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"Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit."

-

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—•—

"—so that's when I gave Dream the poison, who then poured the poison into the goblet and hid in George's room. I then jumped out of the window, and escaped over the fence," Quackity explained proudly. "Then, when I got home, I had like... all the bitches in Rome waiting for me. They were all like 'Oh, Big Q, you are so brave and handsome and sexy' and I was like 'ay, calm down mamacitas, there's enough Big Q to go around—,"

"—Are you finished?" Wilbur grumbled, drawing his eyes away from his book to stare pointedly at Quackity over the rims of his glasses.

Continuing his book, he moved it slightly so that Techno, perched next to him, could skim his eyes over the words as well.

Quackity scoffed. "Wilbur, man, don't hate on me for being a hero, okay?"

Wilbur shook his head lightly, drawing his full attention back to his book as the people around him continued to listen to Quackity's story.

Tubbo, wide-eyed with one hand gripping onto a slightly distressed looking Ranboo, queried Quackity with his twentieth question that hour: "How did you get in?"

"The same way I got in last time, Bee Boy; with pure skill." Quackity flexed his muscles and Tubbo laughed, Ranboo also chuckling under his breath.

"He's leaving out the part where he was too short to reach the top of the fence so he had to run back into town to get a stool." Wilbur quipped, still reading his book, and Techno snorted to hide his laugh.

Tubbo and Ranboo laughed harder, with Tommy nudging Quackity playfully.

"Don't worry, Big Q," Tommy assured. "You got the bastard, and that's all that matters."

The six "brothers" were gathered in the derelict building which they called home. Together, they sat on crumbling pieces of furniture and pillows with feathers flying out, arranged in the very same room where they had first met Dream.

As Quackity continued to relay his slightly altered version of events leading up to Schlatt's death, a polite knock on the door echoed through the room. Then, only a moment later, Zephyr strolled in, a large wicker basket tucked into the crook of her arm.

"Ooh, what have you got there, Zeph?" Tommy asked, his attention diverting from Quackity to the woman walking into the room.

"Drugs," Zephyr said and, despite the chorus of cheers given by the boys, she laughed and corrected herself; "I'm kidding, but it's close. I've got wine."

"What's the occasion?" Ranboo asked as Tommy eagerly helped Zephyr unload the bottles and goblets onto the wooden floor.

"We're celebrating," Zephyr beamed, tossing the basket aside and taking a seat atop a fraying cushion between Techno and Tubbo. "We are celebrating the liberation of our brother..."

Techno smiled at Zephyr, as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"...and our sexy friend as well." Zephyr finished with a laugh.

"Sexy?" Came George's voice, as the door to the room open and he stepped in cautiously. "Are you trying to steal him away from me, Zephyr?"

He looked slightly disgusted at the lack of proper furniture in the room, but didn't resist when Wilbur put down his book and beckoned him gently, offering the emperor a place between Quackity and himself.

"Speak for yourself," Zephyr mused. "You're the one who won't leave his side. I've been trying to hang out with him, but noooo, you have to go with him everywhere!"

George smirked, just as the door opened again, and Dream entered. He seemed slightly unsteady on his feet, as though the knock to the head all those weeks ago had messed with his sense of balance. Nevertheless, he pushed forward, walking into the room with a beaming smile.

That everyone could see.

"Of course he wants to come with me everywhere," Dream said, winking at George. "I am irresistible."

"OH MY GODS!" Quackity jumped to his feet, scampering over to the ex-gladiator with his mouth dropped open in awe.

Dream, startled, took a step back. "What?"

"You're hot!"

"HA!" Dream spluttered out an unexpected laugh as Quackity quickly wrapped a hand around Dream's wrist, pulling him down to sit beside him.

This meant that Dream was also sitting beside George, and he looked at the emperor with kind eyes and a small smile; reaching a hand out to place on George's knee.

"Guys, this is my best friend, Dream," Quackity joked, hugging himself around Dream's arm. "We, like, kill people together and stuff."

"Oh my gods, are you done?" Zephyr popped the cork off of one of the wine bottles, tossing it at Quackity.

The cork hit him right on the forehead, and he grimaced, retracting himself away from Dream. "Geez, okay, I'm done."

"Good," Zephyr said, handing everyone in the circle a dainty gold goblet. "Now, can we all be quiet and listen?"

The boys all got their goblets, with Tommy and Quackity filling theirs up to the brim. Ranboo and Tubbo looked at them weirdly.

"Before I propose a toast, would the two men of honour like to say a few words?" Zephyr gazed expectantly at her brother.

"You're making it sound like we're getting married, Zeph." Dream snorted and she sent him an unamused look, so he quickly shut his mouth.

Techno cleared his throat awkwardly and tucked a strand of pink hair behind his ear. He looked around the circle of friends, before beginning.

"Uh... thank you, everyone, for welcoming me home..." He scratched the back of his neck, then turned to face Dream. "And, uh, sorry for knocking you out and stabbing you."

"Meh, it's only a flesh wound," Dream pat his chest, which, behind the tunic, was heavily bandaged and drenched in Kristin's medicinal healing oils.

