#emperor commodus

It had been a long, excruciating week. You had managed to avoid Commodus in that time. Attius was still insistent that you complete your duties despite the injuries, but you had managed to do them all in the lower levels of the palace. In the few instances where you needed to get work done in areas Commodus could be, you chose to do them very late into the night. 

There was not a word you could use to express the heartache you had felt at that time. It is funny that a person could be stamped so permanently onto your ribcage in such a short time of knowing them, but the emperor was a man you would never forget. 

In your dreams, you could still feel the touch of his calloused hands and the warmth that only he could provide – no other form of warmth like fire or the sun could compare or compete. 

The swelling in your face was gone, but you still sported a cut lip and the bruises were still prominent. Each night, you would go to Cassius to get a poultice to put on your wounds, which soothed the skin and removed some of the aching pain. 

While you had been smart in dodging Commodus and staying on the lower levels of the castle, you had to fetch rosemary from the gardens and it could not wait until night. So you found yourself, in the heat of midday, picking some rosemary in a secluded area of the palace gardens. 

It was calm, with a gentle breeze that kissed your skin. You held a woven basket with the handle tucked into your bent arm. With a small knife, you would cut off bundles of rosemary that looked ready to harvest and placed them in the basket. The motions were soft and serene and you found some peace with it. 

Footsteps alerted you to a presence behind you. You wanted to turn, but at the sound of their voice, you knew who it was and could not afford to face them. 

“You are not sick,” Commodus spoke from behind you, his tone full of contempt. 

You stopped your current task but still refused to turn around. Keeping your back to him was incredibly disrespectful, but you feared what he would do if he saw the markings on your face. How quickly would he cast you aside? 

“I have… recovered quickly.” You excused. Commodus scoffed from behind you and stepped closer. He was only a pace or two away from you and his close proximity had your knees weak and resolve crumbling. 

“You were never sick. I am not stupid…” His tone then switched to something that sounded almost insecure, “Have I done something to incur your indifference? Why do you avoid me? Whatever it was, name it and I shall work towards absolution. Shout it at me, insult me even, I give you permission for that. So long as you speak, so long as I can hear you talk because I have learnt that nothing… nothing hurts more than the absence of you.” 

His small speech could have knocked you off your feet. It sent your mind reeling. A strong urge to drop your basket and fling yourself into his arms washed over your body. How much you dearly missed the comfort of his embrace. He sounded vulnerable, not something you ever thought would come out of his mouth.

“It is not you, Caesar.” You hoped the honorific title would make him display more mercy toward you, but you failed to notice the depths of his devotion that had built up long before he invited you to his chamber so many nights ago. 

“Commodus.” He corrected what you addressed him as, “You of all people do not need to call me that. What is it that burdens you so?” He questioned. 

You knew there was no point in trying to keep it hidden. Your clothing thankfully covered most of the bruises, except for the one on your face. Slowly, while looking at the stone ground, you turned to face him. Your face raised and made eye contact with him, finding some solace in the green of his eyes. His look of desperation for your attention quickly morphed into simmering rage. You could see the bump in his throat move as he swallowed and his jaw set. 

He took the final step to get closer to you. Commodus raised his hand and hovered it right over your bruise, eyes scanning it over and over as if it was not real. 

“Who?” His voice was oddly calm. It was as if his mind had shut down, unable to fully process what he was seeing. 

“I am fine and–”

“Who did this?” Commodus interrupted. He gently traced over the bruise with the tip of his fingers, mapping the way it marred your face. 

“I have neglected my duties as of late. Master Attius did only what was necessary.” You tried to reason. His nostrils flared at your words. 

“It was him that did this to you?” You wanted to answer, but there was a sob that threatened to claw its way through your throat. You did not wish to cry in front of him, but the stress of everything had hit you. He saw the tears that welled in your eyes and pulled you in for a hug. However, his sudden touch on your arms caused you to flinch.

Commodus looked down immediately, grabbed your wrist, and pulled up the sleeve of your dress to see the bruises that littered your forearm and disappeared under the top of the fabric. His breath became laboured. 

“Nothing must go unpunished, he told me.” You bit your lip to hold the sobs back. Commodus let out a long sigh and rested his forehead against yours. The two of you stayed like that for a few moments, letting the warm breeze hit your bodies. 

He eventually moved, lifting his head and planting a kiss on your hairline. His hands reached up and rubbed your shoulders gently, trying to provide comfort while also not wanting to make your pain worse. 

“You are not to do any more work today. Go to my room and wait there.” He instructed you. 

“Wait for what?” You asked. He did not answer you, only giving your temple one last chaste kiss before he turned around and left the garden. You could hear his harsh footfalls as he got further away and you were scared at what he was capable of. 

Commodus was angry and that was dangerous. You worried about what his wrath meant for anyone in the palace. Yet, you could do nothing but stand there as he left, bracing for the coming aftermath of whatever he had planned.

You swore that you would wear down the marble flooring in Commodus’ room. For the last few hours, you had paced back and forth. Sometimes you would sit in a chair for a few moments before becoming restless again and resuming your short march. There had been no word from Commodus or anyone as to what was going on. 

You surmised that was the best outcome. He had not gone on a rampage and caused chaos, which was good. It had only struck you recently that perhaps you had been terribly stupid this whole time. The way he looked at you in the gardens and his vulnerability at thinking he had done something wrong to you. There you came to understand the depths of the situation and that the feelings you held are in some capacity reciprocated. 

That was why you paced so relentlessly. He harboured feelings for you, which in itself felt surreal. You were nothing and would remain nothing, but somehow that was enough to catch his attention. Had it been that festival you sang at so many years ago? Was it that moment when the fates decide to entwin both of your paths?

The door on the other side of the room opened and you stopped pacing. You stood still, hoping to see Commodus. It was hard to conceal your disappointment when another man walked through the doors. He was old and hunched over slightly, but his face appeared kind. He carried a bag with him and set it down on one of the tables. 

