Lyrics: 'Things we lost in the fire' by Bastille

Chapter Six: Aureliana

Do you understand that we will never be the same again?

The future's in our hands and we will never be the same again

Cassia glanced between my scowling gaze and Gannicus' amused one, her brows furrowed. "Aureliana…"

My head snapped up to look at her, "Yes?"

"What transpired between?"

"Naught of consequence."

"Liana…" She knew when I was lying. She squinted at me, considering me, her mind working at a quick speed. I perched on the edge of a seat to move under her steady gaze without drawing suspicion. "You do find gladiator appealing!"

"No!" I said, aghast. But it was a lie, and she could tell. I sighed when her eyes became serious. "He would like to think so."

And I told her everything that had happened. All of it; every of his daring looks and bold words, his arrogant smiles and cocky sense of self-importance. She had to stifle laughter at points, and others her face registered deep surprise.

"He told to remove robes," I said tightly, irritation rising again. How he had used my innocence against me, taunting me in ways I did not how to respond to. "He made womanhood into jape. He mocked the gods. He dared to insinuate I desired his touch!"

"He would speak in such way?"

I nodded, "He would insult in such way." I shook my head, in faint disbelief and incredulousness, "He would dare!"

"You should not have gone alone," she said, guilt rising up in her dark eyes.

"No," I shook my head again, dismissing her guilt. "No. If visit, imagine what would ask of you! When asked that of me!" Her eyes were still guilty. I sighed, "Let us put from mind. He holds no importance to waste breath on."

Her mouth dropped open, her eyes reading more than those simple words on my lips, "Gladiator fascinates!"

"No - ," I started to deny, but Cassia kept talking.

"Do desire him?"

"Cassia!"

Her eyes widened, "You do!"

I blushed. Yesterday we had just speculated on him; we had teased like we did when we were younger, and discussing topics foreign to us, topics we did not want to be caught discussing. We had talked on his attractive form, for he was surely attractive, and the merits of him as a lover. "We discussed on this topic!"

She laughed, "But you had not been truthful! Now, new light of day brings new light of truth!"

I sighed; I seemed to be doing a lot of that. "He is…appealing," I conceded and she grinned hugely, like I was confirming her suspicions, making her correct. "But he is also arrogant. And cocky."

I could not bring myself to tell her of the dream. It felt too private to even think on.

"And rightly so, from what ears have discovered from other slaves," she wiggled her eyebrows meaningfully, and we suppressed our giggles. We looked over the balcony.

Gannicus was paired with a different partner. This man could not best him either, and Gannicus had him sprawled in the dirt a few strikes later. He looked up at me, and my laughter died away, the smile slipping from my lips. I looked at my feet quickly, avoiding his gaze. If I held it too long, I doubted I'd be able to look away.

"Liana…" Cassia said softly, a frown on her face. "What... You won't…." She did not seem to be able to phrase her thoughts coherently.

"What?" I quizzed.

"Are you visiting gladiator again?" She asked, still frowning, and I figured this time she was not inquiring because of her brother.

"I am undecided."

"Don't," she shook her head. "Don't go."

"But Visius?" I gaped at her, incredulous. This was why we were here, this was why we'd gone to the games, gotten invited to this Villa; to speak with the gladiator to make him spare Visius' life. And now she did not want me to do just that?

She bit her lip, undecided. "…I do not trust him with you."

I frowned, "I do not trust him with you."

She smiled ruefully, shaking her head, "If detection could be avoided, and none would discover it, would you lay with him?"

A short, surprised laugh escaped my lips, "What?!"

She waited for me to answer.

"No!" I said incredulously. "I…no! He…is a slave! No!"

Her eyes told me she didn't believe me. I frowned.

.

.

.

GANNICUS POV

Doctore called the end of the day's training. Groans sounded around Gannicus, and it made him smile. He swung his arms, to loosen the strained muscle, rolling his shoulders. His brothers trudged inside to eat, famished from the heat of the sun and the exertion Doctore called for from every one of them.

