Marcus and Niall smackdown warm up (short story)

Niall and Marcus are talking about Hati's hotness. (There are, naturally, more traits that they appreciate about Hati but these are the ones that first came to mind.)

Nialls shifts uncomfortably on his chair. He hasn’t seen Marcus since he learned about Hati. Such a strong mix of emotions floods through him that he’s having a difficult time to make sense of them. The real identity of Hati, how Marcus knew all along. And even the fact that he knew last, even if feeling bitter about that makes him feel petty and small. It’s all too much. 

But what he knows right now is that he hates that grin.

“So,” Marcus starts, and Niall knows that whatever he’s going to say isn’t going to be good. “How was the bath?” There’s a sly grin on his face, one that Niall knows all too well.

“Fine,” Niall says reflexively, shielding himself from his mockery. But then Hati’s crying face comes to his mind and he shifts in his chair, ready to make a stand. 

“Actually, no, it–”

But Marcus is already talking, interrupting, distracting him: 

“You like them, don’t you?”

And Niall is all too easily caught off guard. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Why is it, I wonder. What about them strikes your fancy?”

if chosen one or believer

“Is it the fervor in their eyes when they talk about their deities? 

Niall does appreciate that. He doesn’t know which gods he himself should believe in, which ones are his, and the firm faith Hati shows is attractive to him. 

“It almost makes them look insane,” Marcus continues, fishing out a response. 

“No, it doesn’t. It makes them look like they believe in something with their heart. And it’s enticing.”

Marcus smiles, and Niall regrets. Marcus got exactly what he wanted from him.

if scar

Marcus continues: “The scar makes them look even wilder, doesn’t it?”

It does add to their charm in Niall’s opinion. It makes them look strong, capable. To think that they got that from an encounter with a bear is impressive in itself. “Don’t call them wild.”

“It is wild to wrestle with a bear. But they could also be lying. Maybe they got that from falling into a ditch.”

“Hati wouldn’t lie about that.”

Marcus merely smiles at the apparent naivety of his brother.

if muscular

“Is it their glistening muscles?”

“Glistening? What–” Naturally, Niall knows what he’s talking about. He has found himself looking when Hati trains with the gladius and the pilum. He appreciates their growing talent, it takes a lot to move away from the longsword in such a short period of time, but he can’t deny that the view has been… Nice. And it’s always made him look away in guilt. And Marcus knows it.

“Their body competes with the athletes of the Isthmian games, don’t you think?” There’s a sly grin on his face.

Niall, grown tired of the constant bickering and innuendo, is about to snap back at him. However, Marcus continues, his voice raised:

“Well, if it’s none of that, is it simply two barbarians feeling the kinship?”

Niall didn't expect that. Marcus never brings up his Otherness, he knows that the feeling of not belonging has always eaten away at him, he’s done everything to make sure that he fits in and it never pays off. He’s still always seen as the Other, not quite belonging. Marcus has always been there for him before, he’s never used it against him because he knows it hurts. But now…

It shows on Marcus’s face, the regret over what he said. But he’s stubborn, he won’t take it back. Not now. Maybe in the future when he’s drunk too much, when he’s feeling the sorrows over everything that he’s done and said. He might even cry the tears of a remorseful drunken man.

“I will go now,” Marcus says abruptly, eager to flee Niall’s disappointment. Niall is left behind, looking at his receding back. Alone. 

And angry.