“Excuse my brash words, but where is the emperor?” You questioned. 

The old man smiled and began to take items out of his bag; vials and bandages, “The emperor has not been in the palace for hours, my lady.” 

“I am not a lady,” You spoke. 

“I have been instructed by the Caesar to look over his lady that awaits in this room. I am correct in assuming that is you?” He teased you slightly and you felt a little more relaxed around him. You approached the table and looked down at the healing supplies he had laid out. 

“Yes, uh, that would be me.” You shrugged. You did not want to question why Commodus had referred to you as his lady but knew it was not something to take lightly. Whatever he said goes and there was no reversing those words. The more you thought of it, the more it warmed your heart. 

“Well, I am Cosmo, fair lady. Might I check over your injuries?” He questioned. 

You nodded with permission and he moved towards you. While he tended to your wounds, all you could think about was Commodus; where he was and what he was doing. He was not in the palace and Rome was a large city. A sinking feeling of worry and dread washed over you.

After you had been tended to, more servants came in to bring you new attire. The dress you wore was nothing you had ever come close to having. The tunica, stolla, and palla all matched with the vibrancy of orange and black. Commodus had picked it out for you and you could not help but wonder if he chose it because it was similar in colour to your favourite animal, the tiger.  

When you had gotten ready, guards escorted you to a waiting carriage. Each time you tried to ask what was happening, you only got the same short response; Caesar awaits you. By now, slight fear had entered your heart. He had been gone that whole day and the last you saw of him was when he became consumed by rage. Had he hurt others? Had he hurt himself? 

The large imposing figure of the Colosseum entered your vision as the carriage approached. There were not many times in your life when you had time to visit, but each memory had been ingrained in your mind. The sun was setting and cast the stone in a delicate golden light. The heat of the day waned and you became grateful for the clothing wrapped around you to shield you from the occasional cool breeze. 

You do not remember there being a gladiatorial game scheduled for that day and your suspicions got worse as you were led out of the carriage and into the Colosseum. There was no shouting, no screaming, or bounds of cheer. Nothing but silence greeted you as you walked up some stairs and found yourself at the cloth-covered entrance to the emperor's viewing box. 

The guards escorting you grabbed the silk curtains and pulled them away, allowing you to enter alone. The viewing box was grand, filled with seats for the senators. A large stone chair, like a throne, was placed up front in the centre. There, leaning against the stone railing, was Commodus. He had his back to you, but you could see he wore a regal outfit of black armour with silver and gold accents. A gold laurel crown rested over his touseled dark locks. 

Your heartbeat picked up at the sight. 

“Commodus?” You questioned. At the sound of your voice, he turned around and smiled. He raised both of his arms like one would do to welcome someone with a hug. 

“Ah, you’re finally here,” He approached you and placed one hand gently over the healing bruise on your face, “How are you?” His other hand rested on your waist to pull you closer. A flush fell over your body. 

“The healer says I am doing well. There are no complications.” You answered. You had no idea what to do with your arms, so you pressed the palms of your hands against the chestpiece he wore, feeling the bends and grooves of the detailed pattern and the coolness of the metal. 

“And how is your mind?” His thumb swiped back and forth across your cheek. 

“I am alright. It hurt for a while… everything is fine now.” You reassured him. During your week of avoiding him, you had missed his comfort dearly. While he had originally gone to you for solace, you became attached to him and learned that you wished to lean on him as well.

“Not quite, darling.” Commodus took your arm and guided you to the big throne. He sat down comfortably. While you looked around for a chair next to him, he pulled you down so you sat on his lap. The movement was abrupt but sent heat through your body. 

“Nothing can go back to normal until you see justice for the crimes you have suffered,” Commodus wrapped an arm around your waist to keep you securely in his lap. The armour he wore was almost cold, but his presence provided a warmth that erased that feeling.  

“Attius was well within his rights to punish me and–” 

Commodus grabbed your chin and turned your head to look at him. There was a quiet rage within his eyes, though not directed at you. 

“I’ll not have you speak like that, do you hear me?” He told you. You nodded which made him smile and leave a chaste kiss on your cheek, “Good. Now, I have prepared a show for you.” 

“A show?” You questioned. 

“More like a trial,” He motioned with his hands to a set of guards standing within the arena. They began to march towards one of the entrances and he continued to speak, “I will not have my lady wronged. Nothing must go unpunished.” That phrase clicked in your head, the one that Attius had used against you. At that moment, you understood what was happening.

The doors to one of the entrances opened and out came the person you were expecting. Your master, Attius, had his hands bound by shackles in front of him. He was led in by multiple guards, crossing the sandy terrain. You sucked in a breath when they got closer and you could get a better look at him. He was dressed in rags, but his arms and the lower half of his legs were exposed, showing the gnarly bruises that littered his skin. Splotches of blood, some aged more than others, consumed the brown cotton he wore. 

What shocked you the most was the bruise on his face that was almost an exact copy of the one he gave you. 

Commodus chuckled lightly to himself when Attius almost stumbled over. You now understood where he was for those hours of not being at the palace. While undeniably barbaric, something about his protective nature and thirst for vengeance on your part was, in a twisted way, attractive. When Attius got within speaking distance, Commodus tightened his hold on you as if to assure himself you would no longer get hurt. 

“You have committed an egregious crime,” Commodus spoke. Your hands placed over his that rested on your stomach and began to carefully thread your fingers through his. He had gotten tense and you were doing what you could to calm him down, if only slightly. 

“Caesar, please! Mercy! Show me mercy!” Attius was shoved down to his knees by the guards, kicking up some of the sand. 

“Mercy from me? No, it is not me that you wronged,” Commodus turned to you, his face of indifference and hate towards Attius morphing into adoration for you, “My lady, do you grant him mercy?”

For a moment, you wanted to. You may have many weeks ago, but lately, you had come to understand that violence was often necessary; all thanks to Commodus’ guidance. You thought of everything Attius did towards your fellow servants over the years. Each indignity, each strike, each time he would show no clemency. 

