Let's Kill Caesar

9: I Need to Vomit

The car ride passed mostly in uncomfortable silence. Endymion forced his eyes past where Antony laid an arm across his boyfriend's shoulders. He shoved down the tight lump clogging his throat and tried to relax.

They rolled away from the lavish villas and onto a road reaching across lush green fields. The Capitoline hill was mostly covered in state buildings. On the lower slope was the Asylum and the large Tabularian, Rome's great records office. The road was highly unattended, all littered with pot holes and patchy bitumen. 

The Capitoline was the most green space in the dense urban suburbs of Rome. 

Against a backdrop of shiny offices, blocky apartments and marble monuments rolled out tall grasses and towering trees heavy with bounty. And then came the temples.

"So what're you and Valerian working on?"

Bastian twisted his head with a polite smile. 

Endymion's throat bobbed. "Uh...just administrative shit."

His friend sniffed amusedly. "You sure Valerian is your man? You'd do better with a Scipio. There's ought to be one of them well-practiced in that stuff, y'know?"

Do you require something Brutus? Endymion's stomach turned as he saw the threatening flash of Loukios Scipio's eyes, the frowns of Pompey and Cicero. He smiled tightly. "Ah no, Valerian is just as good. Besides, he's a friend."

"Isn't he a bit of a trouble stirrer?"

Endymion clenched his jaw as Cassiel laughed dryly, eyes narrowed in the rearview mirror. Just bitch about it later. Let Valerian deal with him.

"Well, Brutus?" Antony snapped. "Why would you want to be associated with a man so erratic? He's going to hold you back." 

"Cass." 

Bast's face was beet red as Endymion coughed and wriggled in his seat. The arrogance twinkling in Cassiel's eyes was sickening. You don't know Valerian, you fucking bastard. He could feel the pressure building in his head as Antony's triumphant silence hijacked the air. The bastard wasn't going to let up. He never fucking did. 

Endymion couldn't restore composure, in fact he didn't want to, as he quipped, "Don't you agree it's better to support people who are honest? So few nowadays can bear the truth. I thought Caesar would have taught you better." 

"Excuse me?"

Endymion gasped as the car swerved to the side of the road, as Cassiel yanked on the handbrake. Pure venom dripped from Antony's mouth. "Who are you to talk to me of Vero Caesar?"

"C'mon guys, let's calm down..." Bast stammered. 

Cassiel ignored him and jabbed a sharp finger to Endymion's chest. "I am Vero's confidant. His second-in-command. And you..."  Antony scoffed, lip curled like an enraged wolf. "You're nobody to him. Just another undeserving, useless piece of patrician trash. A disappointment to the name Brutus. Just ask your brother." 

The words hit Endymion like a blow to the chest. Air left his lungs. Bast yelled something. He didn't hear it. Endymion keeled over, a sharp stabbing pain erupting in the back of his throat. 

The world slowed down around him and that awful lightheadedness overtook. I certainly doubt you could even earn favour...

Endymion let out a strangled gasp. His hand thrust open one of the car doors and he managed to topple out. Another blinding pain this time deep in his abdomen. Endymion moaned and clenched his hands on his knees. His lip curled, yellow saliva dribbling onto the ground. 

Another car door opened.

"Endy! Oh fuck, I'm so sorry!"

The youth's body jerked and burning yellow spilled from his lips onto the road. He shuddered again, falling to his knees as his mouth released chunky green waste. "Fuck..."

Strong, warm hands wrapped around Endymion's waist and gently pulled him backward. The man snarled and wrenched himself away, knees shaking. 

"I'm fine."

"Like Hades you are." Bastian's eyes were wide as saucers, his golden skin deathly pale. His hands tugged at the strings of his red hoodie. Endymion wiped his mouth and said hoarsely, "We should get going you know. Valerian hates it when I'm late."

Bast didn't answer. His eyes were locked on Endymion's trembling limbs. The young senator tried not to care. Tried to ignore the fact that genuine concern reflected in Bastian's gaze. Tried to pretend whatever the fuck just happened was no big deal. 

And it wasn't. Cassiel only meant for it to be petty, a backfired joke. If he'd said that to Cato, Iovita would have surely laughed. This sick feeling - it was just his stupid anxiety firing up. A misdirected signal. That's all. He didn't have breakfast either, that was probably it. I'm overreacting. That's what he convinced himself, anyway. Endymion tried not to think of what Cicero might have done in his stead. 

"Endy." Bast stepped forward hesitantly. There was something in his eyes. Something Endymion couldn't recognise. He gulped and staggered a few steps, mind whirling. Just walk for a little. Gather yourself. Endymion's stomach twisted sharply. The youth could do nothing as his knees buckled. Burning spread up his throat and his head lurched, tonsils flaring as nothing came up. 

"Shit." Endymion tensed, teeth grit with concentration as he tried to compose himself. You're nothing to him. Another drawn out gag. Spots danced before Endymion's eyes.

"Endymion!"

Like a hopeless Hyacinth, he fell to the dirt. He expected his head to bounce but slender hands cradled it and gingerly attempted to sit him up. 

Endymion groaned. "Thanks."

"Of course." Bast looked down at him, lips parted. His dark brows were so furrowed that Endymion expected they would hang lower from now on. Caesar's heir shook his head, pinky finger grazing Endymion's jaw. 

"Let me call you a cab. Or at least let me sit in the back with you."

Just keep holding me like this. That's all I need. Endymion smiled wearily. "Don't be silly. You should sit with Cassiel. Or let me walk - Mercury's temple isn't far."

Bastian grimaced. "Endy, c'mon. Cass was way outta' line. You don't have to pretend." His heart froze as Bast's thumb brushed his bottom lip. "Not with me." 

Against his better judgement, Endymion nodded. His voice was scratchy as he answered, "A cab would be good."

Bast's shoulders loosened. "A cab it is."

***

Bastian opened the car door carefully and helped the shaky senator inside. Endymion gnawed on his lip as Bast's hand floated over his thigh.

"I'll pay you for the cab tonight."

"No you won't Endy," Bast whispered. Before he could argue the man shut the door and slipped his head through the driver's window, tossing the driver a few extra bronze asses. "Take care of him for me."

Endymion could only watch forlornly as Bastian trudged to where Cassiel was still waiting, sporting a blazing glare. He doubted the couple would even bring up Antony's remark. Not now that Endymion was away from him. 

Bast was skilled at many things; archery, horseback riding, swimming, Greek - but debating peacefully with Cassiel Antony? Fuck no. Then again, who was besides Vero himself?