Title: Amor vincit omnia
Summary: AU. When Gregorius, a Servant for an influential Senator, is thrown into the life of Nikolai, the greatest gladiator in Rome, their lives and the Roman society around them are cast into turmoil. Nick/Greg slash.
Warnings: Suggestions of dub-con
Disclaimer: CSI is not mine, neither are the chapter titles
Chapter 8/10
Chapter VIII: Echoes in Eternity
Greg kicked and fought as he was dragged all the way back to Atwatus' house. All he had managed to gain from it were two very angry guards and a few bruises. The guards marched through Atwatus' grounds and threw him inside Nik's cell. Greg resisted the urge to cry out when his wrists were chained to the wall. They had him chained and defenceless but he would not let them see his fear, he didn't know what they were going to do to him and he had no idea what was happening to Nik and his Mother, but he was strong, he had people who loved him and he loved back, he would not give up on that without a fight.
Senator Atwatus entered and struck Greg across the temple.
"You were only supposed to have sex, not fall in love!"
He grabbed Greg roughly by the chin and drew his face close.
"When I'm Emperor the first thing I'll do is flog you, and make sure Nikolai is watching."
Greg spat in his face. He wasn't afraid of the future promise of a flogging, he was certain the assassin would fail and Atwatus would never be Emperor. Atwatus could do whatever he wanted to Greg right here, right now, but that flogging would never happen, Greg was sure Nik wouldn't let it come to that.
"You ignorant little slave! I own you and you will not defy me like that ever again. Do you hear me?" Atwatus growled and struck Greg again when he did not respond. "You and your Nikolai will regret the moment you ever set eyes on each other." Atwatus sneered and stormed out of the cell.
Greg sat in the silence of the cell, warmth running down the side of his face and the taste of copper in his mouth. He would never regret Nik, not if he died tonight or lost Nik forever, he would always have that feeling in his heart that he had loved someone so much he felt like he couldn't breath when they weren't there. He could live a hundred years and never have that feeling, and he would exchange it for one minute of knowing love.
The cell seemed larger and colder without Nik in it. He was alone, with only his thoughts for company and he hated it. Usually, he said all of his thoughts out loud and people responded to them. They laughed, told him to shut up, reassured him, comforted him. There was no one here to do any of that. His mind was left to runaway with scenarios of what was happening outside, of what could happen to him. He felt like the walls were closing in on him and the weight of air alone could crush him to the bone.
He'd been a servant all his life, he didn't know any different than having other people control what he could and would do, yet he had never felt so helpless than he did right now, he had never wanted freedom more than he wanted it now.
…
Nik reluctantly made his way to the Emperor's home, where Domitian was awaiting him.
He'd desperately wanted to run to Atwatus' house and find Greg, to make sure he was all right, but he knew he needed to protect the Emperor, and protect the Empire. If Atwatus got his way, they'd all be in a much worse situation than Greg was now. His heart pulled one way and his head the other, as usual his head won, despite the hollowness spreading in his soul.
Grissomo and Sara were waiting for him outside the Emperor's residence.
"Brassius is here." Grissomo informed him, "As is Ecklius, but we have it on good authority that Ecklius will not advance until he has confirmation of the assassin's success."
"Brassius and some of his men are making their way to Atwatus' home, Ecklius and his legion are there while he waits." Sara added.
"Ok." Nik nodded as he took in the information. "Tell Brassius to wait by the south entrance, it's small, but there are fewer guards and more shadows from the trees for them to hide in." He looked to Sara, "Can you go with them? I need you to find Greg." He pleaded without shame.
Sara nodded and let go of Grissomo's arm to leave immediately.
"Look for Archie too, he'll help you." Nik added.
Sara kissed Nik on the cheek. "Protect the Emperor and you're protecting Greg." She whispered in his ear.
Nik hadn't realised how much he needed to hear that, how much he needed the reassurance from someone he trusted that he was doing the right thing.
Sara left.
Grissomo and Nik made their way into the Emperor's grounds.
"We believe the assassin will strike tonight. The Emperor knows but refuses to leave. He won't be cowed by Atwatus. Whether that be foolish or brave, I don't know."
Nik was expecting some quote from a wise scribe to inspire confidence in him, but it never came. Grissomo knew over confidence let to complacency and complacency couldn't be afforded tonight.
…
Greg sat up and turned around to face the manacles encasing his wrists. He was fed up of feeling sorry for himself and letting his mind wonder to things he couldn't control. He needed to focus on what he could do, getting out of here.
The metal bindings were rusted and old but they held firm when he pulled on them. He tried yanking them apart at the joints, to no avail. He tried twisting the large screws but the rust has encrusted them solid. He dug his fingers under the screws to try and force them out, only succeeding in tearing the skin from the tips of his fingers. He ignored the stinging pain and moved to the links on the chain. They were just as strong as the manacles and held just as steady when he pulled on them with all his might.