You wanted him to feel that fear. 

“No mercy,” You answered. Commodus smiled at you and his eyes twinkled with something akin to excitement. He surged forward to capture you in a heated kiss. You matched the fervour, pushing back and feeling the softness of his lips against yours. He hummed with satisfaction, tasting the fruit you had eaten a while ago on your lips. 

He pulled away and whispered, “You’re perfect,” He then turned to face Attius again, losing all sense of warmth in his gaze, “It is, with my fair judgement, deemed that the offended parties will fight until death.” Your brows furrowed at his words. He did not mean that you would fight, right? 

Attius looked just as confused as you, “Caesar, surely I will not fight her?” 

“Of course not,” Commodus scoffed as if the mere notion was the worst idea ever proposed, “No, you will not be fighting my lady. Moreover, my lady’s favourite animal shall fight for her.” 

While Attius was still perplexed, your face dropped. You looked around the arena, suddenly aware of a looming threat. Commodus would not, would he? But then again, this kind of violence was in his nature. You understood why he picked out your outfit for that night, how the colours matched that of a tiger. The same animal he had seen you weaving into the pattern of a carpet. 

Suddenly, growling could be heard, looming ever closer. With a loud thundering snap, a section of the ground was pulled back quickly. There was no time to spare as a tiger, large and snarling, lept out from the depths. A chain was linked to a collar on its neck but did little to disrupt its movements. 

Your eyes were glued to the scene, stuck in a state of both stupor and intrigue. Commodus was smiling madly and he rested his chin on your shoulder. You revelled in his warmth while you watched Attius fail to fight back with nothing but a short sword. 

The fight did not last long. Even if he was not beaten and frail, there was no winning against the ravenous beast. It lunged and sunk its teeth into his side. You could see the tiger's jaw clench down and elicit screams of pain from Attius’ mouth. When he fell, the tiger took it as an advantage and aimed for his throat, cutting off his wails. As the beast fed, Commodus leaned back in his throne and used a hand to turn your chin to face him. 

“Do you see what I have done for you?” He began, “Take it as a vow. All those that lay a finger on you will be eaten like scraps. That was the fate of that filthy vermin that marked your arm, the fate of your master, and the fate of anyone who dares come after you now. You belong to me and me alone. Right, darling?” 

You nodded, too lost in the trance of his eyes to speak. His thumb brushed your lower lip before retreating. From a small round side table, Commodus lifted a woven laurel wreath that was as green as his eyes. He placed it on you and adjusted it so it sat along the crown of your head. 

“It appears you won the fight. Congratulations, my victor.” He kissed you on the cheek before gently tracing the bruise on your face. There was still an air of contempt that he held while looking at your injury, but Attius’ death gave him more satisfaction. 

“Thank you, Commodus.” You said. 

“We shall celebrate,” He squeezed your hips as a signal to get up and you did. He stood up after you and held out his hand, “Come,” 

You placed your hand in his, warming at the familiarity of his touch. Taking one last glance at Attius’ still body, you followed Commodus out of the viewing box.

You had been eating at a table in Commodus’ chambers since the two of you arrived back at the palace. It was a private dinner, but still grand in the assembly of food laid out. The two of you ate and talked like you once did before you avoided him. It felt right to go back into that routine like all was finally right with the world. 

The sun had long set and the both of you finished eating and only talked after. As the night got older, you began to unwind. Commodus stood off to the side, facing away from you as he took off his armour pieces. You occasionally glanced towards him while sipping on wine – not remembering the amount of cups you had. By the time he had gotten down to his underclothes and was unfastening his forearm braces, you decided to voice a question that had been burning you inside. 

“Commodus?” He turned to give you his attention and hummed. You took another quick sip, “Why did you choose me?” He paused for a moment, as if your question did not entirely make sense.

“I’ve already told you. At the very least, part of it,” He took off his braces and placed them next to his other armour pieces. His footsteps echoed off of the marble flooring as he came back to you. Commodus rested his forearm over the top of your chair as he leaned over you. 

“You sang at that festival and I felt warmth for the first time. It followed me in my dreams ever since. Admittedly, I did not know if you were still in the palace as you did not frequent above the lower levels. I should have hanged Attius for keeping you from the light.” His fingers reached out to trace your arm, moving up the length, across your shoulder, and towards the exposed collarbone. 

All of a sudden, his posture went rigid. You could see the bump on his throat move up and down as he swallowed nervously. After a few tense seconds, he lowered himself to your eye level, crouching slightly. The gesture alone was incredible. Never would you have predicted an emperor would lower himself to your level, both literally and figuratively. 

“I am correct in assuming these feelings are reciprocated?” He asked. You understood why he had become so nervous. While naturally ruthless, Commodus was an insecure man who looked for approval in the faces of everyone around him. Whether one could consider that a weakness or a strength was up to them. For you, none of that mattered. 

It was almost comical the way you shared that same worry for a while. You too were scared that the depths of his dedication and care were shallow, but if today had taught you anything, it was that a notion like that was far from the truth. 

“You are correct, Commodus.” You responded, “I deeply care for you.” Those words washed over him and you could see how he instantly relaxed. His eyelids fluttered for a moment, scanning you up and down as if to see if you were real. 

He surged forward and captured your lips with his, an ecstasy of heat. You melted into the feeling and relished in the attention. His hands gripped your waist tightly and pulled you up from the chair until your lower back dug into the table. He lifted you to sit on the table, the plates and cutlery jostling with the movement. Commodus was devouring you and at that moment you realized you did not mind it at all.

His movement to pick you up and place you on the table caused you to gasp, which he used to his advantage. His tongue entered your mouth, exploring and dominant. Your breathing became laboured and your body felt fuzzy – as if all the sensations around you that were not Commodus faded into the background. 

He kissed you a few more times before gently biting on your lower lip, pulling away and letting it go. You opened your eyes and saw him staring right at you. His chest was heaving slightly and he kept his forehead resting on yours; completely unwilling to be further from you in any way. 

