Disclaimer:This fanfiction is based in the era of the Roman Empire to give you all some context. Some practices from this empire may be present in this story. I created a new Empire for this story. The Gotham Empire, totally original right? Wrong! I can't claim DC Universe, or the Known World like many have done before *cough* Alexander the Great *cough* Napoleon *cough* Your face :B
Rated T: Blood. Fighting. And more non-existent swear words.
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The Changing of a Heart
By: Fanficer21
Chapter 10
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Please enjoy!
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"Meeting ajurned." Said the head of the Senator meeting, allowing the men to stand up and stretch. Some cracked their backs with a satisfying sigh. Bruce made his way to the door, he didn't remember a single thing from the meeting since his mind wandered...again. His thoughts went to Alfred's cooking, what he would see next time he took a walk to the market, and sometimes...sometimes he thought of the
boy with ebony hair and bright blue eyes that he had seen in the market twice. He looked so afraid when they first met. It hurt Bruce to see the boy flinch when he wanted to help him, but then he remembered feeling suspicion and anger when he saw the man chasing said boy.
And then the second time he saw the boy in the market was when he strolled down the street with his newest slave, a certain red head who didn't know when to shut up. But the boy would often talk about another boy he met at the auction house, and that he needed to find and take him away from his master. Bruce thought it was noble of him to want to help his friend, but things just weren't that easy. By the red head's description, he wondered if this ebony he met was the same boy. So when he saw the blue eyed boy again in the shadows behind a jewelry vender, he looked at the boy carefully and taking in his appearance to match the description. He was impressed by how well the boy hid in the shadows, in fact Bruce almost didn't see him.
He thought of the way the boy's eyes widened in fear and backed up into the same man he saw chasing him before. Narrowing his eyes, he
watched as the man dragged the ebony into the alley and pinned him against the wall. The boy's face turned towards the street with a look of fear. But then he smiled when said boy freed himself by kneeing the man's unmentionables and watched as he ran down the street. The boy could take care of himself, Bruce thought as he continued his way down the street.
Back to reality, Bruce had to get ready for a date with a prestigious woman who asked him out. She was a little strange, but Bruce wasn't about to pass up a hot date. He was letting her pick the place tonight. She told him to dress like a normal citizen bacuse she wanted to go someplace they could have fun without his status as a Senator getting in the way. He just hoped it wouldn't be awkward or boring. Making his way back to his enormous house, he had his servant Alfred prepare him for the evening. Originally, Alfred was a slave, but Bruce didn't like the term. So he called the older man a servant and even paid him for his work. It was the same with Wally, the little red head. After Alfred brought him home he was no longer a slave. When he was finally ready, he headed towards the city center.
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Blue eyes opened to the sound of chanting and yelling, he blinked several times to break the dried, crusty tears from his eyes. He felt a pain on his chest as he tried to sit up, but only fell back to the floor with a grunt. Looking around he noticed he wasn't in the house anymore, but now laying on the floor of a cage in a dimly lit room. The room smelt dank and sweaty, with the metalic smell of blood mingled in. Several others in cages caught his attention. The people inside looked broken, as if they knew their death was coming...and soon. He grew confused as the shouts gew louder and louder. Trying to sit up again, he bit his lip as his muscles tightened, trying not to cry. Why did he hurt? He thought to himself while sitting up with his arms behind him. Looking down he noticed his clothes were the same, except the front of his tunic was stitched up.
The memory of last night hit him like a punch to the face. He fell back to the floor and curled up in a ball despite the pain of his chest, gaining some looks from the others who remained quiet. Why did the man do this to him, he wondered as he brushed his fingers against the burn scar eliciting a tiny yelp from him. He was torn from his thoughts when footsteps sounded in his ears, followed by the cage's door opening.
"Get up you!" Growled a deep, rough voice with an added kick to his lower back causing the boy to yelp. Strong hands hauled him to his feet before dragging him out of the room. He caught the looks the others gave him. Looks of pity, fear, and...relief. The shouts of excitement grew stronger and stronger now as he was led to another caged room. This time, however, he could see the crowd through the caged door. Rekoj stood there looking tense. When he noticed Robin come in, he walked to the boy with a huge smile on his face as he hugged the boy. He then whispered a sentence in Robin's ear that made the boy tense and become afraid.
"Now you win so I get my money! But, if you don't kill him...I will kill you!"
Robin, with wide eyes, was then pushed forward as the caged door opened. A sword was thrust into his hands before he felt a strong kick on his back and fell forward. Hearing the door slam shut caused him to look up with the snap of his head. Above him, the crowd went wild as they formed a massive, circular mosh pit around the arena. Robin was frightened, remembering the one man killing the other in this same arena. Old brown blood stains, up close looked more frightening than his previous view as he looked around before standing up.
