Chapter 3 - commitments

»I have to see her again.« Quintus ended the account of his introduction to Flavia and the proposition Gaius had sent him through his daughter, finding his friend Appius smiling broadly from one ear to the other.
»You aim for a high target, my friend.«
»This has nothing to do with politics. I want to see the girl again.« He found it irritating how Appius was clearly amused by his words.
»Her father is the most influential senator in all of Rome. It is a political thing now. But you really seemed to have made an impression.« More seriously he continued, »however, you should hurry to your new duties.«

A few hours later, Quintus was reminded once more, that the previous two months had changed him in more than one way. For the first time, he needed a stool to mount his horse and now sweat ran down the back of his tunic with the effort. Also, though he wore one of his newly tailored clothes allowing for his growing form, he felt more than uncomfortable with his flab rubbing to the horse’s body and his own thighs. And while he was used to his trained behind his wobbly ass now got sore because he hung in the saddle instead of having enough body tension to spare his back.
At the same time, he looked forward to see Flavia again. Would she be there to greet him? Soon enough, he made out Gaius villa where he was expected by father and son.
»Greetings, Quintus. Thank you for coming.«
»It is my honour, Gaius.« He looked to the younger man. »Gaius.« Quintus had always found it kind of confusing, that the Roman upper-class used to name their first born sons like their fathers. In secret, he had wondered whether it was a rouse of the Roman wives to ease their husbands mind as to the fatherhood of their offspring.
Soon enough, he started training with Gaius the younger, only to find that the young man was even more out of shape than himself. Their first day of lessons was a rather short one leaving his pupil exhausted and breathless on a divan in the gardens.
He himself went to see a concerned father, and as Quintus had to admit, rightfully so.
»Do not spare me the truth.« Gaius, the older, looked at him sternly.
»Try to extend the time until he is send to the provinces. I can make it work, but not in four weeks. Also, no more Orgies. Not for him and not for me. If you want him to have a fighting chance, he needs to seriously train. Also you should use your political influence to send him somewhere pacified. Hinspaniae for example, or Gallia. Worst case would be Britannica or Germania.«
»That was really honest. I must admit, I am not used to this anymore. Will you train my son, Quintus?«
Quintus sighed. There was a not insignificant chance of disappointing the man before him, and as Appius had put it very gravely, Gaius was no one you would want to disappoint. But then, the young man was in no shape to go anywhere beyond a two-mile radius out of Rome, where no one would dare to lay a hand on him. »Of course. I will try to help to my abilities. But he is the one who will have to work hard.«
Gaius nodded. »Your true and honest words should be more than enough motivation for him.« The other man offered him a cup of wine. »What will your generous offer cost me? I would assume a seat in the senate?«
Quintus swallowed and for the first time in months, he seemed to be able to think clearly again. He still felt his hand press on Flavia’s mid. Rome and the politics were not, what he expected and more important, they were not, what he wanted. »The hand of your daughter, if she considered.«
Gaius frowned. »Which one?«
Damn it. The man had more children than some of the chieftains he had encountered in the field. But then, if Flavia would answer his prayers, what more could he dream of than a big family. »Flavia.«
»She is dear to my heart. I will not force her into an unwanted marriage just for you to heighten in rank.«
»This is not what I want. I only want her hand, if she gives it to me of her free will and I expect nothing in addition.«
Gaius poured them another round of wine. »What if she refuses. What will be your price then?«
Quintus answered before thinking, going with his gut. »Nothing. Than I will have helped your son for free and if he returns safely, it shall be my reward.«
»I will consider it.« Gaius had almost waved him away, when he called after him, »my personal servant will show you to your rooms. It is hardly efficient if you spend half the day riding back and forth between the city and here.«

After more exercise than in the weeks before, Quintus sat at one of the huge windows overlooking the countryside and read, when a soft knock sounded from the door. »Come in.«
The door opened and revealed Flavia who didn’t enter, but lingered hesitantly in the doorframe. »Hello Quintus. I hear that you will help Gaius.« Hastily she added, »my brother.«
»Yes. There is some work in front of us. For both of us, I am afraid. Do you want to come in?«
She gave him an uncertain look. »Would you like to have a stroll through the gardens? They are quite lovely this time a year?«
He heaved himself up and made his way towards her. »I would love to.«
Soon enough, the awkwardness dispersed and Quintus was surprised to find, that Flavia had a an opinion on everything and an educated one as far as he was concerned. She was gorgeous, half dancing along the gravel walks, sitting on fountain walls and benches every now and then, enjoying his company.
When it was time to return to the house, she became unusually quiet for her lively nature. »What is wrong, Flavia?«
She hesitated.
Quintus was well aware, that he had overstepped a boundary at the orgy. Now seemed to be as good a time as anytime to address it. »Is it because what happened the other night? Did I rush things too much?«
»I wanted to feel you too, but yes, we might rushed it a little.«
He smiled at her openness. Time to honour it with his own. »You are very dear to me. I will be a gentleman and wait until you give me a sign or rather say something explicitly to make sure I understand. I am not experienced, when it comes to women.«
»But you have been in the provinces. Certainly there must have been plenty of distractions.«
He laughed. »There are. But I am not the type to be distracted. Moreover, distractions are almost always dangerous, and where I have been, everything was dangerous.«
»I probably am naive, but I believe you.«
»And I will never lie to you.«
He could see, that this had not been everything. »What more?«
Again she bit her lips and he could read in her face how she wondered whether to trust him or not. »You will train again, getting lean and muscular, but I will still be fat. Maybe your taste will change.«
He took in her full curves, her soft, plush flab slightly showing under the expensive material of her dress. She wore a light scarf, hiding her cleavage so her sturdy bust was left to his imagination. »You are perfect to me. I would not change one thing about you.«
Her cheeks turned pink and she glowed with pride. He looked down at himself. »Moreover, I will train, and this is the end of the laziness I have immersed myself in, but I will still eat, so very likely, I will only get bigger from here.«
She beamed at him. »We will have to wait for an appropriate time until we can go to my father.« Her eyes turned dark with lust with her next words, »now come. Dinner is waiting.«