“That…” Your whispered voice trailed off. Commodus smiled at how dazed you were and was happy to see his power over you. 

Glancing out the window near you, you saw just how dark it was and understood that it had to be closer to twilight. Your mood instantly died. You would need to go to bed immediately. Already you had lost out on valuable sleeping time and knew it would cause you to lack in your chores tomorrow. 

“Commodus, there is nothing I would like more than to stay with you, believe me. But I need to go and rest. There are many tasks I have to get to tomorrow.” 

He looked at you like you had said something incredibly bizarre, “Did you not hear what I told you in the arena? You are mine and because of that, you will do no more work. From now on, my room is yours. You are my lady, the emperor’s lady.” His hands rubbed up and down your thighs, as he pushed himself to stand between them. Even sitting on the table, you did not reach his height. 

“And what will people say?” You questioned. 

“They’ll say nothing if they favour their heads.” Something in the way he said those words made you more eager for him. Deciding to take charge for once, you grabbed the fabric of his tunic and pulled him towards you for a kiss. Commodus moved with you as he was eager to participate, but remained gentle to not hurt your bruises.

There was a heat that bubbled in your stomach, fueling a hunger that you had never felt before. Instinctively, your hips ground against his. Commodus reciprocated, moving the clothed area of his hardening length against your core. The kiss got more intense, a mesh of heated breath and knocking teeth. He clung to you like a last resort, like you were his last chance to arrive in the Elysium fields. 

Your hands roamed everywhere, up his arms and down his chest, feeling the muscles that lay under the fabric of his tunic. The table moved with the force of each of your movements, becoming unstable. Commodus gripped your thighs, pushing them against his sides and wrapping around his waist. You let him pull your arms around his neck and he lifted you off of the table. 

His strength nearly shocked you, but it was not surprising. He pulled away from the kiss long enough so he could walk up the marble steps to the raised dias that held his bed. Before you knew it, you found yourself falling onto the plush silk sheets of his bed; or more accurately what he has now framed as your shared bed. The thought sent a fluttering feeling to the already burning part of your stomach and lodged up towards your chest. 

Commodus leaned down over you and rested on one forearm while he used his free hand to trace across your collarbone and neck, “You’re mine. Not the senate’s, not Rome’s, not anyone’s.” 

You nodded enthusiastically, begging for more attention from him, “Yours, only yours.”

Commodus leaned down and began to assail your neck; licking, kissing, and biting every inch. You trembled under his touch and became reduced to nothing but breathless moans. His hands pulled away at the fabrics that wrapped your form, the pretty assemble being torn off you. You would have been sad about it if it were not for the fact that he could easily buy you another. 

He took away each layer and left you bare under him. Commodus stopped his assault on your neck and pulled back to look at you. Despite the occasional bruise on your arms and legs and a fading one on your stomach, he reached out and gripped your hip and swiped his thumb back and forth as his gaze travelled over you. 

“My Venus,” He whispered. If you were not already unwound below him, you would have melted right there. 

“Commodus,” His name fell like a plea on your lips. You needed him desperately and began to tug at his clothing. He humoured you, smiling softly as he stripped down. Once he was bare, you latched onto his neck and pulled him down into a kiss. You felt the softness of his lips as your tongues explored one another. His chest brushed against yours and the skin contact made you moan. He felt just as hot as your blood, pulsing and begging under the skin. 

One of his large hands trailed down your stomach and brushed over your hip bone before caressing your inner thigh. In an instant, you opened your legs – entirely ready to surrender to him. Sensing how eager you were, he chuckled against your lips. 

“So impatient, my love.” His fingers moved up your inner thigh but stopped just as he got close to your core. You whimpered when he ceased his movements. “Beg, darling. Tell me how much you want me.” 

“Commodus please,” You moved your hips to try and get closer to his touch but he used his other hand to hold you down. He tsked and shook his head from side to side. 

“That’s not playing fair,” He scolded you. While his hands were preoccupied with holding you down, yours were free and you used that to your advantage. He may be able to bring you to heel, but you know you could do just the same. 

“Fuck being fair,” It was the first time you swore in front of him and his eyes sparkled at that, “Fuck me, Commodus, please.” Your hands moved to his lower stomach, lower and lower until you were able to grasp his hard cock. His entire body shuddered and his nostrils flared. Something clicked in him, a snap and his patience was gone. 

Commodus pushed up further on the bed and crawled on top of the sheets, moving right up to you. You had shuffled towards the headboard with your legs bent at the knees and together. His hands gripped your knees and spread your legs so he could slot himself between them. 

“Do you want this?” His warm breath tickled your neck as he trailed his lips across the skin, just barely touching but feeling so right. 

You grabbed his jaw with both of your hands and moved his head to look him in the eyes, “Would I have spread my legs for you otherwise?” His eyes darkened at that and you could feel his jaw clench. 

It was then that you had an idea that may not have been the best. You had seen how possessive he was of you and the violence he was willing to give to others on your behalf. You wanted to test the waters and see how much you could rile him up. 

“Are you going to stop teasing and fuck me or do I have to find someone else?” It was a fake threat. There was nobody else that could ever compare to Commodus; nobody else you would ever want to even speak to. His face fell into incredible seriousness and you let go of him, only for his hand to grip your chin. It was not strong enough to hurt but it held your attention. 

“I know what you’re trying to do, darling.” He leaned down with his lips brushing the shell of your ear, “By the time I am done, you won’t even be able to think about anybody else.” 

In an instant, his warm fingers brushed through your folds. You sucked in a breath at the contact. His fingers moved meticulously, discovering each stroke that made you shake under him and moan. Commodus kissed across the expanse of your neck and chest, dragging his teeth along the skin occasionally. You found it hard to keep your eyes open as you were entranced by what you felt. 

