"Roxas, are you ready to go?" Ventus shouted outside the door.
"Almost," Roxas shouted back.
"I apologize for speaking out of turn, but where are we going again? And for what purpose?" Axel asked.
"We're going to another one of Father's clients' villas, for his son Vanitas's birthday," Roxas replied, fixing his toga. "And you don't have to apologize for speaking out of turn between us."
"Alright..." Axel nodded. Roxas had given him many freedoms by now, but the fact remained that Axel would still be Roxas's slave.
Axel opened the door for him, and Roxas stepped out into the hallway to meet Ventus.
"I don't see why I have to attend," Roxas mumbled, walking briskly, "I don't even like Vanitas that much..."
"Why not? Is he too entertaining for your boring ways?" Ventus teased.
"He's reckless and often vulgar," Roxas stated, "much like someone else I know."
Ventus grinned and pushed his brother, knocking him into Axel. Axel caught the boy awkwardly, trying to get him back on his feet while Ventus cackled loudly. Terra rolled his eyes discreetly, though Axel noticed.
The two boys and their father stepped into the litter while Axel and Terra trailed behind.
General Eraqus, leader of one of Rome's vast legions, was found outside his villa in the front yard, teaching his son Vanitas how to sword fight.
Ansem and the twins stepped out of the litter, approaching Eraqus.
"Ansem, greetings my good man." Eraqus shook Ansem's hand firmly. "Here, why don't you have a match with my son here?"
He slapped the wooden sword in Ansem's reluctant hand, and motioned toward a boy of seventeen or eighteen years of age. The boy, Vanitas,
"I really don't think I'm qualified, though I'm sure the boys would enjoy it." He passed the sword to Ventus, who copied Vanitas's stance.
Vanitas lunged at Ventus, but Ventus blocked his swing. Ventus pushed him back, swinging the sword wildly. In one swift lunge, Vanitas jabbed Ventus while his arm was flung back.
"Got you." Vanitas smirked.
"You try, Roxas." Ventus handed the sword to his brother.
Unsurely, Roxas bent his knees. Vanitas lunged and ended the fight before Roxas could even swing his arm.
"You're too easy, Roxas." Vanitas shook his head.
"So what's this I hear about your new house slave, Ansem?" Eraqus wondered.
"You're interested in my slave?" Ansem asked.
"It's been the talk of the town: Ansem the Wise has bought one of Rome's finest gladiators." Eraqus announced.
One of the finest? Axel asked himself. The news was enough to flatter Axel, though he was not allowed to show it.
"Yes, that is true: I bought two of Rome's gladiators." Ansem affirmed.
"Then let's have him take on my Vanitas. Have a go at it." Eraqus pushed Axel toward the boy, and Axel bent his knees.
Vanitas lunged, but Axel whacked the sword away. He could assess that, in one move, Vanitas relied on power more than skill. The boy was muscular, but he was also shorter than Axel. He could use his size to his advantage, but the way he moved told Axel he wanted his enemy to fear him despite his size.
Axel stepped forward, swinging at Vanitas and blocking his hits. He jabbed at Vanitas, but he scooted backward and lunged again. Axel knocked his sword back again, jabbing at Vanitas's chest.
Vanitas dropped his sword. "Impressive, I suppose...how do you think you'd fare with a real sword?"
Axel knew he'd do alright, though he wasn't sure how far this kid would go to defeat him.
Vanitas called over a slave to present them with a pair of real swords.
Axel gripped the handle, feeling the balance of the blade. It had been a while since Axel had held a real blade. It made him feel the heaviness of guilt, but also the adrenaline of a good sparring in which no one got hurt.
Vanitas and Axel bowed to each other nobly, then Vanitas took the first strike. Axel swatted the sword away, jabbing at him, but Vanitas dodged. Vanitas swung at Axel, but he blocked again. Metal scraped against metal as their swords slowly slid off each other, until Axel reached the tip of Vanitas's first and he jumped back.
Vanitas grunted and lunged, but Axel dodged again. He whacked the blade aside, which allowed him enough open space to kick Vanitas in the ribs, though he would not be allowed to exhibit his full powers here. There was an awkward pause while the two waited for his opponent to make a move.
"Come on, if you're so great then give it your all." Vanitas demanded.
Axel took this as a command to use the space to his advantage, and he kicked Vanitas in the ribs. Vanitas reeled back, grinning wildly. He swung at Axel again, but Axel blocked and pushed Vanitas back again. Vanitas lunged and jabbed at Axel, and Axel sidestepped, but Vanitas slashed into Axel's calf.
"Axel!" Roxas couldn't refrain from blurting out his name. Ventus gave him a confused glance.
Axel had felt worse pain, so he continued fighting. He slashed at Vanitas, throwing him off balance. He used the flat of the blade to whack Vanitas's side, throwing him to the ground. He pointed the tip at Vanitas's throat.
"Again, impressive..." Vanitas nodded.
Axel removed the sword from Vanitas's throat, and Vanitas stood.
"Why don't we all go inside to chat?" Eraqus decided, leading his party inside.
