Author: Amy Fortuna (peacefulpassion@hotmail.com)
Rating: R
Category: Romance, Action/Adventure
Disclaimer: Gladiator belongs to Dreamworks. I only own my dreams.
Archive: Anywhere I send it to.
Series: Sequel to No Easy Way Out.
Spoilers: BIG spoilers for Gladiator.
Summary: Cicero's POV of the last part of the movie.
Feedback: Is absolutely adored.
I whispered your name and you snapped awake as you always did, hand reaching for my throat.
"My lord! Maximus!" I said again. Then your eyes cleared and you knew me.
"Cicero, love," you whispered. And then you were pulling me down into your kiss.
No more words were spoken after that, just a frantic shared desire, quiet as possible, clumsily half removing clothes, and at last your skin under mine, warm and sweet.
Desperately aware of the other men sleeping just a few feet away, we were almost utterly silent, keeping our moans muffled against each other's bodies, mouths and bodies pressed together hard.
It was a graceless fumbling in the dark, but a fully satisfying fumbling nonetheless, and we sighed, sinking against each other, when it was over.
"My Cicero," you whispered. "How did you get in?"
"Your 'keeper' will do anything for money," I shrugged, smiling against your skin. And I thought to myself, remembering the customs the local women used to get to great champions, rich women may pay to be pleasured by you, but, it seems, *I* pay to pleasure you.
"When do I get out of here?" was your next question.
"Two nights from now," I said. "It's been arranged. I'll have horses by the city wall, and we'll away to Ostia. All you need to do, my Maximus, is stay alive, and meet me there at midnight."
He considered for a moment. "Will the money to free me get to Proximo before that?"
"Yes," I said. The Lady Lucilla would take care of that.
We fell silent for a few minutes, our hearts beating against each other.
"I mourned your wife and son," I said at last. "I loved them."
"I know you did, Cicero," you said. "How did you escape death yourself?"
I shuddered. "Quintus' favor," I whispered. And I had to stay alive for you, I thought.
"Well, then I have something to thank him for," you said. "Although I doubt he let you live out of any true love for me."
"No, nor me," I said. "He offered to take me as his servant. He called me slave."
"And you refused."
"Of course," I answered. "The only man I will ever serve in any way lies in my arms tonight."
You smiled. "Not for much longer, love, we've things to do. And I've got to be alert tomorrow."
And I cannot be there to shield you, I thought.
"My lord. Farewell, then. May your dreams be sweet."
I moved out of your arms, and with a final farewell kiss, gave you my promise that I would not fail you. I would never fail you.
"I'll see you -- soon, Cicero," you whispered to me, our mouths a breath apart. I kissed you again quickly, smiled, and slipped out of the room silent as moonlight.
The day dawned bright and beautiful. I had so much to do! Horses, must get horses. I traded the last of my few gold pieces for them, joking with the seller. You would conquer, we would be living under the rule of true humanity from now on, and we could then be together forever.
I indulged in a bit of dreaming, wondering where we'd go. To Spain. Perhaps even back to your destroyed farm. We could make it beautiful again -- erase all the terrifying memories of fear and pain.
Grapes and olives would be springing up there soon enough. And I smiled as I remembered the harvest days in your home, so filled with light and laughter and joy.
Your wife and son would not be there, and that was the only thing that I mourned.
The day went by on winged feet.
Late in the afternoon, I received a cryptic message from the Lady Lucilla's handmaiden. It merely said: "He suspects. Tonight instead."
Tonight then. We'd flee Rome together, escaping the savage bonds of the arena. I could not wait to see you again.
Night.
Late night, and I gathered all my things together, the horses as well. Making my way to our appointed meeting place, just outside the city walls, I sat quietly for a few minutes, listening to a late bird sing outside the city.
And something went very, very wrong.
My senses pricked up, my spine went shivery. That was no bird singing. Oh gods.
I scarce had time to breathe another breath before an arm was flung over my mouth. I gasped in surprise.
"In league with Maximus -- here he is!" the man who had me by the throat called out.
Words fled my body. For a terrified moment I could not have spoken if I had tried to.
Then I gathered myself together.
"You must be mistaken," I protested, but the words sounded hollow even to me.
"No mistake, dog," the man said. And suddenly I recognized him -- one of the group of soldiers who had so tormented me long ago.
"Oh," I whispered, praying to whatever diety was listening that they would only kill me.
The man tied a rope around my neck, attaching it to a tree branch high above.
"Slave, you startle this horse, or try to go anywhere, and you're dead." He paused, raking me with his eyes. "Pity. Would have liked to get your clothes off once. Always did have a fancy for men tied up. But we don't have time for that."
Through my terror I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I would not be raped before I died.
The man, and any others that may have been with him, disappeared into the night.
Those few moments were the most terrifying of my life. What could I do? What could I do to save you -- you who were undoubtedly approaching this trap I formed an unwilling part of?
I had no time to think -- I could see your armor glint as you silently walked out of the tunnel.
And suddenly I knew what I could do.
"Maximus!" I yelled, my heart in my words, a shout of warning, of terror, a battle cry.
You paused for a instant. The horse I was sitting on, startled by my sudden scream, leapt away, and pain shot through my bones as the rope tied around my neck yanked me up.
You raced to me, holding my legs still. I had failed to even warn you.
"I'm sorry," I rasped out. At least I would die with your arms around me and your eyes locked onto mi--.
The world went black, and I fell into a faint darkness, the pain fading.