Your hands moved to cart through his hair. When you tugged at the strands, Commodus groaned. It appeared he was particularly sensitive there and you made a note to remember that in the future. He retaliated by latching his lips on one of your nipples, causing your back to arch. You felt one of his fingers slip into you at the same time while his thumb circled your bud. The fire that coursed through your veins was overwhelming and your breathing became erratic. He slipped another finger into you and upped the pace, dragging in and out with the rhythm of your hips moving. 

His name tumbled from your lips over and over again like you were reciting a prayer. His mouth left marks across your chest and neck, some of which you knew would not be able to cover. You had a feeling it was deliberate. In your haze of pleasure, you could feel your body pull taught. The point of no return was met. 

“Com… Commodus, I–” Your voice hitched as his thumb rolled over your bud once more. 

Against the heat of your skin, his voice murmured, “I know, darling. Let go.” It was as if that was the final straw you needed. 

The tense string of your body snapped and you found yourself shattering. He continued his movements, helping you ride out your high. Your head lolled to the side as you shut your eyes. His fingers moved out of you and you suddenly felt sad at the loss of contact. You craved more and wished to spend the rest of your time living in this bed with Commodus. 

“Open your eyes for me,” Commodus’ hands cradled your face. You slowly opened your eyes, staring right into his. His lips turned up, “There’s my girl.” He leaned in to kiss you and groaned at the feeling. Your body was still sensitive and recovering from your orgasm, but you craved more of him. 

“Commodus… please.” There were no other words that needed to be said. His movements were eager, but not rushed. He shifted up so he was on his knees and grabbed his cock that was slick with precum. Slowly, almost painfully, he dragged the tip along your folds. You whimpered at the feeling and lifted your hips to feel more friction. 

The haze of your previous peak was still heavy. You understood then why some people were so provocative in their transgressions. If you could stay like this with him forever you would stake your life to the ground and take that deal in a heartbeat. 

You bit your lip to keep yourself from moaning too much at just the feel of his cock against your folds. He collected your slick on his skin, trailing up again until the head got caught right at your entrance. Gradually, he pushed forward until he bottomed out. You saw his eyebrows furrow and noise leave his mouth that was a mix of a sigh and a groan. He muttered a few curses. 

Commodus did not rush as he was content at the pace he was going because it made you come undone and desperate for anything more. The feeling of being so full made you squirm. You wanted friction or anything to bring back the feeling of ecstasy you had. Your heart felt like it was going to pump out of your chest. Being connected like this with him was the best feeling in the world and you cursed your past self for believing it was a silly fantasy. This was real; real and raw and so good.

He slowly pulled out, dragging until the last moment to make you feel empty. You whined at the loss of his warmth but quickly shut up when he pushed back in, burying himself to the hilt. He repeated that action a few times, each getting faster until he set a steady pace. Your hips matched his movements. His face was buried in your neck with his lips brushing the shell of your ear. You could hear his moans and grunts which only spurred you on further. 

You scratched the planes of his back, digging deeper with each thrust. Even when so deeply connected it did not feel like it was enough. Nothing could ever feel enough to be connected with him. Your scratching made Commodus move faster, picking up the pace. 

The change of speed caused you to release your hold on him, finding little energy to lift your arms. It was like you were under a spell and completely under his influence. 

“That’s it, gods, good girl,” Commodus murmured into your ear. You moaned back with small babbles of his name as your brain was unable to form a single thought other than him; his presence, his feel, him, him, him. It consumed your mind and left you a squirming mess. 

He took your hands that had fallen, grabbed your wrists, and pinned them above your head. Your legs wrapped around his waist and it changed the angle at which he was thrusting into you. The tip of his cock hit a soft spot in you that had you chasing stars at the back of your eyes. The stretch that he gave you was a good ache, one that spread out from your core and burned through your body.  

Commodus began to mutter words with each thrust, “Mine. My girl. My Venus.” He went on and on. Your chest rose against his, pushing for a bit more contact. You wanted to reach out and touch him, but his grip on your wrist was tight. His breath hit the shell of your ear, tickling it slightly. 

The familiar feeling of your build-up hit you and Commodus could tell. He continued the steady rhythm but changed the angle to reach deeper. You nearly shouted at the difference. While he was relentless, his posture changed slightly, becoming less composed as he chased the same high you were experiencing. Both of you could feel the bed moving under you, its sturdy build taking the movement. 

You were wound up again and pulled taught, but this time it felt more intense than the previous. Commodus lost his movement and fucked you with reckless abandon. All manner of control was lost and his perfect posture faltered. It seemed, like you, he had become just as mindless and broken down – doing everything possible to chase pleasure. Despite it all, you could still feel the care that he had for you in the way he muttered sweet nothings into your ear. You squeezed around his length as the build-up in your stomach started to increase. 

“Let go, love. Let me hear you.” Commodus instructed. 

Suddenly, like the waves that crashed against the shores of the home of your childhood, a flood of ecstasy came over you as you reached your peak and descended off of it. Your wanton moans filled the room, matching the sounds the two of you had been making for a while. Commodus visibly relished in it, nipping at your earlobe and kissing your neck. The feeling of your orgasm caused your walls to squeeze and made his movements falter. 

He pulled out suddenly, right as he came. The hot strings of cum coated your lower abdomen. He moved to rest his forehead on yours, eyes closed and face scrunched in the heat of his pleasure. Your legs felt numb. Commodus almost collapsed on top of you. He released his hold on your wrists and held himself up by his forearms on either side of your head. 

The two of you joined in a kiss. This one was a sharp contrast to the quick pace you had. It was slow and passionate, full of trust and care. His hands tangled in your hair, pushing it back with a gentleness unseen. Your hands rested on his broad shoulders, feeling the perspiration that gathered there. Both of your bodies came down from the high, chests rising and falling. 

You thought back to just a few short weeks ago when you were invited into his room. You were incredibly glad he only wanted company then. If not for that, you would have never been able to build this relationship with him. Moreso, you were incredibly thankful your younger self decided to sing at that festival and caught his attention. It seemed that little actions in life led to big changes. 

