Rome: Marriage Pact

Chapter Seven: The Senate

I can feel Octavius' hand trembling as we enter the Senate. Agrippa tags along with us. As to why, Octavius wouldn't explain. Personally, I do not know much about my husband's childhood friend, but I do sense Octavius becoming calmer once he sees Agrippa.

The three of us walk together, Caesar's Will clutched in my free hand. We enter the Senate together, Agrippa lingering at the doorway just in case something goes wrong.
My eyes narrow when I see Cicero. From what we know so far, he wasn't with Brutus and Cassius in their plot to take out Caesar, but I've always been wary of him.

"Marcus Antonius! How good it is to see you," Cicero smiles. I force a smile in return and feel Octavius squeeze my hand quickly. "And Gaius Octavius, what brings you here, dear boy?"
Octavius lets go of my hand and speaks. "We wanted to share some information with you," he says, appearing more nervous than before.

"Oh?" Cicero murmurs, looking intrigued.
"It's about Caesar's Will and about my future going forward..." Octavius explains, making me hand the rolled up paper over.
Cicero looks over the letters in surprise.
"You are named his heir, hm? Congratulations, Octavius. But you do know getting your earnings will not be simple."

"I know," Octavius replies evenly. "That is why I ask to be made Consul."
Alarmed, I look down at him.
"Consul?" Cicero echoes, just as shocked as I am.
"If you will let me," he says, blinking his startling blue eyes at the older man.
"You are too young to be Consul, dear boy. Did Antonius not tell you this?"
"He did not," Octavius states calmly.

"Well," Cicero begins, still caught off guard, "I cannot make you Consul, but I can guide you until the time is right."
Octavius smiles, hands behind his back. He looks eerily calm, almost staring through the older man. "That could work. I will not stray far from your suggestions. I am well aware I am inexperienced in terms of how the Senate works. I will not do anything without your...consent."

Shocked into silence, I stare down at Octavius, who simply keeps smiling. Cicero nods, looking somewhat intimidated as he hands the scroll back to me. "Will that be all, Gaius?" He asks.
Octavius nods, grabbing my hand again and looking up at me. "Shall we go, Antony?" he asks sweetly.
I numbly nod, completely unaware Octavius had that side to him at all.
****
"What was that?" Agrippa asks, eyes wide as we all sit inside of a restaurant for lunch.
"What?" Octavius looks up from his cheese and olives.
"That eerie act you put on. You made Cicero look terrified," I comment, biting into a slice of bread.

"I wanted to show them I'm not afraid, at least I hope so," he says quietly, back to his timid self.
"You definitely unnerved me," I joke.
"I just don't want to be seen as weak," he admits.
"You aren't weak," Agrippa comments. "I've seen you train back in Apollonia, Gaius. You may not be as strong as the others, but you definitely have the same determination."
Octavius smiles a little more genuinely at Agrippa's comment.

After lunch, Agrippa goes his separate way back to his family villa while Octavius and I go back to ours. I'm alarmed when Octavius suddenly stumbles, trembling slightly. I quickly grab his arm to support him from falling.
"What's wrong?" I ask, letting him lean on me for support. He laughs weakly, shaking and sickly looking.

"S-seems like another bout of sickness has caught me," he muses, like he is used to this happening often. My mind flashes back to seeing my wife Fulvia sick often and my heart races in panic.
Fulvia died due to fever. If Octavius dies as well...

Octavius makes a small noise of alarm when I suddenly pick him up easily. "What are you doing?" He trembles. "Taking you home," I respond, rushing back to the villa by taking back alley ways as shortcuts.
"Antony," Octavius whispers, head leaning on my chest and face flushed with fever. "I'm okay..."

"You certainly are not," I reply firmly, quickly unlocking the front door and stepping inside. Gently, I lay him down in bed, stroking his cheek. "I'll get you some water."
He weakly nods, looking tired. I come back a few minutes later with a clay cup full of water.

He drinks as I hold it to his lips, then leans back down. I lay next to him, worried. He coughs a little, the flustered look on his face seeming to have gone down a bit. "I remember..." he swallows, voice a little firmer, "my mother giving me a horse to ride on to meet Caesar while he was in Gaul."

I blink, surprised he is telling me this. "I started getting sick," he continues, turning his head to face me with a faint smile. "Just like this. But I persisted. By the time I arrived, the battle had long since ended, but Caesar was impressed. Even now, I wonder what he saw in me, making me his son and heir like that..."

"Because you're clearly smart," I reply. "You read a lot, so you probably know more than most of those men in the Senate. I admit, playing the weak looking card in lowering Cicero's guard was smart. I wouldn't have thought of that. Could you imagine me trying to look weak?"
Octavius laughs a little, looking better.
"Are you mocking me, Gaius?" I tease, smiling now.
"N-no!" he laughs, covering his mouth to hide his smile. I laugh and kiss his forehead.

He manages to catch his breath and look embarrassed, blushing despite the fever. "I just want to see you happy and safe," I admit, showing a softer side that I had only shown Fulvia. Octavius nods, looking tired. "Get some rest," I whisper. "I'll stay here with you." He smiles, rubbing his arms, blond curls already a mess. "Thank you, Antonius," he whispers, nodding off to regain what little strength he has.
"Of course," I respond, not knowing if he can hear me.

Caesar's Will had also stated I am to be Octavius' guardian, and intend to keep that promise, even if it kills me.