There was a saying among the Knights that he had read about many years prior, during training under his late master. Seemingly innocent, but that carried a lot hidden meanings… mostly about delusions and disappointment.
Never meet your idols.
It sounded weird, in a way, but Corvo was a big fan of Gladiators. Or at least, he used to be. He wasn't sure why, what they did wasn't much better than soldiers: people fighting each other to death because their masters said so. Gladiatorial combat should have sickened him to his core… but, for whatever reason, it did not. Maybe because they possessed that confidence that he sorely wished he had, when he was growing up. Maybe because they lived fairly simple lives, at the end of it all. Gladiators never had to deal with shit like politics or anything along those lines.
Maybe because their struggles, at the end of it all, were all in the name of freedom. They wished to be free to make their own choices once more, so perhaps he saw a kindred spirit, sharing the same base objective. He saw himself in them, in a weird and twisted way.
Whatever the reasons were, that did not change the fact that he saw Gladiators somewhat favourably, even if he didn't particularly appreciate the bloodshed. There was only one issue with all of that…
The Gladiators that he was a fan of… the ones that he rooted for… were already free and gone. One of the very first decrees of the Queen were that people could not be forced to fight in the Colosseo anymore. It had to be a voluntary choice, with its own pay. It became a job, basically. Those that fought for freedom were given just that, no string attached… while those that remained, did it on their own free will… because they enjoyed it.
They were merely hounds that seeked fame and the intoxicating roars of the crowd, who willingly entered the ranks of the war in search of more thrills. Because their challengers weren't up to par anymore. Nothing more than a bunch of cocky dumbasses, who only sought after their own personal glory, that saw the battlefields of war as a mere game. Or even worse… a stepping stone. And they were succeding. Gladiators were a terror on the battlefield, since they had the most effective teacher of them all: experience.
Which is why, when he first realized that he would be extending his services to one of the most famous Gladiators, he was somewhat thrilled. His wife had casted a look at him and grinned, calling him "adorable" (damn her and her constant teasing), but also warning him about what he would find. That his ideals corresponded to reality no longer. He hadn't given her words much weight… but now he wished that he had. She always ended up being right, in one way or another.
Asterion the Gladiator was the incarnation of everything that he hated. Vain and mean, detestable in every conceivable way… and a natural born warrior. Not even… a killer. This man had made killing an art… a spectacle even, something both harrowing and sorely needed. It gave their enemies something to fear.
Mercy had called him "A necessary evil". He would have agreed, if only she hadn't added that she was a big fan of his work. Assassins… he would never understand them. Least of all his older sister.
He had been working for a good ten consecutive minutes, disinfecting and bandaging various punctures and stab wounds all around the man's body, no doubt caused by one or more opposing Nuxia. But he was willing to bet that just one was more than capable of dealing all of this damage. They were fierce warriors, the Wu Lin's version of the Peacekeepers.
It had also been ten consecutive minutes since Asterion had started talking. It did not look like he was about to stop anytime soon. The headache that he was starting to develop was one that he hadn't felt in a long time… around when he first met Stone, in fact. But at least the Conqueror's blabbing had been somewhat entertaining, if you squinted and occasionally tuned him out when the perverted punchline would inevitability come.
This dude's nasal voice was beyond aggravating.
"... And then, with a mighty throw of my trident, the monkey was put down like the beast that he was! One of my finest moments, I would say, I still get chills when I think about it! Why, this almost reminds me of that time I slaughtered the mighty Golden Hind! A majestic animal, that one was, but no match for my skills and intelligence! It all started when…"
He. Just. Kept. Going.
Boasting upon boasting, flexing and pumping his muscles making it hard for Corvo to heal him properly, obnoxious laughter and even more obnoxious stories that he honestly couldn't care less.
"Could you please sit still for a second? And maybe be quiet for a second as well…"
He added that last part under his breath. Fortunately for him, Asterion did not seem to catch it.
"Why? Am I distracting you? If that so, I must apologize, I merely see you as one of my adoring fans, nothing more. But maybe, if you a good enough job, I might allow you to gaze upon my perfect form for… longer than anyone else would".
He winked at him, further draining Corvo's dwindling patience. Jupiter almighty, give him strength!
"If you do not stop, you're going to re open your wounds. My supplies do not grow on trees, I'll have you known, so I would rather have them for the next people that require healing".
He kept his voice to an even, glacial tone. And to think he had made so many steps forward in being more open to his feelings…
This man was making him regress back to the times of the Great War.
"Aww, come on healer! No need to be shy! These kinds of things are plenty normal in Rome! Nothing to be ashamed of, I promise that your wife won't hear anything about it, if you have one".
He exhaled loudly through his nose.
"We are not in Rome. And I am no fan of yours. I suggest you drop the matter, if you do not wish to face the consequences of your actions".
Asterion chuckled.
"Feisty. I like it… and what can a little healer like you do to a warrior like me?"
"A normal healer, likely nothing. Me? I can do plenty".
This time, the Gladiator scuffed.
"Oh yeah? And what makes you different from the rest? Apart from that pretty face of yours, obviously".
Corvo raised an eyebrow at that. This idiot had no idea of who he was? Really? Where Gladiators so self centered these days to not even know royalty? Not like he enjoyed flaunting his status… far from it, in fact. It was the one consequence of his marriage with Skye that he actually despised…
But he could make an exception. Just this once.
"I'll give you a hint. My wife's name is Skye…"
Asterion eyes shot upwards, having finally recognized him.
"... Queen of the Legions".
The warrior pointed a finger to him, trembling.
"You… you are…"
It was Corvo's turn to smirk.
"I am what, Gladiator?"
"M-My apologies, my Lord! I hadn't realized it was you! Please forgive me!"
Better. Much better.
There was always an exception to every rule, it would seem.
"You can earn your forgiveness by being quiet and letting me work. I am getting sick of your attitude".
Asterion the Gladiator, after that, kept his mouth shut, afraid of even making a peep without his permission.
When he was finally done, Corvo pointed at the exit with his head.
"You may go. Let this be a lesson to you… words and action can and will have consequences. I suggest you start measuring both, if you do not wish to land yourself into unresolvable trouble".
He had never seen a man nod and leave so fast. He chuckled a bit at that, making a mental note to notify the Queen of this development.
Without mentioning the flirting. He wanted the Gladiator punished…
Not dead in a ditch, after all.
Hello?! Is this thing?! It is?! Noice.
Welcome back, dudes and gentleladies, to another episode of AHO, the show where we hate the Romans, apparently.
I was re-reading the previous chapters of this story, when I kind of realized that Corvo did not have much in terms of "negative interactions" with his patients. A bit Holden, Runa and Ayu, for the most part, but even those ended on a somewhat positive note. So I decided that it was about time for Corvo to make a proper "enemy", or to at the very least not being in good relations with the character that he healed. The choice fell on poor Asterion here… I'm sure that his ego will recover.
Next chapter might be a but tricky for me. If you are savvy to for Honor's lore, you'll know that, up until now, I've been using lore friendly names for the characters (except for the Warden, Raider and Orochi), just to keep things as immersive as I could… which brings us to the next character, the Highlander. There is only one "notable" Highlander in For Honor, named Andraste… and described as a "she", when the class in game is male gender-locked. So, I'll probably have to make some research and decide which side to lean more, lore or gameplay. We'll see when we get there, I suppose.
Next time on A Healer's Oath: Andraste, The Highlander.
That's all folks! Ta-ta for now!