced up to see him staring about the arena as she'd been doing, but his face wore a softer, almost happy expression. She had a feeling he was engaged in similar reminiscence, but relishing the experience.
"Ladybug! Adrien! In front now!" the stern yell brought them both running forward across dusty, dead grass to stand before the imposing figure of Nino, their first trainer of the morning. His normally relaxed brow was drawn close as he surveyed the two of them, Ladybug shucking her shawl to one side and Adrien attempting to shove one last egg in his mouth without anyone noticing.
"Adrien, spit it out," Nino growled, taking a step forward.
Adrien immediately complied, breaking Nino's gaze for a moment to turn his head. In that split second, Nino brought up the butt of his wooden practice sword; it nearly collided with Adrien's jaw, but he sprang backward, bringing up a fist to protect his face. He stood in a defensive posture, eyeing the broad gladius trainer, who grinned and drove the tip of the practice sword into the dirt, placing both hands over the handle in front of him.
"Not bad, Cat, not bad at all," Nino allowed. "I guess I've finally pounded those lessons about keeping your guard up into your head."
Adrien relaxed and smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You have, Nino. Literally."
Nino turned to face Ladybug. "And you, Ladybug, I know you can move faster than you did yesterday. I'm not pulling any punches with you. It doesn't do you any favors." Ladybug nodded behind her mask, no trace of a smile on her face.
The two were excused to warm up and grab practice weapons. Adrien fought with two sharp swords in the arena as a dimacherius. Ladybug wasn't strictly required to learn sword fighting, since she was a retiarius, using a net, trident, and dagger. She'd long believed, however, that it was better to have a working knowledge of every kind of weapon.
They warmed up their muscles with practice swords, Adrien whirling and leaping acrobatically in the manner that brought him so much fame with the ladies of Rome. Ladybug matched him step for step in an imitation game that left them both breathless and sweating by the time the rest of Nino's students arrived. Last to come was Ladybug's friend Alya, who stepped up to the line mere moments before the shimmering crash of a bronze gong sounded the beginning of the first lesson of the day.
Nino fixed the young woman with a glare, betraying no hint that she was his wife and the mother of his child. On the field, Nino contended, all familial affection and love must be put aside. Anything less than fighting for one's life would lead to death. His students grasped his philosophy eagerly and treated their teacher and their fellow gladiators with a deadly serious respect.
"Good of you to join us, Alya. Take Ladybug and Lila and start with the punching bags." He raised his voice to the rest of the group. "This is day two of the tetrad, people. Expect some injury today."
A few of the gladiators groaned, but they fell in line as Nino assigned groups and started work with a few at a post called the palus with practice swords and shields. The wooden swords were twice the weight of actual swords used in the arena, but Nino was unforgiving as he corrected form and insisted on repetition after repetition of thrusts and parries.
With punching bags, Nino's version of doubling the weight was to have two gladiators punch and kick a rectangular torso bag held by one gladiator. No moment was wasted on the training ground; the one who held the bag used their position to strengthen core muscles and endurance as they took hits.
"Running late changing nappies, Sis?" Lila grunted as she landed a forceful front kick squarely into the center of Alya's bag.
Ladybug followed up with a leap that landed her knee against the high side of the bag; she heard Alya's breath whoosh out as her feet gave an inch on the gravelly dirt below them.
"Actually, yeah. That kid shits more than a greased goose. Here, switch." Alya handed Lila the bag and took her kick stance.
Lila tossed her long hair and planted her feet, knees bent. "That's just like you. Blaming my cute little nephew for your tardiness."
Her voice tightened as Alya rained a hail of punches onto the bag, forcing Lila to tense up her whole body or be knocked over. Ladybug joined in. Lila had to tilt the bag left and right like a shield, lest she leave her side body open to either opponent. Biceps exhausted, the two women took turns kicking, doing their level best to rock Lila back.
After another switch, with the competent sisters giving their all to force Ladybug back mere inches in the dirt, they returned to Nino for further instruction. Ladybug rolled her shoulder and sighed in relief at a loud pop. Second day training always felt like it went on forever. They rotated stations as the winter sun climbed the sky.
At the close of training, the entire gladiator population gathered for announcements. Their lanista, Nathalie, stepped up to address the community. Adrien found Ladybug in the crowd next to Alya and Lila, and made a point of draping a sweaty arm over Ladybug's shoulder until she shrugged him off, intent on listening.
"Gladiators, the Ludi Victoriae Sullae will commence in three days. We have ten new recruits among us; please welcome them when you see them. They will not be participating in the ludi, but they will be there to cheer you on. As always, Ludus Magnus and Emperor Hawkmoth expect nothing less than the best from each of you. If you are not fit to conquer in the arena, then we expect you to die well. Do not bring shame upon our house."
Her fiery gaze seemed to take in every one of the gladiators at once. Ladybug was amused to see some of the big men shuffling their feet. "Ludi schedule is posted outside the dining hall. If you are participating, you are invited to a formal cena libera, hosted by Senator Gnaeus Aufidius Afer. Attendance is mandatory. You are dismissed."
Nathalie turned and marched out of the central ring, tired gladiators trailing slowly behind her. Ladybug sighed and rotated her right arm, feeling a bruise begin where Lila had landed a particularly fierce kick against her ribs.
"You okay, LB?" Adrien asked.
"Nothing that a bath and a day of rest won't cure. Don't worry about me."
Ladybug trudged slowly toward the women's baths, away from Adrien. He adjusted his course and followed her a moment longer.
"I don't. And I won't. I'll see you later?"
Marinette nodded curtly. "Once I'm presentable. Adrien... stop."
He looked at her, puzzled. "Stop what?"
"Stop walking. We're at the women's baths. You can't go in."
An uncharacteristic blush spread across Adrien's cheeks as he realized where he stood. "Oops. Sorry. Yeah, I'll see you at dinner."
He turned on his heel and quickly went back the way he'd come. Marinette smiled as she watched his retreat. It was hard to believe anything could embarrass Adrien anymore. Shaking her head, she followed the other women to the baths, eager to rest her sore, aching limbs.
Ludus - a school for gladiators
Tetrad - a training cycle style consisting of four days, the second being particularly difficult and the third being a rest day.
Retiarius - a gladiator armed with a net, a trident, and a dagger. The retiarius was not well-armored and relied on agility to survive.
Lanista - the manager of a ludus, who organizes matches, purchases gladiators, etc.
Gladius - sword.
Dimacherius - a gladiator with two swords and little armor. This type of gladiator was somewhat of a novelty fighter and not a lot of records exist to explain exactly what they wore or used in a fight.