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Betrayl of Bloods

By: Lost-Remembrance (Red Tail)

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Chapter Four:

"Maximus, the Emperor would like to see you." A soldier said as he returned to his post. Nodding, Maximus walked out of his tent only to run into Heero, literally.

Neither loosing their grounds, Heero shuffled the bag that he had slung over his shoulders.

"How are you, Heero?" Maximus laughed, happy he would have two sons in the family now.

"Fairing well, General." Heero said as he titled his head. "Garth—"

"Thank you, once again sir!" Garth cried happily as he went over to the tent where the banquet was.

Maximus sighed heavily. "Great, what did you do now?" He chuckled lightly.

"I freed him."

"That was very kind of you."

Heero shrugged. "I never liked servants." He told Maximus. "It made me feel worth more than I really am." He muttered almost to himself. Maximus barely heard it and felt his hands clench. The people who had trained him had over stepped their boundaries to make him feel worthless.

In the lights, Maximus furrowed his eyebrows as he reached forward, tilting the youth's chin upward and Heero, in turn, blinked at the action. A large bruise was beginning to form that wasn't there before. "Where did you get that?" He questioned, anger growing.

Jerking his head away from the grip, Heero's unruly brunet bangs shadowed his face and eyes. "Nothing. I have to go and see about something." He said, turning away from the man.

"I wish you would tell me." Maximus said to the teen who had his back turned. "Son's always tell their father's everything."

"Comodus." The voice was a whisper. Maximus blinked and felt his anger churn. Comodus had no right to touch the boy, royalty or not.

"He did that?"

Heero barely nodded before turning around. "I think he's up to something. Allow me to escort you and protect the Emperor one last time before I am released from my services."

"All right." Maximus sighed as he motioned for the teen to follow at his side, which he did without question.

"Did you meet with Lady Peacecraft?" He questioned, trying to start up and conversation.

"Yes, and Lady Catolonia; wife to one of the senate." He said. "How they live such boring lives I shall not understand." Maximus laughed.

"Let me guess, they were shocked by your age?" He laughed.

"Yes." Heero muttered. "It does get me annoyed."

Maximus laughed again lightly as he got a mock glare from the boy as they entered the tent.

"My Emperor." The both said, bowing though Heero did rather stiffly.

"Heero, so good of you to join us." He commented with a weak smile. "How are you?"

"Quite better, my king." Heero said as he stepped up from the bow. The Emperor's face darkened when he saw the youth's face.

Gingerly, the man touched the bruised cheek. "What happened?" He questioned lightly. Heero didn't say anything. He couldn't tell but he had to, it was his Emperor!

Heero bit his lip and his eyes darkened as his face lowered slightly, he looked away. He mumbled a name.

"Who?" The Emperor questioned, not quite understanding what the boy mumbled.

"Heir Comodus hit me." Heero said more loudly. The Emperor's gaze darkened slightly.

"Why?" The boy had better had a good reason for hitting the boy he thought as his son.

"I do not know. He asked for my services when he became Emperor and I said no for Maximus is letting me stay with his family after I serve my duties."

"Oh." The ruler lightly replied. "Well," He said softly. "Please, take a seat." He motioned to some chairs.

"Thank you, Caesar." They both thanked with formality.

"I wanted to ask something big of both of you. Maximus mainly." He said. "I had a hard time deciding this, not knowing who to choose." He explained with a smile.

The both bowed their heads. "Does it involve our dismiss from the services?" Heero questioned.

The emperor sighed. "Maximus, I want you to rule Rome and it's empire." He explained.

"What!" Maximus and Heero both blurted out at the same time in shock, this had never happened before!

"Caesar, if it isn't my place to speak out of turn, isn't the heir supposed to take the throne."

"I need you to rule. Comodus is too power hungry; he would be a terribly ruler or Rome and it's people."

"But I know nothing about ruling." Maximus objected.

"Yes, but the future of Rome rests in Democracy." He explained to the two men in front of him.

Heero bowed his head at this, Rome? A Democracy? "Sir," He began. "What of Maximus' family? What of the Royal family?"

"I do not know of that." The Emperor said with a sigh. Heero's hands clenched, that meant that there would possibly be assassination attempts on Maximus' kind family. He felt slightly lightheaded.

"I cannot accept this." Maximus bowed his head, looking at Heero out of the corner of his eyes. The youth's cobalt eyes were distant, obviously deep in thought.

"I understand. Perhaps I can come and visit you and your family as well as Heero."

"Yes, that would be kind of you, Caesar."

"Heero," Caesar turned to the youth that looked up at his name. "Would you take the throne?" He questioned.

Heero stiffened, mouth slightly open as he looked away before getting to his feet and walking out of the room.

"Heero—" Maximus called out after him before the Emperor placed a hand on his shoulder. "He already has so much on his shoulders."

"He would be strong for Rome. Comodus will bring Rome's downfall." The Emperor said back with a soft look in his wise old eyes.

"He's so young though, this is too much for him."

"I had to decide tonight, before your freedom of your services."

"Yes, but his body is trying to heal. Why Heero?"

"He has to accept." Maximus looked up at the Emperor. "The Senate has decided his services are too required for Rome." Either a ruler or a soldier. He would have no choice the in matter really; this was being forced on him. Some even wondered if the Senate was that desperate for him instead of Comodus to rule.

