Let's Kill Caesar

27: But Maybe You Should

Endymion grinned as Caesar swept to his side. "Going somewhere?"

The man was dressed in a blocky black suit and sparrow covered tie. Vero snorted and sat at the foot of the bed. "I'm paying tribute to Venus' birds."

"And you went with sparrows over doves?" Endymion smirked, tilting his head playfully. Caesar snickered, brows knit with his hefty seriousness. 

"Do I look like a peace-monger?" Vero cupped his cheek, thumb stroking beneath Endymion's eye. His throat tightened as he rasped, "No."

Endymion could hardly breathe as those deep umber eyes held his. Searching. He shouldn't be here. Cato and Atticus will kick my ass. 

Vero smirked. "Don't look so panicked Brutus. Pompey and I are friends - Cato can shove his petty bullshit up his ass crack."

"Okay."

"You need to work on your pokerface. You'll need it."

Endymion felt the splitting pain at the back of his head. Fuck. Before he could feign being totally fine, his fingers flew to the back of his head, flinching against the tenderness. Vero's face hardened, hands flying to the young senator's chin. Endymion grit his teeth with pain as his eyes were forced to meet Caesar's. "Not feeling much better are you, Brutus?"

Endymion groaned softly, pain blooming in his temples. Bastian ran to his side, eyes wide as he grasped his friend's hand. "Oh gods Endy!"

Bast's fingers had barely brushed Endymion's cheek when Vero growled, "Enough pandering Octavius. Make yourself useful and get someone from Apollo's temple." 

Bastian's hand dropped away. He chuckled, rubbing one arm tightly. Vero didn't continue on. His warm hands stayed forcefully beneath Endymion's chin. Bast nodded again. "Right. Sorry. I'll go."

Endymion's eyes didn't leave him until his figure disappeared through the door. 

Vero sighed and released him. Endymion fell back with a breath of relief, the tension still thick as a humid fog. Vero pinched the end of his nose. "Sorry about that - Bast can be a fool sometimes."

"He's probably just tired-"

Caesar laughed harshly, eyes flashing. "Don't make excuses for him. That kid needs to be knocked down a few pegs."

Endymion wrinkled his nose, Cato's ugliest frown was sticky-taped to his eyes. He sat up again. "Vero, you really shouldn't be telling me this..."

His friend snorted. He saw me with Cato, didn't he? Endymion shuffled his butt. "What?"

Caesar shook his head, eyes fixed on his hands as a wide grin spread across his lips. "I wouldn't worry about that Endymion." 

"What do you mean?"

There was a long pause. Vero's eyes looked at the wall, his mouth a tight line. Endymion crossed his legs, sat up dizzily. "Vero?"

Caesar rose to his feet, an undecipherable smile on his lips. "I should be off, let you get some rest." Endymion's mouth was agape as the man gracefully took his hand and pressed a kiss. 

Vero retreated with eyes looking everywhere but Endymion's face. The man straightened, thrusting the bed sheets away. "Vero."

Endymion scrambled to his feet. caesar was already out the door by this time. He didn't give a fuck. Endymion jogged after him, curiosity making his heart race. "Hey!"

"Bye Brutus!"

Vero jabbed him with a charming grin before marching down the hall. Endymion gasped as he ran out of the bedchamber. That's when his body lost it's grip again. The senator's feet slipped out from under him and a sequel to his previous fall was about to play in cinemas. Well that's what he thought. Until strong warm hands caught him around the waist. 

Endymion swooned like a damsel in distress Bastian effortlessly held him. Bast's arms cradled his head and ass. Oh gods. Endymion felt light-headed as he forced his toes from curling. It was too much to recognise that stupidly thin pyjamas were the only barrier between Bast's strong soft grip and Endymion's pasty skin. 

"I forgot that we dressed you in my PJs. They make you look like a drowned rat."

His cheeks burned as Bastian continued to hold him, gaze unwavering. All Endymion could manage was, "We?"

"I needed help dressing you - your clothes were covered in shit from Bacchus's temple."

"We?" Endymion squeaked, growing even redder. 

"Vero - I'd forgotten we were scheduled to meet that night."

He covered his face with his hands as Bast set him down. "Oh gods." 

Endymion cringed as the other man chuckled, patting his shoulder. "Oh stop - there's nothing to be embarrassed about. I've seen you naked before Endy."

"Please stop talking." The scarlet in his cheeks deepened. Endymion was ready to crack his head on the floor again just to shut Bastian up.

"Fine." Bast jumped down and wriggled close. His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Just so you know, Vero's frostiness wasn't aimed at you."

Endymion blinked and cocked his head. "I didn't even notice."

Bast's throat bobbed as he nudged Endymion with a grim quirk of the lips. "That's good. I was worried it'd be awkward for you."

Endymion chewed his lip and hesitantly touched Bastian's shoulder. "What is it?"

His friend snorted, eyes raised to the ceiling. "Oh Endy, where to begin?"

Endymion drew in a sharp breath as he dared to take Bast's hand. It was warm, even as cold worry settled over his features. Endymion squeezed once, heart leaping. "Try me."

Bastian squeezed his hand in return, those soulful eyes meeting his own. "It hasn't exactly been a smooth return, all because of me." 

Endymion shook his head. "It was always going to be chaotic Bast - you've seen Cato." The disloyalty left his lips too smoothly. He might have felt guilty if Bastian hadn't grasped his hand so tightly.

"Endy, the announcement went to shit. I was fucking stupid. And don't pretend like you don't know how half the Senate feels."

"It's just gossip. I don't believe one shred," Endymion said quietly. 

Bast drew his hand away, words cutting as he answered, "Gossip from your very allies Endy. Not tabloids."

"I still don't believe it. You know that."

"I know." Bastian slipped off the bed and onto his feet. "But maybe you should."

Endymion was lost for words as Bast left.