Fanfic Challenge: Alternate Universe from episode When Fates Collide
A cold laughter emerged from the shadows behind. I glanced toward it as Gabrielle darted behind the curtains.
"I know you're there!" Alti shouted across the balcony. I challenged her gaze as her eyes lingered across the vast space a moment longer, then turned to me and raped me with her eyes. I felt her gaze touched the very bottom of my soul and flinched when her cold fingers brushed against my cheek.
"I had the most interesting vision today, of you and the playwright." She said, her eyes travelled across my collarbones and down my chest, then that sly laugh again.
"Tell me 'bout it." My expression remained hard. Suddenly, the soft yet eerie caress turned into a venom grip around my throat. A gasped escape as darkness overtook my vision and a wave of dizziness rushed in. My eyes rolled back as the vision unfolded in my mind's eye.
"Take me with you, Xena. I want to be just like you." Gabrielle pleaded. "You saw the man that I am to marry? I can't live like this!"
"Why not? He's nice and gentle—rare qualities in a man." Xena said.
"It's not the nice and gentle parts that I have a problem with, it's the boring and square parts."
***flash***
"I need to believe that you believe me, Lyceus. It's so hard to be alone." Xena whispered as she rubbed the cover of her brother's casket. Behind, a tiny blond emerged.
"You're not alone."
***flash to Gabrielle***
"Wherever Xena goes, I go."
***flash to Xena***
"Whatever Gabrielle wants, Gabrielle gets."
***flash***
"I love you, Xena."
Snow falls as the sounds of hammering and strong wind swirls around them.
"You're the best thing in my life, Gabrielle."
***flash***
"Our souls belong together, Gabrielle. Join me!" the demonic Xena demanded. The determination in archangel Gabrielle's eyes wavered for a moment, then the green grew cold and she shook her head, the grip to her sword tightens. ---------
"What is this?!" a voice demanded and the grip was tore from my throat. My eyes snapped open and instinctively, I rubbed the sore spot where Alti gripped. The room spun around me and I blinked once, twice. Guards locked Alti's arms behind her while she stood still, but the smug look in her eyes made me want to kill her then and there. My husband gathered me in his arms and I held on for support.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes..." I managed to croak a reply, my gaze flickered towards the balcony opposite to see the wave of fear pass through the green eyes before she disappeared into the shadows again.
Caesar drew his sword and held the tip by Alti's throat. "Give me one good reason not to kill you right now." I staggered forward and held his arm down.
"No," I demanded. "I want to kill her myself, and I want to do it in front of Rome, with its people as the witnesses."
Caesar eyed me, then lowered his sword. "Very well, then. Guards, take her away. And be careful--she's a very powerful woman."
"I'll kill you alright," I muttered under my breath. "But not before I find out what I want to know."
"Leave us." I demanded as I descend towards Alti's cell. As the guards started to protest, the well-practiced icy glare cut any words that was about to be spluttered.
"I said leave us. I can take care of myself."
The men bowed. "Yes, my Empress."
With everyone else out of ear shot, Alti looked up and smiled. "You want to know more, don't you?"
"Show me everything you know, and I'll spare you."
She laughed. "Be careful what you promise, my darling. In this... other life," she said, rising from the bench gracefully and almost glided toward me. "I want to kill you." She whispered, her dark eyes bore into mine before her hand reached out and gripped my throat again. I gasped, my knees buckled and I feel my body collapse with only the grip on my neck holding it up.
"You want me to fist a fish?" Gabrielle asked, fingers a strand of her golden locks in self-admiration.
"Yeah."
"I can hardly say it right, let alone do it."
***flash***
"Xena, you used our only frying pan! You have weapons, don't you?!" the blond demanded.
"Well I like to be creative, get my juices flowing."
"Can we cook with your juices?"
***flash***
"Rise and shine everybody, rise and shine."
Xena sat up groggily, a snarl on her face as she swung her chakram straight into Joxer's chest. With a smile, she laid back on the bedroll as next to her, Gabrielle woke up and stared on in disbelief.
"You... you... you killed Joxer?"
