Author's Note: The idea came up after watching Gladiator for about the third time (not in a row, I tell you) and I had dwelled upon the plot and character positions for a little while. I made Seto the gladiator instead of the Caesar because that seems too obvious. Seto the Caesar. Meh. TOO OBVIOUS. It took me a lot longer to write it than I thought it would D: Wah.

I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Or any of the characters in this fanfiction.

Warning: AU, Seto being a badass...Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Gladiator

The crowd's cheering was all reduced to just a roar of noise inside the stadium as if they were one giant animal growling in the hot weather. Commoners glared through the sun at the gravel down below while others fanned their faces. Sun blared down upon all of them while the high class and their women sat under shade.

The games were about to begin and all waited for just one person to come striding out.

The Caesar.

Everyone knew the Caesar and how he looked as though the Gods had given birth to him. His sparkling almost glowing golden hair and magnificent brown eyes that glowed with rejuvenating youth drew people in and mystified them.

The crowd rose to an ecstatic mess when they saw the young blonde step out to take his seat. His white robe was shimmering against the stone of the stadium. As he slid down into his seat, the blonde raised his hand to them and announced, "Let the games begin!" His voice, although smooth, boomed into the round, ceilingless building.

The roar of the people erupted again, making Joey smile slightly. He loved the games, he loved his people. The ironed gates began to lift and his brown eyes couldn't help but watch in anticipation although he rested his head to the side on his hand.

One gladiator stepped out, looking deceptively calm for someone who was supposed to die on the field today. He was alone as no other gladiators followed out after him and the gates were once again shut with a rising creak.

The crowd stared down at the brunette and the people were silenced suddenly, captivated by the serious man. One and all could hear his footsteps on the sand as he stepped out to the middle of the field, the gritty sand grinding against the soles of his worn shoes.

His sword made a soft sliding sound as it was pulled out of his sheath and then collective gasps echoed around as the gladiator pointed it to the Caesar with a sudden smirk. Heads were jerking to stare at the others around them, as though nobody could believe the sudden cockiness the gladiator possessed. "I have a proposition to make-"

"How dare you disrespect your Caesar!-?" The head captain rushed forward, using his higher's seat as leverage to shout down at the peasant man. "You do not point thy sword in his direction like such and you do not speak unless you have bowed and been given righteous approval!"

The Caesar abruptly stood from his seat, glaring harshly down at the pretentious man below. But he held a hand up to stop his captain who blinked then stepped back with a short half bow of embarrassment and shame, repositioning himself where he had been moments ago. "You have no right to talk to me like this."

With these words, those cold eyes narrowed in what one could only call amusement then he stiffly shifted forward, mocking a bow. "Good enough? I should not expect to live much longer?" He continued, taking the words from the Caesar's open mouth which made him snap it shut. "Trust me, I'll live to see plenty of sights," His eyes trailed down the body of his Lord provocatively, sending murmurs back through the stadium.

Was that gladiator goggling the Caesar? So openly?

How bold that man is! What is his name?

His eyes roam like they have no class! Surely he is not from our state!

The Caesar gripped his hands into tight fists, looking exceptionally angry. This..fool was making a mockery of his power and lordship over his people. Where had they gotten such a brute man, one with absolutely no manners? "You think I will agree with your lowly proposition, gladiator? After your disgrace to your name and my stadium? Unlikely."

This brought the brunette an expression full of graceful distaste, dropping his eyes to the ground as he delicately drew his sword across the dirt. Acting as though the ground could hold his interest better than the man before him. "Would you like to hear it at first, Caesar? Your mind could easily be wavered."

Was that slave calling the pure blooded highness fickle? There was not one respectful bone in his body! Jou scowled, his face red with embarrassment. This bastard was no more than a swindler who needed to pay the price for his attitude. He probably couldn't wield a sword to save his fine ass anyway. "What are you expecting to gain if the win is yours? Money?" Jou replied bitterly.

"Nay," The other shook his head, smirk still quite in place, "Not money..Your Godliness. I want to be formally invited to stay in thy palace with you. I think it is only reasonable if I manage to break down all thy walls in such," His hands raised out to indicate the stadium, "A place."

Jou's eyes flickered back and forth with wild thought. This man couldn't be serious. There was no way such a horrible being would survive the tortures of his stadium. And so, in effect, there was no way he'd ever step a dirty sole into the palace. "Fine. I'll make sure you die today and your blood forever stains the walls." The blonde snapped, dropping back into his seat with a huff. His eyes found the next gate as it began to open revealing several huge chariots.

The sound of the running horses and chattering spinning wheels brought excitement back into the crowd. Screaming and cheering filled the stadium and yet, the gladiator kept his calm and serious demeanor. The two golden chariots began to circle him from afar, two riders per chariot. Dust was being kicked up in wild and heavy clouds.

