Tyrannus was a merchant who specialized in selling fine artisan goods, which enabled the artisans to focus on their craft and not have to deal with the public which could be exhausting and drain creativity and motivation. Severus was encouraged to learn a trade to serve Tyrannus's household, and Tyrannus suggested blacksmithing, which took a particular amount of upper body strength that Severus had developed in his years of training as a gladiator. In time, the money that Severus's crafts brought in was well more than the seven hundred denarii Tyrannus had paid for him.
Severus was loyal to Tyrannus - grateful for his freedom, and touched by the kindness and generosity that Tyrannus showed the freed slaves of his household; it was the best Severus had eaten and slept in his entire life. Severus would have been willing to take up a trade even if he hated it, because he had hated being owned by Justinian even more. But it seemed to Severus that Tyrannus had a knack for seeing into people and finding a talent the person didn't know was there, and Severus took to blacksmithing like he was born for it.
Each day he was eager to go to the forge in the back of the workshop, and each day he got lost in his work, as if he was the one being given life by his creation and not the other way around. One with the flame, one with the "song" of each project, pendants and knives and swords and shields and farming tools, items that were beautiful as well as practical. It was a sacred act to him, to heat the metal and swing the hammer upon the anvil, to give the spark of life - of hope - that had been returned to him, many times over... blessing and hallowing each item, made with love and joy.
Such was Severus's passion for his craft that his body forgot hunger and thirst, and he often had to be brought out of his forge by one of the other artisans. Most often it was Marcus, a carpenter, and he was here again today with a fond smile as Severus startled once he felt the eyes upon him.
"Hello, Marcus," Severus said, and quickly quenched the metal. "It is mealtime, yes?"
"Yes." Marcus nodded. "Sorry to disturb you, but we don't want you fainting, now."
Severus gave a nervous chuckle. His stomach growled as if on cue. But what he was really hungry for was the gorgeous man standing before him. Marcus was a full head taller than him, and had a glorious mane of blue-black hair down the middle of his back. He had chiseled, elegant features, piercing light grey eyes, and the definition in his pectoral muscles and biceps and abdomen was clearly visible through his linen clothes. Marcus moved with grace and power. Marcus was a feast for the eyes - Severus couldn't get enough of looking at him - and he had a silken voice that matched his outer beauty.
But Severus also enjoyed his company. They took meals together, and sometimes they compared their latest projects, and sometimes they talked about what their lives were like before joining Tyrannus's household. Marcus seemed both fascinated and horrified by Severus's experience as a gladiator, but did not judge him the way some of the other artisans did. Marcus understood what it was like to do ugly things to survive, having killed men himself.
It was because of their deep friendship that Severus did not speak of his feelings, even as his cheeks burned and his heart beat faster, walking alongside Marcus out of the forge to the dining hall next to the workshop. Severus had not enjoyed being used by Justinian, but sometimes he fantasized about what it would be like to know pleasure with another man. He had fancied some of the fellow gladiators he trained with, but they all lusted for women, and Severus did not want to be humiliated with rejection. This was more than lust, however, as he sat across from Marcus and looked into those silvery eyes. He ached for closeness, not just the release of sex, but the comfort of being held, being touched.
Feeling safe. Feeling something like home.
Sometimes, after the evening meal, Severus and Marcus went for a walk around the grounds of the villa to admire the gardens and watch the sunset together. Tonight they sat close to each other on a large rock and watched the sky blaze orange, pink and gold. The colors seemed especially fiery tonight, as if the sky was confessing the fire of Severus's heart, aflame for the man sitting beside him.
Usually they appreciated the beauty of nature in companionable silence, not wanting to intrude into the wonder of the world with words. But tonight Marcus turned to Severus and said, "I will be going on holiday in three days' time."
Severus felt a twinge of sadness - he would miss his friend. "How long?"
"A week, not counting travel time."
There was a long silence - Severus tried not to let his loneliness show, lest it betray his feelings. But then Marcus said, "I asked Tyrannus if he could spare you for a week so you can come with me. That is, if you'd like to see the ocean."