Word had gotten around of what happened to their Dominus. Melita had told Oenamaus, and he had told Gannicus. Which made sense why the Roman woman was on the balcony alone. They were aiding his Domina, and he figured that the Roman woman was tasked with overseeing the training of the gladiators. He snorted; as if she knew anything of gladiator sports. He had seen her that first time in the arena, her eyes wide and shocked at the brutality of the games, the blood being spilt. She had clenched her jaw determinedly, an attempt at indifference, but he could see the conflict in her eyes; the way the games both excited and disgusted her. He could tell she had not been to the games before then.

She was a gentle soul. Delicate. And more than likely well protected, shielded, from the world around her, by her pater familias.

Far different from the other Roman women he had seen, who paraded around in their fine clothes and jewels, whispering snide remarks behind covered mouths. Judging each other on what they did or did not have. All the while, he had nothing.

And he had smiled at her up in the stands. But he had also winked. He had been caught up in the thrill of the win, the heady feeling of the crowd chanting his name, the women lusting after him. He felt invincible, powerful. And he had thrown her a wink. As soon as he had done it, he knew it to be a mistake. Perhaps she would let it slide once, or perhaps she would complain to his Dominus, and he would be punished. A gladiator slave, the lowest of the low, could not just wink at the highest of the high. But she had done neither; she had turned away dismissively, with a toss of her hair, which had been a punishment in itself, to remind him of his status. But he had seen the flush on her neck, working to her face, and it had made him grin cockily.

His wink had done that. He was the one to make her blush, the pale pink a pretty colour on her soft looking skin. And he had wanted to make her blush again, this time a deep, dark shade of red.

And in that moment, he had read her innocence; it was written plainly on her face. He realized then that she was perfectly innocent. And he was far from it.

The next time he had caught her eye, he had been bolder. Far bolder than he should have been. But again, he had been caught up in the ecstasy of the win, one where he had been blindfolded. He had heard her talking with his Domina and her companion, how she had won them over so quickly. He did not even know she was there until his Domina's companion, Gaia, had called her a little dove. The name fit well. He had turned his head to the side, only to see her, but he could not unless he fully turned around. But when he did, he held her gaze, not looking away, and she had frowned at him and his nerve. She glanced away first, that flush colouring her cheeks again. He had grinned smugly, the feeling of victory swamping his chest before the fight had even started.

Through the course of the match, he had heard her. With his vision taken away, his other senses heightened, and he felt he could have heard her a thousand miles away. Her gasps had sent shivers down his spine. Her 'Oh!' of surprise and slight fear when he had been cut across the chest. Her voice, so heavenly sweet, saying she feared for his life. It spurred him on, because she did not need to fear for him; he was good, even blindfolded, and Othos the fuck, had been angering him for a while; ending his life had not been difficult. When he had taken the blindfold away, slightly disorientated and awestruck, he had caught the tail end of relief as it flitted across her face, her shock, her awe.

And it hit him harder than any opponent had ever hit him. He knew he impressed her, the innocent woman, with the wide, kind eyes. It pleased him beyond measure.

Then she had come to see him. At first, his heart had stopped in his chest. Was she there for him, a slave, because she wanted him? Had he impressed her so much? Did she lust after him? But then she had explained, and it struck him, the difference again she had from most wealthy Roman women. To barter for the life of a slave. A gladiator slave. It was…mostly unheard of. Jealousy had snaked along his chest; did she love this Visius? Was that why she was trying to save him? But no, she didn't. And he knew then she was compassionate as well.

He could not resist testing his boundaries with her, and he had teased her, trying to coax a blush from her. He managed it once when he said he could do pleasurable things with his tongue. It was true and she believed him.

And her wanting to keep it a secret gave him the power to speak more boldly, for she could not tell his Dominus of his brashness without involving herself.

As she walked away, irritated at him (which also pleased him, for it meant he was getting to her and she didn't know what to do about it), his eyes had traversed her body. He noticed for the first time, the hint of womanly curves under her robes, the round, fullness of her ass, the sway of her hips, the curve of her small waist. The image sent a jolt of pleasure to the pit of his stomach. And she had looked back.

