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I watched her from across the dining hall, the way she sat slightly apart from the others, lost in thought as she absently pushed the remains of her meal around her bowl. She'd done well in training today - better than well. The old fire was coming back, bit by bit. But I could still see the shadows under her eyes, the weight of everything she carried.

The key felt heavy in my pocket, borrowed from Flavius during one of our regular games of dice. He'd always had a soft spot for me, the old guard, and hadn't asked too many questions when I'd requested to borrow it for the evening. Just given me that knowing look and told me to have it back before morning watch.

I'd been planning this for days, sneaking up extra blankets, convincing one of the kitchen slaves to part with a couple of worn but serviceable cushions. It wasn't much - couldn't be much, given our circumstances - but I hoped it might be enough. Enough to show her there was still beauty in the world, still things worth fighting for beyond survival.

When she looked up, I caught her eye and tilted my head toward the door. The question in her expression turned to intrigue as I stood and quietly slipped out. A few moments later, I heard her light footsteps behind me.

"Marcus?" she whispered, falling into step beside me. "Where are we going?"

"Do you trust me?" I asked, turning to face her. The torchlight caught the copper highlights in her dark hair, making them dance like flame. She'd loosened it after training, and a few strands had escaped to frame her face.

She studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "You know I do."

"Then follow me." I led her through the quiet corridors of the ludus, past the training yard where we'd spent so many hours together, toward the tunnel that led to the arena. Her footsteps faltered slightly when she realized where we were headed, but she pressed on, her trust in me winning out over memory.

The arena was different in the dying light, more peaceful somehow. Our footsteps echoed off the stone as we crossed the sand, and I watched her face carefully for any sign of distress. But she seemed steady, focused more on where we were going than where we were.

When I pulled out the key and unlocked one of the gates leading to the public section, her eyes widened. "Marcus, this is outside the-"

"The slave boundaries, yes."

"We could run," she said softly, but there was more curiosity than conviction in her voice.

I grinned at her expression. "Don't get too excited. The outer doors are still locked tight.” I shook my head. “And go where? With no money, no papers, and the whole town knowing our faces? No, when we go, we need to go free, not running. I would never put you in that danger. You know what they do to runaway slaves.”

She paled a little. We all knew the stories. What could happen to us in the arena was nothing compared to what slaves masters did to slaves that ran. I slipped my arm around her shoulders.

“I’d never let that happen to you, my love,” I told her. “Now, come on. There’s something I wanted to show you.”

The endearment slipped out without thought, but she didn't seem to notice, too caught up in taking in our new surroundings as we climbed the stands. I'd chosen our path carefully, avoiding the sections that were starting to crumble with age. Finally, we reached the small platform I'd prepared at the very top.

"Marcus..." she breathed, taking in the blankets and cushions I'd arranged. But then her eyes caught the view beyond, and everything else was forgotten.

I watched her face as she took it all in - the sprawling town below us, coming alive with evening activity as the market wound down for the day. The streets were still full of people heading home or to taverns, living their free lives. Beyond the town walls, the desert stretched out endlessly, the dunes painted gold and crimson by the setting sun. In the distance, the red stone mountains rose up against the darkening sky, their peaks catching the last rays of sunlight.

She moved to the edge of the platform, drinking in every detail like a woman dying of thirst. The wind caught her hair, making it stream out behind her like a banner. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of her silhouette against the sunset, wild and beautiful and so achingly alive.

"I haven't seen outside the ludus walls since..." she trailed off, overcome.

"I know." I moved to stand beside her, close enough to feel the warmth of her but not quite touching. "I see you sometimes, watching the birds that fly over the training yard. The way you look at the sliver of sky we can see from the cells." I paused, gathering my courage. "I know you dream of freedom. I do too."

She turned to look at me then, and the raw emotion in her eyes made my heart stutter. "Why did you do this?"

"Because I wanted to show you what we're fighting for. That there's more out there than just survival." I gestured at the view below. "Look at them all, going about their lives. Shopping, working, loving..." I swallowed hard, imagining us among them. Walking the market together, her hand in mine. Coming home to our own place at the end of the day. Simple things that felt like impossible dreams from where we stood.

"I wanted to give you something beautiful," I admitted quietly. "Something to hold onto when things get dark." What I didn't say was how beautiful she looked in this light, how the sunset painted her skin gold, how badly I wanted to reach out and brush those stray strands of hair from her face. How she'd become my something beautiful to hold onto.