It still felt absurd now with your change of position. You were no longer a servant, no longer expected to fulfill the duties that had your body aching and mind hurting at the end of the day. 

It was so ridiculous to you, that you could not help but let out a chuckle. Commodus moved his forehead from yours and opened his eyes. You wished to get lost in those eyes. 

“And what do you find so amusing, hm?” He spoke. 

You looked at him with adoration, “Is it wrong to be happy?” 

“No,” Commodus moved to rest beside you, taking a spare cloth from the wash basin placed beside the bed and wiping your stomach down. There was something in his movements that felt almost… domestic. It was not something you ever thought of an emperor doing. “I’m glad you are happy.” 

A beat of silence passed as he laid down next to you on his back and used an arm to pull you flush against him. Your head rested on his pec, hearing the thumping of his heart. 

“Are you happy?” You asked. He squeezed you closer and kissed your temple.

“You made me happy long before all of this.” He answered. Your face scrunched up with wonder. 

“What do you mean?” You lifted your head to look into his eyes, fingers tracing patterns onto his chest. 

“Your singing. It followed me everywhere since that festival. From my mind,” He placed one hand over yours and guided it right above where his heart would be, “to here.” 

There were no words you could think of to respond with. The poetics of his words hit you. You wanted to drown in him, to stay there in that moment for a lifetime. You reached out to trace his jaw, thumb massaging the top of his cheekbone. He leaned into your touch and kissed the pulse point of your wrist. 

“I don’t know how I could ever thank you, for everything,” You could barely imagine what it would be like back in your old life, under the constant fear of your old master, “I may not know what I can do to repay you but–”

“Stay with me.” He interrupted you. There was a shine in his eyes, “You want to repay me? Stay. That is all I need.” 

You stared at him and nodded your head, “I’ll always stay.”

The two of you understood the depths of the promise. It was your own declaration of love, without the words being spoken. A mutual understanding and a promise of forever. It was not traditional to other couples, but again you knew this relationship already did not fit within the bounds of traditionality. It did not matter. 

You kissed him again, sealing the words upon both of your lips. There, you were content to start a new life; a better life.

This was incredibly fun to write! I am 100% open to writing more fics for any characters in the Gladiator films and plan to open up requests. So, if that's something ya'll are interested in, let me know.

Thank you all for the support! <3

When it comes to his partners, he can't help but being a boobs guy. Doesn't matter if they are big or small, he loves to touch them, seeing them, kissing them...

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Anywhere you let him (or wherever is more convenient for him). Your chest, your abdomen, inside you, your ass cheeks, your mouth. He won't wipe it right away, taking a good look at it proud about it, asking you gently if you liked it, needing to hear that you like it. But why wouldn't you?

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He loves to get his fingers suck, and sometimes he doesn't even ask you to do it, he just puts his thumb gently on your lips and waits for you to lick it. At the same time, he loves to taste you, so if he fingers you he will lick himself clean, tasting you there. He also will get deep with his tongue kisses and, of course, spend as much time as he feels like between your legs.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Doesn't seem like that he might have any lovers. Maybe he has tried a few things with concubines, but it didn't satisfy him. Once he gets your hands on you tho, he finally understands so much better why sex is such a big deal for some people.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

My man is a romantic, missionary does not get old for him. He likes to put your heels on his shoulders and see your reactions to his thrusts. He will only suggest to do doggy style or any other position where he can only see your back unless there's a mirror.

If you get on top of him and ride him, he won't be able to stop pampering with compliments of how pretty you are.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

He's too passionate to do anything else than enjoy you and adore you once it gets heated.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Clean and shaved everywhere, like the good Cesar's son he is.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

He may start flirtatious and even tease you but he quickly gets passionate, going from a slow and sensual pace to however both of you need that day.

He holds you tight with his grip, so much that you'll find bruises from his fingers on your inner thighs or forearms. He does not always mean to do it, but he can't help to love seeing the marks show up after a steamy night.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Before you two finally were a thing, he started masturbating more frequently since he couldn't stop thinking about you, whispering your name over and over as he pleasured himself. He would even edge himself a little, wondering if you would do it to, his thumb caressing the slit of his head, teasing himself until he couldn't keep it up.

Once you are together, he may do it if he is far away from you for a long time, but that does not usually happens since he will make you travel with him if it's safe to do so.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

If you are not careful, he will slowly introduce an obvious power play dynamic that will go both ways. He will start asking you to wear something that day, styling your hair in different way just because he wants to see you like that, gifting you jewelry that he wants you to put on...

He will enjoy it of you take a submissive role, but if show him that you can also toy with him a little, he will oblige as much as his responsibility allow him.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

His bed is his favorite place in the world. It's big enough for both of you and he knows that no one will interrumpt.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Knowing that you want him as much as he wants you is one of the best feelings for him. It can be in a romantic, friendly or intimate way, but just be clear and vocal that you want him and he will only be able to satisfy your wishes.

He gets extremely needy if you just sit on his lap anywhere, specially if you do so as he is seated on his throne.

But if you want to make him drool, wait for him on your shared bed wearing only the jewels that he has gifted you. He will love the sight so much he might fear he is having visions.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

He won't even think about the idea of threesomes or anything that means sharing you. He might put you in a situation where people can obviously see how you are only his, like making you sit on his lap in public (like a small party at the palace) and massage your thighs with his hand under your dress, looking at you satisfied to show you off, but never as an invitation so someone else could get into bed with you two.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

He likes giving, specially when it takes you to the point of you pleading for more, or even for you to ask him to stop because of how overstimulated you are. Then, it's about how merciful he is feeling that day, making you repeat yourself over and over until he feels you did well enough.

When he is the one receiving he gets so flustered and exited that if you gag a little on him he will moan, bucking his hips into your mouth so you do it again. He will hold your hair with his hand and look at you eager.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

He starts slow and sensual, focusing on how everything feels and once he finds the perfect angle he starts hammering you down into the mattress.