"No." Maximus whispered. "He was promised."

"The Senate has decided." The Caesar said with sadness.

"Can you not over rule them?" Maximus said with desperation. "For the first time I have seen a real smile light his face when he was invited to my household."

"Perhaps he can visit at times." Maximus blinked back tears. How would he tell him? It would break his hope and even possibly him.

The Caesar called forth his guards and Maximus told them to not relieve themselves of their position and watch the Emperor until day with both eyes, taking Heero's warning into heed. He walked out of the tent.

Snow was beginning to fall. He walked towards his tent and saw Garth who was walking away with shoulder's slumped.

"Garth," Garth looked up before titling his head slightly. "Where is the Commander."

"In his tent sir, he won't let any one come near him." Garth said. "He seems so upset and I was given freedom for nothing I think."

"What?"

"His services will not end." Garth said sadly. "The men were so happy when the Senate announced it at the party, sir. They said 'Commander Yuy's services will not end' but didn't say why or how it happened. I thought he was—"

"Don't tell anyone of that, his services are further required." The man said sharply, apologizing before leaving off in the direction of the youth's tent.

Opening the flap, he saw the teen with his head in his hands, armor and shirt off. His eyes were closed and eyebrows in a frown.

"What do you want?" His voice was threatening, more than Heero had already said.

"Heero." Maximus said, noting how the teen didn't look up like he normally did when hearing his voice.

"I already know." He laughed grimly. "I guess that I don't really have much of a choice now do I?" Maximus swallowed hard and closed his eyes before opening them again and walking forward to sit next to the youth.

"I'll sta—" He was about to say before being interrupted by Heero.

"No." He declared bluntly. "I'll be fine." He said.

"Could you accompany me to my farm?"

Heero didn't say anything. "I can't."

"Why not?" Maximus growled. He was leaving in the morning, his choice or not unless he was to stay in the army.

"Comodus." He growled. "He came in to tell me of this." Heero's shoulder's slumped slightly. "He said that some men would accompany you on your journey."

"Heero—" He stopped abruptly and drew the teen into an embrace.

"It's not that bad." Heero whispered as he drew away from the embrace. "You have to go and pack."

"Yes…" Maximus got to his feet. "You shall always be one of my son's." He left the tent.

Heero stared at the tent and threw his shirt on and put his armor back on, heading off to the tent of the Caesar with a down cast heart beating in his chest.

The next day…

"I wish you well on your journey." Comodus said with a dark smile; he hadn't yet heard of the news of him possibly not accepting the throne.

Maximus looked down at the man beside his horse. How he wanted to punch the living daylights out of him. "Where is Heero?" He didn't trust Comodus.

"He is off, looking over the information for the next battle." Comodus said with a smirk. "I'll be staying with my father to see the victory."

Maximus frowned and Comodus grinned inwardly. He turned to look at the distance, his horse tapping hooves impatiently on the ground. "I shall be going then. Tell Heero he is welcome at my home anytime."

Comodus turned away, bidding the General of the northern armies farewell. He walked off into the encampment.

"Goodbye Heero." Maximus whispered as he turned his horse, starting the journey back to his home.

"Maximus!" His wife called from the orchid. Her son by her side jumped up and down. They had both received the letter of Maximus' return and even better news that Heero would be staying with them.

Maximus rode up on his horse, the soldier's long since departed after they reached the estate. "Darling." He greeted, jumping off his horse and drawing them both into a hug, knowing someone was missing in the family hug. Heero.

"Where is the young Commander, Heero?" His wife questioned. The whole family loved the youth, how could any one other than his enemies not?

"The Senate decided that his services were further required. He wasn't allowed the leave." He bowed his head and his son cried, missing the opportunity to have an older brother and someone as 'cool as Heero' in his opinion. His wife gasped and drew him into a hug, biting her lip as she felt mixed emotions.

"He might visit us if we're lucky." Maximus added with a half smile. It seemed that with this news, his return was bittersweet…

Back at the encampment, Heero looked up when he saw Comodus walking towards him.

"Good day, Heero." The heir greeted, taking a seat next to Heero as he looked over the parchment with the information on their next enemies and a map of the terrain and countries.

"Did Maximus say anything, Heir Comodus?" Heero questioned, knowing the heir couldn't lie since he was to be emperor.

"No." Comodus lied easily, looking at Heero as he said this.

"Oh."

"Since you are still in the army now, Commander, won't you join my forces and protect me?" Comodus lifted his hand to brush it against Heero's cheek who jerked away from the touch.

"H—"

"It's a law not to deny anything royalty wants…" Comodus seethed, pulling Heero closer to him. Heero looked away, avoiding the man's gaze. Comodus gripped Heero's chin, making the small teen look up into his cold, black eyes. "And I want you."

"Sir Heero?" Heero jerked out of Comodus' grip again and looked at Lady Relena who entered the room with a soft look I her eyes like she always did when around him. "My father wishes to see you."

Comodus opened his mouth to protest, but the other sister stopped him.

"Now." Heero nodded and got up, bowing to the three heirs and removed himself from the room.

Relena sent a glare to her brother and left, her sister and brother staying.

"I'd be careful, brother." The other sister replied, "Relena likes that one." Then, with that, she turned and took her exit.

TBC