"Thank you," she whispered, and her hand found mine in the gathering dusk. Her fingers were calloused from sword work, strong and sure as they intertwined with my own. We stood there in silence as the sun sank lower, painting the sky in impossible colors.

I'd seen this view many times in my years at the ludus, sneaking up here when the weight of chains became too heavy to bear. But seeing it through her eyes made it new again. Made me see the wonder of it, the promise of possibilities stretching out as endless as the desert before us.

When she shivered slightly in the cooling air, I tugged her gently toward the blankets. We sat together, shoulders touching, as the first stars began to appear in the darkening sky. She leaned against me, just slightly, and I felt something in my chest expand and contract all at once.

This wasn't freedom - not really. Tomorrow we'd go back to our cells, back to training, back to fighting for others' entertainment. But for now, for this moment, we could pretend. We could dream. And maybe, just maybe, that would be enough to keep us going until we could make those dreams real.

I looked down at our still-joined hands and allowed myself to hope. I shifted slightly, knowing I needed to tell her about the arrangement with Drusus. My stomach twisted - I'd been putting it off, unsure how she'd react. "There's something else I wanted to tell you," I began, watching her profile in the fading light. "I've made a deal with Drusus."

She turned to face me, curiosity written across her features. "What kind of deal?"

"If I win the tournament at the festival, he's agreed to free me. With enough coin to establish myself as a free man." The words came out in a rush, and I watched her face carefully as she processed them.

"That's..." she started, then stopped. A smile spread across her face, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "That's wonderful, Marcus. You deserve it, more than anyone."

"You don't sound as happy as I'd expected," I said softly, squeezing her hand.

She looked down at our joined hands, her thumb tracing patterns across my skin. "I'll miss you," she admitted quietly. "You're like... family... to me. The only real family I've had since-" She broke off, swallowing hard.

My heart thundered in my chest as I gathered my courage. "Is that all I am to you? Family?"

She looked up then, meeting my eyes. The dying sunlight turned hers to liquid gold, and I could see everything she wasn't saying written there. "No," she whispered. "You're more than that. So much more."

I reached up with my free hand, cupping her cheek. "Good," I murmured, and leaned in to kiss her.

Her lips were soft against mine, tentative at first, then yielding as she melted into the kiss. Her free hand came up to grip my tunic, pulling me closer. I could taste the sweetness of the evening meal on her lips, feel the slight tremor in her fingers where they pressed against my chest.

When we finally broke apart, she rested her forehead against mine, both of us breathing heavily. "Part of the arrangement," I said, trying to gather my scattered thoughts, "is that I'll still train the gladiators. But I'm hoping to set up a small farm too, something to sustain myself."

"So I'll still see you?" The hope in her voice made my chest ache.

"Every day," I promised. "Just... from the other side of the training yard."

She turned back to look over the town, but stayed close, her body pressed against my side. "We won't be able to do this again though," she said softly. "Although I suppose you'll be able to watch me fight from the comfortable seats now."

I laughed and sat back on the blankets, tugging her with me. "What are you doing?" she asked as I pulled her down.

"Taking one of those comfortable seats," I said, guiding her onto my lap. I wrapped my arms around her waist, and she settled back against my chest with a contented sigh. The last rays of sun painted the sky in deep purples and crimsons, the stars beginning to emerge like scattered diamonds.

She fit perfectly in my arms, as if she'd been made to be there. I pressed a kiss to her temple, breathing in the scent of her hair - leather and sand and something uniquely her. "When I get my farm," I murmured against her skin, "I'll have a view like this. A place where we can watch the sunset whenever we want."

I felt her tense slightly in my arms. "Marcus..."

"I know," I said quickly. "I know it's not that simple. But I'll find a way. Whatever it takes, whatever I have to do, I'll find a way to free you too."

She turned in my lap, cupping my face in her hands. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she whispered, but kissed me anyway, soft and sweet and a little desperate.

When she pulled back, I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's not a promise," I said. "That's a fact. You and me, we're going to watch a thousand sunsets just like this one. Together. Free."

She was quiet for a long moment, her fingers tracing patterns on my arm. "Marcus... I'm not the kind of person who settles down." She turned to face me again, her expression earnest in the gathering dark. "I want more than that. I want to fight - really fight. In the big cities, maybe even the imperial city one day."

My chest tightened, but I stayed silent, letting her continue.

"When I was a child," she said softly, her eyes distant with memory, "I used to dream of being a dragon rider in the Imperial Dragon Elites. I'd watch them fly overhead during festivals, their armor gleaming in the sun, and imagine myself up there among them."