When he comes he likes to muffle his moan in your skin, maybe kissing your neck or hiding his face between your breasts.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Not a big fan. He wants to feel you and take his sweet time with you.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

He is the one that usually introduces stuff: tying your hands, blindfolds...

And even though he usually takes the lead, he will gladly let you be the one in charge if you show interest into do so. That's how you find out how much of a pleaser he actually is, showing you how good he can be at everything you demand.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

He can last for a good two long rounds. After that he needs some time if you still want to keep going.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Commodus, you would have loved long distance vibrators. He would make you put one and tease you all day long, sometimes making it clear if he didn't want you to come or encouraging to come as many times as you needed thought the day.

And about toys that there could have been at that time, he also would enjoy using them on you, but I don't think he would let you use some stuff on him.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

I feel like he changes drastically depending on the role he positions himself.

If his feeling dominant he may tease you a little, draging his fingers over your skin, letting you know, without a word, that he can just do that and more if he feel like it.

But if he comes to you submissive, he will get so needy and straight to the point, pleading to know what you want, and almost whimpering when you flatter him with compliments.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

This man is loud. He groans and pants and comes either repeating your name over and over or with a loud moan that sometimes he muffles as he kisses your neck.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Praise kink. 100% it's just so obvious.

Caress his hair as you make him lay his head on your lap, call him 'pretty boy', 'my sweetest' or something like that, and he will plea to let him suck on your nipples or eat you out fast and eager, to the point that it's animalistic. He will ask you over and over if its good, if he is doing good, if he is a good boy.

Once you come from his tongue, he will look up at you, his mouth covered in your pleasure, kissing your thighs as he whispers over and over how much he loves you and needs you.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Big but proportionated, neither think or slim. 9'5 cm.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

He yearns for you continuously. Not necessarily for sex only, but just to be with you. He just gets a little to obsessed.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

