"Did you enjoy yourself?" Atticus scowled when Tego reappeared.
'We must move, our work here is done for the night." Tego said in way of answer, grabbing Atticus's arm and pulling him back the way they had come. The recruits lay past out in the training area now, but the task master, the Doctore, was no where to be seen,
"He left after seeing them to sleep from exhaustion." Atticus said in answer of Tego's unasked question.
"Then we are favored this night. Go, the same way we came." Tego said, pushing him down further the wall after having reached where he had come over. Atticus swiftly began scaling the wall, pausing only when he came to the top. Tego did not. He swung himself over with ease, cursing his impatience at the last moment when he caught sight of the patrolman who staggered into his way.
The man looked up, startled as something came leaping over the wall. The thing extended an arm and there was a clicking noise followed by a hiss and a flash of metal. Then a blade was slammed into his throat and a hand clapped over his mouth to muffle his gurgled cry.
Tego held the man firmly until he was certain he was dead, before looking around to make sure they had not been seen. Atticus was crouched by the wall not far off, waiting for instruction. No one else was there.
Thinking quickly Tego nodded for Atticus to go ahead before he snapped his blade back into place, concealed beneath the bracer on his left arm. Then he hoisted the body onto his shoulder and ran after his companion back into the shadows.
"You killed a guard!?" Hissed Atticus, clearly fuming. Tego had disposed of the body by now, but there was blood on his cuff and Atticus had seen the other man fall. "I thought we were to raise no alarm!"
"There was no time." Tego said calmly, falling into a sitting position with his back to the boulder with a sigh. They had returned to camp after their escape and having dealt with the dead man. "If I had not slain him, he would have raised the alarm.
"If you had paused before dropping, then he would not have known we were there at all!" Atticus argued.
"He would have seen you then!" Tego responded, pointing to the other. "Why do you fight to defend a life spent already? The man was an obstacle and a risk which I removed!"
"To have it replaced by alarm and more obstacles." Scowled Atticus, leaning across the gap between the two of them to glare at Tego. "And now, you would have me march right through the doors dressed as a courier in the robes we stripped from yet another dead man!"
"Yes, to see to the freedom of the oppressed and the creation of a tool that we can use to further our own purpose." Tego said patiently as if explaining to a child. "We have been over these plans before Atticus, why do you balk at them now?"
"Because you act without thought and sense!" Snarled the other, slamming his hand palm down on his thigh. "Because you left me behind, then killed a guard whose body now lies not fifty meters from the Ludus's wall in a shallow grave! That is why!"
"You fear you will fall dead to Roman blades?" Sneered Tego, his hand lashing out and gripping a handful of cloth from Atticus's robe to pull him closer. "Do you think I would have put your life at such risk?" The anger in Atticus's eyes faded slightly, leaving only frustration.
"Not knowingly. No." He admitted.
"Then why do you throw these accusations of lack of caution at me?" Asked Tego, not releasing the other man yet as he leaned forward. "I would take your place as the courier in a moment, you are aware of this?"
"Yes." Admitted Atticus begrudgingly. "I am aware, and as to why you cannot."
"Put thoughts of anxiety aside," Tego said quietly, certain that was all that had worked the other man up. "You will be granted passage without challenge, and I will be watching in case you are." He came a bit closer, their faces inches apart. "I will see no harm come to you."
"I do not require your protection." Atticus said, working Tego's fingers from his shirt while keeping the other's stare. Tego smirked.
"And yet you have it." He released Atticus then, before falling back against the boulder. It was then that Atticus felt the need to look away, the red hue coming to his cheeks clearly visible from where Tego sat. The man chuckled at his companion's clear embarrassment.
"Sleep, Atticus, tomorrow will see you to the gates of the House of Batiatus."
"And with luck, beyond them." Atticus said, clearing his throat and turning away.
The next morning saw Atticus awake and up before his companion, his anxiety clearly displayed in the tenseness of his muscels and the constant tightening then release in his jaw as he worked to disarm himself. Tego had lain on his side in the morning light, watching his friend for a brief time before rolling to a sitting position and beckoning Atticus over. When the other hesitated, he said,
"Do not act frightened of me." with slight exasperation. Atticus gave in, and sat down crosslegged beside Tego.
"I should have removed them last night." Atticus mumbled, his head down as he worked to unbuckle the knife belt around his waist. Tego's nimble fingers worked to help him undo the knots and ties that held it in place.
"No you should not." He said practically. "To sleep unarmed is to sleep welcoming death. In our life at least." Atticus just grunted, shifting when Tego finally removed the leather belt and turning to his bracers. He tugged on the ties of the left one with his teeth, while Tego began to remove the right one which had his concealed blade. After these, there were other knives of the throwing variety stored in other places on Atticus's body that quickly joined the small pile being created. When he was finally stripped of all weapons, he leaned over and grabbed his pack, puling from it a crimsom bundle of cloth and leather armor.
"Change, I will take care of these." Tego said, nodding to the weapons. Atticus nod, shrugging off his hood and robes quickly before pulling on the rough red tunic. As tego stored away his weapons and knives, he watched Atticus fumble with the unfamiliar garments. They were blocky and heavy, constricting in ways Atticus did not like to be constricted.
"You are frightened." Atticus looked up sharply, his dark eyes quickly finding Tego's golden amber ones. What a curious color…
"You insult me." He snapped, tugging on the ties of the leather armor that slid into place over the tunic. Tego scoffed.
"Do not fool yourself Atticus, it could easily see you killed on a Roman Sword." He leaned over, helping Atticus with the ties. At first the younger man flinched from his hands, before giving in and allowing him to help. He began stripping off his leather boots, setting them aside almost reluctantly. "You will find the sandals allowing for greater comfort, if that is of any aid." Tego said, having seen Atticus's expression.
"It is not the loss of boots I morn." Atticus's reply was terse and clipped as he grabbed the Roman sandals and tied them on over his feet. When he was done he stood up, straightening various bits of cloth here and there as he did so. Tego rose to his feet with him, admiring the costum.
"What is it then, tell me." he said, helping Atticus with the shoulders. "You look as if you were a proper Roman, and you have tricked your way into many a household by doing such. Why does this one cause you to concern?"
"Perhaps because the Praetor will recognize me for being false?" Muttered Atticus, tugging on his belt. "Or maybe because I feel as if I were naked without my blade and knives."
"You will not be completely unarmed," Tego remarked, nodding to the Roman sword resting off to one side. "And even if you stood before them naked, you yourself are a formidable weapon. Or have you forgotten this?"
"What makes you say such?" Demanded Atticus, eyes flaring. Tego smirked.
"You rely to heavily on your metal, dont. You will find it in shortage once behind the walls." And with that he clapped Atticus on the shoulder and turned to retrieve the Roman sword. he tossed it to the other, who caught it with a scowl curling on his lips. Ah those lips.
"And stop scowling. You are a Roman remember?' The comment was meant in jest, but the darkening of Atticus's face told Tego it was taken otherwise. he sighed in exasperation, turning away from Atticus and adjusting his hood, pulling it down further over his eyes. "Prepare yourself however you must then. Pray, sleep, cry in a corner or whatever needs doing. I will be back with a horse." And with that Tego left the camp to retrieve the horse they had stashed when the courier had been intercepted. They would need it for appearances.
I cant help but cringe, I know the feeling. They're trying to pi me out, rip me away. But I cant! Its much nicer in here, safer. All the threats seem so real but they are dead and gone and I know it, Tego is safe. Tego will keep me safe!