Maximus followed Vulpes out of the weather station after they had dressed, her torn undergarments now hiding in the bottom of the pack he had brought.
"I fear your praetorian guard will have a difficult time respecting my leadership after having to escort me as a prisoner." She stated, choosing an appropriate topic in case anyone was listening in passing.
"Your praetorian guard." He corrected. "You will make them respect you."
"They used to serve under the legate, I'm not sure I can cont—wait, are we not going to your tent?" she asked as they passed it.
"We are." He stated coolly as he walked to hers. He held the tent flap open for her to enter. "I forfeited mine to Tabellaria as a consolation prize of sorts for not marrying her. The alternative would have been her residing with me or her taking yours. I would not allow that to happen, so I simply moved in as a compromise. I couldn't bring myself to sleep in Caesar's tent; it felt disrespectful. Given our relationship, nobody questioned when I moved to reside in your stead. And given your newly appointed position, it would only make sense that you stay with me as Lucius did in the command tent." He said as he let the tent close behind him. Maximus looked around the tent to see all of her possessions still neatly packed against one side. The furniture that usually resided in the center was pushed against it in order accommodate a second cot that had Vulpes' armor resting on top of a trunk at its foot.
"Where are the rest of your things?" she asked as she crossed to her belongings, searching for a bundle that contained clothes.
"All in New Vegas. I didn't want to send your things there until you consented to follow. They will leave tomorrow, with your blessing." He stated, sitting on his cot. She found what she was looking for and quickly pulled a new pair of undergarments on under her tunic, smothering the panic that accompanied her conditioning to hide herself.
"When do we depart?" she asked, crossing to her own cot. He grabbed her hand as she passed, prompting her to stop and stand before him as he idly rubbed his thumb over her scarred knuckles.
"In a few days time, given your approval. I can't have the leader of my guard excluded from such an important plan." He gently released her hand and let her pass. There was more she wished to discuss, but was too weary of her new neighbor to risk such topics. Vulpes gave her a knowing look, a silent acknowledgement that he wished the same. She was grateful he was equally cautious.
"Should the guard not be outside, or would you like me to take watch?" she asked, remembering her role.
"They're watching from the ridge and know to return to their post outside once our lanterns are extinguished." He said leaning over to his nightstand to do just that.
"As prepared as you are, you might not need me, after all." She said with a small smile, moving to do the same.
"I need you more than you know." He said holding her gaze for just a moment before darkness fell over the tent. "Good night, Maximus."
"Goodnight Vul."
"I refuse to allow you to travel alone with Caesar given your history of dismissal!" Tabellaria shouted across the table at Maximus. Maximus kept her composure and briefly glanced at Vulpes before responding. His gaze met hers and she could see a sparkle of challenge in his eyes.
"Any remnants of the NCR with any decent amount of sense would take our move as a final opportunity to attack the Legion during a power shift. They would be foolish not to. With the Mojave Outpost so close by, regardless of driving them out, there will doubtlessly be remaining rangers and troopers that escaped the slaughter into the desert to the east. Our lord cannot be seen traveling in a large, obvious group; the safest choice is for us to travel alone on a different route and regroup outside of New Vegas before we enter the city. I understand we need to make a show of arriving, but that does not require making one the entire journey."
"Who's to say you won't take him out and claim the throne?" she bit back.
"For starters, I'm not eligible. It would fall to Lucius. What is your fixation on my inevitable betrayal?"
"Your history!"
"I still don't follow." She said dead pan, trying not to lose her temper.
"You get demoted, by Caesar himself—"
"The head Frumentarius, at the time." Maximus clarified.
"Ignored orders to return to Caesar for reassignment" she spoke louder. "Disappeared for months at a time. Broke rank during a battle. How can anyone here trust you?"
"So, you list what you deem are my crimes, now sing my accolades." Maximus dared her. "Or, do I need to remind you that I currently outrank you? Or that I was brought up as the son of a Legate alongside a son of Mars? Or that he was the one who taught me to be a frumentarius and to make such decisions because, that too, is the history of our lord?" she braced her hands on the table, leaning towards Tabellaria as she dropped her voice. "I was chosen for this role. Do not begin to assume you know me or the lengths I will go to protect him. Question me again, and we will settle this in the arena." They stared each other down for a few long moments before Tabellaria's expression briefly flashed defeat as she sat back down and conceded. Maximus didn't dare look at Vulpes, her attention focusing on keeping control of the meeting. She stood back up to her full height to address the table. "My men will escort the remaining populous to the city, among them, a frumentarius will dress as a decoy Caesar. The Mojave only knows him for the coyote cowl and nothing more, so having them wear one will be the best choice. The remaining frumentarii will dispatch in intervals in different directions to assess any waiting threats. I suggest hiding a few among the slaves in the event of an attack. The reason we will not be using a slave as a decoy is because of the likelihood of capture—whoever plays Caesar must act the part until he has truly been delivered home. You will leave a day ahead of us, as we will travel faster on our own and wish to arrive around the same time. Our route will only be revealed to Tabellaria, for security reasons." As she ended, she finally looked to Vulpes, whose masked expression showed only the slightest hint of amusement behind it.
