Oh Brother

[Agron]

Tag: @duro

blood and battle

ARE ALL I HAVE EVER KNOWN

This mission was fucking insane. but then again, so was Spartacus' plan of bringing down the house of Batiatus. That had been successful. This certainly could do. Agron was more determined than ever to live through it, having more cause than just fighting a war against Roman shits. His first cause, was to find his brother. Was to free him from wherever he ended up. Going to the arena right now would not help that, but, even Agron had to admit that there would be something deeply satisfying about watching the place burn. It was all he had to channel his emotions when it came to coping with the separation of Duro.

He had practically raised his younger brother, and there was no one more important in his life than Duro. The moment they had been sold to separate households . . . Agron had been in agony. Lashing out, snapping easily -- well, more easily than usual -- and it wasn't until Spartacus had proposed his plan that Agron felt a shred of hope. Then the promise he made that followed: that they would find Duro and see him to freedom. Right now, the focus was on Crixus and Rhaskos and . . . Oenomaus, apparently. Three warriors that they would bring out of here alive.

Now two, after they witnessed the fall of one of the Gauls. But the other two former Gladiators would be priority. So when the signal came, Agron charged in the arena after Spartacus, taking down the Roman soldiers that came their way. Even the Gladiators sentences to execute the prisoners were fighting against them. Agron focused more on the soldiers, striking his sword across the chest of one and just happening to catch a glance at another. He froze when he saw who it was, heart hammering heavily in his chest and before he could even process what he saw, the word came out, calling out to him amidst all the chaos. "DURO!"

[Deleted]

Duro hated this.

He hated that he was sent into the arena to commit an action against everything he stood for and had been trained for. He was sent into this arena not to fight but to commit executions on fellow Gladiators. It rankled and he hated it. This was not what he was trained for. There was no honor in this action. But he had no choice. The magistrate wanted his Dominus' House to be involved and by happenstance of being the highest ranked in the house as of late, it was Duro who had been commanded to do this thing.

He hated it, but his Dominus used the only weapon he had that could control the German. He claimed to hold the life of treasured older brother in his hand.

For that reason and none other, Duro had stopped fighting against his orders. Obedience to even sickening orders meant that he was closer to being reunited with his brother -- if Roman was to be believed. Duro did not believe him, but he could not take that kind of chance with his brother's life.

Once inside the arena and positioned to deal the death blow to the Gaul -- and how had these fucks managed to capture and once more chain the Undefeated Gaul? -- his determination faltered.

"I cannot do this to a fellow brother," Duro murmured where only Crixus could hear him. "When they give me the order to engage, I will loosen hold on sword. Take it and may you have chance to take down those two guards by the gate to see freedom once more."

Crixus had started at the words and then his confusion gave way to shock. The Gladiator's voice was similar to one he knew very well -- and that this voice was offering him chance to fight his way out and hope to see precious Heart once more...

Before either Gladiator could say more, all hell seemed to break lose within the arena... literally. There was fire everywhere. 

In the confusion, Duro struck at Crixus' shackles, freeing the Gaul from his chains. "Go! Go now!"

It was possible that if he gave a good enough showing in fighting the ones attacking the arena that his part in the Gaul's escape would not be discovered.

He was engaged in fighting two opponents when he heard a voice he didn't expect to ever be able to hear again.

He turned at the sound of his name and stared at the man wearing the gear of a Roman soldier. "Agron?"

Surely his eyes and the rest of his senses were deceiving him. That could not be beloved brother attired as such.

[Agron]

Tag: @duro

blood and battle

ARE ALL I HAVE EVER KNOWN

Agron couldn't believe this. This insane mission had been to save Crixus and the others. Only now, to find his brother among the gladiators set to execute the others. Agron knew well enough that this was not done of Duro's own volition. But the shock of his presence was still quite strong. The only thing that snapped him out of it was a Roman solider charging toward him. Agron dodged the strike, slashing his sword against the man's chest instead as he fell to the ground. Agron's eyes eagerly searched out for Duro once more, half expecting it to be a vision.

But he was still there. Still present. "Come brother!" He called to him, quickly assessing the area enough to know that it was time to go. He moved closer to Duro until he was standing directly in front of him. It was impossible to keep the emotion from his face as he just looked at his beloved brother. His hand moved to Duro's cheek, fingers extending to the back of his head as he pulled him forward, and rested his forehead against Duro's, having craved this contact for so long. Despite the helmet that Agron wore, he could still feel his brother's warm skin. And it was a comfort beyond all imagining. "It is time we see you to proper freedom," he said, in a voice heard due to their close proximity.

[Deleted]

Tag: Agron

Words

I've wasted time, I've wasted breath

Duro was confused. No, he was beyond confused. Even though his brother was wearing the accessories of a Roman soldier, his actions did not match up with what he was wearing. How had his brother come to be here at the Arena? The last he had heard of Agron was that he was at a house on the outskirts of the city, a story he had doubted but had no choice but to pretend to believe for fear that his brother would be punished for his own rebellions.

And yet...

And yet, here stood cherished family, urging him to leave the arena with him.