Severus laughed with delight and nodded vehemently, resisting the urge to throw his arms around Marcus. "I would like that very much. Thank you." Severus gave a wry chuckle then, feeling self-conscious at the giddy excitement like lightning crackling through his veins. "Are you sure you can tolerate me for a week?"
"No," Marcus quipped, then he grinned, elbowed Severus in the ribs, and reached out to clasp him in a warm embrace. Severus felt a frisson down his spine and that thrust in his loins, and as much as he ached for the embrace to continue on longer, he was relieved when Marcus let go, not wanting to grow a full erection in front of him. "I hope you can tolerate me for a week."
"I more than tolerate you, Marcus." Severus kept himself from saying the word he felt.
After Marcus returned to his quarters, Severus decided to take a bath. One of the many things he enjoyed about life at the villa was how clean the baths and toilets were - the public baths in Rome tended to smell foul and the less said about the foricae, the better. He also, frequently, could take a bath in peace and quiet - sometimes all by himself - which felt like a luxury. He was looking forward to relaxing in the warm water and letting his mind go blank, unburdening himself for awhile from his longing for Marcus.
It wasn't uncommon to see one or two other people at the bathhouse in the evening, but as Severus quietly entered the bathhouse he saw Tyrannus there for the first time. Of course he knew Tyrannus bathed, the older man was fastidiously clean and always smelled good, but this bathhouse wasn't particularly close to his quarters. And Tyrannus wasn't alone. With him was Antonius.
They weren't in the bath. They were laying on towels spread out on the floor beside the bath. They were both naked, each of them with beautifully defined muscles and a healthy pelt of body hair. And they were laying face to face, kissing... hard cock rubbing hard cock.
Severus took a step back and hid behind the rack of towels. His own cock was rock-hard, standing painfully in his breeches. His heart beat faster, afraid of being caught watching them, and being punished for it - and yet he could not look away. It was even more delicious than anything he'd ever fantasized about, watching them rub their cocks together, kissing deeply then open-mouthed, tongues licking, teasing.
Severus thought about what it would be like to do that with Marcus. Or what it would be like if Tyrannus and Antonius caught him and invited him to join them - not that Severus thought that would happen, with his lower social status. But Severus couldn't help lusting for them too, with their gorgeous bodies, those long, thick cocks slick with pre-spend. Tyrannus gave a deep grunt of pleasure and Antonius groaned before kissing Tyrannus more deeply, running his fingers through the silver chest hair, just before Tyrannus's thumbs rubbed at Antonius's swollen pink nipples.
Severus quickly backed out of the bathhouse - the bath could wait till later. He made it back to his quarters without being seen - a relief, when his breeches were tented like this - and the moment he set foot in his quarters he freed his aching cock and furiously began to stroke himself, his mind's eye replaying the scorching scene in the bathhouse, Tyrannus and Antonius rubbing their hard cocks together, kissing, running their hands over each other's bodies...
...Once again Severus thought about doing the same with Marcus, or all four of them taking turns with each other, indulging in a delectable feast of masculine beauty, worshiping each other's cocks and muscles. He thought about what it would be like to lick Tyrannus's silver fur all over, do the same to Antonius's lush dark body hair... to play with Antonius's nipples like Tyrannus was doing, have his own played with in return. Severus climaxed hard, his seed shooting all over the wall as his knees buckled. He fell over the side of his bed, gasping for breath, and then he buried his face in the mattress and wept silently, feeling ashamed of himself for wanting what he could not have.
He thought about declining the invitation to go away with Marcus on holiday, but the thought of not seeing him for over a week was more agonizing. Severus sighed, pulled himself up to sit on the edge of his bed, and flopped over, looking up at the ceiling... looking into a vision of Marcus's grey eyes.
Severus felt like he was about to face the hardest battle of his life, harder even than his time as a gladiator. For now he was at war with his own heart.
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