He needed more strength behind him, he wasn't the strongest guy in the world, he didn't have Nik's muscles, but he was no weakling, he just needed to use his brains about it. He planted one foot on the wall and used it as leverage to pull on the chain. He pulled as hard as he could, his foot going numb from the strain. His confidence surged as a link creaked under the pressure. He put his other foot up to increase the force; his legs started shaking with the effort it took to keep the pressure constant. The link creaked again but Greg lost his grip and fell with a thud to the cot beneath him.
"Great." He muttered.
He sat up and inspected the chain; there were no visible signs that he'd achieved anything. He hit the cot in frustration and let his head fall into his hands.
There was only one thing left for him to try.
He bunched up his fingers on his left hand and squeezed them together in an effort to slide them out of the manacle. The metal chaffed at his skin, he continued to pull and squeeze his fingers as tight as they would go, after a few minutes his skin weeped and the blood helped to lubricate his hand. His muscled strained and yelled at him to stop. He did and took in some much needed oxygen through short raged breaths.
He resolved for one last try and pulled on his hand again. He heard a snap, felt a pop and screamed in aguish as his hand slid out. He cradled the hand to his chest and bit his bottom lip to stop himself from crying. Pain surged from the hand up his arm in waves of agony. The bone in his thumb stuck out at an odd angle and throbbed with every beat of his heart.
He sat, listening to his breathing. He couldn't do that to his other hand.
….
Nik stood on guard outside of the Emperor's chambers. The Emperor had greeted him and introduced him to his fellow guards. A tour of the whole premises would have to wait until tomorrow, when, the Emperor was sure, this mess would be resolved. Nik wished he could be so sure.
Another guard was inside the room, and two more within earshot, while the rest patrolled the grounds.
Nik was honoured the Emperor had such faith in him to give him this responsibility, but it also terrified him. He'd spent his entire life only looking out for himself, avoiding making acquaintances of other people so that he wouldn't be burdened by their loss. Now he held the life of the most important man in the world in his hands. And all he could think about was a servant who had broken more defences than he knew he had. Was Greg alone? Was he being beaten? Tortured because he had the audacity to fall in love when a servant such as he had no right to? Greg was alive, Nik held on to that fact, it was the one thing that stopped him from distraction.
A movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He pulled out a sword at the sound of a scream.
"He's here, keep alert." Another guard shouted.
Nik edged away from the door to get a better look at where he'd seen the movement. He felt a change in the air behind him and swirled around just in time to block the assassin's sword from connecting with his head. The assassin kicked Nik back into the wall, bringing his sword down again. Nik flipped the handle of his sword in his hand and swiped forward, blocking the assassin while slicing a cut into his arm. The assassin was unaffected and gracefully twirled on his heels to reposition himself, Nik tried to kick out and trip him but the assassin was too quick.
The assassin couldn't hide the movement in his shoulders, though, and Nik saw the motion coming before the assassin's sword swept in from the side. Nik reached out and grabbed the assassin's wrist to stop the sword before it hit him. The assassin's other hand came round to strike Nik defensively, but Nik was prepared, capturing the other wrist. They stood in a face off, both wrists enclosed in Nik's strong hands. Nik growled and charged the assassin back into the wall. The assassin pushed back, he used the wall as leverage to force them down to the floor. Nik used his greater mass to turn them over and hold the assassin under him. He let his sword drop to the floor and let go of one wrist; he brought his fist roughly into the assassin's face and then pounded on the other wrist until the assassin relinquished his hold on his own sword. The assassin used his free hand to hit at Nik; he sliced his hand through the air and chopped at the hollow between Nik's neck and shoulder. Nik cried out at the sharp pain, giving the assassin the opportunity to seize the upper hand and twist them over. Nik grabbed hold of the assassin's wrist again as he was flipped onto his back, they fought hard, pushing with all the strength each of them had.
"I need help!" Nik called out, sensing that he couldn't get out of this situation on his own.
Nik's neck and jaw clenched with the strain of the continuous fight. He was concentrating so hard on keeping the assassin at bay that he never heard the footsteps of another guard.
Nik let out a rush of air when the assassin was pushed off him, and flinched when blood splatter sprayed on his face. A hand thrust into his eyesight and he grabbed hold of it to pull himself up.
"Thanks." He said quietly, knowing that thanks weren't needed.
The other guard knocked on the Emperor's door. "Your Highness, the assassin in dead."
Emperor Domitian opened the door, his chin high and defiant. "Search the grounds, confirm there is no other." He ordered.