Suddenly he heard someone running his way, turning to see who it was ended with him recieving a blow of the hand to his head* causing him to stagger backwards. The sword in his hands fell to the ground from the strike while the audience roared with excitement. Robin quickly regained his senses and jumped backwards as he saw a young man running towards him again. He had short black hair and blue eyes similar to Robin's. Robin tried to move out of the way in time, but a kick to his side made him fly across the arena where he hit the dirt and rolled several times. He coughed as he got to his knees. His back was arched as he breathed heavily, failing to supress said coughs. Drops of blood fell from his lips and mixed with the dirt. He had bitten his tongue when he made impact with the ground.
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"Oh Pookie! You're too funny!"
'Pookie?' Bruce thought, a little disturbed by the comment from the girl hanging on his arm giggling at his jokes. Except, he wasn't telling any.
She acted like she was drunk, but they never drank anything...yet. So Bruce deduced she was just crazy. Still, he wasn't about to leave such a
pretty albeit strange girl behind on a date, so he followed her to where she wanted to go. Apparently she said there was a secret event that she heard from others that gained a lot of attention in the underworld. How she found this information Bruce would never know. Why she was telling this to a Senator, Bruce would also never know.
He was torn from his thoughts when they stopped in front of an abandoned building. People from all over were sneaking in as if they were afraid to be seen, causing Bruce to narrow his eyes. Just what was this event? The only strange thing he knew so far was that multitudes of slaves were sold to few masters recently, making the Senators wonder. The average number of slaves entering a household was about 2 at the most. Not 10. This was his chance to look into these events.
They entered the building and then through another door that led to a small arena. The stink of sweat, blood, and filth hit his nose like a slap to the face, making him hold his breath while pulling his tunic up to his nose. Looking at others in the room, he grew confused. Were they not affected by the stench? Even his date didn't seem to mind the smell as she pulled him to edge of the arena where a wall was formed marking the front row seats, or rather, standing. Bruce looked down into the arena and was appauled by the sight. Blood stained the dirt floor and walls. Two entrances below behind caged doors made Bruce suspicious. He watched as everyone gathered around the arena, smiles on their faces. This couldn't be good, Bruce thought before one caged door opened to reveal a tall young man with short black hair and blue eyes.** His muscles bulged beneath his tunic. In his hands was a sword as he strolled about the arena, a scowl on his face. The crowd cheered loudly, making Bruce jump.
His attention was then grabbed by the other caged door opening. The crowd went wild when another buff young man was pushed through the door, a sword also present in his hands. His hair was light like the sands of the sea. He watched in horror as the two boys fought like rabid animals. Bruce eyes widened when the black haired boy suddenly jumped the other and snapped his neck, making the other fall to ground, dead. The audience shouted disapointedly, wanting blood. Bruce ground his teeth at the sight of the crowd. Men walked into the arena to congratulate the ebony, while others carried out the dead boy.
"What's going on?" Bruce asked a man standing beside him. The man turned to look at him, examining his face almost as if he recognized him. But then shrugged his shoulders, " 'tis a slave fight, a death match. The winner has the choice of becoming free or choosing a new master. The master of the winner gets all the money" the man pointed at people who waved coins in the air.
Suddenly a man talking to the boy signaled to the crowd, making everyone except Bruce cheer. "The boy wants another match. Usually they take their freedom." The man beside Bruce said while clapping his hands. Soon the doors opened again, but this time Bruce's eyes grew large. There, kneeling on the ground after he was shoved through the door was the boy he'd seen in the market. The boy he'd tried to help. The boy he thought was Wally's friend.
"This isn't right. He'll get crushed!" Bruce said, his eyes remaining on the smaller boy. "That's the best kind of match! More blood!" The man said with a laugh causing Bruce's blood to boil while staring at the man. He was ripped from his thoughts when the crowd went wild. Turning
to look at the smaller boy, he saw him stagger a little, dropping the sword. The boy quickly jumped backwards to evade the stronger one, but
was kicked in the side. Bruce watched as the boy flew across the arena and roll. But when the boy got to his hands and knees while coughing up blood, Bruce fisted his hands and ground his teeth at the sight. "This isn't fair!" He growled to himself while scanning his eyes around the crowd. He looked back to the boy, his heart pounding in his chest. He had to do something!
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Robin, getting to his feet, backed up until he leaned against the wall. Blood ran down his chin as he tried to control his breathing, though it was unsuccessful. Watching as the boy stalked closer, eyeing him like a lion when he sees a delicious antelope, Robin did his best to gather his courage and fight back. But he just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. He wanted to be home with his parents in Ainamor, before any of this *censorship alert* happened. He wanted to die, so he be with his parents and Livia. What good would he do if he stayed in this life, everyone he loved was already dead. Ready to give up, he leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes and waiting for the final blow as he heard the boy's footsteps getting closer. Suddenly, among the chants and cheers of the crowd, he heard a faint whisper in his ear.
