This took a little longer to write than we hoped, sorry. But here it is! An update at long last. Thank you for all the fantastic reviews! *blushes* Seriously, you guys are the best. :)
Cassandra owns the boys, not Cat nor I. It would be disastrous if we did...
Alec's stomach clenched as a stab of hunger shot through his body. All he had eaten since breakfast had been the spoiled grain, and after a four hour training session with Simon and about half of his watch already over, Alec was beginning to feel the effects. To make matters worse, he was stationed outside of Caesar's quarters with Raphael. Could this trip get any worse? Obviously, it could.
Down the corridor came the woman Alec had seen at breakfast. What was her name? Belatrix? No. Bacon? Nope. Belcourt! Yes, Priestess Belcourt was strutting down the hallway in such extravagance that it would put Venus herself to shame.
"Hello, boys," she purred, looking over the two guards with the sly and seductive gaze Alec had noticed accompanied her constantly. She began walking towards the doors of Caesar's apartment, so Alec and Raphael crossed their spears, barring the way. "What?" She asked in a falsely innocent tone. "Not gunna let me through?" Her Latin was smooth, and her words flowed like silk.
Suddenly, she grabbed Alec by the chestpiece and hissed in his ear, "I'm on to you, boy. Your little act? It hasn't fooled me for a second. What do your buddies think about you making googly eyes at handsome men?" Raphael managed to push her off of him just then, and she walked slowly down the hallway, swaying her hips and laughing softly. "Send your boss my best," she called as she turned a corner. Then she was gone.
Throughout the rest of his watch, the priestess' words echoed in Alec's ears. He began to feel sick to his stomach. Why do I find him attractive? He thought to himself. These feelings are forbidden. You have got to let them go. Besides, underneath all this bull shit diplomacy, these people are my enemies. Including... him.
The moment Caesar emerged from his room with Theodotus, a close 'friend' of his, Alec perked up immediately. A distraction was welcome, even if Caesar decked out in armor with his right-hand man beside him wasn't exactly a good sign.
Caesar didn't acknowledge Alec or Raphael, even when the two guards followed after him down the hall. He simply continued addressing Theodotus.
"I'm sure Felix will be able to handle running the camp in your place, Theodotus. You've been teaching him personally. Anyways, we're going to need some extra shelters for my soldiers here in Alexandria. The city isn't used to so many people flocking here at one time. I will oversee the production, but you must give the orders. I have other duties to go about completing," he instructed.
Wow, talk about vague as fuck, Alec thought bitterly. Apparently, Caesar wanted to drag him and the other guards out into Alexandria just to stand around and watch Caesar watch other soldiers work. Alec could think of better ways to spend what little he had left of his afternoon. His watch had taken six hours and every sinew of his being was telling him to screw it and go to bed early.
Alec felt a pressure on his shoulder and glanced over- Simon was wiping his forehead on Alec's sleeve again.
"You know, I'm not actually a sweat rag," Alec informed him.
Simon shrugged. "I don't know, someone has to be. And your sleeves are the longest. Look, I don't even have any." He did have sleeves, but Alec didn't bother arguing. Somehow the Egyptian city managed to be unbearably hot even after the sun had set; it was too hot to try and put up a fight, especially if Simon was in the beginning stages of loosing his mind. It was too hot to do anything.
He and the other nine guards were all stationed outside of Caesar's tent. They looked pretty much exhausted and Alec wasn't sure why the Egyptians didn't use this time to attack. Some Egyptian peasant could've walked into Caesar's tent and the most Alec would've done to try to stop him would be wave an arm at him pitifully and moan.
"This sucks," Alec said. He didn't have to use any other words; that summed it up perfectly.
"At least we aren't them," Luke pointed out. He nodded at a group of centurions a few yards away. They were devoid of armor and trying to put up a small tent. It wasn't hard work, but in the horrible Alexandrian heat, Alec didn't blame the slow pace they were working with.
"Good point. You know, about a week ago that would've been me. Now I'm top dog," Simon bragged, throwing his arms behind his head and looking very superior for someone who was just rubbing his face all over Alec because he didn't like sweat on his face.
"Caesar is top dog," Raphael reminded.
"Thanks, I didn't realize," Simon growled.
"I did." Alec turned around slowly and stared at Caesar. He looked only vaguely annoyed at being talked about behind his back. "Come along, we're going back to the palace. It's late and I've finished writing."
Who Caesar could possibly be writing about, Alec had no idea. Probably himself, if he had to guess. Caesar was his own biggest fan, so it was very plausible.
The group entered the palace doors and Caesar assigned Simon and Eric for night guard. That was slightly disconcerting, because Alec and Simon couldn't switch off sleeping schedules. Neither of them trusted the Egyptians still, and the knowledge that they had each other's backs was the only thing keeping Alec from going from weary of the Egyptians to scared of them completely.
