Title: Amor vincit omnia
Summary: AU. When Gregorius, a Servant for an influential Senator, is thrown into the life of Nikolai, the greatest gladiator in Rome, their lives and the Roman society around them are cast into turmoil. Nick/Greg slash.
Warnings: Suggestions of dub-con
Disclaimer: CSI is not mine, neither are the chapter titles
Chapter 4/10
Chapter IV: Busy Little Bee
"Hey Rilei." Greg greeted the tall, blond woman.
"Is your Mother here?" Rilei asked glibly.
"She will be any minute. You look frustrated." Greg pointed out.
"Wouldn't you be if you'd had to spend the morning making sure Davido didn't offend the Vestal Virgins, again."
"It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it." Greg laughed, eternally grateful it wasn't his job.
"Thanks for the sympathy." Rilei chided, "At least once Wendii arrived he couldn't form enough words to offend anyone." Rilei said, Greg laughed at the look of glee in her mischievous eyes, "I left them alone."
"Somebody should check that he's still breathing." Greg pondered, with a wink.
"I'm only charged with making sure he doesn't offend them, not that he lives through it." Greg was pleased to note that Rilei's tone had softened. He liked her, they were good friends, but she could often come over as brash and moody. Luckily, he'd learnt how to banter with her early in their friendship, and he had a knack of cheering her up.
"Rilei, how lovely to see you dear." Mari said as she approached her kitchen table with Nik beside her.
"Look who I bumped into." She said to Greg, "he was just telling me what a good job Alberto has done on his arm. I must remember to go and visit Al, it's been such a long time since I saw him last."
"It's been less than a month Mother." Greg thanked the Gods his mother hadn't had the chance to fret over him and force him to see Alberto lately.
"You asked to see me, Mari?" Rilei pointed out.
"Oh, yes, I need your help. This way." The two women walked into the next room.
"I didn't know your Mother and Al were such good friends." Nik said as he sat down beside Greg.
"The number of times she's dragged me to see him, he couldn't help making friends with her. If she'd seen that scrape on my knee from the other night she would have demanded he see me."
Nik chuckled. "It's good that she takes care you."
"I'm old enough to take care of myself." Greg insisted, he didn't want Nik thinking he wasn't capable of looking after himself.
"I know."
"Was that Rilei?" Archie asked as he approached the table.
"Yeah." Greg confirmed.
"Your Mother said anything yet?" Archie asked.
No, surprisingly, she'd restrained from her usual comments, Greg thought to himself. "Not to me, no."
"Wow, she's usually suggesting dates by now and pondering what food to make." Archie smirked.
"What? Why?" Nik asked, confused.
Greg winced; he'd hoped this wouldn't come up in front of Nik.
"My Mother thinks I should marry Rilei." Greg said, trying to keep any emotion out of his voice. He didn't know how Nik felt about him, he hoped… hell, he didn't even know how he felt about Nik, except that his heart fluttered at the sight of him and he couldn't get him out of his mind, but that didn't need to be addressed right now.
"Do you want to marry her?" Nik asked without looking him in the eyes.
"No." Greg said with conviction. "I like her, but we're better as friends."
Nik opened his mouth to respond but was cut short by Mari re-entering the room.
"Did Rilei go?" Archie asked her.
"Yes, she had somewhere to be."
Greg eyed his mother suspiciously, she'd been up to something, he didn't know what, but her playful wink to him only confirmed it.
"So the food is all yours boys." She put the tray of food she'd been carrying on the table in front of them.
They chatted while they ate. Greg was glad that things were still comfortable between him and Nik. Whatever was growing between them, he didn't want to lose what they already had, he didn't get much opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, let alone ones with such stories to tell.
"I have to go." Greg said reluctantly, "The Senator wanted to see me."
"Be careful Greg." Mari said, "I'm happy that your business is doing well, but I'm worried about how much attention the Senator is paying you, I don't want him paying too much attention."
Greg couldn't lie to his mother, he'd tried when he was younger, tried a lot, but always failed miserably. There was something in his eyes that his Mother saw through every time.
"Gregorius." Mari stepped around the table to stand in front of her son.
Greg lowered his eyes; he couldn't bare to see the concern in hers.
"Look at me Greg." She demanded.
Greg panicked; he was going to have to tell her. He slowly raised terrified eyes, his hands started to shake.
"It's too late for that." He said in a small voice.