"dance"
His eyes shot open.
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Bruce's breath left him when he saw the boy ready to give up, he wanted to get down there and stop this match. In fact he was about to do
something until he saw the boy's eyes fly open with a look of determination when the stronger boy was mere inches away with his sword at the ready. Suddenly the smaller boy tucked and rolled as the sword flew towards him. Bruce laughed as the boy jumped to his feet and ran to the other side of the arena where he took the stance his mother always taught him with his hands above his head. When the stronger boy spun around, he roared as he charged the smaller. Said boy had a look of anger, fear,...desperation on his face.
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As the boy neared, Robin spun around to prevent the blade from peircing his flesh, but he didn't move fast enough causing him to cry out when the blade ran across his shoulder. The blood flowed down his arm as he danced out of the way of each sword swing and fist punch. He was doing quite well until he slipped on his fallen sword behind him, making him stumble backwards. The stronger boy saw his opening and grabbed the front of Robin's tunic before throwing him into the wall with a crack, followed by a punch to his chest. Right where the 'R' was. Robin screamed at the pain as tears rushed to his eyes. Before he was struck again, Robin quickly lifted his feet onto the boy's chest and pushed with all his might making them both fall to the ground. Robin then rolled away from the other.
Among all the chants of the crowd he could hear Rekoj screaming at him. He didn't know what his master was saying, but he knew it couldn't be good. Robin had an idea come to mind, so he took it. When he was far enough away from the boy, he charged the stone wall. Even as he neared it, he continued to push forward. He heard the other's pounding feet nearing him rapidly. With a final burst of energy, Robin jumped and ran up the wall a few steps before launching himself into the air, something he used to do back in Ainamor with his friends. While in mid-air, he twisted his body so he was facing the other. He then shot his knee out, hitting the stronger boy's face. No one saw that coming, not even the stronger boy who just stared at his opponent with wide eyes. When Robin's knee hit him, he tumbled sideways to the ground before rolling slightly. Blood leaked from his nose as he laid on the ground in shock, mouth hanging open. No one had ever done that to him before.
The crowd roared with excitement as Robin landed on the ground. He picked up the boy's fallen sword and held in the air for the audience to see his accomplishment. His thoughts went back to the whisper he heard. 'I did it mother!' He smiled while trying to catch his breath, wincing a few times because of the previous punch. He might have cracked a few ribs.
The chants for him to kill the other boy rang through his ears. He looked at the boy still stunned on the ground, then up at the crowd with fearful eyes. He'd never killed anyone before, and he sure as *censorship alert* wasn't going to start now.
"Kill him! KILL HIM you little piece of *censorship alert*" Robin looked at his master, whose knuckles turned white as he gripped the iron bars of the door. Robin glared at the man and threw the sword onto the ground.
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Bruce was amazed by the boy's movements. He was a skilled dancer and that last move blew his mind. Who was this boy? He truly was a wonder. Watching the expression on the boy's face as he held the sword up made him smile as he clapped and cheered for the boy. However, that glorious smile changed in the blink of an eye when Bruce's keen ears picked up a growling shout.
"Kill him! KILL HIM you little piece of-" Turning his head to the spot the boy was looking at, Bruce saw a tall man in a toga with black hair and green eyes. The scowl on his face almost sent shivers down Bruce's spine. His knuckles were white from his death grip on the bars. Suddenly the audience booed, making Bruce turn to look at the boy. He had thrown the sword to the ground, a look of defiance covered his features, making Bruce grin. The other boy was starting to get up, wiping the blood from his face. He looked at the smaller boy with confusion as the younger held out his had to help him up. Bruce was amazed that this boy would show such compassion to someone who tried to kill him. He was even more amazed by their resemblance, they could have passed as brothers.
Suddenly the door swung open with an enraged man stomping into the arena, as most of the audience dispersed with grumbles of disappointment. Taking their money with them.
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When Robin saw Rekoj coming his way he didn't know what to do. He had to get out of here, and fast!
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To Be Continued...
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Hope you enjoyed it. Working on chapter 11 now! In which Bruce steps into the action next chapter!
I don't know how Senators ran their meetings way back then, so I just decided to do the ending...Muahahaha!
* A blow of the hand to the head- essentially meaning a strike to the head, whether it be a punch, slap, or whatever.
Used in a story about Sclerus and Bardas Phocas, two real men who fought during a battle in the Byzantine Empire. The source I got this from was a Chronographia by Michael Psellus who was a monk in this empire. This source has many stories about the emperors and others in the period in which he lived. I got a hold of this by taking a class of the history of the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine history is really quite fascinating. This empire began as the Roman Empire was starting to dissipate. It's sort of like the Roman Empire, but with a rise of Christianity. If you ever get the chance to learn more about this amazing history...DO IT!
**By my description, I hope you all realized that this is Conner/Superboy.
