slytherynn | [Closed] Gladiator AU

Not really. I need to get a letter sent so I can find my sister. I have no idea if she's still alive.

[ Her eyes widen at this. ] Where is she?

Balbadd. Maybe. If she didn't get taken and sold somewhere else like I did.

[And he has no idea about Alibaba, but he's going to worry about Mariam first. Ali's probably fine.]

[ She thinks for a moment, finger tapping absently against her chin. ] The seaport, yes? It wouldn't take us long to travel there by way of ship.

I wanna get a letter out first. She can't read....and I can't write...but some folks in the slums could. I don't want to go all the way there if she's not alive.

And will they still be there, if you just send a letter? [ That seems rather risky, in her opinion. ]

[Cassim sighs, frustrated.]

I don't know! Fu--trust me, I know damn well what the chances of either her or Alibaba bein' alive and Balbadd are. I know. But at least if I send a letter I can hope for just a little longer that they're fine.

[ She stills a moment before getting to her feet and crossing to him. Looking both a little uncertain and understanding, she reaches out to rest her hand against his chest, despite the fact that he hasn't had a chance to bathe or change yet. ]

Alright. Send your letter, Cassim. But when you're ready to go, just say the word.

[He jerks away, not wanting to be touched.]

I need to find someone who'll write it for me. For free, since I don't have money.

[The guards return, escorting a servant with Cassim's few belongings in her arms. Cassim glances over.]

And I should wash up. You said you had my key?

[ Her hand drops away when he jerks back, her expression apologetic. ]

I can write it for you, if you'll tell me what you want it to say. I don't mind.

[ Although then the guards enter and Yona straightens to her full height, something in her stance a little wary and defensive as she turns to face them. Her fingers curl into fists at her side, although her expression somehow remains calm and her voice is even when she addresses them. ]

You can take his belongings to his room, just through there. [ Cassim's question, at least, is a helpful distraction from the sudden tension singing through her and she nods, carefully turning towards the stand by her bed - although she never once turns her back on the guards as they head to deliver Cassim's belongings. ]

[Cassim catches her anxiety and watches the guards and the servant as they go to his new room and drop his things off before leaving. This time he follows them to the door, shutting it.]

At least if someone comes in, you'll hear them now.

[ She comes back with the key, but doesn't meet his gaze. ]

I heard them coming before they arrived, but yes, I will. Thank you.

[He holds out his hand for the key.]

No one's going to hurt you so long as I'm with you. I don't know if you saw the fliers when you got here, but I was the top billed fighter in the arena. People'll too scared of what I can do to hurt you.

[ She instead reaches out to take his hand, turning it over until she can get to the lock on the underside of his wrists herself. ]

If someone comes here to hurt me, they're not going to care about what you were rumored to do in the arena.

[When his wrists are free, he takes the key and bends down to get the chains off his ankles.]

They'll have to weigh hurting you against losing their head. They're not going to risk it.

They will if they're going to lose their head either way.

[ Her voice is quiet as she steps back and lets him finish unlocking his own chains. ]

[With the chains off, it's impossible to miss the heavy scarring around his wrists and ankles.]

They won't if they know they'd never get a chance to get to you.

[ That finally has her eyes lifting to meet his gaze once more. ]

Do you think that matters, when they've been ordered to bring me back, no matter what? It just means they'll have to be smarter about it, which makes them even more dangerous.

[ She doesn't miss the scarring, and in fact, she reaches out to brush her fingers over the raw marks on his wrists with a sad look. ]

[He flinches away from her touch. He doesn't want her pity.]

Doesn't matter. Anyone comes at you trying to hurt you, they're dead. I promise.

[ She lets her hand fall away again, only to tuck her hands behind her back, out of sight as her fingers twist together tightly. She gives him a small, half-hearted smile. ]

Thank you. But I hope I haven't just placed you in worse danger than you were in before. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens. Go get washed up and changed, Cassim. I'll have some food sent up, if you're hungry? Is there anything else you have need of?

Scissors and a razor.

[He gestures to his hair.]

There's so much blood matted in these anymore that it's pointless to untwist them, and I doubt Her Grace would let me use any of the magic tools that might take care of them for me without shaving.

[ Her eyes widen in dismay at that and she's quick to shake her head. ]

I will ask Scheherezade for the tools you need. You don't have to cut off all your hair!

[That just makes Cassim chuckle. That's always the reaction to his hair. He really doesn't get it.]

Alright. Maybe ask for them now, so I don't wash up and get gross dreadlocks all over clean clothing?

[As he makes his way to the washroom.]

[ She turns towards the door. ]

I'll be right back.

[Well, it gives her something to do while he washes up other than sit around and be anxious.

Washing up is a bit...strange, since it's a proper bath with proper soaps and everything and while Cassim has had proper baths in the last seven years, none of them were ever this fancy. This fine. This...everything he isn't. He can't even make himself relax long enough to enjoy it, so by the time Yona returns he's sitting on the stool in the washroom in just his towel, rubbing some of his salve into the worst of his scars.

And he is covered in scars. Scars from his chains, from the arena, from the beatings and lashings he's received, from people who just didn't like the fact that he was so good at fighting. There's a few that would have been deadly if he wasn't the favorite of some noble or other who could demand he be treated, like the one that nearly bisects him or the stab scar in the middle of his chest.

It's a bit of a miracle that he's alive.]

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