Title: My Turn
Author: LadyAzelas ( ) NimoehYuy ( ) Just call me Phisk.
Rating: T
A/N: Please do not forget to review and vote for what happens to Esca!
Esca Lives: 1
Esca Dies: 0

KEEP THE VOTES COMING!

Marcus looked up at the wall, it had only been three months since the last time that he had come through here, and last time Esca was at his side. He swallowed as his mind drifted to the Briton. Was he all right? Maybe he should turn back and make the best of his time with Esca. No, Marcus scolded himself. Esca was counting on him to get the cure, Marcus shook his head and kicked his horse into the gate. The Romans looked up from their posts as Marcus came up, one of them walked to Marcus' horse and regarded him silently for a moment before speaking.

"Where are you going Roman?" he asked firmly. Marcus stared at the gate then at the man with an equally hard stare.

"I have business up North, let me pass," he said. The Romans laughed quietly amongst themselves. Another man came up with a smug look.

"Did anyone tell you? This is the end of the world, out there, there's nothing but savages, I suggest you turn back while you still got a chance," he said with a smug smile. Marcus glared at him sharply.

"I know what's beyond that gate, I went through those woods, I saw what was there and nearly escaped with my life, so don't you dare try to tell me what's beyond those gates, because you really have no idea," he said. The men stopped smiling and for a moment looked slightly afraid of Marcus. "Now, open up the damn gate and let me pass," he ordered. The Romans nodded and opened the gate. Marcus nodded his head and trotted forward as the gates closed behind him.

He looked around the familiar terrain of the area, it was only months since he and Esca had come here. He trotted through the forest and his hand went to his neck, but he remembered his Eagle wasn't there. Instead it was a wolf that Esca had carved for him, Marcus touched it gently and kissed it. His memory going back to the day that Esca had given it to him, it was the day that they had become lovers as well.

Marcus sat underneath one of the large trees on his uncles land, watching the life of the bugs and small animals that wandered the lands. He enjoyed quiet times like this, he really did. Even more so when his best friend was with him, but Esca had gone to town to aide his Uncle with some errands. Marcus looked up at the sky at the fading sun as he slowly turned the sky into hues of pink, purple, yellow, and orange.

Marcus sighed contently as he leaned back against the tree admiring the sight, he soon found himself becoming sleepy and closed his eyes slowly. He was almost asleep when he heard footsteps approaching. He opened his eyes again looking at the direction of the sound and smiled when he saw Esca coming up casually. He had something in his hand, but Marcus couldn't see it.

The other male walked up to him and sat down, they sat there in companionable silence, just the two of them. It had only been a few weeks since Marcus and Esca had come back from the North, and they had already become so much closer than when they started. Marcus looked at Esca from the corner of his eyes.

"How was the market Esca?" he asked after a moment. Esca shrugged and leaned back against the tree.

"Busy, as usual, your uncle seemed content with looking around on his own, I just sat and guarded the carriage, carving," he said and looked at Marcus. "How was your day at home?" he asked with a small laugh. Marcus chuckled and shrugged.

"Uninteresting, I had missed your company, " he said looking at Esca affectionately, the younger man blinked and turned away blushing lightly thankful that the colors of the sun masked it. Marcus smiled lightly and moved a little closer to his friend until they were shoulder to shoulder.

They sat in silence together. It was comfortable if anything. The two of them sitting together, enjoying the others presence, the sound of a light breeze ruffling the leaves above them. They watched as some wild animals scurried about and started to feed. It was peaceful.

Marcus looked at Esca next to him and smiled lightly. He had his head back against the trunk of the tree and his eyes closed. If it wasn't for the twitch in his hand Marcus would've thought him asleep. His eyes lingered on Esca's face and traveled to his lips. Those thin yet soft looking lips. How many times had he imagined that he could press his lips against Esca's. How many nights had he fantasized the younger man in his bed, under him, moaning and crying out in pleasure.

