Antonio and Lovino became lovers. Not that romantic type though, it was purely about sex between them. Of course they didn't spend every night together, only when Lovino wanted to, and the slave didn't sleep with him every time, they couldn't risk being caught. It was a thing Romans do – but also a thing that shouldn't be noticed and talked about. Especially if your father was someone with great respect.

Long time passed like this and Antonio didn't completely dislike it. He got used to the fact that it was only what it was, nothing more than that. But as time flew, he couldn't deny that his feelings towards Lovino came to change into something more serious… And as pathetic as he felt, he completely fell in love with him. Every evening he hoped that Lovino would stop him, because even if he knew it didn't mean anything for the patrician, it did mean everything to him… His thoughts were currently going on about him, thinking of him, daydreaming of him… To be able to touch him, to be in his arms, to feel him… This was all he could get from him, so he wanted as much as he could…

It wasn't as easy as it might seem though. He was constantly reminded about the fact that he was only a slave, that he will never be a free man, and he will never have the chance to earn Lovino's love. No matter how he wanted to, how he knew that he was so much better than those patricians Lovino called his friends. But Antonio had to bear it without a word and so he did, he was afraid of a possible reaction if he told a word about his feelings to the patrician. If he lost this little he got from him, there would be no point in living anymore, just like what he felt when he had become a slave.

There was a big market in Tarraco, a lot of merchants who came from exotic places selling there their luxurious, expensive goods. Gems, jewelries, fabrics, fruits, vegetables, animals and clothes were there, thousands of them, and everyone in Tarraco went to see them, even if they couldn't buy anything. Some of the merchants were not only selling their items but talked about their adventures as well, having a huge crowd gathered around them.

Lovino, as a fan of luxurious things, of course had to go there. With money and at least five slaves, just to make sure. At the first day he just only looked around, wanting to make the best purchase – wanting to buy the most things from the least money. The next day though, when he gathered the slaves, he started purchasing things. He bought new carpets, a lot from the fruits and vegetables for dinners, and different expensive, good quality clothes and fabrics.

Antonio was completely shocked at the amount of things Lovino bought, he had never had neither the urge, nor the permission to buy this much. But comparing their families was a little strange, seeing what had happened to their money…

They spent almost the whole day on the market and the slaves were just coping with carrying everything home with being very careful with the expensive goods. Antonio had a few things to carry as well, but he wasn't there for that purpose, he wasn't a simple slave, after all. He was needed by Lovino to assist him in purchasing and in the things he usually did.

They arrived home surprisingly early though, only at six o'clock, Lovino himself didn't expect that. But he was completely exhausted and couldn't wait to get home, to have some rest. When they arrived to the house, he instantly sent the slaves to where they should put the things down.

"Oh, I need to take a bath right now!" he sighed as soon as he finished. "You go and prepare the bath now while I'm taking care of the dinner!" he ordered turning to Antonio and beckoning to another slave he started walking towards the kitchen.

Antonio did as he was said to, going towards the bath house to prepare everything. He got the towels Lovino used, checked if the water was clear and made sure everything was okay, then stood beside the door and waited.

He had time to think as Lovino didn't seem to hurry. Oh, how he wished he didn't have, his mind always got carried away when it came to bathing time... His thoughts were all over his master. How he hated to help him undress when he could only do this. How he hated to see his perfect, naked form when he wasn't allowed to touch it as much as he pleased. How he hated to help him dry himself when he wanted nothing more than to feel that silky skin against his own as their bodies pressed together…

The door opened with a loud creak, making Antonio jump a bit in surprise and a deep blush appeared on his cheeks at the sight of Lovino who looked at him raising his eyebrows at that.

"What's with that expression?"

"Nothing, sir, I'm fine, I'm sorry" Antonio mumbled quickly and shook his head, looking downwards. Oh, no, he mustn't show it, it mustn't be visible!

"If you say so… Whatever" Lovino rolled his eyes and closed the door as he walked in. "Come, hurry, I really want a good bath now!" he sighed as he gestured to Antonio who was still standing next to the door. But now he walked over quickly to obey the other more than eagerly. He would prefer to rip off those clothes and… Well, yes, that wasn't too likely to happen now but it was a nice fantasy.

Antonio drew in a deep breath as he started to carefully take off the toga from Lovino. He paid attention to not let the edge touch the floor and get dirty or wet. It was a really expensive piece, if he accidentally ruined it, he would never be able to pay it back… When it was off, he carefully folded it and put it to its place. Lovino in the meanwhile had taken off his tunic and belt, now handed them to him, then took off his shoes and underwear as well.

As he was finally naked, he went to the water and enjoyed as it embraced his body with its blessed coolness. Today was a busy day for him, and now his whole body felt torrid.

