Let's Kill Caesar

28: How's Your Head?

Endymion didn't wait to say his goodbyes. He'd convinced himself a text when he got home was enough. Besides, Cato seemed keen to pick him up. Especially since his cousin learned that Endymion had "been gallivanting with the mother-fucking enemy!"

He braced himself as the black sleek car pulled up, Cato in shades with a rotten scowl on his face. Oh Minerva save me. 

Endymion smiled as the window rolled down and the piercing fury of Cato's green eyes pinned him. "I-"

"Just get in the fucking car."

Endymion grit his teeth and slipped into the front seat.  Before he could even pull on his seatbelt, Iovita pulled back onto the road. Oh shit this is bad. He folded his hands in his lap, throat tightening like a noose. Endymion didn't have the strength to speak. Cato wouldn't let him anyway. Endymion could hear his sharp words already. Fucking bullshit. You're a fucking traitor. 

The car revved as they began to speed up, the car manoeuvring around the angled edges of Rome like water. Endymion sucked on his teeth, skin prickling. Facing Antony's smug face was more bearable than this. 

As they slowed around another corner Cato finally spoke. "I can't believe this Endymion. I really can't."

Endymion's skin flushed with shame. He ran a shaky hand through his hair. His voice was so small as he breathed, "I'm sorry."

Iovtia held up a finger shaking his head with disgust. "You might have jeopardised your entire campaign. You've certainly dragged my name through the mud." 

Cato's voice was so steady, so sure. It chilled Endymion to the bone. 

"The entire assembly is laughing at us. Antony made sure of that."

Antony? His fingers dug into the seat. Endymion raised his head, eyes wide with shock. "What are you talking about?"

Iovita snorted, teeth bared as he purred, "Check Assembly. Our alliance is a laughing stock." 

Endymion opened his phone, blood rushing in his ears as he opened the app. "No." 

ca55_anton.: Hi everyone, just wanted to provide some comfort to the Brutus house. I was concerned you might be searching for your youngest son Endymion. He and my fiancé were having drinks at our villa and let's just say Brutus had a few too many. He had a nasty fall and hit his head - anyone who knows him won't be surprised. We are currently tending to him with much care and he will return to you when he is well. We look forward to Brutus rejoining the public. 

Endymion gasped and felt the phone drop from his hand. "Oh gods."

The senator gulped, spots dancing in his vision, the post burned into his eyes. "Oh gods..."

Endymion's body slammed against the seat, vision blurred. He clutched at his neck as thick saliva massed at the back of his mouth. He couldn't hold in the loud sob as it built in his chest. Endymion keeled over, tears streaming down his cheeks.

In that moment as he felt the car pull over he expected Cato to yell. To tell him what a fucking failure he was. To confirm everything his parents hissed. 

Endymion choked as his cousin wrapped him into a hug. He buried his face in Cato's shoulder like a child, lungs straining for air. Iovita didn't tense, mutter awkward remarks as he usually would. He held Endymion tighter than anyone ever had. Cato's breath was cool against his ear as he said, "We'll sort this out, I promise you."

How? Endymion shook his head, the post stamped on the back of his eyelids. Iovita drew back, hands gripping his face like a vice. Pain burst across Endymion's cheeks as Cato's nails dug in, as fire flickered bright as the stars in his eyes. 

"We're going to make them pay Endymion. I swear it on my life."

"Cato I've ruined everything." Endymion's eyes welled with more tears. "It's over."

He yelled as Iovita slapped him hard across the face. Endymion's hand flew to his cheek, eyes startled. Across from him Cato straightened, face hard. 

"What the fuck was that?" Endymion yelled. Cato scoffed and leaned back, arms all folded. 

"Get a grip Brutus." The senator shook his head. "It's not over until Minerva visits you in a dream and tells you that you're fucked. You know that, you're a fucking politician."

Endymion scoffed, face darkening in a harsh glare. "Antony just fucked me over with you and your allies. What do you expect me to do?"

"You really know nothing," Cato snickered, lip curling. "You're not going to do anything."

Before Endymion's brain could catch up to those words Cato drove them back onto the road. "Where the fuck are we going?"

Endymion wiped his eyes furiously as the car turned down another sharp corner. They were rolling down a familiar street. Cato's gaze locked on the horizon as he answered, "We're getting some help." 

Help? Endymion clenched and unclenched his fingers as they stopped at a familiar iron gate, bushes of pungent jasmine vines lulling on the wind. Cato cleared his throat as the back door opened and someone jumped inside. Endymion frowned. "Wait, isn't this..."

"Greetings Brutus."

"Shit!"

He flinched as Cicero leaned forward between the front seats. In typical Cicero fashion she pushed her glasses up her nose and tilted her head. Endymion cringed as she said, "How's your head?"

"Better than my reputation."

Alma huffed and pat his shoulder. "Don't worry about that right now, you'll make it worse if you do."

Cato laughed, pulling the car back out once again and barrelling toward the Capitoline. 

Cicero was shaking her head as she leaned back, boots digging into Endymion's seat. A provincial citizen would never recognise her as Cicero outside of her Senate regalia. Today Alma wore a ribbed white t-shirt stamped with an owl and wide-legged blue jeans. Along with bright yellow sneakers and loose curly hair. 

"The first part of damage control is rather simple Brutus." Alma nodded confidently, arms folded behind her head.

"What's that then?" Endymion breathed, chest still squeezing his lungs like a starving python. Cicero sniggered.

"Getting the gods on your side."

"You're mocking me."

Cato chuckled, throwing a glance behind at his passenger and her peculiar smirk. "I thought she was joking when she said that too. You know, since Alma's a famous skeptic." 

Alma swatted Iovita's head. "Oh shut up. Do you really know anything of Roman politics? Or has Clodius reported your Assembly account?"

Endymion cackled. His cheeks lifted as he gasped, "Has that happened before?"

Cicero rolled her eyes and pat his shoulder. "Every time Clodius and I argue - the minute I make his defeat eminent he reports me. Dumb fuck." 

"I can't say I'm surprised," Endymion grinned, spirits lifting. Cicero took his hand and squeezed, silver eyes soft. 

"No one is."

The car jolted as they bumped over a pothole. Cato cursed and twisted the car to avoid the next, narrowly missed two pontiffs crossing the road.

"Cato!" Endymion gripped his seat. His cousin wasn't bothered. In fact he was so chill that he flipped the pedestrians off. 

"You know what, just pull over and let me make a quick sacrifice to Pluto," Cicero growled, head leaning between the front seats. 

Cato sighed. "You can't talk, I've seen your agricultural dirt road driving skills."

Alma and Endymion exchanged wide smirks. The younger senator scratched his head. "Agricultural?"

Cicero snickered. "Dirt road? Where the Hades do you think I grew up?"

Iovita set his jaw. "Stop talking I need to concentrate."