"Livia," I said gently, "that's a child's dream. The more you see of blood and death in the arena, the more you'll understand the appeal of a simpler life. A peaceful life." I took her hands in mine, willing her to understand. "I can give you that. A home, safety, love..."

My voice cracked slightly on the last word, and I had to take a breath before continuing. "I want you with me. I can't... I can't imagine my life without you in it anymore. I just want to keep you safe, to love you." The words tumbled out, weighted with everything I felt for her, everything I feared losing.

"Marcus..." she said softly, but I could see the hesitation in her eyes.

"You love me too," I insisted, pulling her closer, pressing my forehead to hers. "I know you do. Don't you feel this? What's between us?"

She answered by kissing me, fierce and deep, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pressed herself against me. When she finally pulled back, her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"A part of me died with my brother in that village," she whispered, her voice rough with emotion. "My heart... it's damaged. Permanently. But whatever is left..." She touched my face gently. "Whatever is left loves you too. I just... I don't want to disappoint you."

"Disappoint me?" I pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You could never disappoint me. Never."

I kissed along her cheekbone, then down her jaw, loving the softness of her skin beneath my lips.

She tilted her head back, giving me better access to her neck. I trailed kisses down the column of her throat, relishing the small gasp she let out when I found a sensitive spot. Her fingers tightened in my hair, urging me on.

"Marcus," she breathed, and the way she said my name sent fire racing through my veins.

I captured her lips again, pouring all my longing and desire into the kiss. She matched my passion, her body melting against mine as she shifted to straddle my lap. The new position brought our bodies flush together, and I groaned at the contact. My hands slid down her back, tracing the lean muscles I knew so well from our training sessions before settling on her hips. She rocked against me, drawing another low sound from my throat.

"Livia," I murmured against her lips. "My Livia."

Her fingers fumbled with the ties of my tunic, pushing the fabric aside to run her hands over my chest. I shivered at her touch, my skin burning everywhere her fingers trailed.

I tugged at the hem of her own tunic, breaking our kiss just long enough to pull it over her head. The cooling night air raised goosebumps on her skin, and I ran my hands over her arms to warm her. She was beautiful in the fading golden light, all lean muscle and soft curves.

"You're perfect," I breathed, drinking in the sight of her.

A blush spread across her cheeks, but she didn't look away. Her eyes locked with mine, dark and intense. Slowly, deliberately, she took my hands and guided them to her breasts. I cupped them reverently, marveling at their softness. When I brushed my thumbs over her nipples, she arched into my touch with a soft moan.

I lowered my head, replacing my hands with my mouth. She gasped as I swirled my tongue around one peak, then the other. Her fingers tangled in my hair, holding me close as I lavished attention on her breasts.

"Marcus," she breathed, rocking her hips against mine. The friction sent sparks of pleasure through me, and I groaned against her skin.

Gently, I lowered her onto the blankets, covering her body with my own. The feel of her skin against mine was intoxicating. I trailed kisses down her neck, across her collarbone, relishing the little gasps and moans she made.

"Marcus," she breathed, arching into me. "Please..."

I looked up, meeting her eyes. They were dark with desire, but there was vulnerability there too. I cupped her face in my hand.

"Are you sure?" I asked softly. "I want this to be your choice, not my demand. You don't have to-"

She silenced me with a kiss, deep and passionate. "I'm sure," she whispered against my lips. "I want this. I want you."

I wasn’t about to ask twice. I leaned down, capturing one of her nipples in my mouth and she sighed, sliding her hands over my head and cupping my neck as I sucked hard. I ran my tongue over the stiff peak, before moving to the other to give it similar treatment. Tiny sighs escaped her, but I wanted more from her tonight. I wanted her to scream my name from the top of the arena for the world to hear, and I didn’t care what came of it. I moved slowly downwards, taking my time to worship every inch of her body, but when I finally settled between her thighs and dipped my tongue into the sweet slickness waiting for me, it was me who moaned the loudest. She tasted incredible… sweet, salty, and completely intoxicating. I savoured the taste of her, exploring her over and over again as I found her most sensitive spots to tease. Her hands gripped the blankets below us as she gasped my name.

I focused my attention on the sensitive bundle of nerves at her center. I circled it slowly, teasingly, before flicking my tongue across it in quick, firm strokes.

Livia's breath came in ragged gasps, her hips rocking against my mouth as I brought her closer to the edge. I slipped two fingers inside her, curling them to hit that spot that made her cry out. Her walls clenched around my fingers as I pumped them in and out, matching the rhythm of my tongue.