"Too late for what, Greg?" Mari asked for clarification, her voice pitching upwards.
"He already pays too much attention." Greg hoped he wouldn't have to spell it out for her; he wouldn't be able to form the words to tell his mother that the Senator had been taking him to his bedchamber for the past two months.
"Oh Gods." Mari grabbed him and hugged him tight. She rested his head in the crook of her neck. He felt her tears run into his hair.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Mari asked, her voice strong through her sobs.
"It's not a big deal, Mother, and I knew it would upset you. You worry about me enough already." Greg closed his eyes, he wanted to be anywhere but here, he never wanted to cause his mother pain. And he definitely didn't want to be having this conversation in front of Nik.
"If he ever hurts you, you tell me straight away. Do you hear me Gregorius?"
"I hear you." He squeezed her lightly so she would know he was serious.
"Straight away, and I will be over there in the blink of an eye to rip that man's balls…"
"And," Nik cut her off to save her from her own words, "I'll be right with her to make sure she doesn't do anything she'll regret."
"It'll be him who regrets it. But yes, Nik will be right with me." Mari squeezed Greg tighter.
"Mother, you can let go know."
…
Nik reluctantly stepped into the busy room. He didn't want to be there but the Senator had ordered him. The wealthiest and most powerful people in Rome would be there, and Atwatus wanted to show off the most famous gladiator in the Roman Empire.
"Nikolai!" Atwatus shouted to him, a girl on each arm, "Good, you're finally here. Mingle, talk to people, charm people." Atwatus gave him that creepy wink again.
"I will Sir." Nik said uncomfortably, Atwatus' loud greeting had garnered the attention of a crowd, which had been Atwatus' intention Nik was sure. Nik was used to the attention of a crowd, but not in social situations like this, it made him feel dirty, he wanted to be worthy of their attention for his intellect, not because they enjoyed watching him beat the life out of other human beings.
"Get a drink, enjoy yourself." Atwatus kissed the girl to his left as he walked away to mingle in the crowd.
A drink was thrust into Nik's hand by one of the servants who scurried away before he could say thank you.
Nik moved further into the room, staying by the wall. He looked around studying the occupants.
Senator Keplarus was there, looking as thoughtful as always. Lady Sophia, daughter of the once King of the north, and heiress to the throne, if it hadn't have been seized by the Empire, she was trying her hardest to avoid Atwatus' attempts to woo her. Senator Vartannus and his wife Catherina entered, upon seeing his gaze Catherina waved, he quickly looked away, he didn't want to attract the attention of the beautiful red head tonight.
The girl Nik had seen with Greg earlier walked towards him holding a tray of drinks.
"Nikolai," Rilei greeted him, "I didn't know you would be here tonight."
"Me neither." Nik admitted, sulking into his drink.
"I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself to you earlier, you didn't catch me at my best." Rilei apologised.
"No need to worry." Nik tried to smile, why did she have to be nice to him? He wanted to dislike her, despite the fact he had no reason to be jealous. Nik just wasn't the kind of person who could dislike someone for the sake of disliking them, though. If they were kind to him and the people he loved, then it was his duty to be kind back.
"I don't worry what people think of me, making a good impression on someone isn't my strong point. An introduction helps though, when you intend to talk to someone again, like we're doing now."
She had a good point, it was strangely logical.
"Greg is here, did you know?" Rilei pointed out.
"He is?"
"Yeah, he's serving somewhere."
Nik looked around his immediate vicinity but couldn't see him.
"I should go." Rilei said and walked off to serve some pompous dignitary who had been leering at her.
Nik walked around the large, open room. He smiled politely at people who acknowledged him but avoided being brought into conversations.
He finally spotted Greg serving a couple Nik didn't recognise. They looked like they thought they were important, he was probably a low level Senator, the kind who got the position because he liked what he could get out of it rather than what he could influence for the better of the people. The woman grabbed Greg's buttock and laughed when he flinched.
Nik was seeing red again and marched over to them. Greg caught Nik's eye and extricated himself from the woman; he headed straight for Nik who was still intent on confronting the couple.
Greg put his hand on Nik's chest to stop him. "Don't." Greg begged through gritted teeth. "It's just what happens at these events."
Nik clenched his jaw and continued to stare at the couple.
"They can't do anymore than touch without the Senator's permission, I'm his property after all." Greg continued to try and calm Nik down. "It'd be me he'd flog, not you, you being injured would cut at his purse strings.