The men went inside, followed by Terra and the other slave.
Warm sticky blood dripped out of Axel's cut, and now the pain forced him to limp inside.
Before he made his way to the stairs, he heard Roxas's voice from just near the door: "You're hurt..."
"It's alright, Vanitas had told me not to hold back and I expected him not to, either." Axel assured.
"At least let me clean it out..." Roxas offered.
"What if you get into trouble?" Axel asked.
"Into trouble for what? We still have to take care of slaves," Roxas reminded him, "besides, it isn't right to just forget you're injured."
Roxas let Axel lean on him while he limped over to the water pump. Water gushed from the spout over Axel's wound, washing the blood away. Roxas ripped out a strip of cloth from his toga that would remain invisible to the naked eye, but they would be able to see the bandage wrapped around Axel's leg. He bound the wound, tying the cloth.
"There, all better," Roxas affirmed.
"Thank you." Axel nodded.
"Do...do you think you could teach me how to use a sword?" Roxas asked.
"I suppose so," Axel agreed, and added, "what for?"
"I admire the way you can fight," Roxas replied, "I can see why people call you one of the greatest gladiators in Rome."
"Oh...you flatter me." Axel shook his head. His cheeks felt warm, like a fire had ignited in them, and he touched them gently. "I think I'm getting a fever."
"I don't think so." Roxas placed his hand on Axel's forehead. "No, you're just embarrassed."
"I don't think I've ever reacted this way to anything," Axel noted. "Are you sure it isn't a fever?"
"No, it's just blushing," Roxas assured again, "I've blushed many times around you." His eyes widened as if he had spoken wrongly, and he blushed in response.
"Why do you blush around me?" Axel asked.
"I-I-I don't mean to," Roxas stammered. He stood up and said, "Let's just join the others inside."
At dusk, the men gathered around the table for the evening meal. The servants attended to their needs, pouring more wine and giving them more food when gestured to.
"Hey Ventus, I bet I can drink more than you," Vanitas challenged.
"I doubt it, but I know you can drink more than my brother." Ventus clapped his brother on the shoulder, and Roxas sputtered.
"I'd like to know how much of a fool Roxas is when he drinks enough." Vanitas mused.
"I don't think you'd like to witness that," Roxas objected.
"Come on brother, you're so boring and uptight. Unwind for once and drink till you're sick." Ventus urged.
"What, the way you do?" Roxas quipped.
"Ventus, you drink till you're sick?" Vanitas smirked in amusement.
"Every chance I get," Vanitas confirmed, "are you too uptight to let yourself go like that as well?"
"Why don't we all drink as much as we can, in celebration of my birthday?" Vanitas announced.
"Yes, I agree. What say you, Roxas?" Ventus asked.
"Why must I participate...?" Roxas sighed.
"It's my birthday, and it would be rude to me," Vanitas said.
Roxas knit his brows before finally submitting to their foolishness.
In an hour, the three boys had become drunken fauns in the room. The two adults had left to chat elsewhere, and the boys had become loud in their stupor.
Roxas stumbled over to Axel, placing his hand on his bare chest. "Axshel..." He slurred.
"Yes, Master?" Axel responded. "Do you need me to fetch an urn for you to vomit in?"
"Nnnooo," Roxas shook his head, his eyelids drooping.
"What is it?"
Roxas placed both his hands on Axel's face, bringing it close to his.
"I wannt to give you a sshavium," Roxas mumbled.
"Excuse me, but a what?" Axel asked.
"Sh...shh...savium." Roxas finally said.
"What is a savium...?" Axel mumbled, but at that moment Roxas pressed his lips to Axel's.
Axel trembled in surprise as Roxas's lips clumsily pushed against his. Roxas's fingers slipped into Axel's hair, and Axel could see Roxas had his eyes closed. Out of confusion, Axel closed his eyes as well.
He became lost in this sensation, as if Roxas was transferring his drunkenness to him. The world around them seemed to melt away. Axel's head fogged and he couldn't think. What was this strange gesture, and why was Roxas giving it to him?
At last they broke away, and Roxas lifted his drooping eyelids. Then, he stumbled away and hunched over, retching into an urn.
Axel touched his lips, the heat of Roxas's mouth still lingering.
"Roxas, can I ask you something?" Axel asked.
Roxas lay in his bed, almost entirely enveloped in Somnus's arms.
"Mm...?" He mumbled.
"What...is a savium?"
Roxas went silent, then answered, "It's a passionate kiss on the lips."
"What's a kiss?"
"It's when two people press their lips together."
"Why do people do it?"
"I don't know, people do it when they're in love I think. Why do you even ask?"
Axel pondered if he should tell Roxas about what had happened in his drunken stupor. Perhaps he would only tell him partially.
"You wanted to give me a savium while you were drunk, but then you vomited." Axel lied.
Roxas went silent again. Then he finally mumbled, "I see...well, goodnight Axel."
"Goodnight Roxas." He nodded, and left the room with his fingers still touching his lips.
Translations
- Calix Meus Inebrius - My cup making me drunk
- Savium - Passionate kiss on the lips