Past-Part Fills Post 1 -- CLOSED
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“Why are you doing this, Gallia? Why create so much trouble? Do you really hate us so much?” He had seemed so sweet and malleable at first, Rome should have known better, should have suspected he would act like his mother, resistant to the end.
“I don’t really know…” he admitted, not quite meeting Rome’s gaze. “…But if you are so upset with me, does that mean I can go?”
Ah… “Is that what this is all about?” Rome reached over and ruffled the boy’s hair, smiling despite his earlier resolve to look stern. “Gallia, as much as I would love to let you have your way, I can not grant you that just yet. You must earn it, as all new citizens must earn their freedom and place in society.”
“What do I have to do then?” And when he spoke like that, when he looked like that, he was impossible to resist.
“Come to Rome with me,” Rome answered without hesitation. “Learn to speak and read and write Latin, practice the necessary customs, accept the jurisdiction placed over your people. In every other way, the provinces are left to their own, to live however they want, as long as they do not disturb the peace. This is a great generosity that few other empires are willing to give to subject nations. Certainly it would not be beneath your pride to accept this, for your people?”
Gallia pouted, as if to imply that yes, it would be quite beneath his pride. Then it seemed as if he changed his mind, and finally he announced, “I could have escaped at any time, as soon as you gave me Avell. But I did not. Is that answer enough for you?”
Laughing at his stubbornness, Rome promised to untie him when they broke for the midday meal.
Though Gallia continued to sulk occasionally, he at least restricted his pranks to only bother Rome, which was an improvement overall. But to the republic’s disappointment, Gallia did not show any especial affection for him, and was eager to innocently flirt with anyone who caught his eye, which was almost everyone, asking for hugs from whoever might grant them. Rome quickly made it clear to the other soldiers that they were to keep their hands off of the young Gaul, no matter what, and it was a credit to their sense of discipline that they obeyed him despite Gallia’s charms. Though of course, keeping their hands off did not exclude them from admiring him and giving him flowers and whatever little treasures that might have been acquired during the campaign, and if the young nation had not already been in love with himself, he certainly was now.
“You are incorrigible,” Rome whispered one night as they lay together under the blankets.
“What do you mean by that? You’re the one that’s incorrible!”
“Incorrigible,” he corrected, smiling and tapping the boy on his nose. “I mean that you are my student, and thus you should show me respect as your benefactor. And I would appreciate it if you would stop flirting with the soldiers and mercenaries. They are good men, but not all men in the world are so trustworthy, and I fear for your safety if you continue such behavior.”
“Fine. I shall stop,” Gallia said, still looking rebellious.
“Kiss me, and I will believe you.”
“You drive hard bargains,” Gallia muttered, and obediently turned his face up towards the other’s. Rome leaned over and kissed him thoroughly, perhaps a little harder and more possessively than before, but he could not help it, not with such a prize he had fought so hard to claim. Hopefully one day, Gallia would make the first move, but until then, he must make do with what little progress they had made, vowing to carry on their lessons in this particular area as soon as possible.
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Gallia is just too adorable. ♥
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