Alec opened the door of his barracks and froze. Someone was sprawled out onto his bed, snoring softly. A small bowl of rice was on the bedside table next to him. Alec closed the door softly behind him and inched forward.
It was Magnus.
The priest was in servants clothing. He had no makeup or jewelry, and only wore a thick, plain skirt. Of course; that's how he managed to get in here in the first place, Alec thought. Only servants are allowed entrance to anyone's barracks. Alec inched closer and saw, to his surprise, Magnus wasn't Egyptian at all. He seemed from a different foreign extraction all together, and Alec couldn't quite place a name to it. He wasn't sure if his mysterious race must've made it easier for people to believe he could work magic or not. Probably the former, considering his status.
"M-Magnus?" Alec lightly shook the man's arm, but he stubbornly remained asleep. I want to be this deep of a sleeper, Alec thought. It must be nice not to be woken up by every small little sound. "Magnus, wake up." Alec leaned in and shook his shoulders a little rougher.
"Mmhh?" Magnus mumbled, shaking his head. "Shut up, Ragnor. I don't wanna get up."
"Uhm, I'm not Ragnor," Alec muttered.
At this Magnus' eyes snapped open. Like usual, Alec's stomach flip flopped at the sight of his beautiful green eyes. "Oh, hello Alexander. Fancy meeting you here," the priest said happily. He sat up and patted next to him, inviting Alec to sit.
"Well it is my room," Alec said with a small smile. He sat down next to Magnus and raised his eyebrows when the bowl of rice from the table was handed to him. "What's this for?"
"I was just bringing this to you, but I may have fallen asleep. You were out with Caesar for a long time," Magnus said sheepishly. "Anyway, I heard about the whole thing with Pothinus. Figured you'd be hungry."
Alec's stomach growled at the smell of the food and he blushed. "Are you sure? You've been here this whole time, I doubt you've eaten."
Magnus looked amused. "Oh, quit that whole politeness thing. You're starving. Eat up." He motioned to the rice and Alec wasted no time devouring the whole bowl in a few minutes. Magnus smiled like it was Alec who had done him a favor the whole time. "Like a man starved," Magnus chuckled.
Alec shook his head and put the bowl back on the table. "Nope, just a man forced into eating stale grain. I won't complain, though. It's not too bad." He doubted Magnus would believe him after his little show of inhaling the food like his life depended on it. It was a lie, anyways. The centurions were always well-fed so that they could keep up their strength.
"Oh, of course it isn't. You being a super-tough soldier and all," Magnus said sarcastically. He was smiling though, and his good mood somehow pierced through Alec's sleepiness.
"You know I wasn't bragging," Alec mumbled. His bluntness was slightly embarrassing, but Alec couldn't think of other way to put it.
Thankfully, Magnus just yawned and nodded. "I know you aren't. You don't seem like the bragging type, which is kind of weird for a Roman. Usually you guys are all high and mighty. That is so weird."
Alec grinned when he realized the usually smooth-talking priest was just rambling. "You seem pretty tired. Want me to walk you to your room?" he asked. He didn't want to stop talking, but Magnus did seem exhausted, and it seemed like a pretty dick move to just make him wander the hallways of the palace until he ran into his room in the state he was in.
"Sure, sounds like fun," Magnus said. He stood up and grabbed Alec's hand.
The two walked, hand-in-hand, down the hallways Magnus claimed led to his room. At first Alec was uncomfortable with it, but when the priest nearly fell onto his face from tripping on a small rock, letting him go wasn't in question anymore. Alec knew he was being ridiculous, but even after the months away from his siblings he still had his overprotective tendencies.
"This is my room!" Magnus whisper-yelled. "Want to come in?"
Alec blushed and shook his head. "You have to go to sleep." He opened the door to the room and Magnus pouted.
"True, I am a little bit sleepy," Magnus said. "I guess I'll see you in the morning then."
Alec was going to reply, but Magnus' lips were on his before he could get a single word out. Alec gasped a little against Magnus' mouth and held onto one of the priest's wrists to keep himself from stumbling backwards in surprise. Magnus pulled away, flashed a smile, and turned towards his door.
"Y-yeah. I'll see you in the morning. Good night," Alec stuttered, surprised with himself that he could even get those words out. His mouth was still warm from where Magnus' lips had touched his, and he kind of missed the quick, fleeting kiss. He reluctantly let go of Magnus' wrist and stepped back.
"Good night, Alexander," Magnus said softly, before closing his door.
Well, it's about time that happened, hm? I was getting annoyed, and I write this :)