He likes to pamper you with kisses first and watch how you fall asleep, but if he is tired he will let you know and hug you as he drifts into his dreams.

~~~~~~

Again, thank you so much for the love in the other hc. If you have any suggestion or want me to write anything, please!! do so!! i have my ask box open!!

More stuff!

Caracalla's ABC (NSFW)

Geta's ABC (NSFW)

Notes: Basically, this is a recreation of the scene where Commodus almost kisses Lucilla, but in this version, it's his brother, the reader. This is low key the first time I've written smut, so sorry if it sucks but I tried to be kind of vague on purpose because it's all supposed to kind of feel like a dream anyway. If you don't want to read the smut, just stop right before it and you'll just have a cute little bit of fluff! I know this one's a little strange, but I think it's cute. If you don't like it, don't read it!

Part Two- Out Now!

Brotherly Love Part One: My Whole World

Warnings: 18+, vague-ish smut, some angst I guess, incest (it's Commodus, what do you expect?)

You were very worried about Commodus. Since your father’s death, he had been off, more so than usual. You had tried to be there for him, but things felt different now. He pushed you away even more than usual. Your concern for him caused you to walk through the echoing halls to his quarters. When you entered, you saw that he was sitting on his bed, looking quite serious and like he was thinking far too much for his own good.

“Commodus,” you said relatively quietly.

“Do you remember what our father said once?” He asked you, absorbed by his thoughts. “It’s a dream… a frightful dream… life is. Do you think that’s true?”

“I don’t know,” you responded without much thought. Your thoughts were about Commodus and how to get him out of his head, which was a quite dangerous place. He looked slightly under you.

“I think it is,” he only whispered. “And I have only you to share it with.”

Your heart began to beat faster as you came to sit closely beside him on his bed. You looked at him, trying to gauge what he meant by his words. He gently rested his head in the crook of your neck and you rested your head against the top of his, feeling the warmth of him against your neck. You rather enjoyed the tender moments with him like this. You wondered if he could hear the quickened beating of your heart. Did he know it beat only for him?

After a few moments, Commodus took you by surprise when he began to bring his hand up to your chest and lean back onto the bed, taking you with him. You laid on the cool sheets as he hovered over your chest, his hand gently touching it, and moving up to your neck then your chin, and finally, your lips. His fingers softly brushed your lips as your heart fluttered. He tenderly played with your lips and you were speechless. His fingers moved to the slight opening of your mouth.

“Open your mouth,” he barely whispered.

This hadn’t been the first time you two had shared an intimate moment not usually shared by brothers, but this felt different, more intentional. Sure, you had held him countless times as he wept or simply for the sake of being close. You had kissed him to bring him comfort, but never on his beautiful lips. All of your previous encounters with Commodus were just something that happened; they had no planning or objective. This, however, was different. You remembered the shame you had felt when your father had caught you and Commodus in a moment like this. You heard his voice in the back of your head, telling you that it was wrong to be that way with your brother, to love him that way. You had always loved him that way, and you had always been afraid of it. It made you feel like a freak of nature. Not only were you attracted to someone of the same sex, but he also happened to be your brother. You knew that it was wrong to everyone else, but as much as you had tried to feel that your relationship with Commodus was wrong, nothing had ever felt so right and comforting as his embrace, his kiss to your forehead that you wished was somewhere else, his gentle touch on a warm night. You both loved each other so much and when you were together like this, you could simply feel all that love radiating off of each other. How could that ever be wrong?

Despite the unsure thoughts running through your head, you knew your feelings for him and you obeyed him, parting your lips more than before. He softly dipped his fingers into your mouth, slightly touching your tongue and inner lips. He slowly removed his fingers from your mouth, bringing them into his own, tasting you. You felt your blood pump hard. He moved his hand to softly touch your cheek, bringing himself closer to you. He nearly kissed you, then gently rested his head in the crook of your neck again, tenderly touching the other side of your neck with his hand.. Your lips had never been so close to his and you longed for them to be ever closer. You brought one of your hands to gently hold his back, and the other to hold the back of his neck. Then, you brought your lips to his forehead, slowly kissing it. You were telling him that you wanted this, too. You knew he wouldn’t go too far without knowing that you desired it, too.

Commodus raised his head and his beautiful, icy eyes met yours. They had never looked so warm. You invited him with your eyes, and even though you appeared slightly frightened, he knew what you were asking. He slowly brought his lips close to yours, then paused, perhaps still unsure if it was okay to kiss you there. You raised your head and closed the gap yourself, joining the two of you in a soft kiss. It felt better than you had ever imagined it would. His hand raised from your neck to your cheek and you brought your hand to cup his face, his curly hair slightly tickling your fingers. You felt as if in a dream, for you had dreamed about moments like this many times.

Commodus began to intensify the kiss and pushed your head back down to the bed with the power of his kiss. He shifted so that his body was completely on top of yours, undoubtedly feeling your arousal as you felt his. You felt filthy, being so aroused for your brother, but at least you weren’t the only one. You attempted to quiet those thoughts of shame as you tenderly stroked your hand through his hair and face. The touches you and him shared lost their gentility and became more passionate. After several moments, Commodus broke the kiss abruptly, only withdrawing slightly, and looked up at you. You both realized the few tears that had begun to run down each of your faces. You had both waited so long for this moment.

You smiled at him, feeling more tears come, and he smiled, gently laughing as he hugged you close, his head beside yours. You also let out a little chuckle, embracing him even closer. You felt hot tears run from his face to your neck. He placed a kiss there and then more. His lips traveled lower, to your chest, and you held his head as he did this. Eventually, he could not kiss and farther down until he removed the clothing there. He gently and nervously grabbed the fabric and looked up at you, asking you if he could.

“May I?” Commodus quietly asked.

“Of course, love,” you responded with a small smile. He was always so adorable.

He carefully removed your toga and you brought your hands to him and he allowed you to remove his. Each of you admired the other man’s body for a moment before you flipped him onto his bed, now on top of him. You kissed him, first gently, then hard. Both of you were becoming more certain of your actions, more intentional. You eventually broke the kiss, and Commodus softly whined.

“Y/n,” he softly pleaded. “Please.”

You smiled and you readied yourself at his entrance after spitting on your hand to lubricate.

“Ready?” You asked him.

He nodded and you pushed yourself in, filling him perfectly. You both let out heavy sighs as you gave him a few moments to adjust. You assumed this was his first time this way, so you wanted to be sure that he was comfortable. Meanwhile, you drew him into a passionate, yet somewhat sloppy kiss. You could feel his desire, his need.

“Are you ready, darling?” You asked him tenderly.

“Yes, please, Y/n,” he responded breathlessly.

You began to move slowly at first, being very careful with him. You didn’t want to scare him away. He brought his beautiful hands to your back, holding onto your strong frame. He let out soft moans as you worked your way sweetly in and out. He brought a hand to the side of your face and pulled you so that your lips were mere hairs apart.

“I love you,” he told you, his warm breath spreading across your lips.

“I love you, too, Commodus,” you replied before tenderly capturing his lips in another kiss. How had you resisted this for so long? In this beautiful moment, you weren’t sure if you’d be able to go more than a minute without kissing him. You felt your arousal grow as you continued to kiss his sweet, beautifully curved lips. You quickened your pace ever so slightly and Commodus began to let out more breathless moans and gentle whines. These lovely sounds brought you ever closer to release and you grunted softly. You had each of you dreamed of this for so many years, and you both knew neither of you would last long. You gradually fastened the pace, making sure with every move that Commodus was all right, searching his angelic face for any signs of pain or discomfort. Instead, you found only pleasure and joy, his tears dried upon his smooth skin.

Soon, it became clear that both of you were nearing your ends, and your movements became sloppier and more desperate. Commodus firmly gripped your shoulders, whining so sweetly as you brought your hand down to pleasure him. Your other hand strongly held his back, helping him to feel secure, a feeling not common for him, and nonexistent with anyone but you. Again, you sharply brought him into a hot kiss, and both of you let go at that moment. You broke the kiss and both released blissed moans and sighs as you rode out your highs together, feeling each other’s heavy breaths.

Your head fell next to his and your hot breath warmed his neck and shoulder slightly. You ceased your movements and laid still with Commodus. You brought your arms around him to embrace him firmly, placing a kiss between his neck and shoulder. You felt his chest rise and fall quickly against yours, which followed a similar rhythm.

You held him like that for a moment before pulling away slightly to look at him. He once again had some tears streaming down his face. You became aware of a few on yours as well.

“Oh, Commodus, love, did I hurt you?” You asked, worried that you had been too rough with him.

“No, you didn’t, darling, I was just…” He trailed off, but you knew what he meant because it was the same reason that you found tears staining your face as well.

“I know,” you said with a knowing smile. “I feel it, too.”

He smiled back at you. You had never seen him look so genuinely fulfilled and happy. He hadn’t looked this satisfied when he was crowned emperor. It brought you great joy to see him this way. He did not often feel true happiness, especially if you weren’t involved.

“You do?” He asked, as if in a dream.

“Yes, I do, sweet Commodus,” you replied gingerly before bringing your lips to his for a sweet, gentle kiss. You barely parted your lips from his.

“I love you. More than anything in the whole world.”

“I love you, too. More than I could ever love anyone or anything else.”

You smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead before emerging from the bed to retrieve a cloth to clean him up. You did so sweetly and he watched as you did it, grateful for someone taking care of him. That was all he really wanted.

“Thank you,” he said, and you knew he was thanking you for more than simply tidying him up.

“Thank you, your Highness,” you said teasingly with a giggle that was returned by him as you brought him into an embrace. You loved the way it felt when your skin met his. It just felt… natural. And pure.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” Commodus asked you shyly.

“Of course,” you replied. “I wouldn’t dream of anything else.”

You laid down on his bed and brought him to rest tenderly on your strong, bare chest. Both of your breathing had slowed and you rested in sheer bliss with your Commodus.

“You’re my whole world,” Commodus told you, softly stroking your chest with his fingers.

“You’re my world, too,” you replied with a kiss to his head.