Today, he had seen her, that deep blush he had spent trying to coax from her the night before coloured her cheeks already. And it was not from the sun, for she was shaded. But he did not know why she was blushing, and he desperately wanted to. She watched him, and he had wanted to impress her again with his strength. His skill. His power. Her reaction – indifference – had been marred by the fact that she was still blushing.

He trailed behind his brothers, clapping his opponent on the back at his attempts. He slowed, until he was at the back.

"Coming?" Oenemaus asked, frowning quizzically at the way Gannicus dawdled.

"Just stretching," he said, twisting his body in a show of loosening his back muscles. "Go ahead."

Oenemaus knew him too well. He watched Gannincus suspiciously, before shrugging and continuing through to get a bowl before Barca pissed in it. When he disappeared inside, he hurried back, craning his neck up to look at the balcony.

The sun had lowered considerably, but she was still there. The Roman woman whose name he didn't know, the woman with kind eyes, who put on a show of being strong. Who cared about life in the world, who believed faithfully in the gods he knew weren't there. She was at the end of the balcony, leaning her elbows on the railing as she looked out, over the perilous cliff. Wind kicked up, rushing up to meet her, running through her curls and pushing them back.

He wanted to know what she was thinking as she absentmindedly lifted an olive to her mouth, her lips puckering slightly as she slowly took it into her mouth. He swallowed with difficulty. She did it three more times as she stared out into the vast expanse of nothingness, his eyes trained closely on her movements, her mouth, before he found his voice and spoke.

A tease slipped out. He could not help himself.

"Did eyes find me appealing?" He called up to her, his lips already lifting into a grin, for he knew her reaction before she did.

She jerked in surprise, obviously having thought she was alone, and she spun around, outrage flashing in her eyes. She stormed down the balcony towards him, and he felt he really should be afraid of her. But he couldn't summon it when he looked at the petite, curved woman, who was too small to do any kind of damage.

Irritation flared within her. What amused him most, was that she did not know how to react when he spoke of what she didn't know, and would try to discourage him by appearing indifferent or unimpressed. He saw through her act, though.

"Eyes found a form unappealing," she snapped.

Gannicus laughed, shrugging his shoulders, "Oenamaus has that affect."

She was annoyed now that he could push off her insult onto someone else. But she didn't walk away. Didn't leave him to talk with himself. She stayed, and that said something. Much like her turning back to look at him last night, he did not know what it meant.

"That crimson blush adorned your cheeks this afternoon," he began. He couldn't stop grinning arrogantly.

She waved her hand about, "Merely sun's heat."

"From the shade?" he quipped, and she pursed her lips, the blush coming back onto her cheeks. His grin widened, "Did words of last night stir thoughts of me?"

Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parting to reply, but no words were forthcoming. When her blush deepened, he knew he had struck true. Surprise coloured his features. He had not been expecting that. A smug smile of male satisfaction lifted his lips.

"You flatter yourself."

"No…" he shook his head slowly, gauging her reaction, narrowing his eyes in contemplation, "No. Words strike true."

"No!" she denied.

"Yes!" He laughed heartily, enjoying himself. The Roman woman amused him; her reactions to his teasing's. He was frustrating her by remaining studiously ignorant of their severely differing statuses. "Perhaps…turn thoughts to reality?"

His voice was husky, suggestive, seductive.

Furious, she grabbed at the platter of olives, fingers fumbling in her wrath, and she grabbed a handful before pelting them at him. They bounced off him, landing in the dirt. He ducked, his laughter getting louder as she grabbed more, aiming for his head.

"Pig! Bastard! Toad!" She screeched, each insult punctuated by throwing a tiny handful of olives. "You are a slave!" She hissed at him, as if he did not know. Though, his words and actions would suggest he was unclear on the distinction.