"Will there be any questions?" he simply asked the table. Shaking heads and light calls of 'no, my Lord' echoed amongst the group as Maximus took her seat. "Then you are dismissed, save for Tabellaria." Praetorians, Frumentarii and Centurions alike, left the small tent until it was only the three of them.
"What do you require of me, my lord?" Tabellaria purred.
"Our routes, in the event of delays" he said handing her a small stack of papers.
"Routes as in plural?" she asked.
"We do not want to stick to just one, travelling conditions will determine which direction we take. If anything were to happen, we have a series of safe houses to hold out in, if necessary." Maximus clarified.
"Memorize these routes, you will not be leaving this tent with them." Vulpes instructed. Tabellaria nodded and laid them out before her to study.
Maximus and Vulpes watched the last of the camp depart, leaving them entirely alone. As the courser took the raft further away, Tabellaria's eyes did not leave Vulpes until the river bent and took them out of sight, leaving only the sparkle of the reflected sunset in their wake.
"She's infatuated with you." Maximus said, not unkindly.
"Do not remind me." He said, unamused. "For someone so effective at their job, she somehow fails at being subtle." He muttered before turning to climb the hill back to the Fort. Maximus followed him after one last glance down the river.
They walked through the bare bones of the fort, only ghosts of its prior activities remained. The tents not deemed salvageable or worth the effort of moving remained erect, scattered throughout the grounds. The dining tent and infirmary long since dismantled. The arena, not worth the scrap, remained standing, seemingly insignificant in its emptiness. Where Maximus expected to return to their tent, Vulpes took a right, leading them to where the command tent once stood, now disassembled and removed, save for the throne.
"Do you remember what I've told you of Gomorrah?" he asks. She crinkles her nose, recalling the details and he accepts that as an answer before she could speak. "Did I ever tell you of the back courtyard, though?"
"No, only the inner workings and their…business practices." She responds, perplexed by his mention of such a dissolute establishment.
"It's like an oasis with its flora; a small man made pool in the center surrounded by lush green. The surrounding walls host walkways and balconies that can oversee the entire space."
"It sounds as if they had as least one untainted corner, after all" she remarked, attempting to visualize his words.
"Don't be mistaken, even this space was designed with debauchery in mind. Every corner was host to both private and public beds. They truly catered to all proclivities, including that of group play in the pool. It was not something one could use to become clean, by any means." Maximus blushed at his descriptions.
"Did you ever…play?" she asked, disgusted by the possession that overcame her at the thought.
"Though I pride myself in my work, I can assure you, Mr. Fox would not debase himself so publicly. Even with my character, half-truths were important for both my cover and my personal limitations. I would not shame our men for making such decisions, but it would not be one made true to me. You have nothing to be concerned about." He glanced at her as they reached the top of the hill, a playful smile gracing his lips.
The view before them hindered any rebuttal that wished to fall from her lips as a warm, golden sunset painted the sky in shades of pink and purple. She had seen this view a thousand times before and yet it never failed to astonish her.
"We will most likely never have a reason to return here, so I wanted to give you one last opportunity to experience the view." He spoke, quietly. "I remember when we were children, you would sneak up here to sit behind the tent during evening meals. For the longest time, I thought you were just hiding until I saw how reverently you would stare upon the horizon."
"I always thought I was undetected. Why didn't you say anything?" she asked, ignoring a wave of embarrassment.
"I didn't want to take this away from you." He admitted, his thin fingers gesturing gracefully at the view. "After I realized what you were doing, I never followed you here, again." She felt the air displacement and turned to see him walking away to give her privacy, but she quickly snatched his hand and guided him back to her side. He stared down at her for a moment before letting his gaze follow hers to the painted sky. "Thank you, for sharing this with me." His thumb gently rubbed along her knuckles, their hands still clasped as they watched the remaining light slowly fade from the sky.
The spell was broken as darkness settled over the camp, the moon just bright enough to see by while the lights of New Vegas shone like a beacon to their future. Maximus sighed lightly as she turned away from it, knowing they would have to leave tomorrow afternoon. She was expecting to be excited but could only muster nervousness at the thought. As she moved to walk down the hill, Vulpes held her in place, still grasping her hand.
"I never finished telling you of Gomorrah." He said, pulling her with him as he moved to the ridge overseeing the arena. She looked to him hesitantly, curious as to the point he wished to make. He smiled at her, knowingly. "I wish to expand on this," he stated gesturing below them. "The entire structure would be ideal for a coliseum. The basement could hold the slaves, the rooms the career fighters. The front casino can become a training area. Out back would be the arena itself, ideal with its balconies and open air for a true battle. We're coming up on a time of peace, and I know our men will become restless. Further, I fear some may become complacent and weak without the stimulation of war." He said, looking down at her proudly. Maximus was breathless, not having seen this side of him since the scourge of Nipton. "For appearances and motivation, I'm having a throne installed in the center balcony as the prewar emperors once had. There will be a place for you next to it to witness the vying praetorian hopefuls, as you build upon your position." He added, prompting her to smile at his consideration and respect for her.