"Marcus," she moaned, her voice breathy and desperate. "Oh gods, Marcus..."

I doubled my efforts, determined to make her fall apart for me. Her thighs trembled on either side of my head as she climbed higher and higher. When I sucked hard on her clit, she shattered with a cry that echoed off the arena walls. I worked her through her release, easing off as the aftershocks rolled through her body.

When I finally lifted my head, she was flushed and panting, her hair a wild tangle around her face. She had never looked more beautiful.

I crawled back up her body, pressing soft kisses to her heated skin as I went. When I reached her lips, she pulled me into a deep, hungry kiss, tasting herself on my tongue. Her legs wrapped around me, pulling my hard cock against her soaking pussy and I groaned, rubbing myself against her.

“Marcus, please,” she begged.

I reached down, wrapping my hand round my cock so I could guide myself inside her. The feeling was indescribable - hot, tight, perfect. I had to pause halfway, overwhelmed by sensation and emotion. Livia's eyes were locked on mine, filled with trust and desire.

"You feel amazing," I murmured, pressing my forehead to hers.

She lifted her hips, taking me deeper with a soft moan. I slid the rest of the way in, sheathed fully inside her. We stayed like that for a long moment, joined as closely as two people could be, breathing each other in.

Then I began to move, drawing out slowly before pushing back in. Livia's legs wrapped around my waist, urging me deeper. I kept my pace slow and steady, wanting to savor every moment, every sensation.

Her hands roamed my back, tracing the scars there, mapping the muscles as they flexed with each thrust. I kissed along her jaw, down her neck, tasting the salt of her skin.

"Marcus," she gasped as I hit a particularly sensitive spot. "Oh gods, right there."

I angled my hips to hit that spot again and again, drinking in her little cries of pleasure. Her nails dug into my shoulders as her hips raised to meet mine. The friction was exquisite, sending waves of pleasure through my body with each stroke.

"Gods, Livia," I groaned. "You feel incredible."

I picked up the pace, driving into her harder and faster. The sound of our bodies coming together echoed off the arena walls, mingling with our gasps and cries of pleasure. Livia's back arched as I thrust deeper, her breasts pressing against my chest. I captured her lips in a searing kiss, swallowing her moans as I drove into her. My hand slid between us, finding that sensitive bundle of nerves and circling it with my thumb.

"Marcus!" she cried out, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "Oh gods, don't stop!"

I could feel her tightening around me, her inner walls fluttering as she neared her peak. I redoubled my efforts, determined to send her over the edge.

"Come for me, Livia," I growled against her ear. "Let me feel you."

With a keening cry, she shattered beneath me. Her body went as taut as a bowstring, then trembled violently as waves of pleasure crashed over her. The feeling of her pulsing around me was exquisite, pushing me closer to my own release. I drove into her faster, chasing my own pleasure.

"Livia," I groaned, burying my face in her neck. "My Livia..."

With a final thrust, I tumbled over the edge, pleasure crashing over me in waves as I spilled myself deep inside her. We clung to each other, trembling and gasping as the aftershocks rolled through us.

As our breathing slowly returned to normal, I lifted my head to look at her. Her eyes were soft, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. I brushed a strand of sweat-dampened hair from her forehead.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly.

She nodded, pulling me down for a tender kiss. "More than alright," she murmured against my lips.

I rolled to the side, gathering her against my chest. She curled into me with a contented sigh, her head tucked under my chin. I ran my fingers through her hair, marveling at its softness.

"That was..." she trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words.

"Perfect," I finished for her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. And it had been - more than perfect. Every touch, every kiss, every shared breath had felt like coming home to a place I hadn't known I was searching for.

Joy bubbled up in my chest, pure and overwhelming. I'd never felt anything like this before, never known it was possible to feel so much for another person. The tournament seemed like a mere formality now - of course we would win. How could we not, with this much to fight for? And then I'd take her away from this place, somewhere we could be together properly, somewhere I could wake up to her smile every morning and fall asleep with her in my arms every night.

I pulled her closer, breathing in the scent of her hair, committing every detail of this moment to memory. The weight of her against me, the sound of her steady breathing, the way her fingers had stilled on my chest as sleep began to claim her. This was just the beginning, I thought, my heart so full it felt like it might burst. We had our whole lives ahead of us, countless nights like this one stretching out before us like the stars overhead.

For the first time in years - maybe the first time in my life - I felt completely, perfectly happy. A real, free life stretched out before me and the whole world lay in my arms.