"See something you like?" Esca asked without opening his eyes. It was in a teasing manner but Marcus took it seriously. Yes he did see something he liked, but it was far from his grasp. He cleared his throat and turned away.

"Just thinking," he said simply. Esca opened his eyes and sat up to look at his friend. His eyes crinkled into a calculating form and he stared at Marcus up and down taking note of his facial and body language. He sighed when he realized Marcus had that soldier mask on. Of all of his friends faces he could read this was not one of them. That face was only used when he really wanted to hide something.

Esca sighed and let it go. If Marcus didn't want to talk then he wasn't going too and not even Esca could get him to talk. He leaned back and pulled his carving out of his satchel. Marcus looked over and watched as Esca skillfully cut the wood. Looking at it closely enough he could see it was a wolf. Esca could see Marcus out of the corner of his eye and smiled.

"Where I came from, you would carve the animal of your tribe and give it to someone that you wanted to give yourself too, if they accepted it then that would start the courting process, if they rejected it, it wasn't meant to be." Marcus just continued to watch Esca's face. That small serene smile, the way his hands worked.

"Has anyone ever offered to you?" he asked suddenly. Esca paused and thought for a second before he shook his head.

"No, I had offered one time but the one I wanted rejected it," he said sadly. Marcus frowned and looked at him with solemn eyes. When Esca had put the knife down to examine his work Marcus put his hand over the wolf. The two locked eyes. Esca could now read the man's eyes. They filled with longing and love as their hands touched. "Marcus," he whispered lightly. The former centurion leaned forward and pressed his lips to Esca's taking the wolf into his hand.

Esca kissed back gently allowing Marcus to take it. He wrapped his hands around Marcus' neck and rubbed the back of his head. How he had waited for this moment when he'd be able to tell Marcus how he felt. He held him closer and kissed him a little harder.

Marcus slid his tongue into Esca's mouth relishing the way that he tasted. It was just purely Esca. Esca pushed Marcus back onto the ground and hovered above him still kissing him heatedly. Marcus' strong arms made their way around his waist holding him close as their tongues intertwined.

When the need for oxygen became too great they pulled away from each other panting. Marcus looked up at Esca and brushed his hair back from his face. Their foreheads touched and their eyes locked. Finally, they both thought rubbing their foreheads together.

"I love you," they said at the same time. Esca pulled away with wide eyes while Marcus just smiled and laughed. He rolled them over as they rolled down the hill laughing like a couple of lovesick fools. Gods, that's just what they were, and they would never deny it.

Marcus was brought out of his thoughts when his horse started to get antsy. Tucking the wolf back into his tunic he put his hand on the hilt of his sword pulling his horse to a stop. "Easy boy," he whispered and looked around letting his ears tune into his surroundings. There was a rustling in the bushes nearby, Marcus unsheathed his sword and looked at the direction. A fox came running out and across their path.

A laugh left his lips as he sheathed his sword again and rolled his eyes. "A fox...you're getting jumpy in your old age boy," Marcus said and pet the side of his horse. The animal just snorted and started to move forward. There was another rustle and before Marcus could do anything a net was over him and he was tackled off his horse. The animal panicked and ran in the opposite direction towards the gate.

Marcus struggled with the person on top of him and the net that was around him. When the man got off of him Marcus was met with the tip of a spear to his throat. He stopped all movement looking up at his captors. They had marks on their arms and wrists much like Esca's. They spoke amongst themselves quickly in a language that Marcus had only just started getting used to. He could make out only simple phrases from them.

"..Birthmark...jaw.."

"Roman...why...here?" They continued to talk amongst themselves, until Marcus spoke up in the only Gaelic he knew.

"I'm a friend of a son of the Brigantes tribe!" the talking stopped as they looked at their captive. Marcus swallowed hard as they looked amongst each other. Marcus opened his mouth to say more but a hit to the head and his world went black.