But what was also torrid was the glance of a certain slave standing next to the wall watching him like he couldn't tear his eyes away. Lovino tried to act like he didn't notice, leaning back and sinking down until only his head and shoulders were out of the water. But how could he possibly feel relaxed when he was constantly watched by those emerald eyes that were shining so eagerly…

"Ah, for Jupiter…!" he shouted frustrated when he got fed up with Antonio's staring. "Lock the door, then get naked! Now! And come over here!" he ordered to the shocked slave whose eyes only widened at that. But who was he to disobey? He quickly did as he was said to, though he hesitated a bit before stepping into the water but Lovino waved him to hurry and go to him, so he did. "Good" he nodded and pulled Antonio to his lap, sliding his arms around his waist, then leaned to his ear. "Didn't you think I would notice how you're staring at me?" he whispered to his ear. "You are doing this quite often lately…" he said raising his eyebrows but before Antonio could say anything, lips crashed against his owns. "I hope you locked that door right…"

These were the last sensible words that left them.

The next week passed without Antonio noticing it. Nothing interesting happened at this part of the year, at March, or so everyone thought. But it wasn't like that this year. At a regular Saturday the whole city bursted at the news – the consul was dead. It was a very awkward and threatening fact because it was a murder. His own son had turned against him with a couple of rebels. This news spread in the Empire like wildfire, and everybody knew about it within a week.

Lovino's father travelled to Rome to help the situation, leaving his family behind to worry about him. After a few other weeks, another, horrible news arrived, Lovino's father got lost, and likely enough he was dead as well. A courier told the bad news to the whole family and everyone was shocked. But the next minute Lovino shook his head and ran out of the room. While none of his relatives moved, Antonio ran after him immediately, afraid of what he might do. He found him at the garden, crouched down beside the wall, leaning against it and he was crying with his face buried to his arms.

"Are you alright?" Antonio asked as he kneeled down in front of him, concerned.

"Go away!" the patrician shouted with him and didn't look up. He felt terrible because of his father's possible death, and the last thing he needed was a slave seeing him cry like some child. "Don't you hear me? Get lost!"

"No, I won't leave you alone like this" Antonio denied the order and put his hands to Lovino's shoulder. "Please, sir, try to calm a bit… I understand why it has upset you but it's just a possibility, as that your father is safe and sound is too"

"I don't care about that shit!" Lovino glared at the slave. "If I hear that someone is possibly dead, he is dead! I learnt that much in my life!" he shook his head, then buried it to his arms again. Antonio sighed at that, unfortunately, that was more likely to be the truth…

"I understand that, sir… But still, you can't cry in the garden. Please, let me help you to your room" he said but there was no answer. "Sir, did you hear me? Sir? Lovino…" he said silently and grabbed his arms gently, pulling him up. "Come, let's go to your room" he smiled at him gently, wrapping a hand around his shoulder and guided him to his room. Lovino only nodded in agreement and let the slave help him. He didn't look up though, relying on Antonio who led him to his room and made sure he was lying on his bed safely before he turned to leave the room.

"Wait…!" Lovino grabbed the edge of the slave's tunic, stopping him.

"Yes, sir? Can I do anything for you?" he asked as he looked back at him.

"Please, don't leave me alone… Stay with me…" he mumbled looking downwards and released the clothes.

"If you wish, sir" Antonio nodded as he stopped and sat down to the floor next to Lovino's head. He stayed in his company really willingly, especially that he didn't want to leave him alone in such a mood.

"No, not like that…" Lovino shook his head slightly and grabbed Antonio's arms, pulling the shocked slave to the bed. But he didn't do anything, only hugged him and buried his face to his chest as he kept crying. "Don't you there say a word about this later…" he whispered, not looking up at him.

"I won't tell it to anyone, you can trust me" Antonio promised as he held him close. They spent the whole day like that, the door locked, but nobody bothered to come in, after all, Lovino became the head of the household now, he wasn't a kid to check on anymore.

The patrician only thought about going out when it arrived to the dinner and he needed to go down to eat, bringing Antonio with himself. The dinner was unusually silent, nobody wanted to speak, they only ate in silent, then went back to their rooms. Grief ruled the whole family.

But the family slowly accepted the fact and everything went back to as it was. The war hadn't arrived to Hispania, they were safe now and knowing the closing threat, nobody paid attention to it anymore. Like the silence before the storm.

After a really depressing dinner where the important men of Tarraco gathered together to talk about who needs to do what in a possible war and who stands in whose side, Lovino and Antonio stood in the patrician's room in silence. Antonio helped him get off the toga, then stepped to the closet and was putting the folded clothes back to their place when he felt a hand on his arm.

"Do you want to spend the night with me?" Lovino asked silently.

"I can't really say no to that" Antonio said with a small but bitter smile. He was a slave, he really couldn't...

"No. I'm asking you. Do you /want to/?" Lovino repeated the question. "You can say no, I'm not expecting anything, nor forcing you"

Well, that was surprising. He never truly minded to share Lovino's bed but he hadn't been asked to decide. He didn't really understand why he was now, all of a sudden, he was only a slave after all. But it felt so nice that Lovi asked...

