Let's Kill Caesar

1: You Can Find More on Caesar's Page

Endymion wrinkled his nose with distaste as Narcissus burst into the Senate house, toga all askew and grey eyes hard with seriousness. A loud mutter rippled through the assembly as the tall man approached the rostra. Typical.

"I thought he was dealing with the grain," Valerian Cassius snarled, lips pursed. Endymion hid a grin. "Only Pompey could interrupt Cicero."

A few hushed chuckles.

Narcissus paid no heed to the commotion he had stirred. The senator simply muttered something in the orator's ear, gesturing for her to take a seat. Alma Cicero blinked slowly and jabbed a finger at the general's chest before begrudgingly taking a seat beside a Scipio.

Narcissus cleared his throat, eyes darting around. "Please excuse my intrusion."

He was met with stony silence, a few phone cameras flashing. Endymion slouched in his seat, eyes half focussed on the dishevelled senator, half on the mocking posts blowing up on The Assembly. He snorted as he read a post from w_horatio_clodius: panting Pompey is better than fucking Cicero anyday.

"I have come to bring news," Narcissus called, hands gripping the speaker's platform tightly. His throat bobbed as Pompey drew out a rolled up scroll from the folds of his toga. Get on with it. Endymion switched off his phone and folded his arms. Beside him Valerian was rolling his eyes. "Why won't the bastard spit it out?"

Endymion chuckled hollowly, a thread of anxiety coiling around his stomach.

The comitium was utterly silent as Pompey clumsily broke the seal and gently unfurled the parchment. Across from Endymion, Alma was hunched forward her fingers white with tension as they grabbed onto the plastic of her chair. Even Valerian had grown quiet, his brow deepening with concern as the pause drew out.

"Do you require one of us to read it for you, Narcissus?"

"Fuck off, Clodius," Cicero growled, whipping her head around to stare down the puffed-up man.

"I can read as fine as you Clodius," Narcissus sighed, a patient smile on his lips. "I wish to give the Senate the points rather than the feathers and frills our friend Caesar writes in."

Caesar? Endymion straightened, Aegean-blue eyes wide. The youth swallowed hard, ignoring the curious chatter spreading from man to man. Even Alma appeared taken by surprise as she whispered furiously to her companions, cheeks drained of colour.

"Caesar wishes to tell the citizens of Rome that he is returning from his provinces to rejoin the Senate."

Valerian let out a strangled yelp as he choked on his bottled water. Three members of House Scipio broke out into frenzied chattering. Narcissus held up his hands. "Enough, friends!"

Before Pompey could attempt to qualm the bewilderment of the assembly a youth swept up upon the rostra. Narcissus was taken by the arm and guided from the platform into the seats amongst the enraged Scipios and still-awestruck Cicero. Endymion didn't know where to look; Pompey's friends were out of their seats cursing the disrespect, Clodius was cackling and filming the chaotic ordeal and the bold youth was taking a spot in the centre of the rostra, chin held proudly high.

Senators began to rise up, their violet-striped togas gathered in their hands. Equites remained where they were, broad grins on their faces. Almost everyone was oblivious to the tribunes of the plebs attempting to clamber forward, their tongues blunted by the hubbub of the assembly. Endymion sunk in his place, mouth dry.

"All this," he muttered to Valerian, "over Vero returning."

His friend snickered. "Of course, Endy - otherwise who are we to call ourselves Romans?"

Endymion smirked, brow arched. "I guess-"

Wooooaahhhh. Wooooaahhhh. Wooooaahhhh. The crowd was stunned as water shot up from the emergency sprinklers scattered about the paved space. Cold water splashed over the plastic chairs, the rostra, the citizens. The fire alarm blarred, drowning out even Clodius. After about forty seconds of hell for their ears the sirens relented, replaced instead with a voice crisp as snow.

"Forgive me, for I only wished to quieten you for a moment." The same young man stood before the Senate, caramel-brown eyes twinkling. "I want to correctly address the return of Vero Caesar."

"Why should we listen to you?" Cicero was out of her seat, jaw clenched and fingers resting on the edge of her glasses. Endymion could only shake his head, attempt to withdraw his glee as the speaker answered curtly, "I am Bastian Octavius, his heir. Is that good enough for you? Do you want to see my driver's licence?"

A couple of laughs. Some hushed murmurs. Alma's cheeks burned red and a finger tugged on a long piece of hair as she replied gruffly, "Go on then."

Bastian grinned warmly and brushed the dark curls from his face. A peace settled, disturbed only by the occasional squelching of drenched tunics and togas as the audience waited.

"The great Vero wishes to announce that he is withdrawing from Gaul, intending to return to the public arena in Rome."

Endymion felt a shiver down his shoulder blades. Finally the mighty Caesar was returning to Rome. He could still hear the general's velvety voice. I imagine you will hold the consulship itself when I return. The young man couldn't help the sinking feeling in his chest. Vero was meant to have been away governing Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul for at least five years - what could have possibly drawn him back to Rome?

Bastian adjusted his toga with graceful fingers, seemingly oblivious to the tension rising amongst the crowd. The man cleared his throat. "As I was saying, Vero will be returning in the next few days. He wished me to inform you all that he expects no Triumph."

A smattering of surprised prattling from the senators, a couple disjointed claps from trouble-seeking Equites.

"Our friend Caesar requests only a warm reception from his colleages. Any other requests can be found on his The Assembly page. Thank you."

With that the audience dispersed in anxious grumbles. Valerian turned to Endymion, face pale. "That was unexpected."

"Indeed. I have never seen Bast so bold."

The senator snorted, eyes narrowed. "I meant Caesar's return lover-boy."

Endymion coughed. "Yes. I-I meant that too. All of it was, you know, unexpected."

Valerian rolled his eyes and rose to his feet. "Whatever. I'm getting out of here before Cicero gives Bastian a speech on etiquette."

Before Endymion could answer Valerian was shoving his seat back and elbowing his way toward the forum. Endymion laughed softly as the sound of squelching wet patricians and plebeians filled the air.

After the majority of the crowd had ushered from the assembly Endymion rose and began to make his own way toward the forum. As he passed by the rostra he noted Cicero and one of the Scipios talking with Narcissus in hushed tones, their eyes bouncing here, there and everywhere. Endymion paused briefly, hoping to catch a snippet of their secrets.

"Do you require something Brutus?" the Scipio - he guessed it was Loukios by his bouncy blond curls - growled. Endymion opened his mouth but nothing but a weak 'Eh?' came out. Cicero raised her brows, lips pressed together firmly.

"Run along - you have no business here."

Endymion ducked his head and obeyed, not daring to retort that some would say the same thing about a woman in the Senate. But Endymion Brutus did not believe that, and he certainly would never want to disrespect her like that. So he said nothing and went on his way.