Doubt fled when Agron pulled him close and pressed forehead to his. He was real. He was no imagined ghost, taunting him for his failures. There was so much he didn't understand -- so much they had no time to discuss in this location. He was reminded of this when he heard someone yelling as they approached his back. He spun, twisting away from his brother and bringing his sword up to block the soldier's attack on his head.

He made short work of the soldier and then eyed his brother warily.

"It sounds like a dream too good to be true. Yet, I would rather enjoy short-lived dream than continue to live like this."

Notes

template by Sammy @ Adox 2.0

[Agron]

Tag: @duro

blood and battle

ARE ALL I HAVE EVER KNOWN

Agron's heart swell, both with pain and relief. Hearing Duro speak of how he would prefer to live in such short bliss, compared to the darkness that had consumed their lives in absence of one another. Now that he had his brother back, he would never let him go, fully aware that it was his failure that had condemned Duro to slavery. To whatever harm and suffering he had been subject to. "The nightmare is over," Agron told him confidently.

"And we will see all those who kept us from each other, to the afterlife." A determination, one that Agron had been filled with every since being parted from Duro. But now, there was a comfort that he would be fighting alongside his brother rather than living in constant fear of his fate. The moment was interrupted as the arena continued to crumble. The men they came for were gathered and the Romans dead. He listened to Spartacus give order and Agron nodded, glancing around him one more time before his hand went to his brother's back to urge him to their escape route. "It is time to put this life to fucking rest." The life of a Gladiator. The life of a slave.

[Deleted]

Tag: Agron

Words

I've wasted time, I've wasted breath

"The thing about nightmares is that they are never over, Agron." This was said with a lot more solemness and asperity than Duro had ever displayed in their previous life before Rome had intruded. "They quiet down for a time, only to attack you when you least expect them to."

He bent and picked up a second sword from the soldier he had just killed and turned to his brother, pausing to look around the arena. He frowned then looked back at Agron. "Where is the Gaul? I was supposed to kill him and would know that he made it to freedom before I seek my own."

At his words, Duro could not help the hopeful look that crossed his face before he tried to compose himself behind the learned mask once more. There were a lot of things that he wanted to say, that he wanted to know. However, he was aware that this was not the time nor the place to put his mind and his heart at ease. He sighed, letting his shoulders fall and raised eyes to brother.

"Set my feet to path and get me the hell away from here, Agron." He swallowed. "Please."

When he had more time to settle and get used to how everything had suddenly changed for him, he might not be quite as contained and restrained as he was now. He had a lot of practice burying everything inside and keeping a calm and disinterested outside. Part of him wanted to seek reassurance from his brother, yet part of him wanted to maintain strength so as not to give long missed family any reason to think less of him or his actions.

Feeling this conflicted was so very new for him and he did not like this.

Notes: He has a lot of emotions that he is fighting to hold in.

template by Sammy @ Adox 2.0

[Agron]

Tag: @duro  

Note: I didn't want to put to much in my post or god mod too much so feel free to have them go to the temple in your post!

blood and battle

ARE ALL I HAVE EVER KNOWN

Agron took in Duro's words, of nightmares never being truly over. It was true. The unknown fate of his brother often being the source of Agron's own troubled dreams. "But can be eased. In the presence of family." Because now that Duro was back with Agron, he would never let him fucking go again. It was the only reassurance he could give his brother, knowing so much was out of their control. So much had happened that could no be changed, despite Agron's desire to do so in the hopes of protecting Duro.

"And fought off, with assurance of a better life absent the shackles of slavery." Because an environment where they were free, and an ongoing battle for freedom . . . aided in recovery. Knowing that they fought for just cause. Agron felt eager for his brother to embrace that. Upon the question of Crixus, Agron glanced around before turning to Duro once more. "He is with Spartacus," Agron assured him. The older brother held no affection towards the Gaul, yet hearing his brother speak of wishing freedom for him . . . left Agron feeling a pride in the man he had become. Despite the fact that Agron did not believe Crixus to do the same for Duro. Duro's plea made Agron's heart eager to comply. He gave a determined nod and led them away from the wreckage of the arena.

[Deleted]

Tag: Agron

Words

I've wasted time, I've wasted breath

There were many things that passed through Duro's mind to say to Agron, but this was not the time and he was not even sure if he should give rise to voice where they were concerned. So much had changed since they had last laid eyes upon one another, so what if his brother did not have wish to have long talk about all that had happened during time apart?

So, once more he nodded and then allowed his brother to lead him away from the burning arena and wherever safe lodging might be found.

The journey was not full of much talking between Duro and Agron except for his brother introducing him to people of import. Among them were Spartacus, Mira and the Gaul, Crixus. When they settled camp in a safe spot for the night, Duro was surprised to see his brother tense as Crixus approached them. He became even more confused when Crixus smirked at Agron and shook his head.

"It is not with your brother that I hold any rage. He was willing to risk his life to see me to freedom. Bond of loyalty and honor must have been bred into blood of the younger." To Duro, he smiled and nodded. "Your thoughts and actions will not be soon forgotten, Duro. You stand as companion and brother."

Duro's eyes widened as he watched his brother and Crixus spend several moments bristling and growling at each other before Crixus finally turned and walked back to converse with Spartacus. Once he was away and out of hearing range, Duro turned to look at Agron.

"What past actions between you cause such anger within you both?"

Notes: Confused Duro is a puppy

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