The tavern was empty and Cala was closing for the night when Tenax walked in. His eyes were a little red, and his gait was a little weary.
“I need a drink,” he announced. “A large one.”
“Moving up in the world hasn’t improved your manners much,” she said with a wry smile. She poured him a cup of wine anyway, and one for herself.
He swigged back the cup, and held it out for more. “It was a rough day.”
“Oh? Is the role of aedile ludi more difficult than that of a crime lord? I suppose you kill the same number of people. But it doesn’t count if they’re in the arena, does it?” she spat, thinking of Kwame and Aura, who’d both fought today. Each time they took to the sands, she feared for their lives. Knowing Tenax was in charge of the games didn’t ease her fear.
He laughed and shook his head. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You’re just a shop owner who runs my betting tavern.”
Her fists clenched, but she hid it, gulping her wine instead. “Tell me something,” she said. “How far do you have to go?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said once that you must rise or die. The Roman way.”
A single nod.
“So tell me, how far do you have to rise before you’re satisfied? Is your eye on a consulship? The emperor’s throne?”
She found herself shoved against the wall, his hand over her mouth. His eyes were wide as they burned into her skin, his whole body tense with anger.
“Not so loud,” he hissed. “Do you want to see me dead?”
She took his hand away, like she’d done not so long ago when he’d gone for her throat. “It’s because I do not want you dead that I say this. If you aim too high, eventually you will fall.”
“I thought you’d enjoy seeing that.” He frowned.
“No,” she said. “Don’t make me watch you fall.”
He shut up. They stared at each other as the implication of her words sunk in. Then, she put her hand on his chest, but she didn’t push him away.
“I’m not scared of you.”
“I know,” he whispered.
“I’m scared for you.”
The surprise and raw emotion on his face touched her, and she reached up and kissed him. It felt right, and wrong, and right.
(quadruple drabble) Those About to Die, Cala/Tenax
“I need a drink,” he announced. “A large one.”
“Moving up in the world hasn’t improved your manners much,” she said with a wry smile. She poured him a cup of wine anyway, and one for herself.
He swigged back the cup, and held it out for more. “It was a rough day.”
“Oh? Is the role of aedile ludi more difficult than that of a crime lord? I suppose you kill the same number of people. But it doesn’t count if they’re in the arena, does it?” she spat, thinking of Kwame and Aura, who’d both fought today. Each time they took to the sands, she feared for their lives. Knowing Tenax was in charge of the games didn’t ease her fear.
He laughed and shook his head. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You’re just a shop owner who runs my betting tavern.”
Her fists clenched, but she hid it, gulping her wine instead. “Tell me something,” she said. “How far do you have to go?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said once that you must rise or die. The Roman way.”
A single nod.
“So tell me, how far do you have to rise before you’re satisfied? Is your eye on a consulship? The emperor’s throne?”
She found herself shoved against the wall, his hand over her mouth. His eyes were wide as they burned into her skin, his whole body tense with anger.
“Not so loud,” he hissed. “Do you want to see me dead?”
She took his hand away, like she’d done not so long ago when he’d gone for her throat. “It’s because I do not want you dead that I say this. If you aim too high, eventually you will fall.”
“I thought you’d enjoy seeing that.” He frowned.
“No,” she said. “Don’t make me watch you fall.”
He shut up. They stared at each other as the implication of her words sunk in. Then, she put her hand on his chest, but she didn’t push him away.
“I’m not scared of you.”
“I know,” he whispered.
“I’m scared for you.”
The surprise and raw emotion on his face touched her, and she reached up and kissed him. It felt right, and wrong, and right.