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"Say not always what you know, but always know what you say."

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"Now, now, your highness, please don't make a sound. I wouldn't want to have to ruin your pretty white floors now, would I?"

George stood petrified in his bedroom, rusted dagger pressed against his stomach, digging past the rich fabric of his toga.

The unknown man stepped back slightly, dropping his hand from the emperors mouth, still fixing George with a malicious grin.

"Who are you?" George whispered, senses hyper-aware to the sharp metal point touching the sensitive skin above his navel.

The man dismissed the emperors question. "I want you to give me everything of value in this room."

"The most valuable thing in this room is me." George bit back and this caused the man to laugh plainly.

"I have no intention of taking you, domine," The man said. "But, if you so much as make a sound when I remove this dagger, I will take your life. Do you understand?"

"Sure." George rolled his eyes as the man retracted the mangled knife.

The man turned around, admiring the room while twisting the dagger in his hand. "What a beautiful bedroom you have, domine."

George watched the unfamiliar man with cautioned interest. "Mhm."

The man, after looking around the room in a complete three-sixty, stopped and faced George once again. He then gestured at the emperors vanity with a gracious bow.

"If you would be so kind as to hand over all of your jewellery, emperor." The man cackled to himself as George shuffled over to his vanity, clicking open his jewellery box.

One by one, George pulled out bracelet after bracelet, necklace after necklace, ring after ring, until the intruder had his satchel stuffed with heavy gold and jewels.

"I know you have more for me, your highness," the man said when the box was empty. "Where's your safe?"

"My safe?" George ignored the prod in the ribs he earned from the mans dagger. "I don't have a safe."

"Of course you don't, and I make an honest living." The man said sarcastically, waltzing around the room, stopping near the door, where he examined a large portrait of George and the royal family.

"Lovely." the man said, before tearing it from the wall.

It clattered loudly to the floor and, much to the unknown mans disappointment, the wall behind the painting was bare. No safe to be found, only the immaculately polished stone wall of George's villa.

"I told you," Emperor George whined. "I don't have a safe."

The man hummed, stepping around the room again. And, when George was sure that he was as far away from him as possible within the room, he acted.

"Nightmare!" George shouted frantically, the unknown man whipping around immediately. "Help!"

"You bitch!" The man lunged across the room, grabbing hold of George, pressing the dagger to the emperors throat, just as the door was thrown open.

The gladiator burst into the room, sword swinging mightily through the air as he took in George's vulnerable state. With an almost animalistic growl, Nightmare lunged at the assailant, who yelled in fright, backing away from George.

Nightmare swung his sword as George dropped to the ground, hands over his head. The blade swished through the air, slicing vertically down the unknown mans face. The man dropped the dagger, using one hand to clutch his face as he backed hurriedly towards the balcony door.

Nightmare chased the man onto the balcony. Hair flailing, the unknown man leapt onto the balcony railings, before jumping. Like a cat, the man hit the ground running, disappearing into the shrubbery and out of the villa boundaries, dripping crimson.

Puffing, Nightmare was quick to turn on his heel, hurrying inside, closing and locking the balcony door after him. He collapsed on the ground beside the emperor, who hid his head in his hands.

The gladiator placed a comforting hand on the emperors back, and the emperor leaned into the touch, resting his head on Nightmare's shoulder as he removed his hands.

"That was certainly a horrifying experience." Emperor George joked, laughing dryly, but to no avail.

His eyes betrayed him: filled with unshed emotion, tears and uncertainty. They flowed molten with fresh fear, and Dream couldn't help but be concerned.

"Are you alright, domine?" Dream asked, and the emperor looked up at him with doe eyes.

"I'm fine. Thank you for saving me." Emperor George mumbled, hugging his knees to his chest and placing his head back onto the gladiators shoulder.

The gladiator's body stiffened. "Are you sure? Are you hurt?"

George shook his head. "I'm not hurt, no. Just a bit shaken up, as all."

"Stay here, I'll be back. Dream said, getting up and slipping out of the door, returning a few moments later.

He sat back on the cold floor cross-legged, offering the emperor something.