He attempted to catch the flying olives with his mouth, grinning as he chewed. He had not had olives in a while. It just enraged her further, and she went to throw more when her body slave, the dark skinned woman he had seen with her in the markets and at the arena, came over to her, grabbing her arms and stopping her, speaking soothing words. Her shoulders slumped and she walked inside. Her body slave watched her go inside, before stepping closer to the balcony edge.

"You take my little dove away!" He laughed, hoping his words would reach her ears despite having gone inside.

Her body slave's eyes narrowed. "You are confusing her," she hissed. "It would be wise to remove all notions of Aureliana from mind." She left the rest unspoken; he was a slave and she was a noble woman, and nothing could ever happen.

So her name was Aureliana.

"And you are?"

"Cassia," she said after a moment's hesitation. "My brother is Visius."

"Then why did you not come to see me?" He was genuinely confused by that.

"And what would you have asked of me, should I have gone to see you?" She snapped. Oh. Though, if this woman had come to see him, he would not have asked for anything, though he would not have tried very hard to avoid killing her brother.

Instead of telling her that, for fear that Aureliana would not come again, he grinned at the body slave. "Nothing wouldn't have been eager for." It was what he did; cover serious matters in guise of jest and ignorance.

"Leave Liana alone." Liana? A nickname? Her body slave called her by a term of affection? What kind of bond did they have, for her to freely call her that? Cassia turned and left then. It seemed, while Aureliana did not know what to make of Gannicus, Cassia did; she just ignored him, not rising to his challenge.

He frowned, muttering to himself in reply, "I try."

She was difficult to remove from his mind; she intrigued him and he was no fool, despite his playful charm and jesting demeanor. She held no real affection for him, he knew, developing or otherwise; he merely brought about feelings that she had not experienced before, feelings Roman men did not dare to encourage in polite society, and she was at a loss to explain them. She was not old enough, experienced enough, to know distinctly the difference between lust and love.

He knew that, considering she would be staying at the Villa, it would be difficult to remove her from his mind when there was the possibility he would see her every day. When he would get the chance to converse with her privately. He found himself, since the blindfold match, hoping to catch her somewhere, to speak with her, despite not knowing what to say, what to discuss with her. She was a noble Roman woman; she would be used to intelligent conversation: politics, art, history, philosophy. He did not want to embarrass himself. He did not want her to think him an idiot. So instead, he opened his mouth and jests fell out.

He was certainly a fool.

So…What'd you think?

Cassia can see Liana getting in over her head with Gannicus, so she tried to set him straight. Do any of you think he'll listen?

Also, I did this last bit in Gannicus' point of view, because I wanted to test out trying to get into his mindset. I don't think I like it all that much. What do you think? Should his part remain, or should I re-write it in Aureliana's POV? I'm on the fence about it, so I'd really appreciate some input!

And, on to the replies!

Sandradee27: Haha, sorry! No, I definitely can't blame you :D He's just gorgeous. Hopefully, if you enjoyed this part from his POV, that it made up for him not being in it very much last chapter! Glad you liked the dream Don't worry, He and Melitta won't have a thing like they did in the show! I agree, he does need his own lady, which is why he's got Aureliana! Thanks so much for reviewing for me! Again! It means so much to me :D

Caleb's babe: Aw, thank you :D I'm relieved you liked the chapter (a lot), and I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, though I'm not sure about the Gannicus POV. Let me know what you think, I'd really appreciate your opinion! Thanks so much for reviewing!

Guest: Thank you so much! I'm so stoked you love it so far! You have no idea how relieved I am that you think I'm keeping him in character, and that I've given Liana some real qualities! Seriously! I'm just so glad you like it, and are getting some enjoyment from what I'm writing so far! Thank you so much for reviewing! It means so much to me!