***flash***
Gabrielle's head rested on Xena's bare chest with an arm draped across her stomach. Xena brushed Gabrielle's hair back and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
"You like what I do?" Gabrielle asked mischievously.
"It's alright." Xena smirked, only to be jabbed playfully in her side. She squirmed and turned her body to face Gabrielle.
"Do you like what I do?"
Gabrielle pretended to think about it, leaned forward and smiled. "Just between you and me, you are better than Perdicus. Waaaay better..."---------------
"What the hell are you doing out here?" It was his voice again.
"The Empress, she---" before the guard could finish stammering, Caesar charged in and delivered a kick straight into Alti's stomach, forcing her grip off me. He stood between Alti and I, and drew his sword at her--it was almost funny to see his protectiveness over me.
"You stay away from her." he warned the prisoner, then turned to the guards. "Get the empress out of here. NOW!"
Guards scrambled to help me to my feet.
"Kill me, Xena, and you'll never find out." Alti called out. I could feel Caesar's confused and curious gaze to my back. I hesitated but continued forward. "If what you see is what you want, with my powers, I can help you achieve it!"
"What did you see?" he asked, hand stroking my hair and caressing my shoulders.
"What are you talking about?"
"What Alti said--"
"She's blabbering nonsense—just like every other prisoner that we captured, desperate to go on living their miserable lives."
"Hmm." I knew he didn't believe me. Pulling the covers away, I started to change.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"To get some fresh air. Alone." The last vision had left me in a lustful thirst, but not one to be quenched by my husband.
Next thing I know, I was standing outside the playwright's room with a hood over my head. I knocked.
"Wait," I said when I heard the knobs turning. "Pretend you're checking the locks, then draw the curtains like you're going to bed."
"...Empress?"
"Do it." I had to make sure that if Caesar was watching, he won't suspect a thing.
She did as was told, and then invited me into a dimly lighted room that was for her stay.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, but it was a customary question. Her eyes shone with a mix of surprise and happiness--something I hoped I didn't misinterpret.
"Yes, yes. Just...checking to make sure that you're being taken care of." I blabbered, not even knowing if it was a lie. But it had to be, right? What am I doing here?
"That is very kind of you." she said, but I could almost hear her thoughts--Sure, with a hood around your head and everything, alone at this hour with no guards by your side.
"Can I get you anything? Drink?"
"No no, that's alright."
She smiled, and we fell into an awkward silence. It seemed like both of us were searching for words to say, then she gestured to the hood still above my head.
"Oh." I reached up and removed it.
And she giggled shyly.
"So, where do you get your inspirations from? For your plays." A safe topic to begin with, I suppose.
"You know, when I look at you, I feel like I know you already." She said instead, almost in sync with my question. I was dumbfounded, unsure of how to response.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--"
"No," I said softly and met her green eyes. "I feel the same way." And then like a moth drawn to a flame, I inched forward and leaned down. My mind was screaming with protests but nothing was stopping me from doing what I was about to do. She tilted her head up in response and our lips met. The touch was soft and warm, but it lit a wick at the pit of my stomach and the fire is slowly growing.
I smiled as we pulled away, but I wanted more. "You know, I've seen the strangest things about you and I."
"Yeah? From a kiss?" She asked, reaching out for more as her hands found its way to my sides. I drew in a sharp breathe as her touch came into contact with my hips. Her fingers traced my hipbones teasingly and the tingling sensation started to build up between my legs
"Yeah," I answered dreamily, ready to dive in to devour her. "Let me show you..."
Tomorrow, I've decided as I have my hands around her tiny waist and her leg between mine, that Alti will die and so will Caesar. Julius Caesar is a man who holds his power and reputation high above everything else, his love for me will not make what happened tonight an exception. Pity, we made a great team. I love to hold power in my hands, I love the many promises that Alti delivered, but after what she showed me and what I found here, there is nothing I want more to have those visions come true. I am Xena, the Empress of Rome, and I will rely on no one but myself. I smiled as Gabrielle cried out in pleasure. I will make those visions come true, starting from tomorrow.