Fic: The Eagle - Pia Fidelis chapter 7

[ainsoph15]

Title: Pia Fidelis
Author: ainsoph15
Pairing: Esca/Marcus
Rating: R for this chapter
Summary: In between the lines of a story about honour is another story about love. This is an attempt to fill in those lines and to tell that story, with all the scenes that weren't shown. 
Warnings: None (but let me know if any of you think otherwise)
Word count: 5347 for

Comments

[carmarthen]

Holy crap I love your setting descriptions. They are so Sutcliffian I am envious.

He wore the leathern braccae he had from the day at the amphitheatre, and an expression of unrelenting glumness that had settled stone-hard on his face when he had enquired what sort of weapons they were to use, and Marcus had informed him that they would begin by fighting hand-to-hand.

I can just imagine him thinking about Romans and their stupid ideas. ♥

lithe as a bull-leaper from the ancient court of Minos

…I would pay good money for art of Esca as a bull-leaper, fyi.

“You asked me to fight with you,” Esca said, his voice rasping. “I am, the way I know how.” He tilted his head again to pop another bone in his neck, and with a final vehement look in Marcus's direction, he got to his feet.

Oh yes, yes. Esca's fighting in the movie is so very much about survival, none of these "legitimate moves" or anything.

Now was not the time to think on how he wished to touch him without guile, without deceit, without the pretext of combat. And most of all, without the gnawing, wracking shame that he had buried deep within him, but which stirred at every glance, every word, every brief moment of contact that Esca gave him.

Oh, Marcus. :-(

At the same time he hooked his other arm underneath to brace it against the back of Marcus's elbow, pushing it up into an unnatural angle.

YESSSSS ARMLOCKS. BTW, serious props for how realistic your wrestling is (from my limited experience with grappling, anyway).

ARGH, GREAT TIMING, UNCLE A.!

AHHHHHH THIS IS A GREAT UPDATE AND YOU SHOULD FEEL GREAT. I adore how Sutcliffian your style is, and your characterization, and the delightful delightful UST and EVERYTHING.

[ainsoph15]

Oh god, I just LOVE your comments. They are so insightful and make me giddy with happiness ♥ OH MAN, I am so glad that I got the wrestling right. I had to choreograph the entire thing in my head and I still wasn't sure if it was clear what was happening, so you've made me SO FRICKING DELIGHTED that you think it worked :D

(Ha ha, I may have to bribe motetus with more cake and see if that results in bullMarcus-leaping!Esca art ;D)

[carmarthen]

No, YOUR comments are insightful! Mine are capslocky. :-P

(Man, I wonder what Esca would look like as a Minoan fresco....)