George looked up, eyebrows raised. "What?"

"Chocolate," the gladiator smiled. "It helps with shock."

Tentatively, George took a piece, popping it into his mouth, relishing in the sugary taste that coated his tongue. He eyed the gladiator skeptically, who was watching him with caring green eyes.

"Are you going to have some?" George asked, surprised in the way Nightmare appeared confused.

"Oh? I'm allowed some?" Dream's voice was soft.

The emperor nodded, silently insisting for the gladiator to take some chocolate. The blond hesitated, looking at the slowly melting squares in his hand.

George plucked the biggest piece from the pile, holding it up to the gladiator with an encouraging smile. "Here. Open your mouth."

Dream regarded the emperor suspiciously, but slowly tilted his mask up, revealing only his chin and mouth, the edge of the mask pressing against his nose. He opened his mouth, allowing the emperor to place the piece of chocolate between his teeth.

George watched as the gladiator chewed happily, eyes brightening. "This is good."

"Yeah?" George implored, his voice forcing the gladiator to raise his head, locking eyes with the emperor.

Emperor George grinned, and this caused the gladiator to blush beneath his mask, shifting his eyes to his lap. However, he felt a hand beneath his jaw, and allowed the emperor to tilt his chin upwards.

The emperor kept his hand on the gladiators chin and, as if inspecting, he swept his eyes over the mask. Slowly, ever so slowly, the emperor pushed the mask back down, covering the gladiators lower face.

"Thank you, Nightmare."

Dream hesitated for a moment, before murmuring: "Dream. My name is Dream."

"Dream...?" Emperor George tasted the name on his tongue, almost as sweet as the chocolate. "Interesting."

Dream shifted, getting to his feet and brushing off his leather skirt. He then offered the emperor his hand, whom accepted. George let the blond help him to his feet, and thanked him quietly.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Dream pressed further, looking down at George.

George nodded persistently. "I'm fine, I promise."

Sighing, Dream accepted this answer with an apprehensive narrowing of his eyes. However, he straightened his posture, taking a large step back from the emperor, swooping into a deep bow.

"If that's all, domine, I must now go and inform the other guards of the break in."

George's mouth felt into a small, subtle 'O', astonished at the professional manner in which the blond gladiator was now addressing the situation.

"Of course," George bit the inside of his cheek nervously, trotting back over to his bed. "Go and tell the others."

Dream left the room silently, without another word or unnecessary flare of emotion.

George watched him go, the door closing with a soft click. He then flopped angelically onto the plush surface of his bed, bracing his skin against the cool satin and silk. Puffing stubbornly, he got to his feet and unchanged, dropping his toga to the ground messily. He changed into his nightwear, climbing into bed with a satisfied sigh.

The sky outside of his window was only just darkening. Specks of hot white light began to sprinkle the sky, shining pearlescent orbs piercing a falling veil of black. The moon sat dormant as the sky around it shifted from the matte, fairytale-like colours of dusk, to the glossy ink splash that was the night.

The emperor nestled comfortably into the copious pillows that stacked around his head like a feathered halo. His tired body settled beneath the sheets, sinking into the mattress as his mind rushed to process the evenings events.

A strange man had somehow entered his home, threatening him with a knife, forcing him to give up all of his heirloom jewels. If not for his bodyguard, the situation may have possibly spiralled out of control.

George groaned inwardly to himself, flopping his hand over his eyes as he realised that the intruder had managed to escape the villa with all of his jewellery.

He only wished that he could have done something more, not just wait hopelessly for his "knight in shining leather" to swoop in and save the day.

George tsked, rolling his eyes at himself as his mind ticked over to a certain gladiator.

That damned gladiator...

...with his smooth, tanned skin, dotted with freckles.

Who does he think he is?...

...walking around the villa with his uniform clung tightly to his taut muscles and easily defined abs visible from beneath his tunic.

Fuck him!...

And George tried to convince himself that he didn't mean literally.

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Hey homies, this is an authors note!

you're looking great today (。･ω･｡)ﾉ♡

This chapters question/statement: what's a country/place you've always wanted to visit and why?

Until next time,

Blue :)