Techno cleared his throat. "So, uh, yeah. I appreciate you all."

"Aww, we love you too!" Zephyr put down her goblet quickly to throw her arms around her brother, wrapping him in a fierce hug before releasing him, and picking up her goblet once more.

"Dream?" She prompted, pointing at the other ex-gladiator. "Would you like to say anything?"

He thought for a moment, hand still enveloping George's clothed knee before he nodded.

"Thank you all for helping me," he began. "Without you all, I would never have been able to find George, and I would have probably died that day in the colosseum."

"You're welcome," Quackity and Tommy both mock saluted, already sipping at their wine.

Dream continued. "You know, these past few months have definitely changed my life. I went from being the best gladiator in all of Italia—"

Techno coughed loudly, causing everyone to chuckle and Dream to roll his eyes.

"Okay, the second best gladiator in Italia... to the bodyguard of the Roman Emperor. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm thankful for each and every one of you: you all have done so much for me."

He turned to Ranboo, Tubbo and Tommy. "You three helped me find George that day, and I am forever grateful for you."

He looked at Quackity. "You helped me get my revenge."

"Mejores amigos para siempre." Quackity whispered as Dream continued, nodding towards Techno.

"You... didn't kill me, so thanks?"

"Eh."

Dream took Techno's monotonous sound for an answer, before looking at Wilbur, saying: "I am thankful for your help too, Wilbur, and those... talks we had last night."

"AYO!?" Zephyr looked between Wilbur and Dream, who smiled knowingly to each other. "What talks, huh? WHAT TALKS—!?"

"—And Zeph," Dream cut her off, ignoring her outburst. "You and Kristin have both done so much for me and George, and I seriously can't thank you enough."

Zephyr blushed. "Aww..."

Finally, Dream looked down at George, who looked back at him expectantly. Dream leaned over to place a small kiss on the emperors forehead, before beginning: "George—,"

"—wait, no." George held up his hand, silencing Dream.

Dream blinked in disbelief. "What do you mean no?"

"You're gonna say something inappropriate."

"What? No."

"Yes. You're gonna say something about my arse—,"

"—I'm not... well, you do have a nice ass, but that's not what I was gonna say."

George eyed his partner skeptically, before giving in and instructing Dream to proceed.

"George, I can't put it into words how much our time together has affected me... in both good ways and bad. But, as a whole, my time with you has been life-changing, and I wouldn't have it any other way," Dream said, concluding with: "I love you."

"I love you too." George whispered back.

Tubbo burst out into applause. "Beautiful! Just beautiful! Does this mean you're going to get married?"

Dream chuckled. "Well, we can't get married, Tubbo, because we're both men."

"Well, Nero chopped the dick off of one of his servants so he could marry him." George said, and Dream stared at him in horror.

"I am not letting you cut my dick off." Dream scowled, as though offended.

George laughed.

[: Latin actually lacks words that would accurately translate "homosexual" and "heterosexual", meaning they weren't really a properly worded concept back then. Also, Roman men were free to enjoy seggsy times with other dudes without a societally perceived "loss of masculinity" or social status, as long as they took the 'dominant'/top role— now what the hell. What about Geo— eh hem, bottoms 🤨?].

"Is that all, Dream?" Zephyr asked, and in response, and still slightly mortified, Dream nodded.

Zephyr then smiled at him. A genuine, warm smile that made the ex-gladiator feel at home. He looked to everyone in the room, and realised that he finally had a family. After such a long time of being alone, of having no one, he finally had a home.

Now, he was totally and utterly free.

"Now, I propose a toast," Zephyr announced, holding her goblet aloft. "Will you all please raise your cups."

Everyone in the circle raised their golden cup, with Quackity hurrying to refill his after drinking it all during the words of thanks. Zephyr stared at him pointedly as he quickly refilled, even raised his cup as well.

"Thank you all for being the best brothers and friends I could have ever asked for," Zephyr said. "And so, this toast is dedicated too Techno and Dream."

Techno averted his eyes, staring anywhere but at the adoring faces of his family. Dream chuckled at his, and suddenly felt a hand slither around his waist. Looking down, George had scooted closer, and wound his arm around the blond's waist.

The emperor looked up and, upon meeting Dream's green-eyed gaze, he smiled, leaning his head against Dream's shoulder. Dream smiled back, placing a small kiss atop George's head and wrapping his arm around to hug George against him.

"To Dream and Techno, the champions of Rome!" Zephyr exclaimed, and the boys in the circle followed suit:

"To the champions of Rome!"

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Hey homies, this is an a authors note!

This is the end!

Thank you all so much for reading, and following my progress these past thirty chapters; I hope you enjoyed Champions!

It has been amazing interacting with you all, and I appreciate each and every single one of you <3

Like my first book, Allies, I will be doing some bonus chapters, so feel free to give me some ideas!

And if you have any questions about the book, the writing process, or me, the author, feel free to ask, and we can have a lil q&a :)

Donec obviam iterum.

Blue :)