SPARTACUS
Fuck.
Getting out of bed had been a disaster this morning, but right now it felt like I was barely able to keep standing on my jelly-like legs. My head hurt, I felt a burn behind my watery eyes and my teeth chattered like I was outside in zero degrees with no clothes on. I felt cold, yet hot.
"Spartacus!" Oenamous's voice echoed through the underground hall.
"Y-yes," I said as I looked up at him.
"Where are you? Cause you sure as hell aren't paying attention right here." His angry frown faded before he walked over to me and laid his hand on my forehead. "Jesus. I think you have a fever. Get back to your room right now, I'll inform Gremelda so that she can send someone to check up on you."
I didn't want to go back to my room or have someone to check up on me, all I wanted was to fight tonight. "No, I can--" I cut myself off with a long cough.
"No discussion," Oenamous said when I was done coughing like a seal. "I know you love a good match but I can't let you fight in this condition. You're a fool for coming here in the first place. Go to your room and get the fuck in bed." He then ordered Crixus to guide me to my place and put me to bed.
The moment Oenamous had said he knew I loved a good match was the moment I realized it wasn't about fighting at all. It was about winning, and not because I wanted to be the best. It was because the idea that another Gladiator would pick Tesla as a Rewarder instead of me was something I just could not let happen.
When I didn't immediately move, Oenamous started to get irritated, so I left. But it was mostly because it felt like I was almost gonna faint.
I debated what I
should do when Crixus helped me to bed. Should I ask for his help or
not? While he fetched me a glass of water and closed the curtains, I had
a discussion with myself.
"You gotta help me," I said breathlessly after I made up my mind.
"What is it? Are you in pain? Do you want a painkiller?"
I shook my head. "No, I need your help with something else. You gotta win this evening."
"Dude, I'm number two, and you, the number one, aren't there. Of course, I'm gonna win."
"And you'll have to pick Tesla when you do."
"Uhh...no? I'm gonna pick Cedi."
Damn it, I totally forgot about Cedi! Surely, he wasn't gonna pick the one I wanted to prevent from sleeping with others over the one he wanted to prevent from sleeping with others.
"Fuck!" I cursed and grabbed my head. This didn't do my headache any favor.
Why did I have to become sick today? I haven't been sick in like, four years. Now, when finally the first match came after the last match's disaster where I didn't get to take Tesla to my room because of that twat William, I was fucking sick!
Crixus looked at me with confused eyes. "Why would you want me to--"
"Ok, change of plans. Gannicus will win and will pick Tesla. Sorry, but you'll have to lose. But if he does anything to that boy, I'll fucking end him. "
"Jesus!" Crixus cried out, pointing his finger at my face. If I had more strength I would slap it away cause, God, that was annoying. "You like him, don't you?" he asked.
"..."
"You know the rules--"
"Yeah, well fuck the rules."
"Spartacus!"
"Listen, you might have watched all these months how I fucked Cedi because you didn't do anything about it, but I won't let that happen. All you had to do was tell me how much you liked her and I would have picked another, Crix. I didn't know you had feelings for her. But...yeah, I like him and I don't want the others to have him."
He furrowed his eyebrows, looking a tad sad suddenly. "But it's against the rules," he said with a soft voice.
"Are you gonna tell on me? Will Gannicus?"
He shook his head. "Of course, I won't and I don't think Gannicus will. I trust that guy with my life, but Gremelda isn't stupid. She'll--"
"That's a worry for later. Will you do it? I know it's a lot to ask, I know how badly you wanna win, but--" I took a breath, being all dizzy. "I'll let you win from me in a later match."
"I don't wanna win like that, Spart."
"Please?"
Crixus already opened his mouth to give me an answer but closed it when a knock on the door came, followed by a beep. Gremelda opened it and entered with a physician. "Leave," she ordered Crixus. I'm sure she was bummed out that her best fighter laid in bed like a pathetic useless thing.
I looked at crixus and he nodded at me as he headed out, making me feel relieved, knowing he just agreed to my proposal.
After a checkup, I was told I had to take rest, drink plenty of liquids, and had to sweat it out. Gremelda took the doctor's advice very seriously and called the cook to make me some broth before she tucked me in like I was a little sick child, wet washcloth on my forehead and all that. I had to admit it was nice being pampered. If only it would be someone else who did the pampering...
~
Gentle hands brushed through my hair, waking me up. The touch felt amazing. Maybe it was because I felt a little high from being ill, I don't know, but it felt so relaxing. After I opened my eyes, it was revealed that the hands belonged to Tesla. Was my fever so high that I was beginning to hallucinate or something?
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," he said, pulling his hand away.
"No," I all but cried out. "Caress me again," I ordered. He obliged. "Shouldn't you be with Gannicus?"
"Gannicus?" he asked while stroking my hair at a soft pace.
I closed my eyes again, relishing the feeling. "Yeah. Didn't he win and pick you?"
"I have no idea. Gremelda asked if one of us wanted to volunteer to stay with and take care of you, and I beat the other Rewarders by calling dibs. I've been here for hours. You slept this whole time."
He was here for hours already? "My lucky day," I replied, smiling. I guess my plan wasn't needed after all.
"Can I get you anything? Are you hungry or thirsty?"
"I'm thirsty for you," I answered.
"Spartacus, you're sick."
"I'm sick from missing you."
"Oh, please."
"That's what you'll say when you'll beg me later," I replied before I coughed my lungs out.
"Yeah, that's really seductive..." Tesla said and chuckled. "But I don't think anything is gonna happen today."
"In that case, you're gonna have to feed me."
He stood up and smiled. "That, I can do."
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