"You on the other hand," Greg's voice had changed, it was slower and lower pitched, almost seductive, "shouldn't be so afraid to touch me in front of him. We've spent two nights together, remember?"
Nik felt a blush rise up his neck as he noticed how close Greg was stood to him. He could move his head just a bit to reach his lips and kiss him…
"Put him down Nikolai, he has other people to serve." Atwatus broke into their moment.
Greg hurried off into the crowd of people. Nik felt sick at the knowing smile Atwatus gave him.
"Nik, I would like you to meet Krista," Atwatus introduced the brunette beside him, "daughter of the Governor of Capua. She remembers you fighting there and has been looking forward to meeting you."
Atwatus left him alone with the woman.
"You are quite the physical specimen up close." Krista ran a finger across his chest, Nik resisted from batting her hand away.
"I saw you fight the Great Nateium in Capua, I told my father you would be famous one day." She flattened her palm on his chest.
"Really?" Nik was only half paying attention. To be honest, if he hadn't got someone else on his mind he might not have been able to resist the beautiful woman before him. She was alluring; there was something in her eyes that was half innocent and half wicked.
She nodded, "I have kept an eye on your career, my Father thinks you would be a welcome addition to our family once you are a free man."
"Niky, I need a word." Lady Catherina interrupted them out of nowhere; saving him from the direction this conversation was going. Catherina pulled him by the arm as she slid hers in to link with it. They meandered away from Krista.
"I thought you needed some help." Catherina whispered conspiratorially.
He was glad for the help with Krista, but Catherina scared him just as much. Her husband may be the Senator but Catherina was powerful in her own right. She knew how to use her influence, and her beauty. Her father had been the largest landowner in Rome before his death; Catherina had inherited his instinct and wiles.
"Thank you." Nik said graciously.
"We'll talk again." She said before rejoining her husband.
Nik spotted Greg helping Rilei, he was disappointed when he wasn't given the time to watch and admire. Atwatus approached.
"Go back to your cell," Atwatus ordered, "you'll have a visitor."
….
Nik sat in his cell. He hoped the visitor was Greg, but knew his luck didn't run that far.
His cell door opened and Nik's heart sank as Catherina entered.
"Don't worry, Nik, I'm not here for that." She said with a confident smirk.
"Good." Nik said. She laughed with amusement.
"We have some mutual friends, with mutual concerns, in Senator Grissomo and Lady Sara."
Nik was relieved; having Catherina on their side could only be good news.
"Ah." Nik said,
"Have you heard anything?" She asked. She paced gracefully around his cell; she had a regal air to her that imposed authority, yet there was a warmth that let him know he was safe with her.
"Yes. I don't know when exactly, but General Ecklius is not far away." He wished he could tell them more, be more specific, but his job was to report what he overheard, not to go out of his way to discover hidden secrets that would arise suspicion on him.
"That is expected, we got word to General Brassius and he will get here a week earlier than scheduled, his men are walking through the night." Catherina assured him.
"Ecklius is not the only person Atwatus is waiting for, though." Nik silently thanked Greg for the information, he may not be happy about his means of getting it, but it certainly put them in a better position by knowing it.
"He's not?" Catherina stopped pacing, and placed her piercing gaze on him.
"No. Atwatus has an assassin coming to Rome."
"He what?" Catherina was shocked; Nik didn't think he had ever seen Catherina ruffled before.
"I don't know anymore than that. I presume the Emperor is the target." He knew the Senator well, Atwatus was educated and devious but he wasn't ingenious, he always went bull-headed straight for his targets. If the Senator wanted the Emperor out of the way he wouldn't weave some elaborate, lengthy scheme, he would march right in and take him out in one swift move.
"He would not have the gall to do something like that." Catherina spit out, Nik knew it wasn't directed at him, but the venom of her words still scared him a little.
"Atwatus has more gall than intellect, he would kill the Emperor himself if he had the skills for it." Nik insisted.
"I trust your more intimate knowledge of him, Nikolai, I didn't mean to dismiss you." Catherina sounded resigned; she'd accepted the information and was processing the possibilities.
"I know you didn't." Nik said quietly, he could tell she was no longer listening, too caught up in her own thoughts.
"Stay safe Niky." She said as she walked over and hugged Nik gently. "We'll be in touch."
Nik watched her leave, it wasn't often he got to see Catherina's caring side, but it was always genuine.
TBC…