One rider, wearing a full helmet, pulled the back string on his bow, aiming an arrow at the brunette with precision. The arrow whizzed just past the gladiator's face as he twisted barely to one side. The first move had been made. Seto half smiled as though the prospect of him dying brought him some form of joy.

His relaxed state hurled itself into a fit of rage when he forced his sword into the air with a grunt of effort. Blood splattered. Cheers boomed again as the body of one of the riders rolled to the ground, Seto's weapon lodged in his neck, right under his full helmet. The death brought the entire stadium into a fit and just basically sat Jou in a annoyed position.

The partner of the dead rider swerved off course, a bit rattled that the gladiator had already killed one of the four. Nobody but a cold blooded killer could manage such in so little time.

Leaning down where it had landed, Seto's hand pulled the arrow from the ground, dirt crumbling down from the dirty tip. He brushed the sharp metal off, giving the Caesar a small smile of pride before tossing it up into the air, high.

Then as one of the chariots took a sharp turn towards the young gladiator, he ducked the sword that swung for his head and rolled back to watch the arrow that dropped down into the rider's shoulder just inside the crack of the armor. An erect scream bounced from the walls, almost being drowned completely out by the ecstasy it brought from the crowd. The man in the chariot stumbled to one side then completely barreled off the edge, crunching under the giant spinning wheels. He moved no more.

"Two dead, two left to kill. How long do you think your men will continue to live?" Seto all but cackled with a strong stare up to his Lord, wiping imaginary dirt from his tanned shoulder. His only response was Jou gritting his teeth.

After sliding out of the way of another arrow nimbly, Seto yanked his sword from the bloody corpse that was one of his victims and looked over to the chariots as they slowed to a stop. Each rider stepped down from his spot, unsheathing his own sword. Each, as well, had their lips snarled back in fury and rushing adrenaline.

The braver of the two took a running start, slamming his sword back behind his head in a prepared slash. His scream echoed off the walls, bouncing out into the ears of the people. Seto thrust out his sword to meet the rider's and a clanging noise erupted. The attack had all been for show compared to Seto's strength.

They both drew back, taking several steps then began to circle one another. Seto threw the next move, a horizontal swipe toward the rider's neck but was deflected and harshly shoved back by the other's shield. Seeing as the shove was only a distraction, Seto slipped down to a crouch and he managed to just barely dodge a side swing that had been aimed for his head by the other fighter.

"Damn it all...!" Jou hissed between clenched teeth and his thumbnail, which had positioned itself in his mouth so it could be chewed nervously upon. This was literally impossible for any normal man. The circumstances were brutal for the poor gladiators Jou disposed off out on the fields. And yet his men were getting taken out one by one by this demon.

Seeing the advantage in numbers, the second rider came storming upon the brunette only to have Seto jab his helmet-covered forehead back with the end of his hilt. This caused said chariot rider to scramble back to recover and gave Seto enough time to roll towards him to avoid the sword that slammed into his former kneeling place. He first thrust his own sword into the neck of the closer then turned to face his former, shield wielding enemy. Blood squirted across Seto's shoes and calves and the crimson color sent the crowd berserk.

Whipping the sword mostly clean of the red liquid, Seto pridefully pointed the tip to other man. Jou could barely keep himself on his seat, squirming like a child. If his man didn't defeat this strange gladiator, he was sure to be humiliated and forced to invite him to his palace. The idea sent shivers down his tanned skin. He felt as though those eyes that man wielded were undressing him on the spot.

The clattering of swords bashing together rang across the sand and even with the advantage of his shield and high class armor, Jou's fighter was being forced back on defense. And he gawked, horrified, when his sword twirled from his grip and stuck itself forcefully into the sand far from his reach. He even squealed when the brunette tore his shield away from his grip.

But before he could beg Seto had his sullied sword breaking through the other side of his head from the man's mouth while he murmured, "Don't you have any pride, sniffling bitch?" He yanked the weapon back with more force than was needed and put on his best smirk.

"Ah," He let out the sigh and placed himself right before the Caesar pleasantly, "Well, that was delightful of you. To be so generous as to have your men play with me." He cooed out sweetly although his eyes read differently. They were daring and calculative. "But now that our agreement has come to this position, I would greatly appreciate you fulfilling your part."

Jou couldn't feel more ashamed of his men at this point so he childishly slumped into his stone throne and grumbled. "Please join me at the palace."

Seto tossed his sword to the side and it clunked roughly against the dirt. "Now, my Caesar," He said lightly yet his cocky tone still remained, "Is that any way to invite an important guest? Please, be more polite."

"Fuckin' join me at the palace, you bastard!" Jou, in his moment of rage, screamed then he whipped from the royalty box and out of the entire stadium, leaving the crowd in shock.

Seto could barely suppress his enjoyment as two guards resentfully led him out of the arena, "That is more like it."