The Heart that Starts to Beat

***After Lepidus abducted Caligula****

Caligula found himself face to face with the one person he didn't want to see - the person who had messed up his mind for days and causes him many sleepless nights, ever since he met him. His eyes narrowed, still in a fighting stance. Lepidus, on the other hand, was awkwardly holding his back and jumping on one foot. "Ow, ow, hurts!"

Awhile had passed, and Caligula waited until Lepidus calmed down. Once Lepidus stopped doing his weird dance, Caligula kicked his shin - not too strong, not too hard, just enough to satisfy his annoyance. Lepidus doubled over, clutching his leg in pain. He had seen it coming and could have avoided it or deflected, but he didn't. "Vae, that hurts!" A sharp, stinging pain ran through his leg.

"It's supposed to hurt, dumbass," Caligula said, dropping his stance and standing normally. His hand reached out to his hair that has fallen in his eyes, he combed his hands in his hair "Tch." He looked at Lepidus, who was still holding his leg, and was now sitting on the ground. 'Why.. despite all that ruckus, i feel...somewhat happy?'

'Just by seeing him, it makes me feel.....' Caligula's rain of thoughts trailed when Lepidus suddenly looked up, and their eyes met. Caligula's heart instantly started to race. 'Whats this..?' 'it's because of those eyes!' Caligula blamed Lepidus's eyes..

"I'll poke those eyes out! What on Jupiter's name are you doing?" Caligula exclaimed, struggling to brush off the flutter in his chest, and the fact that he got caught looking at him.. "Grabbing me like that! Pulling me here and dangling me over your shoulders! Have you gone mad?"Caligula, unsure of how to react, decided to use anger instead.

"Yes, I'm mad." Lepidus who already recovered, stood up, his expression truthful. Every steps he takes, Caligula's heart started beating erratically, but his heart suddenly stop beating when he heard Lepidus said, "I'm mad about you."

As Lepidus approached Caligula, Caligula stepped back, his eyes darting everywhere but Lepidus's. Lepidus stopped, noticing Caligula's avoidance. "Look at me," Lepidus whispered.

Caligula refused to meet his gaze, stepping back once more. "Caligula, look at me, please," Lepidus begged, his voice laced with emotion.

But Caligula continued to avoid eye contact, focusing on the empty stall around them. People passed by, and they were out in the open. Maybe the owner hadn't arrived yet, or was off watching the munera. Caligula tried to occupy his mind with anything, to calm himself down.

Caligula's thoughts drifted back to Asprenas and Junia Claudilla that he left behind, oblivious to his sudden departure. For a moment, he forgot why he was there and what he was supposed to be doing. 'I should leave'. He turned around and started to exit the stall. 'I don't want to stay here any longer!'

"Caligula.." but Lepidus's voice stopped him, his name in his lips, like a gentle pleading. It wrapped around him like a vine, holding him in place, unable to move.

"Don't leave, please..." Lepidus's voice was laced with desperation, and Caligula's skin prickled with goosebumps at the feelings in Lepidus's voice. The crowd's noise faded into the background, and for a moment, all he could hear was Lepidus's voice and the loud sound of a beating heart..

*thump, thump, thump*.

Caligula stood frozen, his back still turned to Lepidus. "What do you want from me? If it's because of the other day... i dont know what you're expecting, but im not interested", He tried to sound detached, but his voice betrayed a hint of emotion. "Look, i don't even really know you, we've only just met..." He took a deep breath before blurting out, "Just leave me alone!"

"It's crazy! it's immoral! it's something i will never entertain! Go find another person who'll have no trouble with your obsession!" Caligula's words hung in the air, and he heard Lepidus's catches his breath. The silence was palpable, punctuated only by the sound of an annoying heart beat.

"Then look at me and tell that to my face, Caligula..." Lepidus's voice was low and husky, and the way he said Caligula's name sent a shiver down his spine. It sounded sweet and bitter at the same time.

After what felt like an eternity, Caligula slowly turned around, his eyes meeting Lepidus's. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut. Lepidus's eyes were pools of pain and longing, and Caligula's breath falter. Then He realized, with a start, that the beating heart he'd been hearing - was his own. Caligula is stunned. His eyes widened.

But before he could make out what his loud beating heart means, Caligula heard a voice he knew all too well.

"Hmmm, i thought i saw him around here..", Asprenas, and probably Junia Claudilla. Caligula's eyes suddenly became alert.

As the voices are getting nearer, he doesn't know what to do! But then asked himself why is he panicking? He's not doing anything wrong! They were just talking. But he knew in his mind, that Asprenas will catch on with the atmosphere between them, its full of tension!

Suddenly, Lepidus move quickly and pulled him in the corner of the stall. Shielding him from view. Locking him in a tight embraced. His heart, beats more loudly. He felt Lepidus's body heat, his body responding with the same heat. He forgot to breathe. He looked at Lepidus, whose eyes are already boring into his. Caligula gulped, but his throat are dry. Unable to handle Lepidus's intense green eyes, he drifted his gaze behind Lepidus, peeking a little, then his eyes saw Asprenas gray eyes looking at him, looking shocked.

But Asprenas is quick to assess the situation, as he isn't fighting back on Lepidus embrace. He heard him say to Junia Claudilla, "Oh, i think i heard Caligula said that he'll meet us inside the Circus Maximus. He's kinda tired so he went ahead inside and saved us a seat. He's unable to sleep last night because he's thinking of you Junia", Caligula's eyes got bigger ready to counter Asprenas words.

But Lepidus whispered in his ears, "Ssssshhhh". He felt all of his hairs rise as he felt Lepidus breathe in his ears.

Caligula's face became red. And Asprenas who is still looking at him, saw it. "Ah ha", suddenly laugh loudly and led Junia to head into the Circus Maximus. "Come come Junia, I think the munera's about to start."

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