Lissil: Oh my gosh, thank you so much for your continuing support! Seriously, I just love getting reviews from you! Haha, I'm glad you liked Liana's dream! That's the most sexual my writing's ever gotten, so I was so nervous about publishing it on here! But I'm so glad you thought it was hot! Haha, it's what I was going for :D Yes, because she's unmarried, she's a virgin – so no, she wouldn't know exactly what it feels like. But sexual maturity would bring a sort of understanding about it. Especially considering the way the characters talk in the show, I'd say sex was hardly a private issue. Plus, experimenting with her sexuality means that she understands that when she thinks of certain things (like Gannicus), it triggers a pleasurable response, so no, she doesn't know what sex feels like, but yes to sexual pleasure. I hope that made sense, haha! I'm pretty sure I didn't say what the point of it was, haha! Ah, that's for me to know and for you to… eventually read :D Haha, I don't think anyone would be able to stay away from Gannicus :D Thanks so much for taking the time to review again for me!

Aresgirl: Thank you so much for taking the time to review for me! I'm so glad you enjoyed the first chapter, and that you thought I did a good job of capturing the characters! I hope you enjoyed the following chapters just as much! Ahh, I know! I type so fast, that I always end up scrambling the letters of the words, and then I don't catch the smaller ones because I know what it's meant to say, so that's what I see. But thanks for pointing that out, when I get time, I'll go back over it properly! Thanks again for reviewing!

SighingWinter: Aww, thank you so much! I'm so stoked you think it's 'fucking amazing'! Haha, I just loved your review and how you kept it in the language of the show! Made me giggle :D Thank you so much, I'm so glad you want to read more, and that you like my writing! I hope you enjoyed this chapter too! Thanks so much for taking the time to review this for me! It means a lot!

Gannicusmelitta: Wow, thanks so much for the nice review :D I'm so glad you like it! Aw, shucks, you'll inflate my ego too much that there won't be enough room for me and it in rooms. I'm really glad you seem to be enjoying it, though! Thank you so much, that's so nice of you, that you think I'm gifted with creative writing (I have such a big head now :D). Aw, thank you – it's so nice of you to review in the first place; anything more is just exceptional :D. Haha, that's okay to be skeptical! I understand that! And you're right, it is tricky, especially because it was so, so uncommon! Yeah, it was the Melitta/Gannicus thing in GOTA that made me want to give Gannicus his own woman to love, because I actually really liked Melitta and Oenamaus together! Gah, I'm glad I managed to hook you, haha! :D Yay, let's root for them together Haha, I'll see what I can cook up in regards to a sexy hook up! No, I haven't seen the last season! I'm so bad like that; when I know that there's only one season left of a show I love, I put off watching it because I don't want that to be it! Right? Self-destructive is the perfect phrase, I think! Haha, yep, that's Gannicus :D Aw, I really want to see Gannicus and Sibyl together now! They sound so adorable! Haha, I just automatically made my OC softer and more delicate because Gannicus seems so, like you said, self-destructive, and he obviously needs someone to make him be sweeter with, to make him care, you know? Haha, yes! All hail FF, because now you have an emotionally available gladiator with a nice Roman woman in a Ludis setting. Gah, convenient, or what? Thanks so much for leaving a review for me! Means so much to me, especially when the reviewer leaves such a review that I can get a sense of what they'll like to read :D Haha, sorry this took so long then, and I'd love some input as to what you think regarding Gannicus' POV. I think I'd like to just make it Aureliana's POV, but I'm not sure… Haha, well, you'll just have to wait and see if she will go to his cell, or not :D Haha! I had way too much fun writing that last meeting! Yes, it does :D I'm not even sure how I will yet, but I've got a couple ideas, because some people have asked for me to continue it into the other seasons as well. Anyway, thanks so much again! Made me smile when I read it! :D

Guest: Haha, thanks so much for taking the time to review this for me! I'm so glad you seem to be enjoying it! Sorry I had to make you wait so long! Hopefully, you enjoyed this chapter, and it made up for the long wait! Haha, thanks so much!

Beautifulmistake1: Aw, thank you so much! I'm so glad you're in love with my story! Haha, I'm glad I got you hooked, haha! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter too, then! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me such a nice review! Seriously, it means a lot to me, so thank you!

Thanks so much! You guys make my day :D