"Nikolai." The Emperor addressed him as he turned to leave. "I owe you a debt of gratitude."
"You owe me nothing Your Highness."
Domitian continued as though Nik hadn't spoke. "Atwatus will not give up yet, Ecklius will attack until there is no hope left. Go to Atwatus' house and assist General Brassius. Find your man."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Nik shouted as he left, he wasn't going to wait to be told twice.
…
The noises outside Nik's cell both scared and relieved Greg. It helped to distract him from the pain in his hand, but from the screams and the yells he was sure hell was out there. He desperately wanted to know what was happening, to know if the screams came from people he loved, he wasn't sure his eyes could take it, though, the thought of seeing what horrors were being inflicted on them would be a pain worse than death. At least in here he had hope that they were safe.
A scratch and knock at the cell door caught his attention.
"Greg? Are you in there?" A hesitant voice enquired.
"Archie, is that you? Yeah, I'm in here. What's going on out there? It sounds like the world is turning inside out! Do you know where my Mother is? Nik, what's happening with Nik?"
"Greg, shut up, we're coming in." A female voice instructed him.
"Sara! What are you doing here? Have you seen Nik, is he alright?"
The door crashed off its hinges and the slim frame of Sara came barrelling through. She dusted herself off and smiled, quickly scooping Greg into a hug.
"It's good to see you, Greg."
Archie patted him on the shoulder from beside her. "I loosened the hinges for her." Archie said, though his eyes still looked on her with awe.
Greg opened his mouth to ask more questions, but Sara placed her finger on his lips, halting any sound he was about to make.
"Nik asked me to find you, I saw him at the Emperor's house and he was fine when I left. Your Mother is with Al and the other servants in the tunnels below the kitchen, she's in the safest place possible at the moment. Ecklius tried to march his legion out of the compound but General Brassius was waiting for him, that's what you can hear outside. You may talk now."
Greg smiled from below his eyelashes. "Thanks. Can you help me out of here?"
"What do you think we're here for?" Archie said as he inspected the chains.
"Archie, can you find a rock or something to break the chains with? While I see to that hand." She nodded at the hand still clutched close to Greg's chest. Greg stared down at his hand as he moved his arm; he was still throbbing with pain and the movement only made it worse. He sucked in a sharp breath when Sara took the hand in hers. She gently inspected the sore skin that was still oozing small spots of blood; her touch was light and hesitant as she traced his thumb.
"I think the bone is out of place." Greg told her.
She nodded her agreement, "I don't want to hurt you, but…" She looked up into his eyes, her skin crinkled at the corner of her mouth with concern.
"You have to." Greg gave her permission to do what was needed.
"It'll help in the long run." She attempted to reassure him.
"It wasn't the cleverest idea I ever hand." Greg tried to distract them both from the pain she was about to inflict on him.
"A man, or woman, should be judged on their questions, not their answers."
"Grissomo's not here is he?" Greg asked, worried that another one of his friends was in harms way.
"No, that piece of wisdom is all mine."
"Arrggghh!" Greg screamed when Sara forcefully yanked his thumb away from his hand. "Oh the Gods that hurts!" Greg clutched his arm back to his chest as the pain radiated up and down in waves of heat.
Sara ripped at the bottom of her dress. "Let me see?" She held out her hand.
Greg squeezed his eyes shut for a moment to ride out the latest wave of pain. He reached out for her hand. They had to get out of here and if that meant him pretending the pain was just a pinprick then he'd have to, they didn't have the time to spare. Mind over matter, he told himself, Sara would probably have some inspiring notion about pain just being a state of mind, but he wouldn't believe her either.
Sara wrapped the material from her dress around the chaffed skin on his wrist and securely fixed his thumb in place, she tied it as tight as she could and Greg winced at the pressure.
"Do not do anything with that hand." She instructed him.
"Good job I'm right handed." Greg quipped.
Greg almost didn't notice when Archie re-entered the cell, he was stepping that lightly. "I have a couple of rocks. I think this one might be better, you can grip it here." He held out the rock and demonstrated.
Greg pulled the chain taught against the wall. He pointed to one of the links, "Try here, I think I loosened it earlier, maybe, I hope."
Archie nodded to him in understanding and swung the rock back, bashing it back against the link and the wall. After he hit the link a few times they saw progress, the link was denting. A few more hits and progress halted.
"Let me try." Sara grabbed the rock out of Archie's hand.
"Good job I'm not paranoid about my masculinity." Archie said light-heartedly.
Sara threw the rock at the chain as hard as she could, over and over again. Eventually the chain gave way.
"Yes!" Greg exclaimed as the chain pulled away.
A scream right outside the cell broke into the trio's exultation.
"Time to get out of here." Archie stated.
TBC…