I DO NOT OWN SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA.

House of Batiatus, Later that day.

After being presented to the men, Flavius resumed his training by sparring with Ashur.

"Do you still doubt that the Gods have blessed you brother?" Ashur asked as they sparred. "You not only are allowed entry into the cunt of your choice, but in addition, you have secured the fucking Primus!"

"If I am so blessed, then why has my sister not yet been returned to me?" Flavius inquired as he swung at the Syrian only to be blocked. He could offer no answer to the former Roman as they continued sparring until Doctore cracked his whip; signaling that it was time to eat. As the men lined up, Barca was once again by the pot.

"Eat, brothers! You bear the mark now; savor the taste of victory!" Barca exclaimed as the men grabbed their bowls. Ashur spoke in Aramaic to Dagan as the gladiators sat down to eat.

"I'm in no mood to taste Barca's piss again." Flavius replied as he set his bowl aside.

"Such pettiness has been put aside, now that we are brothers." Ashur insisted with optimism as he took a bite of porridge; only to spit it out a couple seconds later to the cheers of everyone.

"Our piss once again finds its way to their mouths!" Barca cheered.

"As if sucked from our cocks!" Actus added in jest.

"Argh!" Ashur roared as he threw down his bowl, clearly pushed to his breaking point. "We bear the fucking mark!"

"Received absent the test." Actus clarified. "A fucking goat may bear the mark, it does not make him a brother." Ashur translated Auctus's words to Dagan and the large Syrian would have surely bashed his brains in had it not been for Gannicus. Ashur eventually calmed his friend down before he could make the situation worse. As the Syrians rejoined Flavius, the gates of the Ludus opened to reveal an older man accompanying Batiatus.

"Who is the man that walks with Dominus?" Seuso inquired.

"He ie Titus Lentulus Batiatus, Dominus's father and the paterfamilias." Gannicus explained as the elder Batiatus greeted his gladiators.

"Ah, greetings." the old man spoke as he greeted his gladiators. "Auctus, Nurto...Oenomaus...you assume mantle of Doctore?" He was clearly surprised to see the former champion so elevated.

"After unfortunate death of his predecessor, I chose Oenomaus as replacement, knowing that he..." Quintus started to say before his father cut him off.

"Gather your food and let us retire to your cell." Titus interrupted. "I would exchange stories of the passing years, old friend."

"Dominus." Oenomaus replied as he walked with Titus to his cell. Flavius was filled with much misgivings, which Ashur picked up on immediately.

"What troubles you bother?" The Syrian asked.

"One can not serve 2 masters, a fact clear to the simplest of minds." The Former Roman answered as he knew that tension would engulf the house of Batiatus soon enough.


The next day.

Another day of training began in the ludus of Batiatus. The only difference was that this morning's training was being watched by Titus Lentulus Batiatus; as opposed to his son. Flavius watched as the new doctore walked out to address the men. It was easy to see that he was still not ready for his new position as he fiddled with the whip in his hand before finding his tongue.

"Attend...pair up!" Doctore announced as the men were slow to act. "Crixus, spar with Barca. Auctus work the palus until Gannicus joins us."

"Oenomaus, this one is too small!" Barca griped. "I would have something the size of a man!"

"Barca, do as your Doctore commands!" Titus commanded as Barca shut his mouth.

"Yes, Dominus." Barca replied sheepishly as he turned towards the Gaul. "Come, let us see what is between your legs."

"Flavius, Dominus requests that you change style from Murmillo to that of Samnite." Doctore declared as a slave handed him a wooden rectangular shield.

"Yes Doctore." Flavius replied as he moved to spar with Dagan while Crixus got his ass handed to him by the beat of Carthage.

"The Gaul winces from spear as he would from my cock!" Auctus jeered as Crixus fell flat on his face.

"Is my long, hard weapon too much for you, little man?" Barca asked as he pretended to stick his wooden spear in side the Gaul's ass.

"I am without lesson against it, but your instructions are well received." Crixus replied as he rose to his feet to make another attempt.


When Doctore called for lunch, Flavius moved to join Ashur and was surprised to see the Syrians feasting on poultry.

"How did you come by such a feast?" the former Roman inquired as he sat down.

"Reparations from the beast of Carthage, break bird with us." Ashur offered as Flavius ate his share of the pigeon meat. The feast soon came to an end when Barca and Actus stormed into the mess hall; their faces contorted in rage.

"You fucking cunts!" Auctus roared in fury as Ashur looked to him.

"You soil our food, why should we not make meal of your fucking pets!" The Syrian shouted back as the men broke into a vicious brawl. Auctus gained the upper hand on Ashur until Flavius pulled him off and delivered a knee to the face.

"Get off of him, you pig fucker!" Seuso shouted as he delivered some hard punches to Barca's lover.

"Crixus!" Ashur shouted, looking for help from the Gaul; but none came. Eventually, the trainer of gladiators arrived to see the spectacle.

"Have you lost fucking mind?" he asked in shock. "Stand down!" He tried to break it up, only to receive an elbow from Dagan for his efforts. The fight came to an end when Titus returned from town.

"Calm yourselves...is this what my house has fallen to?" He asked in pure frustration. "Brother setting upon brother, so far removed from the honor of the arena, where such contest holds meaning?" The Gladiators looked at each other like children being chastised.

"Flavius, come with us and break words." Quintus commanded as Flavius followed the men into the villa; wondering what penalty was in store for him now.


Inside the villa, Flavius stood before the masters of the house who looked at him with unreadable faces. Titus eventually found his words and looked in the eyes of the former Roman.

"We met with Tullius in town this day." The old man spoke with frail voice. "After Vettius accused my son of stealing Varus from him, Tullius wished to rip the primus from us."

"I do not fight?" Flavius asked in shock that his chance to prove himself had been taken.

"You do, a third party convinced Tullius to keep you in the primus as agreed." the younger Batiatus explained.

"Who would do such a thing?"

"The man who put you here." Flavius was confused for a moment until the realization hit him.

"Septimus!" Flavius growled in anger.

"He has offered Tullius a considerable sum to keep you in the primus, instead now you shall be facing 5 of Vettius's men in the arena." Titus explained. "I do not know what you did to anger the Legatus, but he desires your blood to be spilled."

"He did nothing but defend an innocent woman, the fault lies with Augurnus for being a shit spewing hole!" Quintus spoke up in defense of his gladiator. Flavius said nothing as he knew that Septimus had not abandoned his quest for vengenace. Luckily, neither would Flavius.

REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.