"Yes. I want to" he whispered and turned around to face the other.

Lovino nodded sliding his hand down on Antonio's arm and brought the other to take a hold of his hands and pulled him closer. Antonio eagerly obeyed and kissed the patrician. Lovino lead him towards the bed, returning the kiss and slid his arms around his neck to hold onto him tightly. Antonio wrapped his hands around him and lowered Lovino to the bed by his waist as he climbed on top of him.

Lovino's hands immediately went to undo the other's belt, and threw it away the moment he finished. Then they slid under the edge of the tunic, stroking Antonio's thighs, earning a soft moan from him.

It wasn't a sudden decision from the patrician that he asked him now. He had something whelmed up in him, from long ago, something he had always had to hide… He remembered Antonio, he remembered him all too well, his childhood crush… His heart broke when their eyes met on the market at that day months ago, he hadn't been able to believe that it was his Antonio but he just couldn't mistake those eyes, mot even after all those years… And getting to touch him finally was his secret pleasure, his forbidden love's only possible way… How could he confess to a slave, after all? To a male slave on top of that? No, it was impossible, but this way he could pretend he had him completely.

But then something changed. In the way Antonio was looking at him, how he was acting when they were together, how he touched him… And Lovino noticed that his feelings were returned, even if it wasn't said out loud. He still couldn't do anything until this whole nightmare started… But now he had the chance to tell him and he would.

The kiss deepened, their bodies pressed together, and soon Antonio's tunic followed after his belt. The slave pulled away from the other's lips, only to cover Lovino's chest into his gentle kisses, enjoying the softness of his skin and his closeness. He trailed down on his abdomen, his hips, to his thighs until he reached to his knee. He then sat up and leaned to kiss Lovino again, sliding his hand up on his thigh. He reached to stroke Lovino gently, earning a moan for it from the other.

"Mmm... Take me... Now... I need you..." Lovino whispered, holding onto Antonio's shoulder.

"Me...?" he looked at him surprised, panting, he had never been the one to, not with Lovino.

"Y-yes..." he nodded and moaned as he felt the other's fingers brush against a very sensitive area. He pushed himself up to his elbows, reaching to his bedside table for the well-known vial, and handed it to Antonio. Oh, he was going to have Lovino, he was allowed to do whatever he wanted to...! Finally, finally, he could touch him all he wanted, the thought made his blood boil, his mind go blank, and he only had in his mind the desire and love for him...

Antonio coated his fingers in the content of the vial and slowly inserted one in him, moving it gently. Lovino winced at first at the foreign feeling but it didn't hurt as much as he waited, and soon it felt very good. The slave then added another finger, stroking him, making Lovino moan out in pleasure. When he felt that he was loose enough, Antonio pulled his fingers out and positioned himself between Lovino's legs, looking at his beautiful eyes.

"I love you, Antonio" Lovino confessed finally, returning his gaze with a soft smile, breathing heavily. "I have always loved you… I never thought I was going to see you again…"

Antonio stared at him shocked, Lovino made him even more confused with every word but he chose not to question it right now.

"I love you too, Lovino, I love you too" he whispered and leaned down to kiss him as he entered him slowly. Antonio moaned at the feeling and didn't want to let go of Lovino ever again.

When Lovino pulled away from the kiss and nodded slightly, he started moving. They soon found a slow rhythm, their bodies moving together perfectly. They held tightly onto each other, Lovino's hands running through Antonio's hair every now and then. Heated moans, pants and gasps filled the room as their pace fastened, both of them reaching to their climax.

They were laying there, in each other's arms, their breathing slowly calming after the intense pleasure left their body. Lovino was the first to speak.

"Run away with me, Antonio" he whispered, looking up at the other man who just blinked at him in surprise. "We couldn't be together here and I had enough of acting. The Empire is falling anyway, I don't want to see the end of it and die in a pointless battle"

"Are you sure, Lovino? I have nothing to lose but you have a family…" Antonio asked concerned, and stroked the patrician's arm gently.

"Family? Only my grandfather and father loved me but they had died. I have nothing here" he stated and propped himself to his elbows, looking at him. "So? Do you want to come with me? I have everything ready, clothes, food, money, and horses"

Antonio looked at Lovino's determined eyes and thought about it. It did sound reasonable, there had never been a war that wasn't followed by suffering and they really had no future here, the law and the Roman duty wouldn't allow them to stay together…

"Alright. Let's do it. Let's run away together"

Within thirty minutes, two horses were galloping away from the city of Tarraco, two young men sitting on them.

"What is our aim?" the one with dark brown hair looked at the younger.

"I don't know exactly, I thought about the Far-East. What do you think?" the one with hazel eyes smirked at him.

"Sounds perfect!"