"Why is the throne still here, if you wish to install it at Gam—the coliseum?" she asked, turning to look at it, sitting undisturbed in the center of the hill.
"No. Not that one. Never that one." He said, as if to solidify the decision to himself. "It is not mine. It is a symbol of the past and of an archaic time period, now that we finally have our New Rome. It will remain here, where its ideals were forged, as a marker of our foothold over the Mojave." Maximus only nodded in acknowledgement, having nothing to contribute to such a declaration. His eyes lifted towards the shining lights of their new home in the distance. "I will have one made in the coming weeks. I've yet to settle on a design, though." He said walking forward with her in tow. "Though I am proud, I have never thought to present myself in such a way, and now that it's happening, I suppose there's a lot to consider. How decorative should it be? I've always been a man of minimal needs, even this" he said, stopping in front of the throne. "is too much, for me. Then there's the size" he said pulling her in front of him and turning her to face him. "Not just the height, but the width. I wish to be comfortable, but I do not wish to be dwarfed by a piece of furniture." He gently pushed her, until her knees hit the edge and she was forced to sit. She inhaled sharply, shocked at the thought of sitting on the throne, the taboo of such an act from someone of her station. "I need to be sure it can fit both of us." He said, dropping to his knees in front of her. She stared at him wide eyed, hanging on his every word. "I want to feel your legs spread over mine as I show our men exactly what you mean to me." He ran his hands up her thighs, dragging his nails, as he went.
"I—I shouldn't be here, this is wrong…" she managed to get out as her heart fluttered at the hungry look in his eyes.
"This is exactly where you belong." He began following his hands with his lips, gently nipping at her flesh between speaking. "This is my legion, now. There is no one else who can tell you otherwise." His hands roamed above her hips, gently tugging at her undergarment until she lifted enough for him to pull them down her legs. She was breathing heavily now, looking down at this man before her, never having imagined this as a possibility. "I may rule everything you see before you, and the horizon's that pass them, but you rule over me, and I plan to worship you properly." She gasped as he pulled her legs forward by her calves, forcing her to fall back as he spread them. Before she could recover, his tongue licked a broad stripe up her center. In her breathless state, her mouth fell open with a silent cry. Her mind immediately warred between the pleasure of his actions and the severity of where she sat, desecrating a space she often kneeled to. She couldn't bring her hands to grasp the throne as she desperately wished she could, as the conflict within her rattled her instincts to flee. She settled on digging her nails into her thighs, closing her eyes tightly, trying to pretend she was anywhere else that couldn't end in crucifixion. "Look at me.", he demanded, softly.
Upon meeting his striking blue gaze, the familiar calm Vulpes had always provided negated her panic. On her following exhale, a whimpering moan escaped her lips. His eyes lit up at her acknowledgement as he delved as deeply as it could, spurring further moans. He lapped at her, the ridged tip of his tongue dragged against her with every stroke, intent on hitting where he knew would most affect her. She didn't need anything more to reach her peak, and Vulpes knew that, but it didn't stop him from sliding two fingers inside of her to curl against her wanting flesh while his lips suctioned around her clit.
Upon quieting from her moans, she could hear a faint rhythmic rusting that took a moment to identify as Vulpes stroking himself to her pleasure. A silent orgasm tore through her at the knowledge, too winded to make a sound as her body tensed and crested backwards causing her hands to finally rest on the throne as she dug her fingers into the arm rests.
"Oh, Gods, yes!" he proclaimed, releasing her sensitive flesh. "This is where you belong." His lips grazed against her inner thighs, trailing open mouthed kisses as he continued to touch himself. "Our empire will bow to you upon your throne, and I with them, whenever you require." When she could breathe again, she opened her eyes and was blown away by his hungry visage between her legs. Never had anyone looked upon her so reverently. She tightened around his fingers, prompting him to moan against her skin. "Tell me what you wish of me." He practically begged. Unable to speak, she guided his head back to her core and moaned as he ravaged her like a starving man. His other hand came up to grab her hip, but she stopped him.
"No—Don't stop pleasuring yourself. I want to see you come apart!" she gasped. He quickly complied, the thrust of his fingers matching the rhythm of his hand. His gaze remained on her, raw and animalistic.
As she came a second time, her eye slammed shut, but she could still see the image of him staring back at her, the intensity burned into her memory. His lips and fingers pulled away from her as he braced himself against the throne, his breathing increasing, face fully flushed. She opened her eyes to that same gaze. His brow deepened and his lips parted, a low buildup of moans escaped his throat. "Let me see you, Vul" she said, airily, still coming down. She reached forward and cupped his cheek, prompting him to lean into it. Within seconds, his moans became grunts, his eyes slamming shut as he climaxed onto the ground before her, still kneeling in worship.